Chapter 14
Arlington POV
“That's a terrible idea Crown,”
I listened to Sebastian complained, but I already made a call to Gareth, a detective, a corrupt one. And who is better at spreading rumors than being a police, they find unidentified bodies all the time, we just need one who matches Paige's description.
“And what makes it so terrible? Because I am helping Paige,” I poured my self a half glass of whiskey, bringing it to my lips,
“Tell me, Sebastian... Why do you hate her? Ever since you learned who she is, you've been fighting against her, why?”
“Because she is a parasite... Just eating away your common sense,”
“Tell me something about your phone,” I stuffed my hand in my pocket, sipping slowly from my glass,
“Does it have GPS Sebastian, tell me?”
“Why does it matter?”
“Because you don't seem to know your place Sebastian, and know that I am the one who calls the shot around here, not you,”
The room fell silent, and he said nothing, and I kept drinking, staring through the window, Paige was no parasite, she is just lost... Lost like I was. Maybe that's why I want to help her, help them to become the better version of herself, but first I have to know if I can trust her, trust her enough to let her go. Hearing a light knock on the door, I glanced over my shoulder, wondering who could that be,
“Come in,”
“Arlington,” Priscilla whispered,
Veering around, I met her gaze, her eyes were swollen evidence of her crying... since that night,
“Leave us,” I groaned at Sebastian, not taking my eyes off her,
Standing from where he sat, he took a long hard stare at me, before brushing past Priscilla, he didn't like her much either, and I know why, it's because she is a maid, and I was sleeping with her,
“What do you need?”
“I— I started to work again this morning,”
“I assume that you're feeling better,” I taunted, knowing damn well she wasn't sick,
“Yea— just a fresh cold,”
“Why are you here Priscilla?”
“My first task for the day is to clean your office... Sir,”
“Get going about it then,” I turned to face the window again. I am not a harsh monster who uses women for his pleasure, Priscilla knew what this was from the very first day we started to screw, she knew that my heart belongs to no one, yes the sex... It's great, and I could see how dusting very low furniture helped with her positions during copulation, but that was just it, sex... Just sex.
Listening to the door closing softly, my heart began to pound faster, her being this close to me, does something, it's like striking an empty lighter near a flammable substance, knowing a single spark can blaze, if anyone was a parasite, it was her. Sitting at the edge of the desk, I poured myself another drink, chugging down most of it, before setting the cup down. It's all I do these days, drink. There was still no sign of Morris, no trace on finding him or the remains on his gang, and I... Have now learned that my dear old Uncle Carlton was not only buying coke, but he was also a troublemaker, starting fights he knew he couldn't win.
Feeling the liquid run under my palm, I shifted my gaze to it, finding a frightening Priscilla staring up at me, she spilled my drink.
“I— I am sorry, I was, umm...”
“It's ok,” I stood up, tearing a piece of paper towel, was she being clumsy, or is she doing this for my attention. Reaching to clean up the mess, our hands touched, inflicting her to pull away quickly.
“I— I am sorry... I—”
Glancing up at her, I swiveled her around, crashing my lips onto hers, bracing her against the window, slipping my hands under her uniform, I buried my face into her neck, inhaling her sweet aroma. Shifting her undies aside, I let out a small groan, when I felt the moisture between her legs, her bud was hard and sensitive, her entrance tight, gripping around my fingertip.
“Arlington,” she moaned into my shoulders, digging into my torso, as she wrapped her leg around my waist, pulling me in, wanting more of me, she wanted me to fuck her.
And I wanted to, I just can't... I don't know what caused the blockage between Priscilla and me but as soon as a thought about Paige scrambles across my mind, it's like I don't want to anymore, I wanted sex, I mean... I enjoy it, but I want it to be her, I wanted it to be Paige. Rubbing on my soft manhood, Priscilla pulled away, loosening her grip on me,
“There is someone else, isn't there? Tell me,”
“No,” I whispered against her lips, resting my forehead on hers,
“Another maid?” She inquired, followed by a few blinks, “No,”
“Then why Arlington... We had one fight and— you just toss me aside like I am some rubbish, I thought we were something more... I thought I was something more than a booty call,”
“Priscilla come on,” I walked away from her, back to the desk, pouring my self a drink,
“You knew since day one... I can never love you, Priscilla... Never, and— it's not you... It's me, I am going through so much right now, and—”
“You're a wicked man,” her voice broke, soft sobs escaping her lips, I could hear her whimpering from behind me,
“I know,” I brought the cup to my lips, chugging the fluid down, grunting as it stings my throat,
Saying nothing, she hurried past me, slamming the door shut behind her, leaving me thinking, Was I was wicked? I asked myself, staring down into the empty glass. Was I just a mafia, a mindless criminal, and nothing more. Hearing light chuckles, I turned around, looking through the window, that's when I saw her... With him. She was inspecting the flowers, laughing at something Miguel might have said, and he was smiling, something I have never seen. Shutting the window blinds, I forced my eyes shut as I searched for my cell phone in my pocket, I need to call Lorraine, I needed her more than ever, dialing her number I brought the phone to my ear, trying hard to blink back the tears, tears I have withheld so long. It's only been a few days and I still can't come to terms with my mother's death and where she was buried, I just can't...
“Hello little brother,” her voice chirped on the other end of the line,
“Hey— hey Lor,”
“What's wrong?” Her voice fell flat, from being happy to a miserable ball of unhappiness,
“I found her Lor... I found her,”
“Who did you find... Your mom?”
“Yea...”
“Then why aren't you happy— Oh my God, she isn't...”
“Yea... She is. And our self-centered father buried her right at the back of the house,”
“I am so sorry... When did you know— and how did you know,”
“I heard a few days ago through Sebastian. He has been pissing me off lately... A lot,”
“I am so sorry Arli, did you visit her... Your mom,”
“No, I didn't, I don't see how talking to a dead person is going to help,”
“It will, I promise, just try... Pour your heart out, say what you've waiting to say all these years,”
“Ok, I will, kiss Mama for me,” I dragged the phone from my ear, I guess she is right, I need to face my deepest fears, meeting my mother... Dead or alive. Taking a deep breath, I poured myself one last drink, sipping this one slower than the rest, I was stalling. I prayed for this day, many times, and I never imagined it, to be like this, I was going by her graveside. Setting the glass down, I ambled out, heading outside, passing my men by while they chatter, nodding at presence as I went my way. It's funny how a mafia like myself can appear to so damn strong, only to be truly broken inside, leading a bunch of men to their deaths.
At the back of the house, I strolled to the mini graveyard, a place I have never visited, because I never had the reason to, these men... They didn't matter to me, actually, they mean nothing to me, nothing at all. But here I am walking among the grave of strangers... Brave men, because I found out my mother was buried among them. Surveying every tombstone, I looked for my mother's name, anything that might indicate that it was her, then I saw it, her name, Lisa Crown, I smiled at how corny that sounded, they weren't married, but he gave her his last name, I guess he really did love her, he just wanted to paint a bad picture of her, so I don't get my hopes up. Sitting next to her grave, I brushed the dried leaves away, I could feel the burning tears building up,
“Hi Mom,” I whispered.