3 C.R.I.M.E.S

Chapter 12

Jacqueline POV

Things were getting back to normal, well as normal as Jacqueline and Joseph can be. There's s*x, meaning that we're not arguing and if we are, it's more s*x afterwards. We have less appointments with Angela and we go just twice a week now. But my mind isn't entirely on Joseph and I, but rather on making the Hedeon and Galina love story work.

I had cancelled three weeks ago, opting for this night. There was no special reason, it was just that I needed more time to think about what I was going to do.

What was the best idea I could come up with? A blind date. Hedeon of course knew that it was going to be Galina but Galina had no idea it was going to be Hedeon.

"Galina," I began, putting down the make up brush as both Tasha and I stepped back, "you...look amazing."

Tasha nodded, smiling wide, "you won't believe it when you see yourself in the mirror."

Tasha and I had completely taken her out of her element and turned her into a sexy sophisticated woman.

"Now, no s*x on the first date. I don't think I have to tell you that," Tasha teased, and Galina responded with a dark look. To which Tasha raised her hands in mock surrender.

"I don't even want to go..." Galina said softly, her voice hoarse and her accent deep. She looked down at her hands.

I crouched down next to her, "why not?"

"I haven't been on a date in forever and well, it's all new to me and honestly it's not my scene, I'm not the kind of girl who does all these things."

"Galina, just stand up and walk to that mirror, you'll see what we see," Tasha said, prompting Galina to get up.

She sighed, slowly getting up and struggled to walk in her heels towards the mirror. She gasped, looking into the mirror and then back at us before looking back into the mirror.

Tasha and I had really worked our magic on her- I didn't want a single thing to go wrong. Galina's usual thin dirty blonde hair with split ends, looked wavy, was shampooed and had lots of volume. The secret, hair extensions. She's clearly not one to wear make up, but tonight, she looked like a model with the high cheekbones, perfect contour, long eyelashes and smokey eye that made her blue eyes pop, and red lips. Her usual full black assassin attire was replaced with a couture white lace dress and red high heels that made her even taller than she is.

"There's...wow, I look...wow," she said as she turned looking at us with a wide smile and Tasha and I squealed and clapped in joy.

"Now, there's no time to stand around and chat, the car is outside waiting to whisk you away to your prince charming," I said dancing my way to the door.

Opening it and with a dramatised bow I watched Tasha and Galina exit the room and I followed behind them.

Galina's house was small, nothing too extravagant just like her. She was a simple person who liked simple things. She stayed under the radar and done things she felt comfortable doing so I was nervous about how tonight would go.

A black BMW was parked outside and I opened the door, walking ahead of Galina and Tasha, looking at the driver, Thomas.

"Thomas, no matter what, don't tell her who she's seeing, you heard me?" I ordered him and he quickly nodded his head.

"Yes, Boss Lady."

I nodded, closing the door, turning and seeing Galina and Tasha now by the car.

"Galina, do me a favour please," I began softly, stepping up to her and fixed a curl of hers which got blown by the wind, "just let things work tonight, ok?"

"And you're not allowed to come back until 11, bye girl, I luh you!" Tasha said as we both stepped back and watched Thomas open the door for Galina and her climb into the car.

"You think this is going to work?" I asked Tasha as we watched the car drive away.

"Absolutely not."

I stared at her in shock, "what in the hell does that mean?"

"They're too alike, opposites attract. I don't think it's going to work."

"If they both like each other, it'll work."

"Whatever you say, Jacqueline, anyways how's things between you and Joseph?"

I sighed smiling, as I took a seat on Galina's couch, facing Tasha.

She grinned, "oh he's hitting it isn't he?"

I laughed, nodded, "I'm talking about all day everyday."

"All sides, all angles?" She prompted laughing also.

"Girl, doggy style, deep throating, I'm talking about 69 and riding him like a cowgirl!"

We high fived each other, laughing away.

Tasha always brought out the childish giddy side of me. Ever since I've met her, she can make me laugh, cry, giggle, cackle, I mean...there's nothing she can't make me do.

Just like every clique is different in terms of friends it was the same with Tasha and I. I was the more reserved one, and Tasha was a carefree person who didn't feel like going to work most of the time, and actually didn't go. She was the kind of person to wake up at 12 o'clock in the afternoon and go shopping with her pajamas still on, and demand breakfast at diners and restaurants.

So it was shocking to sometimes see her dressed up and looking as though she was seconds from walking the red carpet. Her usual short crazy hair standing in every direction was now covered by a long flowy wig, her make up matched her dark chocolate skin tone perfectly and her lips were underlined to perfection.

When Tasha wants to look like a hobo, you can't beat her, but when Tasha wants to get dressed up and look like a socialite: you better step aside and let her shine.

"Oh, working hard at getting a sibling for Natalya, hm," she smirked, interrupting me from my train of thought.

I bit my lip nervously.

"Oh...don't tell me you guys haven't been using protection," Tasha said as she looked at me with big eyes, "are you even on the pill or are you taking morning after pills?"

I rolled my eyes, "no, that's not it. I know I'm not pregnant."

"What makes you say that? You've got this glow, you must be pregnant," she said as she closely observed my face and I nervousfully bit the inside of my cheek.

"Tasha," I began laughing, "it's getting laid kind of glow."

"Then?"

"No, it's just that...after I gave birth to Natalya while I was at the hospital, I told the doctor to tie my tubes..." I began hesitantly.

Her mouth made an 'o' shape, surprised, "you don't want any more kids? Didn't you say you wanted three kids?"

"I did, but then, when I was pregnant with Natalya things were so bad between Joseph and I with him shooting..." I paused, playing with the sleeves of my top, "I went through a lot and I almost lost Natalya. I don't want to go through something like that again."

"Does, does Joseph know?" She asked me softly, taking my hand in hers. I shook my head and she let out a long breath.

"He's...going to lose his mind."

"I know, which is why I won't tell him."

~~~

"Mrs Hutcherson, you look... absolutely ravishing," spoke a man named Johnson, taking my hand into his and planting a kiss, "as you always do."

I smirked, slowly taking my hand away from him. Joseph who was next to me responded by wrapping his arms tightly around my waist and bringing me closer to him.

I of course placed my hand on his chest, as a signal for him to calm himself.

"How's Rosalind?" I asked him.

Johnson was known for his ways. Meaning his way with the ladies. He was for sure not good looking but his money made him good looking. He was a man around his 60s who liked his women young and beautiful. He was always seen with a different girl every time but I had begun to notice how for the past few occasions when we met he had been bringing the same girl.

A girl whose name I'd learnt was Rosalind, she was adorable.

"She's well," he said, then turned to Joseph, "Joseph, I see you're well."

Joseph chuckled, "I feel just as disappointed every time I see you."

Johnson's brown eyes hardened before they softened quickly right after. Johnson was in the illegal business as well but his position was no where as near as Joseph's.

"New York is always so lively," I commented, taking attention away from the tension, "and your home is beautiful."

Johnson smiled in thanks before excusing himself and I turned looking at Joseph.

"Stop letting him get to you," I said, looking up at Joseph and then looking around.

"I'm not," he said shortly, wrapping both his arms around my waist and bringing me closer, planting a long kiss on my lips.

Johnson was hosting his usual annual birthday party, where he invited some of the most dangerous people from around the world. Last year the party was in Greece and this time it was taking place in his penthouse apartment in New York. Which was a sight.

I had gotten dressed in one of my favourite black leather coats, which ended just before my mid thigh, sheer stockings and ended the look with a pair of red Jimmy Choo's high heeled boots.

Joseph wore a full black suit which made him look dangerously hot, and a red tie to go with my shoes. He wasn't the type to play matchy matchy, but I was the one always picking his clothes whenever we were going somewhere together, so he really has no other choice.

"Didn't I tell you to not wear those in public?" He asked, leaning down to my ear and nibbling on it.

I closed my eyes, giggling, "you mean my 'f**k me' shoes. Oh come on, you know I look sexy."

I stepped back from him, doing a slow spin and then walking back into his arms.

"Those boots are going to have me doing things I shouldn't be doing on public..."

"Who said you shouldn't?" I replied slyly. He captured my bottom lip in between his teeth, pulling back when a throat was cleared behind us.

We both turned around seeing an old lady, dressed in a pantsuit, "well if it isn't my favourite couple, the Hutcherson's."

"Lindsay," I said smirking as I stepped to give her a hug which she returned.

"You're looking so beautiful, Jacqueline, I see that Joseph is treating you well," she said laughing as she eyed my outfit.

I waved a hand at her, "he has no choice."

Lindsay looked like an innocent business woman but mind you she was deadly. She sells weapons to Joseph and other gang leaders. She knew who was going to get hit next and all the kind of information you would need to know as a mob boss. Her bodyguard was a 70 year old male- her husband who was crazy. Like, I kid you not, the woman's husband was mad as f**k. As in mental asylum and injections type of mad.

He was terrifying, and he always stayed close to her, never leaving her. The once when someone had stepped too close to her, he had bit the person's top lip off.

"Mr Hutcherson," she said smiling, flipping her hair, "you handsome young man, how are you?"

He stepped forward, shaking her hand, "I'm well and how's Sandy and Goldy?"

"I think Sandy is pregnant again and this time I don't think Goldy is the father," she spoke of her cats as though they were people.

She loved it when people asked her about her cats, that's all she really liked.

"Where's Natalya?"

"We left her at home," I said, "it's really past her bedtime and she doesn't really enjoy these kind of parties, says it's boring."

"I was just telling Eric that she's such a sweet thing and pretty too, she'll give you trouble when she grows up. Tell me, did she like the gift I gave her for her last year's birthday party? Be honest with me, I want to know so I can better it this year."

Lindsay had gotten Natalya a machete. Crazy, I know. But Natalya and her father loved it, whereas I hated it.

"Her dad and her are obsessed with it," I said, rolling my eyes, "and she always looks forward to what you'll bring her the following year. Matter of fact she drew up a list of things she wants for her birthday and she asked for me to show everyone so that no one will get her anything she doesn't like. Your name is written for the first thing on the list."

"And what is it that she wants?" Lindsay asked with a wide smile, taking a sip of her tea. Leave the old lady be, if she wants to sip tea in a room filled with champagne- leave her be.

"A poodle."

She laughed, throwing her head back, "I'll get her two, three for her being a good girl and calling me godmother."

"Please, don't buy so many for her," I said laughing as well, "I know, as well as Joseph that she'll love them for one week and forget about them after. Oh and let's not talk about how she won't clean up after them."

"Nonsense, I'll get someone to clean up for her, don't you worry," she put her hand on my shoulder then looked at Joseph, nodding, "Joseph, I've got new stock. You might want to get it before anybody else."

She stepped away, "oh and I see she still has her figure," she said looking at me and then back at Joseph with a wink, "that means you're not doing your job, Joseph."

"Night night young lovers."

At this point we were outside, having all decided to leave at the same time.

I rolled my eyes looking at Joseph, "you better not get any ideas."

He paused, looking after Lindsay. He seemed surprised and kind of angry, "did she really say she wanted a poodle?"

~~~