The Gang Lords Florist

CH.14 Toronto

Chapter 14 Toronto

Gaby P.O.V.

It has been six months since I left Seattle. The first two weeks I spent travelling all throughout Canada until I landed in Toronto. I figure that I would stay out of the states to avoid both Drake and Santos. I called Trina one more time from a burner phone just to say I was alive. When I got to Toronto, I immediately found the underground fight scene. I also found a new handler. I was fighting every week, still under the name Red, and made enough money to buy me a luxury apartment in one of the downtown skyscrapers with tight security. Everything I bought I put under my handler’s name. I paid cash for everything else; I was living off the grid. If people wanted my name, I would just say my name was scarlet. I made no friends, no small talk. I was isolated in my own world. My apartment had a beautiful balcony overlooking the cityscape. It had four bedrooms, the master bedroom where I slept in, One room I converted into a personal gym, another was my zin room, and the other was just an empty room. The living room just had a sectional and TV, the kitchen was huge but never used. All I kept in my kitchen was cereal, granola bars and fruit. The fridge only had water and beer. But because of my dangerous occupation l had to retrofit certain furniture to conceal my various weapons. Can never be too careful.

Since I only fought once a week, I spent the rest of my time getting takeout and staying in my apartment. I found myself drinking a six pack of beer everyday except for fight day. Somedays I would wish that my days were shorter, so I took to smoking pot to help pass the time. I spent hours in my own thoughts sitting on my balcony. I know no one can see me from this high up.

Today was just another day, sitting in my lounger on my balcony staring into nothingness with a beer in one hand and a joint in the other. I can’t stop thinking about what Drake is doing right now. Is he with that slut? Did they get married and have their happily ever after? Will I ever get that? Or maybe I let Santos manipulate me into breaking up with him and he still loves me. I secretly wished that he loved me enough to find me. But as weeks turned to months and it has been half a year already, I was doubtful. Well tomorrow is fight night and I have to prepare.

I leave my building wearing my black spandex booty shorts, back Nike’s and a red sports bra. I did get a large side tattoo of cherry blossom branches growing up from my right hip to under my right boob. Also got a small cross behind my left ear, and a small hummingbird over my left shoulder. Besides that, my appearance was the same, down to my signature red lipstick. I go to my bike and drove off to the warehouse.

“Ah Red, you ready” Blake, my new handler, asked.

“Shut the f**k up and let me just do this.” I said sternly, I was never in the mood to chit chat. He was there for one reason and one reason only.

“To the left we have our challenger…Storm!” the announce guy said.

“And to our right we have the one you have all been waiting for… our sexy undefeated champion…RED!”

I enter the ring and size up my competitor. He was taller than me and well built, lean but very sculpted. His chest was covered in tattoos and he had a small mohawk gelled to perfections. I kind of felt bad that I was going to ruin his pretty little face. But I had to let my dark rage go.

The bell rings and we begin to circle each other taking our defensive stances. I see his left leg twitch indicating a left side kick, I doge it. He comes at me with a right uppercut and I trap it in between my forearms and hurl him over my shoulder and onto the ground. I turn and straddle him and punch him endlessly in his face, chest, and ribs. One final blow to his face and I knock him out cold. I stand and take a breath.

“Winner… our undefeated champion… RED!” The announcer comes and lifts my hand while I just keep a straight face. I leave the ring and head to Blake. I just nod and he gives me my backpack, money, and helmet. I Could not help but feel like someone was approaching me. I have already rejected a few gang leaders and now I have gained the respect of the community as a free-lance fighter tied to no gang. I rush to my bike and drive off. I drive around the city a few times always making sure I am not followed and then come to my building. I walk through the lobby and notice a new guy next at the security station.

“Hey scarlet meet Tom, he is our new recruit.” I nod at the security guard I already know and raise a brow to the new one, not saying a word. He looked familiar; I am going to have to keep my guard up. I get into the elevator and hit the 40th floor. It dings and I make my way to my apartment. I unlock and open the door, before I full open it I get this feeling that something is not right. I grab my concealed gun and get ready for what is waiting for me inside. I open the door slowly and flick the lights before I take aim. My eyes instantly meet familiar Hazel ones as I am aiming my gun directly at him. Why is he here and how did he find me?

Drake P.O.V.

I was getting anxious. Everyday she wasn’t with me was another day of misery that I took out on my men. I dove into work trying to keep her out of my mind. But the minute my work was done I was back to thinking about her. I had some of my men working around the clock looking for her. I would even call Trina from time to time asking if she heard anything. I knew that she crossed Canada at one point, but its been months and she could be anywhere. I was becoming hopeless.

I got into contact with a gang leader in Toronto for an alliance. We needed to protect our shipments between the borders. I flew with Jacob and a few of my men over to Toronto. I was to meet the leader at his warehouse. He insisted that I watch his fight matches, so I agreed. We made our way from the private air strip to our hotel in the center of the city. As we drove, I look out of the window at the people passing by. We come to a stoplight and I freeze. I think my eyes where imagining things, so I blink a few times, but there she was waiting to cross the street.

“Jacob look its Gaby?” I say punching him in the arm to look. “Send a guy to follow her immediately.” Without hesitation Jacob motions for one man to get out the car and follow her. The traffic moves and we continue to make our way to the hotel.

“I can’t believe it, what are the chances of spotting her just like that?” Jacob says still dumbfounded. I grin like a little kid.

“I really hope that was her and not some doppelganger.” I sigh. I may have a glimmer of hope that that was her but I needed to be 100% sure.

We get to the Hotel and I shower and change. Jacob is in the dinning area setting up laptops and making a few phone calls. I come out ready for meeting at the fights.

“Boss we got more information on that girl. She apparently lives in an apartment owned by a street fighting handler. The staff at the building refer to her as Scarlet. But that is all we have, besides some pictures of her.” Jacob says still skeptical that its not Gaby. I look at the photos he handed to me. She was ordering take out in one, walking down the street with her hands in her pockets looking down in another. But there was one that looked like it was taken high up where she was sitting in her balcony drinking a beer and holding a smoke. Each picture had one thing in common. A blank expression and dull green eyes. She was always sad. I felt her pain from these pictures. This was her. This was Gaby, my Gaby.

I tell Jacob to have someone stage themselves as a staff member and inform us of her every movement. We take a break to eat dinner and then head out to the warehouse for the fights.

We get there and make our way to the VIP section where I meet Anton, the leader of north east territory gang. We all take our seats and start our alliance negotiations. After the first few fights we come to an agreement and sign a contract.

“Cartellini I am glad we finished in time for our last fight. The champion is my favorite. If we weren’t already done with our business than I would have paused just to see her.” He said with a thick French accent. But what caught me off guard was when he said ‘her’. I turn to view the ring secretly hoping that its was Gaby. The announcer comes to the center and points to the challenger. He was a tough looking fighter, if I was a gambling man I may have bet on him to win. Then I heard it…

“And to our right we have the one you have all been waiting for… our sexy undefeated champion…RED!” I see her, my Gaby enter the ring. It was like looking at her for the first time. But she looked different, for one she had a few tattoos. I turn and look at Jacob and he looks at me with the same shocked expression. She is real. She was here. We watch her and know that she was going to take down this fighter in minutes. She knocks the guy out cold. Every one was shocked and cheered for her, but Jacob and I were shocked for a whole different reason.

I lean to whisper to Jacob “Go and follow her” He gets up immediately and I see him head towards her and her handler. I knew he could not catch her in time, she always rushed out of a fight. I do see Jacob talking to the handler.

“So what do you think? She is amazing no?” Anton says.

“Yea she is, how long has she been here?” I had to get as much information as I could from him.

“Only a few months, she is the best paid fighter in the territory, and holds no allegiance to any gang. Trust me I have tried and almost lost an ear. She is very feisty and likes her secrecy.” I smirk knowing exactly how she is. No one would dare mess with her. I almost got a bullet to my head at one point.

“Yea I know her, she was the best in my territory too. I was wondering where she ran too.” I see Jacob come back giving me a small nod. I stand up and shake Aton’s hand and take my leave. We all get back into our SUVs.

“Boss its her. The Handler is the same one that’s on the apartment deed. And he did confirm that she has only been here for close to 6 months.” Jacob said with so much joy in his voice. He did miss her. She was like a little sister to him.

“Do we have an address? I think its time I finally talk with her and straighten everything out.” He nods and tells the driver to head to her building.” Jacob and I enter the building alone and see one of my men pose as a security guard. This was a nice secure building. Jacob and I enter the elevator and Jacob reach to push the button leading us to the 40th floor. It dings open and I let Jacob lead us to her front door and open it. We both walk in and gasp at how luxurious and minimal styled it was. I start looking around. I got to her fridge and see nothing but water and beer, lots of beer. Then I look through her cupboards and see some cereal, granola bars and fruit.

“Boss look what I found?” I turn to Jacob who is in the living room and holding a small mason jar full of pot.

“Is that what I think it is?” I was shocked. My Gaby never used any type of drugs nor did she drink this much alcohol.

“Yes, and there are some pre-rolled one here too.” I shake my head disapprovingly. I glance at the trash bins and as I suspected, nothing but takeout containers and lots of empty beer bottles. I know she was broken and still hurting. I walk out to the balcony and take in the view. I glance at the lounge chair and side table where I saw her sitting in that one photo. I saw an ash try on the side table and an empty beer bottle.

“Boss she is on her way up.” I nod and get back inside and stand in her living room facing the front door. I motioned for Jacob to wait down the hall behind the corner. I wanted to face her alone. I hear the door unlock and slowly open. I see her shadow and a shadow of a gun in her hand. She knew that someone was already here, I hope she does not shoot first then ask questions later. She reaches and flicks the light, and, in an instant, I found that familiar sight. Gaby was there standing in all her glory aiming a gun at me. Just like that night I asked her to be my girlfriend. Shock was evident on her face. I wanted to rush to her and take her into my arms again and feel her touch, but I could not. She was on edge and I knew one wrong move and I would have a bullet in my head.

Gaby P.O.V.

I did not blink, I held my breath. I kept my gun aimed at him. As if all time stood still, we just stared at each other motionless, speechless.

“What are you doing here? How did you find me?” I finally spoke up and demanded an answer. I didn’t know whether to be furious that he would have the nerve to break into my place again and show his cheating face, or be happy that he was standing there in all his Hot and Sexy glory. My heart was fluttering, but my ego was ruthless.

“I am here for you Gaby…” He sighed and I could now see the pain in his eyes. He looked pale, and with dark circles around his eyes.

“How did you find me” I growled keeping my gun at him.

“It was difficult, but I spotted you on my way to a business meeting, and I saw you at the fight tonight. I was surprised that you kept your fighter name.” He gave a weak smile.

“What do you want?”

“I told you… I want you.”

“Well you can’t have me. After what you did.” I felt the pain come back to my chest, it hurt even more seeing the flash of hurt shown on his face. Why was he sad for? Why am I feeling like this again? I can’t be having these feeling come back.

“Gaby, I was set up? She was a family friends’ daughter and she couldn’t take no for an answer until I had to threaten her life. I didn’t cheat on you; I would never cheat on you. You are perfect and I always will be in love with you and only you.” He spoke with so much sincerity in his voice. I could not believe him, but it made sense, Santos was trying to break us up so he could have me for himself.

“How can I believe you?” I sternly ask with tears starting to pool in my eyes. I still had the gun aimed at him. I don’t know if I should believe him. It hurt seeing him with another woman. Those pictures weren’t fake.

He begins to move closer to me and I take a step back. I did not want to let my guard down. But every step I took backwards he took a few steps closer until I has backed into a wall. He grabs the top of my gun and gently guides it towards the floor and leans in. “You would have shot me already if you didn’t believe me.” He whispers. His face and body are within an inch of mine. We both look deep into each other’s eyes. I could see the honesty in them. He was telling me the truth. A lone tear escapes my eye and, in an instant, I felt his soft lips smash to mine. I could feel his hunger, I could feel the relief, I could feel his love in this one kiss. We break away and breath heavily.

“God I missed you.” Drake said leaning his forehead against mine. I could not say anything. I felt like this was all a dream and I was going to wake up any minute. “I am so sorry Gaby. I never wanted for any of this to happen. I wish I never went to that stupid meeting with her.” I shake my head.

“I’m sorry I didn’t stick around for you to explain. I was so hurt and enraged, I just ran as fast and as far away as I could.” I finally say with tears falling down my cheeks. He cups my face and rubs my tears alway with his thumbs.

“I have missed you so much, I couldn’t sleep or eat without you. You are the air I breath Gaby… O Honey.” He said again and kissed me even more passionately than the first. He breaks away again and I giggle. “So are you ready to come back home… with me?” I look at him and nod. I know now that this is not a dream. He is here. I am feeling the warmth of his embrace again. He still loves me and I hopelessly love him back. I thought that I could be content in my isolated state, but truth be told, this is what I really wanted. To be back in his arms and in love. “I am never letting you go this time; you understand. You are not going to get ride of me that easily.” I giggle at his statement.

“Ok… let’s go home.” I say smiling at him. I was back to being over the moon happy with the love of my life.

“Yay! They are back together again, and I got my little sister back!” I recognized that voice anywhere. I look up ad see the goof ball himself, Jacob.

“Really you had to bring him along.” I shake my head and hide my excitement.

“I’m hurt little red… I thought I was your BFF?” Jacob says faking an injury to the heart.

“Ok lets go before I murder you.” I say outright. Drake takes my hand to his and raises it to his lips kissing it softly. He keeps me anchored to him tucking my arm under his still holding my hand close to his chest. It was as if he did not want me to run away and disappear again. We made our way out my building and to his parade of SUVs. I saw all his men smile at the sight of us. I was surprised that they all missed me. I guess this was meant to be. I was meant to be with him. We get back to his hotel and share an endless night of passionate love making. In the morning while we were eating our breakfast, me sitting on his lap while feeding each other, I decided to call Blake and discuss my retirement. Drake did not leave my side for a minute. I had to force him to leave me alone while I was using the bathroom. In the evening we made our way to the air strip and boarded his personal plane. We were going home. He was my home.