Strange introduction
1369 Words
"Why did you run, love?" RoughCoin's deep, velvety voice sliced through the silence like a blade as he repeated the question.
Both Ava and Liam froze on opposite ends of the call.
Love? The word echoed in their minds. While Ava's confusion spiraled, Liam's blood boiled. The thought of RoughCoin addressing Ava so intimately made Liam's grip tighten on the phone.
Ava slowly turned to face RoughCoin, with her movements hesitant and trembling. The phone remained near her ear, though Liam’s voice had faded to a distant hum in her mind.
"I...I..." she stammered, unable to form a coherent thought under the weight of the Mafia leader's piercing gaze.
Liam's warning rang in her ears again. "Don’t look him in the eyes.".
She dropped her gaze immediately, staring at the ground instead. Her hands also shook so violently that she feared they might betray her terror.
"Forget it," RoughCoin said with a sigh when he noticed Ava couldn't make up a single word. And his tone shifted into something almost casual.
"Don’t you want to know why I am here?". He asked.
To kill me, Ava thought bitterly, though her silence remained unwavering. When she didn’t respond, RoughCoin's patience thinned.
"I know you’re not dumb, my love," He murmured through a gritted teeth, his lips curling into a smirk.
There it is again,. love. The word made Ava's insides churn. She reasoned it must be something RoughCoin said to everyone, though the faint possessiveness in his tone sent a shiver down Ava's spine.
Still, she remained silent.
RoughCoin's dark eyes narrowed, and his hand moved deliberately towards his waist. Where a gun gleamed ominously under his tailored suit. He had thought this woman to be a polite and well mannered woman, but his obvious silence is making him feel she's deliberately ignoring him.
And Ava too, her breath hitched at the sight of the pistol. A quick flashback of what happened at Mr Ronnie's house replayed in her head.
Oh God. He’s going to shoot me.
With smooth precision, RoughCoin drew the weapon out. His movements unhurried but deliberate. His intention was not to kill her. Definitely not. He knew better than that.
The gun was a tool to bend the will of those that are too stubborn or terrified to speak.
"Now," RoughCoin said with a low and menacing voice. "Are you going to open that pretty little mouth of yours and say something, or do you want me to use... this?". He brandished the weapon for her to have a better view of it.
Ava's trembling intensified as she swallowed hard. Liam's frantic voice filtered through the phone, but Ava couldn’t focus on him anymore.
'Screw you, Liam.', she muttered under her breath. Either way, I am dead already.
Steeling herself, Ava raised her head slightly and looked up. But her eyes remained fixed on the gun.
"W-what do you want to know… S.sir?"
RoughCoin's smirk softened into something that could almost pass for amusement.
"That’s better," He said. "See? If you had just spoken earlier, we could have avoided all this drama. Next time, don’t ignore me, okay?"
Next time? Ava's mind screamed. There won’t be a next time.
"Y-yes, Sir," She managed to whisper, instead.
"Don’t call me ‘Sir.’ I am not your teacher, and I am definitely not your boss." RoughCoin's tone turned cocky as he speaks. "I am RoughCoin Shakur, I am sure you already know who I am."
"Y-yes," she said again, instinctively avoiding his name.
He tilted his head, catching on to her attempt to evade. He wasn’t someone easily fooled.
"Say it," he commanded, softly.
Ava's heart immediately stuttered in her chest.
"S-say what, S-sir?" She stammered, immediately realizing her mistake.
His patience was now wearing so thin, but he reined in his temper. Scaring the young lady wasn’t his intention, not tonight.
"This is the last time I will ask, my love," RoughCoin said, his tone now laced with warning.
"Say...My...Name.!"
Ava swallowed the lump in her throat, her gaze flitting between RoughCoin's face and the gun.
"S...Shakur" She finally whispered, her voice so soft it was barely audible.
The sound of his name from her lips sparked something primal within RoughCoin. Like a wave of satisfaction, coursed through his veins.
He never liked people addressing him by his first name. But hearing it from the woman who had stolen his heart without even knowing it sounds so ... rippling.
"Good girl," He murmured dreamingly, almost to himself.
The silence between them stretched, heavy and electric. She dared to glance at him, only to find his intense gaze already fixed on her. Flustered, she quickly looked away.
"C-can I go home now?" Ava asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The question snapped RoughCoin out of his reverie, and his mood darkened immediately.
"No,". He said sharply, his tone making Ava flinch.
RoughCoin saw Ava's reaction and regretted his harshness immediately.
"I am sorry," He said, surprising even himself.
"Why are you in such a rush to leave? What is the emergency?". He softened his voice and spoke this time.
"It is… it is late already.". Ava replied.
The words actually tumbled out of her mouth in a rush. And it made RoughCoin think she was afraid to go home alone.
"Do you want me to drop you home, then?". He asked.
Her eyes widened in panic.
"N-no! I can manage. Thank you.".
"But it is dangerous," he said, his tone laced with concern.
Dangerous because you’re here, Ava thought bitterly, and almost said it out but she changed her mind.
"I...this place..it’s a safe neighborhood," She mumbled instead.
RoughCoin frowned, and looked at her intently.
"Does that mean you commute alone in this area every day?"
"N..no. My friend… he usually drops me off after work," Ava admitted hesitantly.
He? RoughCoin thought.
That single pronoun made his jaw tighten.
"Your..Friend?" he asked, his voice deceptively calm.
"Y..yes. Liam. His name is Liam. ," Ava added casually, unaware of the jealousy flaring in RoughCoin's eyes.
RoughCoin clenched his fists but managed to control himself.
"Well,.". He began. "From now on, I will be the one dropping you off home.". His tone left no room for argument.
And Ava's heart sank.
No. This can’t happen.
"N..no, that will not be necessary. You are…a busy man, you don't have to burden yourself with my . problem" Ava stammered, scrambling for a suitable excuse.
RoughCoin smirked. He seemed to know the tricks Ava was applying.
"You don't have to worry about that, I am never going to be too busy for you, my love."
Before Ava could protest further, her phone buzzed again in her hand.
It was Liam.
Ava hesitated, glancing at RoughCoin.
Misinterpreting her hesitation, RoughCoin held out his hand for the phone. He only wanted to see who it was that was calling. But Ava thought he was asking for money. She quickly pulled out the cash in her bag and placed it in RoughCoin's palm.
RoughCoin froze, looking totally confused.
"What is this?"
"Tha..that is all I have right now. If you want more, I… I have a debit card. The PIN is 1825,". Ava stammered, pulling out her ATM card as well.
Realization then dawned on RoughCoin, and his heart sank. She had actually thought he was extorting her.
"No,". He said firmly, his voice almost gentle.
He grabbed her wrist to stop her as she began removing her earrings as well.
"I..I can add my earnings too. These costs about fifteen dollars..".
"I don’t want your money. Or anything else,". He said quietly. "They are yours. And you should keep them.".
Ava's wide eyes darted to RoughCoin's eyes, surprised as she nodded hesitantly, tucking everything back into her bag.
RoughCoin watched her for a while, and then asked. "what is your name?"
Ava looked up, and hesitated. She thought of the best way to trick her way out of this criminals trap, and then decided to lie about her name.
"A..Amira.".
She lied.
RoughCoin's lips curved into a slow smile. He knew the truth. He already knew everything about this woman, and only asked of her name just to prolong their conversation.
But she lied.
- Writer
