CHAPTER SIX

          THE FEELING OF A GUN PRESSED AGAINST HER TEMPLE WAS SOMETHING LUCY WILL NEVER FORGET. And when Annie opened up a bottle of vodka to celebrate the fact that they were still alive, the brunette was the first out of the door. Lucy had nothing to celebrate, she didn't feel like she had won anything at all. 

Lucy offered them a quick excuse about a migraine as she rushed home, head spinning. How on earth could she explain to them that the fear she had felt also send a rush of excitement through her veins. It was disgusting and unexpected. The fact she was about to be murdered should scare her straight, and it had in way, but the adrenaline had felt good and it was almost as if she wanted more of it.

"Get it together." she muttered as she pushed the door to her apartment open before locking it behind her and adding the chair again. 

Her bag fell to the floor besides the door and she kicked off her shoes, one landing on the other side of the room but she didn't care. Lucy stumbled into the kitchen and leaned over the counter after flicking on the light, closing her eyes tightly.

None of this would have happened if she hadn't agreed to the burglary and she heaved a long sigh. "I need new friends."

"Oh, yeah. You definitely do."

She whipped her head towards the hallway and saw him appear from the darkness behind him. His hands were clasped behind his back and his leather jacket hung snuggly over his frame, eagle tattoo moving as he tilted his head to the side. He had a slight grin on his face as he looked her up and down, somewhat pleased by her revelation. His beanie covered his buzzcut and most of his ears.

"How did you get into my apartment?" Lucy was surprised once again by how steady her voice sounded. She stayed in the same position but her fingers had tightened on the wooden kitchen counter.

He raised a single brow and glanced around her living room, taking in the pictures and artwork on the walls. There was one of her when she was ten with her two brothers, but most of them were with her friends during various stages of life.

"Here to kill me quietly?" she questioned.

He hummed and took slow steps towards her, stopping on the other side with just the counter separating them. He seemed to be by himself, none of his friends lingered at his back and she didn't know if that should be a relief or not.

"Nah," he said. "I ain't gonna kill you. Let's forget about all that."

"Then why are you here?"

"I can't stop thinking about what you said." he shrugged, dark eyes roaming over her face very slowly. As if he was taking in every detail, every freckle and every pore he might be able to see. "About how i'm not a smart business man and whatnot. It got me thinking, you know? Maybe there's something you can help me out with."

"And what's that?" she pushed away from the counter to cross her arms over her chest as she tried to hide from his intense gaze.

"You ladies got passports?" he grinned, following her by leaning forwards as she pulled back.

"I'd rather spend my life paying of our debt to you than cross the border for whatever illegal shit you'll have us do." she said, and she almost raised her brows at her own bluntness towards the gang member. And before he had the chance to put a bullet between her eyes she muttered, "Sorry."

He had his mouth slightly open as he watched her, not a trace of anger on his features. This amused him more than he would ever admit and he tilted his head slightly. Lucy tried to keep her composure but he could see the slight tremble she was trying to hide. Such a brave face and he let out a low chuckle.

"Don't apologise, ma. It's all good." he licked his lips. "If you're so headset on not doing anything illegal i'll have you do another job. No debate this time, though, yeah?" 

Lucy blinked and furrowed her brows.

"I mean, you gotta pay me back one way or another." he added, keeping his eyes on her own. "Found a pair of scrubs in your room. You a doctor or somethin'?"

The brunette shook her head and grimaced at the thought of him going through her stuff. "Nurse."

"Hmm," he nodded and sat down on the bar stool and took out his golden plated gun, sliding it on the counter. "come work for me, then."

Lucy was about to protest when he clicked his tongue, shaking his head at her and the grin disappeared. She narrowed her eyes and bossed, "To do what?"

"Easy," His smile reappeared as he leaned forward on his elbows. "you have to be available when I call. My men tend to get into trouble, need fixing up every now and then. From gunshots and whatnot. Fix 'em up and we're good."

"I can't do that." she confessed. "I'm not a doctor, I don't have much experience with emergency medicine. I work with kids."

"Then I guess you'll have to get to work, huh?" he said seriously as he tapped the counter, about to get back to his feet. "I'll contact you. You better answer on the first ring."

"And if I can't?" she shot, narrowing her eyes at him.

He clenched his jaw and mimicked her expression as he slid his gun back into the waistband of his jeans. "Don't test me, Lucy."

The brunette didn't like the fact he knew her name, but she guessed he knew a lot about her that she wasn't comfortable with. Lucy didn't like that he was in her apartment and she certainly didn't want to work for him, but perhaps this wasn't going to be so bad. At least, she hoped so. The thought of treating patients couldn't be worse than going across the border to do god knows what so she agreed.

Lucy nodded her head slowly and wondered, "What do I call you then?"

"Call me, Rio." he shrugged and went towards the front door, raising his brows at the chair stuck underneath the doorknob. "You get a lot of break in's or somethin'?"

"Something like that."

"You gotta be careful, ma." he glanced her way with a grin. "Wouldn't want anything to happen to you, now, do we?"

✧✧✧✧✧

IT HAD BEEN TWO DAYS SINCE HE HAD BEEN AT HER APARTMENT AND HE HAD NOT CONTACTED HER AND SHE WAS RELIEVED. There had been many developments within those two days and she could barely keep track of them.

Boomer had escaped. Her friends had managed to catch him again and Annie had taken a pick of his dick and threatened to send it to her daughter, Sadie, as leverage. 

Beth, Ruby and Annie were going to Canada to get whatever it Rio wanted them to pick up. Then they'd be even and out. Annie had begged her to come and she had to come up with an excuse as to why she couldn't. 

There was no way in hell she was going to tell them about his visit and what he was going to have her do, and she felt horrible about it.

Lucy thought her head might explode from everything that was going on. She was lying to her friends, she was lying to herself. 

"I can't Annie." she apologised over the phone as she lied. "We have mandatory training all weekend and I am not allowed to miss it. I could lose some work privileges if I don't attend and I really need the money."

"Shit," she muttered. "I get it. We got this."

"Annie," she frowned as she leaned back against her couch. "don't you have a home visit for you custody case?"

"We'll be back in time!" she reassured and waved her off, even if Lucy couldn't see her through the phone. "It'll be a quick trip and i'll be home before she's even on her way."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely!" she announced and then it went quiet. "But ... if something happens could you be there for Sadie? The worker will be at my place at seven and I don't ..."

"I got her." promised Lucy. "It'll work out."

"Thank you, Lu."

The blonde ended the call with that and Lucy groaned, covering her eyes as she kicked her feet up on the coffee table. She felt guilty for letting them do this but she had other things to worry about. 

Lucy checked her phone every now and then in case he would contact her but he still hadn't and the waiting was even worse. The thought of him calling her also fed her ... adrenaline and she felt even more guilty for even feeling such a feeling. 

Perhaps she was fucked in the head herself, she had no idea.

i have planned out the next two chapters and i hope to write them soon. i have work and school till thursday so i'll try my best to write a chapter between those days! This one is a bit shorter and they'll vary based on what i want to put in each chapter but i still hope you'll like it.

Love, Lottie!