The Enforcer or The Mafia Prince

Chapter 14

Jess was surprised to find Tristan waiting for her at the end of her class day. Both Jimmy and Declan were absent. The dismissive look she gave Tristan didn't elude him. He held the passenger door open for her and didn't say anything until they were both safely in the car and on their way.

"Jessica, I know Declan told you I was recently seeing someone else. Please let me take you to dinner so I can explain," Tristan was nervous she'd actually say no. It was the first time he had ever asked a woman to accompany him who might not want to.

"If you can explain why you've been flirting with me," Jess cleared her throat," and other stuff, after seeing Sophia less than a week before we met, I'd like to hear it." Tristan had to stop himself from jerking the wheel. He hadn't expected Jess to have that much information.

"Who told you about Sophia," Tristan questioned, expertly navigating the vehicle through traffic.

"No one told me, Tristan. I'm not dense. After meeting your father? All I did was search your name online and guess what popped up? Go on, I'll actually let you guess," Jessica responded, glaring at him the entire time.

"Jess, come on. I didn't even know you then, and it's not like," Tristan trailed off, realizing he'd backed himself into a corner.

"Go on, what's it not like? It's not like we're dating? You're right; it's not. Also, we didn't know each other then. Would you like to know why I'm upset, or are you going to assume you hold all the cards and try to make things better that way?" Her words might as well have been hemlock. She's so small and cute, yet she was speaking with words aimed to kill. Tristan couldn't keep up the conversation and drive. He found a safe place to pull over and looked at her.

"Jessica, please tell me why you're upset with me," Tristan begged. He was physically uncomfortable with her attitude toward him.

"You knew you had to meet me. You knew what your father wanted. Rather than have any respect for me, you chose to make a spectacle out of yourself in the tabloids only days before. You didn't even consider whether I was a real person or not. No, to you, I was just someone you'd have to spend time with soon. I mean, you have been mostly nice to me since we met. I'm still salty about you tying up my cancer-riddled mother. But you and I both know that it was superficial at best. Then, instead of telling me about her, we fool around, and you never said a word about there being another woman."

Jessica took a breath and then continued her tirade, "Declan tried to lie for you last night, you know? I had to ask him multiple times if you stopped seeing her, and despite his attempts to cover for you, I knew what he couldn't tell me. So, Tristan, look me in the eyes and tell me things were over with her yesterday? Tell me I didn't help you cheat on her."

Tristan felt paralyzed. Setting aside the fact that no one except his parents had ever spoken to him like that, Jessica was right. He hadn't ended things clearly with Sophia. It never occurred to him to do so. He didn't love Sophia; she was just fun for him. However, Sophia had ended her engagement with that s**t-head Ryan. Rather than clarify their relationship, he held onto her, knowing that if he told her the truth, Sophia would return to Liam. Tristan had slept with her mere days ago.

Looking truly ashamed by his selfishness, Tristan responded, "You're absolutely right, Jess. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not taking you seriously in the beginning. I'm sorry for not considering your feelings. I'm sorry for not telling you about Sophia and letting you find out about her from the internet." Tristan leaned forward and pressed his head against the steering wheel, trying to figure out how to say the next part. Jessica was staring him down, arms crossed, as though she was daring him to lie to her. He couldn't do it.

"You're also right that I haven't ended things clearly with Sophia. I just saw her last Thursday. I had the chance to be honest with both of you and chose not to." Why had no one ever told Tristan how difficult it was to sincerely apologize to someone? It was hard finding the words and owning up to his behavior. He didn't even know how to ask her to let it go.

"Ha! You saw her last Thursday. So the night we all stayed up to watch a movie, you tried to hold my hand," she scoffed. Who did this self-centered jerk think he was?

"Jess...," Tristan had no idea how to respond. Jess furrowed her brow and pinched the bridge of her nose, deep in thought.

"Okay, Tristan. You've told me the truth now. It's only been a few days, and we have a long while to go before we're out of each other's hair. How do you want to play this?" Her words seemed so loud in the confined space.

"Well, how about we start by going on a date? How about you go to dinner with me?" Tristan thought this moment was his opening, that poor boy. Jess laughed in his face, causing Tristan to turn red and start getting frustrated. What else did he have to say? What did she want that would make this conversation end?

"You don't have to f*****g laugh at me, Jess," Tristan growled.

"Well, at least you're finally being real with me. I don't care if you get frustrated with me. I don't care that you might not even like me as a person. But I am a person, living and breathing, just as you are, and I will not tolerate you being a fake asshole with me. You're hot; I'll give you that. But I don't know you or a thing about you. Everything until just now has been fake, and it's frustrating. Hell, I don't even know if I like you as a person because you haven't been one in front of me."

"So what do you want me to do, huh? Jess? What do you want?" Tristan was pissed off; no one had ever called him on his s**t before.

Jessica just shook her head at him, "Tristan, how about before you try holding my hand or making me go on a date with you, you just start by trying to be friendly and get to know me? I also don't want to help you cheat on your girlfriend."

"Wait, what?" Was that it? Just those two things would solve everything?

"Clearly, you've never had anyone tell you the importance of being honest. I don't want to help you cheat on someone, and I want you to know more about me than what you find in some dossier. I'd also like to get to know the real you because this playboy shtick you use to mess with your father isn't going to work on me." Tristan could have passed out from the inability to breathe. How did she know it was all an act when his dad didn't? Even Declan didn't know.

"How can you tell it's an act," Tristan choked out.

"How? You have no game. You're the worst at flirting," Jessica giggled. "I really don't mean that in a bad way. I like that you're kind of awkward." Tristan thought about her words; no one had ever said they liked him, whether platonic or not. Declan was a real friend, but even they had boundaries. Jess was the first person since his mom to cut through to his core like this. Meanwhile, Jess was struggling with her own internal fears. The last thing she wanted to be for anyone was an object. Yes, in the bedroom was one thing. She liked it a little rough. However, no matter what she liked, she still didn't deserve to be toyed with. There was a difference.

When Tristan looked up, his eyes were slightly red, "Jess, I really am sorry. I'll handle things with Sophia later tonight. For now, will you please go to dinner with me so I can get to know you a bit? You're right; because of our parents, we're going to be stuck together for a while. I should at least do you the courtesy of being real with you."

"Yeah, I'm starving," Jessica told him, finally giving him a smile. Tristan started driving again. The car was quiet for a bit, both feeling awkward after arguing and neither knowing what to say.

"Hey, Tristan," Jessica wanted his attention, "I'm sorry for snapping at you instead of just talking to you." This time Tristan did reach over and hold her hand.

"It's okay," he said, rubbing his thumb against her, "I don't think I would have listened if you didn't."

They ended up going to a tiny bistro Jess had never seen before. She'd been in the area, on the street even, but this place seemed to blend in. It was as if one couldn't see it unless they were specifically looking for it. Despite its size, it was all class. Every item on the menu was painstakingly curated for health and taste.

"What is this place," Jessica asked, in awe of the hidden gem.

"Well, you said that you wanted to know me better. This is my favorite restaurant. My mom used to bring me here before," Tristan stopped speaking and clenched his jaw. His mom was a tough subject for him. "I'll tell you about her another time; for now, just enjoy."

Jessica saw the pain in his gaze and changed the subject. She and Tristan had a pleasant dinner together. She ordered this smoked tofu dish with a garlic sauce over basmati rice. It easily became her new favorite meal. Tristan ordered something similar but made with scallops and vegetables. The couple laughed and bonded over their parents' bad choice that led to them ending up sitting at dinner together. Afterward, much to Tristan's dismay, Jessica insisted on splitting the bill.

"I told you we're going to be friends with each other, and you've already done so much for me. The least I can do is pay for my own food when we go out," She explained, not really thinking anything about it afterward. However, Tristan never went out with someone and did not pay for everything. Drinks with Sophia? Tristan paid. Bar with the guys? Tristan paid. This one dinner with Jess? She insisted he didn't pay her way. It was a sadly illuminating moment of his past friendships. Actually, Declan didn't expect him to pay. He'd even been to Declan's house before. They'd ordered pizza, and Declan paid. That made two people who only expected Tristan when spending time with him. Tristan didn't mention any of this to Jess.

As they left, the couple decided to go for a walk. It was still somewhat early, and they'd both been sitting all day. A walk sounded like a good way to unwind. They didn't hold hands or act close to one another in public. They walked along reasonably distanced though clearly friendly. Anyone looking at them wouldn't have thought something was going on between them. But Sophia did. A fury of blond hair and tan legs rushed before the couple with a banshee-like yowl.

"What the hell is this, Tristan!" The screech took everyone within a 400-yard radius by surprise.

"Sophia," he acknowledged, unsure of what to say.

"That's all you have to say? You've been ignoring me for days just to turn up on a date with this prudish wench," Sophia glanced at Jess's overworn backpack laden with textbooks and her unbranded clothes. Jessica didn't react.

Instead, she leaned over and whispered to Tristan out of the corner of her mouth, "Did this b***h just call me a prudish wench?"

Without hesitation, Tristan responded, "Yeah, sorry, she likes romance novels." Clearly, they were not engaging with Sophia's intensity.

"Don't ignore me! Liam told me he'd seen you around with some goody-two-shoes-looking runt. I didn't believe him, but this? You're ignoring me for her?"

"Sophia, first of all, I've been busy. She and I aren't together. Second, what do you mean Liam told you? Ryan has seen her?" Tristan was careful not to mention Jessica's name to Sophia.

"Well, duh! He's still pissed at you because I chose you. He tried to get a little more information about her last night, but nothing came of it," Sophia said with a knowing glance.

"What do you mean by that," Jessica shot out in front of Tristan. She wasn't afraid of Sophia's twiggy limbs; Jess could take her.

"Oh, you know, just a little information search," Sophia played coy and twirled a lock of her hair around her finger.

"Does your Liam know about what happened last night?" Jessica wasn't in a playful mood. If Sophia, Liam, or both of them had anything to do with last night, Declan and Tristan had to know immediately.

"Well, I don't know about anything that might have gone down at Tristan's place last night, but if you're staying in the same building, I don't know if you caused anything," her words were vague enough to confuse any onlookers, but they got her meaning.

"I swear if you had anything to do with Rick getting shot," Jess started to threaten her.

Sophia started cackling, "Look at this, Tristan! Your little tramp worries about the help. You should be careful she doesn't play around with your underlings. You never know what infestation she could bring to your ranks."

Jessica wanted to rip the plastic hair out of Sophia's scalp strand by strand. However, thinking about the meeting with Ciaran, when Tristan stepped up to defend her, Jessica had to stop him.

Jess turned and placed a hand on Tristan's chest, "Stop. You can't be seen fighting with her. Kindly end things with her right now, and let's go. Your father would be pissed if you caused a scene." Tristan knew Jess was right. He couldn't be a part of Sophia's show right now. He took a breath and steeled his temper.

"Sophia, I'm very sorry I haven't called. Our relationship has caused some problems at work. I think it's in both of our best interests if we amicably end things here," Tristan thought he could picture Jess applauding his restraint in his head.

"Don't lie to me. You've moved on to this pathetic," Sophia started to put down Jess yet again.

"Listen here, Barbie. We don't have time to listen to you ramble on. You yelled your piece. Tristan said his. We have somewhere we need to be," Jessica didn't wait for a response. She grabbed Tristan's arm and whirled around. Jess dragged him over to his car. No one was listening to the litany of insults Sophia was attempting to yell at them.