Adrielle had just gone out to get some air. Having spent the last three days in the hospital, she was starting to feel suffocated and took the chance to get away when her aunt came to look after her father. Who would've thought she would walk into a fight?
If it was a time before problems started to infiltrate her home, perhaps three years ago, Adrielle would've turned around and ran as fast as she could before the two men noticed her, but she just stood there frozen on the spot. Her brain was telling her to run, but her body refused to cooperate.
She only recollected her thoughts when her lighter flipped shut and one of the men cursed.
Shit!
That's when she realized that she might actually die there. This ruthless man had a gun and could blow her head off without flinching.
But despite her thoughts, her body didn't really interpret much fear. She'd grown numb over the years and not many things fazed her anymore.
….
After the man threatened her to keep silent about everything she'd witnessed, Adrielle waited until he disappeared round the corner and rushed to Eddie. She had recognized him earlier since she had interacted with him a few times.
"Eddie," she called, tapping his bruised face. "Eddie, wake up," she called once more, but even she doubted he would wake up anytime soon. She felt for his pulse and breathed a sigh of relief. He was alive. She then searched his pockets and when she found a phone, she used his finger to unlock it and access his Whatsapp.
Adrielle had met Eddie at a party some time back. They had a friend in common who was the host of the party, and since then, Eddie had been selling her weed so she knew some of the people he moved with.
Her fingers were turning numb from the cold, but she needed to get him some help. She couldn't take him to the hospital herself since she knew the drill all too well. She'd be the first suspect, then the hospital wouldn't let her get away, then the cops… she couldn't deal with that.
She finally found a name she knew on the contact list and started typing. She didn't care if it sounded unlike Eddie, all she wanted was for someone to find him.
Just as she hit send, something hard and cold pressed the back of her head and she froze when she realized what it was.
"Hands in the air!" A deep voice commanded and Adrielle quickly dropped the phone and raised her hands. Fuck, what had she gotten herself into?
"Step back."
Adrielle did as she was told, noting that the person didn't yell. He sounded as calm as you'd be conversing normally.
When the man stepped around her, Adrielle cried inwardly. It was the same man who'd beaten up Eddie.
Damnit!
"Don't fucking move," Larry ordered as he bent down to pick up the phone Adrielle had been using, his gun still pointed at her. He read the text. 'I need your help. I can't walk. I'm at the street near Velvet Rope.'
His eyes shifted to Adrielle and she tensed up. The man was tall, attractive? Yes, but dangerously so. God, what was she thinking? This man was going to kill her if he thought she was connected to Eddie in any way.
"You know Eddie?" Larry asked calmly, moving closer to her. Adrielle stepped back until she hit the wall.
"Talk!" He yelled, making Adrielle flinch in place.
"No. No, I don't know him. I was just trying to get him some help," she replied, doing her very best to stop her voice from shaking.
Larry snorted. "Some good samaritan shit? You've never heard of something called minding your business?" He asked mockingly.
Adrielle didn't answer but she held his gaze. He had the darkest pair of forest green eyes she'd ever seen. His face was well sculpted, with a defined bone structure, thick eyebrows and full lips, but the most outstanding feature was the eyes.
Larry bridged the distance between them and started frisking her. Adrielle was startled and instinctively slapped his hand away, which she soon regretted when he gave her a threatening glare. She then stood still, hands still raised in the air as he searched her pockets. He digged out a driver's license from her trouser pocket and looked over it. Adrielle had never been the type of girl to carry purses wherever she went so she packed everything she had in her pockets.
A handkerchief, a phone, earphones, keys, a single credit card.
"I don't want to kill you," Larry started, his shoulders dropping, "So I suggest you get away from here and forget that you ever saw me."
"..."
Adrielle just stared dumbly, not quite sure what he meant. Should she just turn and walk away? What if he was planning on shooting her from the back?
"You don't understand english or what?" He asked, annoyance coating his voice.
Adrielle pulled herself away from the wall and started walking backwards, making sure to keep her eyes on him.
"Next time, remember to mind your business," Larry reminded, dropping his gun. Adrielle took that as her cue to turn and start running.
Larry heaved a sigh as he shifted his gaze towards Eddie. He bent down and felt for his pulse. He then took out a white handkerchief and wiped Eddie's phone and placed it beside his head. He tucked his gun away and took out his phone to make a call as he walked away towards the Velvet Rope's entrance.
The call connected and his brother sighed from the other end. "So?"
"He's alive," Larry said, his tone flat.
"Good. Next time make sure you know what you're doing instead of–"
Larry disconnected the call, cutting off Liam's reprimands.
Turned out his older brother already knew that Eddie was meeting with the Bolognas and had someone follow him. The informant had reported Larry's attack on Eddie, following the endless calls he had been receiving.
"Always ahead," he muttered grudgingly under his breath, scanning the bar for an empty spot. Saturdays were always busy at Velvet Rope, but he just needed to show his face to the manager and a spot would be cleared.
After the night he had, a drink was very much needed.