Chapter 10: Josh And The Sadness.

*Angel*

"Josh is out in the car that will be taking you to all the places you wish to go. The boss told us to not let you get into anyone's car or allow anyone too close to you in case they had ties with Cayla." Smiley spoke dully with next to no emotion. He was so stoic like and the straight to business no side quest kind of guy. "Well, my plans are to hang out with my friend today so he has to be an exception." I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth as I lead the way out of the penthouse apartment and to the elevator that would take us down to the ground. Smiley followed closely in pursuit of course, making sure to leave only a few inches of a gap between us as we walked.

"I don't think Boss would allow that. Especially since they've come to like you." My face scrunched up a little in confusion as I looked up at Smiley who only stared ahead at the closed elevator doors. "What do you mean by that?" I asked, pulling out my phone I began to text Kyle that I'd be on my way soon to pick him up.

"Be home by 6, I have something I want to show you and I'll be home before 5. Don't be late."*-Gray*

I received a message from Gray, I had never put their phone number in my phone let alone added them to my contacts so I was a bit confused about how they managed that. Mafia Bosses and their tricks. I inhaled as I put my phone away and returned my attention back to Smiley who has yet to answer my question. "So, that means?" I asked softly questioning him once again. He glanced down at me only for a split second before the elevator doors opened. There just on the other side of the Elevator standing before us was a tall tatted woman dressed in black.

Their skin was of light brown and their hair was long, black and straight flowing just below the elbows. "This the girly Gray is keeping for company these days?" Their voice was soft and feminine sounding. They were muscular like Gray, but they were only a bit smaller. Their brown eyes looked down at me as one of their heavy hands came up to drag its fingers through their own hair. *Boy were they hot.* "It is, try to behave yourself and not flirt will you."

"I know how you lesbians like to be around other women," Smiley said dryly taking a step forward out of the elevator and passing Josh who chuckled at his comment. "It's true, but I'd never have a go at Boss's woman. I don't need my head on a spike y'know." I walked out of the elevator after Smiley, Josh walked at my side.

"Ms..." They began looking down at me, "Just call me Angel, no need for the formalities." I giggled out holding a hand out to them which they took firmly yet gently and shook it. "Josh, I'm an Intersex woman so They/them pronouns are preferred if that's not asking too much." Josh smiled genuinely at me, Unlike Smiley they weren't so stoic like. They were free and showed emotion even though they held a dangerous position within a mafia.

"Nice to meet you, Josh, I think we are going to become great friends." Josh chuckled once more and only nodded this time. They lead me outside and into a black SUV that had been parked outside the apartment complex doors. I gave Smiley who sat in the driver's seat the directions to Kyle's house, after about 4 hours almost we had finally arrived in front of Kyle's apartment complex. It was nothing flashy, but it was certainly nice. I got out of the SUV accompanied by Josh and made my way up to Kyle's apartment. I was about to Knock on the door when I woman opened it just before.

She gave me an awkward smile before making her quick leave, avoiding eye contact with me or Josh. I peeked inside the door frame, to find Kyle heading to the door himself. "Sorry about that, y'know booty calls and shit-" Kyle trailed off as he looked up at Josh who stood behind me. They gave him a friendly wave, "Sup buddy." Kyle waved back, his eyes trained on me in question, "bodyguard, safety precautions buddy," I smiled. Then I quickly urged him to hurry up since I only had a few hours before I needed to be back at Grays' penthouse.

Once we were on the road again this time with Kyle as well to join us, me and Kyle were picking out things we wanted to do as entertainment for the day. We ended up going out to get ice cream, then we visited a pet shop. There we didn't buy any pets, we basically just window shopped and picked out ones we would buy. We even got to play with some puppies while we were there. After that, we did a bit of shopping.

We didn't buy much, we only got an outfit or two and myself a new phone case. It was anime themed of course. Soon the hours went by, and it was exactly 6:00 when we had dropped off Kyle and told him goodnight. "I'm going to be late." I sighed, and Josh simply chuckled. "Don't worry, I'm sure Gray will be understanding."

I nodded to them with a smile. I was now on my way back to the penthouse, it only took another 4 hours for me just to get there. When I walked through the penthouse door, Josh and Smiley stayed outside. There they were seated in a chair facing the door, dressed in all black their button down partially unbuttoned revealing their pale-like skin. "Your late..." Gray dragged out their words, annoyance hinted in their voice.

They inhaled as they sat up, their eyes never leaving me who still stood in front of the door a bit nervous and scared all at the same time. Grays' forearms now draped over their inner thighs, they licked their lips then gestured with two of their fingers for me to come closer. And as if it were some kind of command I did as I was told and walked closer to them. "You missed the dinner and the chance to meet my family, all because you wanted to hang out with some damn work friend." Their brows were furrowed in frustration, I took a step back at hearing what sounded like anger in their voice.

"I swear it wasn't like that Gr-" They cut me off and stood up slowly. They took a step closer to me, "Then why were you late after I told you not to be. Was he touching on you? kissing you maybe? Have yall had sex? Is he more than a friend Angel?" They clenched their jaws tightly as if they were fighting back demons.

The questions they bombarded me with left me shocked and wide-eyed in disbelief, I couldn't believe they were accusing such things. But most of all, I couldn't believe how jealous they sounded at the moment. I brought my hands up to my chest nervously, hugging them there. I couldn't bring myself to move back another step as They got closer. "Hm, princess? Tell me, do you fantasize about him?"

Their thin eyes searched my face as I shook my head, they were finally close enough to me now that there was barely a space between us. They brought up a hand that cupped my cheek, then their thumb pressed against my bottom lip rubbing it delicately. "I can't stand when you're with someone else that isn't me...I can hardly contain myself when I'm around you...You being in danger scares me...I even feel like I'm in love with you. You make me nervous, shy, and give me mixed emotions. It's true, I want you and will do anything I have to, to get you and make you mine." Slowly they were leaning in as they spoke softly, I was caught off guard and baffled by their words, their confession I didn't know what to do or what was going on. A part of me even thought they were drunk even though I hadn't smelled a single drop of alcohol on them.

A mafia boss wanting me sounded like something from a fairy tale. I didn't know how to react or how to take all of this, I was still stuck on how they went about avoiding me because they wanted to focus on keeping me safe. I get it was for a good cause sure, but even when we were in the same room that connection we had wasn't there. So, it made it difficult for me to believe what they were saying as well. Call me stupid, but I wanted to believe them trust me, I just couldn't bring myself to.

I brought my hands up to their chest to halt them and I shook my head. "I don't believe you..." my response caused Gray to take a few steps back, their brows frowning along with their lips. I felt tears well up in my eyes that I kept compressed, "Can I go home yet? I'm sorry for missing the dinner and wanting to hang out with my friend. And I'm sorry for upsetting you..But I think it's time for me to go home and go back to work. I don't like this free-loader life I'm living with you.."

Gray looked down at me as if they were in disbelief, they didn't say a word. They only made a gesture with their hand and left me standing in the middle of the penthouse as they went into their room, slamming the door harshly behind them. A moment later, Josh came in to fetch me and told me they were going to take me home.

"Even though it's the boss' orders, I and boss both know it's not safe and you should really reconsider, hermosa."