I let him walk all the way down the sidewalk and almost up to the corner before I ran to catch up. I couldn't help myself. I felt really bad and the guilt trip was enough to make me uncomfortable for the rest of the day unless it was to be amended. What can I say? I couldn't stand when people were angry with me. 

"Wolfe, Wolfe, Wolfe, wait." I called, fully aware that I sounded like a dog. He didn't turn around even though I knew he heard me. Wolfe turned the corner and kept walking. "Wait, I'm sorry. I love you. I didn't mean to say that." Hmm, that sounded very familiar, didn't it? "Wait, can you stop running?" Wolfe was walking hurriedly, but to me and my short stumpy legs, it was almost like running. At least, I had to run to catch up to him. "Wait. I'm sorry. Someone just told me that, I didn't know it wasn't true. I mean, you've done horrible things-"

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Wolfe grumbled. I finally fell into step with him. He was nice enough to slow down now. 

"No. Really, I'm sorry." I pulled him with me to the side of the sidewalk so that other people could pass by. "I didn't know. Everyone...everyone says you are an awful person. And you are, you know. They're not so far off from the truth. Wolfe, you're a murderer. Prostitution is right up there with all those other things evil villains do. It didn't seem like such a far-fetched assumption."

"I know you've read some things about me on the internet. Where, pray tell, was human trafficking mentioned in my crimes?" Wolfe frowned.

Okay. So I had done some research on the Brooklyn Crowns. And while they were infamous for their drug dealings, arm smugglings, murder, extortion, and racketeering...I couldn't remember reading a single thing where sex was mentioned in any of their crimes. Other awful things, yes, in abundance, but never that...

But Ade wouldn't lie. He probably didn't know any better. People talk, rumors traveled. It was probably just another piece of gossip he was passing along. 

"Crimes are, like- a package deal." Now I was struggling for justification. "You take it as far as public assassinations, I'd think that brothels were just, you know, up there on the list. Evil crimes are sorta...grouped together- like...it all just fits in one big bracket..." I was slowly drying up when I saw the look Wolfe was giving me.

"Who told you this?"

"Oh, you know..." I shrugged. "Just...gossip..."

Wolfe let out a soft sigh after a moment of awkward silence. "Just forget it. I'm not mad, I promise. You just caught me a little off guard. It's nothing. You're right, anyways. I am an awful person."

He said it lightly but I could tell he was still just a bit offended at my thoughtless assumption, so I stepped in front of Wolfe and wrapped my arms around his waist. My head only reached up to his chin, so I tucked myself nice and tight into the embrace and let my actions speak for themselves. I didn't know exactly why I thought hugging Wolfe in broad daylight would solve anything, but I did feel really bad and he did smell really good and I was still really sad and some part of me was desperate for human affection. Wolfe was like my ice cream after the breakup, but without all the calories. 

He didn't even bother  hugging me back, the jerk that he is. Wolfe merely touched the back of my head as a response to my embrace and rather forcefully uncurled my arms from around him (because now that I was hugging him, I didn't want to let go) and stepped back, but I could see that his anger had melted. Now in his eyes I only saw the troubled waters that usually swam in those baby blues.

"I'm sorry." I said again. I had a real knack for doing stuff to him that I always ended up apologizing for. We shifted near the curb of the sidewalk so the people that were in a rush didn't have to get stuck behind our leisure pace. Reaching into my bag, I pulled out one of the mint white Twizzlers and offered it to Wolfe. "Will you accept this offering as a token of my apology?"

He frowned at the Twizzler still in my hand and didn't take it. "Yeah, whatever." Wolfe grumbled. "Apology accepted."

"Thank you." I nodded. "Now will you take this?"

"I don't want licorice, Florence."

"It's not licorice!" I was insulted. "It's a mint Twizzler, you soggy bread! Now take it before I tape ten of them together into a big white dildo and shove it down your throat so you'll know the joys of giving a blowjob!"

Wolfe looked mortified. I was, too. Where did that come from? Seriously, I considered myself the peace and love child and yet there I was, coming up with terribly aggressive insults and hitting people. Maybe I should take some of the coffee filters we use and put it over my mouth since I didn't seem to have any control over what left my lips. Did I not subconsciously value my life enough to not verbally and physically rile up the most dangerous man in the country? First the coffee in the face, and then I "accidentally" dragged him down with me when I fell, and now insults added to the injury. I was really creating a nice impression on him.

Keeping a straight face, Wolfe plucked the Twizzler from my hand.

But when he thought I wasn't looking, he threw it into a nearby trashcan we passed a few moments later.

So me being the asshole that I am, I slipped another one into his jacket pocket when I thought he wasn't looking. I think he might have noticed me doing it but he pretended not to notice so I pretended not to notice him notice me. But a moment later, when I looked at his pocket, the Twizzler wasn't there anymore but laid on top of a gutter lid a few yards back so I sighed and decided not to try again. He wasn't worth wasting my mint Twizzlers, no matter how bad I felt.

"Where are we going?" I asked, subtly pushing him off the curb and into the street.

"Florence!" Wolfe snapped, stepping back onto the sidewalk. 

I gave him the most innocent look I could muster. "Yes?"

Wolfe didn't answer. Instead, he gave me one of his famous ice glares and kept walking. He had his hands shoved deep into his pockets so no one could see the bandages. Or maybe he was just embarrassed by the smiley faces I put on them. Good. Maybe I should've drawn dicks on them.

As we walked down the crowded Brooklyn streets, I looped my arm through his because he was walking really fast and I was afraid I was going to get lost again. But wait, this whole looping arm things was part of a bigger plan. I still had no idea where Wolfe was going or why exactly I was going to said place with him. At this point, it was all based on trust. Not that I would ever trust a criminal. It was more like...having enough decency not to shove me down a meat grinder and feed me to the cats of New York. 

As I said, the looping arm thing was the base of my master plan. Insert evil laugh next. (Mwah ha ha.) Since we were linked, I dragged Wolfe to the middle of the sidewalk where it was most crowded and then, wait for it...quickly shoved him into a bright red and yellow life size mannequin of Ronald McDonald and then dashed away to laugh at his stumbled fall from a safe distance.

"Idiot. Watch where you're going." I chuckled when I was a good ten feet away from Wolfe, who had unceremoniously crashed into the poor mascot. He also did this really funny flailing thing to regain his balance and his face was crushed against Ronald McDonald's pectorals. From where I stood, I could hear him curse wildly and the people around us who had seen what happened laughed. Like I said, I felt really bad for being mean to him earlier. So what did I do to make up for it? Be mean to him even more, that's what. After all, the whole meth thing was his fault so he deserved a little karma by yours truly since life wasn't going to deliver.

There was absolute murder in his eyes. Wolfe straightened up and strode towards me, his lips forming words I couldn't hear. I, on the other hand, was laughing so hard I almost peed myself. It was the stupidest thing I could have done but oh boy, was it funny. If Brice was here to see this, it would've ended on his Snapchat story, too.

When he was within reaching distance, I gathered my wits back up and decided to get the heck out of there before my life ended. Wolfe didn't seem like the kind of criminal who would be concerned about witnesses if he was mad enough, and I didn't feel like being the star of a public execution today so I excused my way to the corner of the street, still chuckling to myself. 

He caught up quickly. "Florence!" Wolfe grabbed my wrist and yanked me back. His blue eyes were flashing dangerously and his fingers tightened around my skin up to the point where it surpassed uncomfortable and turned into pain. "For fuck's sake! You really know how to push a person's buttons. God damn, I am so tempted to just-" He stopped for a second and glared at me, fingers digging in. I wasn't laughing anymore. "-honestly, do you want  me to kill you? Death wish crawling somewhere around in that head of yours?"

I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction from an answer so I fixed a blunt look on my face and shrugged. I was pissed about the massive drug smuggle in the cellar. The hot water it would land my parents in if there ever was a bust was too horrible to think about. Ade leaving me hurt too much. I didn't have a death wish, it was more like...a desire to poke a bear until anger finally imploded. If bothering Wolfe was what it took to make me feel better, then I'd be the most annoying person on the planet. I wanted to feel something other than the raw, bitter hurt that was gripping my chest. I wanted something to happen.

"I'm sorry." I finally said. Wolfe's grip was really painful now, almost as if my wrist was about to snap from the pressure he was putting on. I don't know what he wanted. I don't know what it was gonna take for him to leave. Trying to shake his hand off me, I shrugged again. 

"Florence-"

"Let go of me."

"Just explain to me why-"

"Get your hand off  me, Wolfe!" I jerked my wrist to the side, effectively loosening his fingers. Before he could react, I pulled myself away from him and clasped my hands behind my back. "Buddy, my guy, my friend, I am very sorry for pushing you into that mannequin, but I really have to go now-"

"I didn't ask for an apology." He said quietly. I looked up. There was a clear emotion swimming underneath that freezing exterior but I didn't know what it was. Not anger, not amusement, not even defeat. It was more of a pity look than anything else. And then Wolfe sighed and captured the sleeve of my jacket so I couldn't leave. "Look, I don't know what happened to you last night or this morning, but whatever it was, it obviously crushed you. So I'll be nice and let these stupid games you're playing pass for now. I'm not going to ask you to tell me what happened because even if I did, I know you won't tell me. But no more of this shit, okay? Don't take your pain out on me but on who's causing you pain in the first place. Also, I'm very sorry if your wrist is aching now."

"Oh boy, an apology from Wolfe Sterling!" I whispered in a mocking tone. I instantly regretted my words because I suddenly came to the realization that saying his name out loud in public, even in a whisper, was just begging for an interrogation from the NYPD. And also because Wolfe stared at me with such a heady look that I felt the beginning flutters of chagrin set in. But I being Florence, I continued. "Today must be my lucky day. No sir, I  did not ask for an apology. I didn't ask you to come to Brooklyn and disrupt my once average life, I did not request your presence around me, I did not wish  for you to drag me around-"

Wolfe suddenly reached over and clasped his fingers around my own, raising my hand to his mouth. He pressed a soft kiss on my wrist, all the while keeping a watchful gaze on me. I faltered, instantly distracted by the curve of his warm mouth, the soft indentations of pink and stubble scratching my skin.

"Did I hurt you?"

"I'm not in pain." I snatched my hand back, my heart thrumming. "I'm fine! It does not matter. Doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter-"

"Was it him?" Wolfe asked softly. 

"Who?"

"The kid sitting on your apartment steps yesterday."

"No." I was a pretty good liar. Unfortunately, Wolfe was a great liar-catcher. I just hoped he wouldn't see through my facade. From the piercing gaze of his eyes, I was afraid he did. Keeping my voice low and head down, I watched a little ant crawl up the brick wall we were leaning against. "It doesn't matter."

"It does matter, Florence." Wolfe said. "You keep saying it doesn't, so it does. I'm going to assume that someone hurt you and I'm also going to assume that it was the kid I saw yesterday who's the cause of all your troubles." His fingers pushed under my chin again but I slapped him away. His skin was made up of electricity and all the wrong components, too bruised and savage for me to handle. "And you can assume that I won't do anything about it unless you want me to, in which case you'll be wrong because..." He trailed off, the threat laying incomplete on his candy red tongue.

"Because nothing." I finished for him. Not denying his assumption let Wolfe know that he was correct with his guess at what happened. I would have but I was too drained of energy to contradict his words. The bright yellow glass box filled with the New York Times bearing the title of the Crowns infamous drug smuggle a few yards away wasn't helping, either.

Wolfe raised his left eyebrow slightly, keeping his face composed but very subtly revealing the amusement underneath.

"Because nothing." I repeated, just to make sure my words got across to him. "You're not going to do anything. You can't, and I don't want you to."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. Haven't you caused enough problems?"

Smirk. "Not enough."

I groaned and began walking away from him and the storm of destruction he caused in his path, back towards the Espresso House. But like storms, the vicinity of them had a far reach. Wolfe gave a loose laugh behind me and followed my footsteps as I dodged through the crowds trying to lose him. It annoyed me how easy Wolfe had it, walking around New York like he wasn't just the most wanted criminal in the country. He shouldn't have the privilege of that freedom after everything he's done. Wolfe should've been behind bars. There was a rumor he once had been in prison but broke out after murdering three guards and gutting his cellmate. But it was just a rumor, one that I desperately hoped had no truth to it like the brothel one.

"Hey." Wolfe appeared beside me. "I want to show you something."

"I don't want to see your penis."

"What?"

"Nothing." I smirked. He looked so cute when he was befuddled. I knew my words had a way of catching him off guard and I never tired of the reactions he gave me. "Forget it, Wolfe. I need to get back to the coffee shop. Because, you know, some people actually work  to earn money. Shocking, I know."

"I like how you're talking about it as if I've actually given you an option." Wolfe's fingers twisted through mine, tight as a handcuff and holding more power than metal ever could. No matter how much I tried to pry them off, I couldn't. He had an iron grip and the differences in our physique made it easy for him to literally drag me anywhere he pleased. "Allow me to rephrase. You will come with me, Florence."

"Or what?" I couldn't help but ask. Something about his authoritative tone of voice just made me want to rebel against his words. I didn't want to hold his hand. I didn't want to touch any part of him. I didn't want us to look like a nice couple on a nice walk, which was clearly the image we put out to the public. It would just make me seem even more connected to his life when he was finally arrested, and I needed  to cut off any ties to the Brooklyn Crowns before it was too late. 

"Or I'll order my men to burn down every single store in the country that sells Twizzlers."

The horror I felt at that moment surpassed the ability to be described in words. Shutting my lips tight, I fell into pace with Wolfe's long strides. He walked quickly, almost invisible to everyone else. Seen only when he wanted to be seen. Heard only when he had something to say. Twice I nearly stumbled over unseen objects and would have fallen if not for the hold he had on me. We were making our way down 5th Avenue, headed towards the Simmons Law Firm building for some reason. Maybe Wolfe wanted to secure a lawyer for his inevitable trial in court.

Wolfe dragged me in through the rotating glass doors. The inside looked as a normal law firm building should, I suppose. Elevators on opposite sides, potted plants, a pretty receptionist, a big cluster of different country flags hanging from the white plaster walls, and many doors that many people in many different office attire walked in and out of. No one paid attention to us as Wolfe led the way to one of doors.

"Really, Wolfe. I need to get back." I was getting worried now. There was one man in a suit that appeared too tight for him that walked by and acknowledged us with a polite nod, but for the most part, we were unnoticeable. And I really did not want to go anywhere where Wolfe Sterling would be. He could be busted any day of the week and I didn't want to be there when SWAT teams broke down the doors. 

Wolfe feigned a hurt look. "I thought you trusted me."

"What gave you that idea?!" 

"Blind innocence." He replied quietly.

I didn't know what he meant by that and I didn't ask. Pulling out a Twizzler from my bag, I stuck it in my mouth and chewed the cool mintiness of one end fretfully. Wolfe opened another door and we went inside. There was a staircase with a window up at the first landing. We didn't climb them. Instead, Wolfe opened yet another door marked 'Employees Only' and there was another staircase at the end of the hallway. Unlike the first one, these steps led down. 

Taking no interest in my protests, Wolfe all but had to tow me down them. I was, like, 69% sure he was going to kill me now. There had been a lot of false alarms before but I was certain my death was happening in a few moments. Forget the meat grinder thing, the dungeon we were seemingly heading towards was a lot more ominous and realistic. It was more his speed. Meat grinder murders were for evil cat ladies who needed food for all of their 101 cats.

"Please don't kill me." I whispered worriedly as Wolfe led me to another door. He pushed this one open. We were underground now, in a basement-like structure, because there weren't any windows and lots of electrical lining and wires that backed up the systems for the building. Pipes ran the length of the ceiling and big boxy machines stood scattered all around the twisting hallways and big rooms. It was cold down here, drafts coming in from unseen crevices and no heating. 

"I won't kill you, Florence." Wolfe growled. He took long, confident strides, knowing exactly where he was going. "Why do you always think I'm going to kill you? I'm not a murderer. Okay, scratch that. I am, but not to you." He suddenly stopped. Before I crashed into his back again, Wolfe steadied my abrupt halt by placing both hands on my shoulders. The heat from his skin seeped through the thin shirt I wore and made me blush. Wolfe's eyes were blue and clear, searching through mine for something. They reminded me of Clancy. His breaths came out soft but heavy, fingers brushing along my jawline gently. I was stunned, for lack of a better word and I accidentally swallowed what was left of my Twizzler. Affection was next to nothing on what feelings Wolfe Sterling could portray. His voice was quiet when he spoke. "I won't ever hurt you, Florence." 

I was thoroughly uncomfortable. Fully aware of the fluttering of my heart, I focused my gaze on the delicate skin of his neck, top part drawing out some of the stubble and Adam's apple protruding like a lump. It was easier than looking him in the eyes. Wolfe might not feel anything but I did and I didn't like the torrent of emotions that ran through me when I looked up. "Debatable." I smiled, trying to ease the intense atmosphere. 

Wolfe's response was a bemused glance. He let go of my aching wrist and placed his hand on my lower back, which was even worse because now he had the option of shoving me forward so that, if the chance arose, I'd die first instead of him. Kind of an asshole move, but it's not like I could expect any better from him. He opened the door, and like I predicted, shoved me in first. I half expected to die right there and then because the room was pitch black and perfect for murderers to hide in. Darkness had a way of adding that bone-chilling fear factor.

But then he turned on the light.

The room we were in was some kind of storage room. Lots of shelves filled with boxes and thick stacks of paper stood five feet apart, all in neat rows like a library. The ceiling was high up, ending in painted over cement with harsh florescent lighting. 

"Come on." Wolfe nudged me forward. Glaring at his back, I followed him to the back of the room where there was another thick metal door. This one had a control panel beside it. I thought Wolfe was going to go through that door, too. Instead, he stopped about five feet away from the exit and bent down to remove what appeared to be a gutter lid trapdoor thing in the middle of the floor. He pushed the lid aside and stood up, smirking at me. I peered over his shoulder curiously. Darkness encased the rectangular hatch as far as I could see.

"Hop in." Wolfe announced.