Guarded: Worth the Risk

Chapter 3

                                                                                            Nico

            “Dude-What the f**k happened to you? You look like someone just bent you over and showed you the 50 states.”

            Chase wasn’t wrong, I looked how I felt, like s**t. I had gotten to the Ponderosa 30 mins before planned. Taking my usual seat at the bar, I had begun to drown my sorrows in straight Jack. The Ponderosa was the smallest, but always busiest Dive Bar in the area, it had always been our go to place when we needed an escape. It was also a plus that our friend Kyle owned it.

            Chase has been my best friend since high school and unlike my ex-fiancé, a loyal friend at that. Once we had graduated, we both enrolled in the Ketchum Police Academy together. There were times when I thought we’d get kicked out because of some of the s**t we got into, but here we are, now on the force and partners.

             “It’s not me who was bent over having the 50 states shown to them- it was Elizabeth.”

            He lets out a loud sigh taking his usual seat next to me at the bar “boy did I not see that coming.”

            Did he really?

            “You and me both” I say downing the Jack left in my glass.

            I should have seen it coming though. We weren’t the perfect couple you see in movies. We argue like any other couple would have. There have been many occasions where she threatens to leave, but she never did so I saw them as empty threats. She never really seemed content after I proposed. Maybe it was the soul fact that it took me 8 years to do it, and then even after that it took us another 4 years to plan the damn wedding.

            Or maybe she wasn’t content with the fact that I wouldn’t bust open my trust fund to give her everything she wanted. Chase had always speculated that she was only with me because of my wealth, well my parent’s wealth, but none the less I can’t help but wonder now myself. I was never one to flaunt my family’s good fortune. Even in high school I kept a humble head on my shoulders. That’s how my parents wanted it, but I guess it was enough for Elizabeth in the end.

            “So, what are you going to do? Wasn’t the wedding already paid for in full?” Taking a swing of his beer, I can see his curiosity growing.

            s**t- I had almost forgot about the wedding.

            We had spent months searching for a venue and picking the date of her choosing. Everything was how she envisioned it. I would have been fine with eloping in Vegas, but Elizabeth had to be over the top as usual.

            What does one do when a wedding is cancelled? Do you just keep the venue and throw a huge f**k you party?

            I another sip of my drink before responding with I do know “look- all in know is that tonight I’m going to get sloshed- then tomorrow face the demons.”

            “Cheers to that brother” he raises his beer before chugging it.

            Several hours go by and Kyle yells out last call. I had successfully drunk myself into an un-functional, slurring mess. How did I manage to get to this point? Scratch that I already know how I got to this, what I should be asking where did I go wrong?

            I thought I had it all figured out:

·         Date the girl in high school

·         Get a bomb ass job after graduating.

·         Propose

·         Get married.

             Yet here I am, the drunk guy closing the local bar at 2am.

            Chase and Kyle were finally able to get off my bar stool and out to chases car in one piece. I haven’t had to be carried out of the bar like that since I turned 21. Oh, how my life has changed significantly. The rest of the night ended in a blur. The following morning not only was I woken with a major hangover, but to the annoying sound of my cell ringing.

            “Alright already- holding your f*****g horses” I mumble as I fumble through my bedsheets to find my phone. “Hello?”

            “Nico- its Uncle Enzo. How are you?”

            Good ole Uncle Lorenzo calling. That only means one thing- my mother called him. My mothers’ older brother who moved from Ketchum to Chicago when he returned home from the service. He comes home every once in a blue moon for family reunions, but other than that not as much. I’m not exactly sure why, but I can only assume it’s because of his job.

            “Hey Uncle Enzo- sorry things have been a little crazy over here. What’s going on? Everything ok with Aunt Moo?” I rub my hand over my face trying to wake myself up.

            “Everything’s fine” he pauses for a moment. “But your mother called. She told me about Elizabeth. Sorry man- ahh who am I kidding. No one really liked her anyway.”

            Great. Suspicion confirmed. No one liked her from the get-go. Way to be brutally honest, but I couldn’t expect anything less from Uncle Enzo.

            “Look, I’m going to cut straight to the chase. Your mom suggested a fresh start and I hate to say it, I think she may be right.”

            I should have known the moment I picked up the phone.

            “Well, what kind of fresh start are you suggesting?” I’m way to hung over to think about this right now.

            “I’m retiring from my position as head of security at Mezzanotte Industries, Today at 11:59pm and they happen to be looking for a replacement. They asked for my opinion and at the time I didn’t think of you-that was until your mother called me. I figure with all the events that transpired recently that you could use the distraction- and well with your police background it would be a good fit for you. Not to mention the pay is good and you get a free place to stay.”

            Not how I was expecting this phone call to go, but maybe this phone call at a better time than we both had thought.

            “I don’t know Uncle Enzo-“before I could complete my sentence, he interrupts me.

            “I have been with his company since my dear friend took over from his father. They trust my opinion and I think you are the best of the best.”

            I don’t know. Leave the Ketchum PD. Move to Chicago. Just thinking about it makes my head spin.

            “When do you need to know by?”

            “Well, I was hoping by the end of today. I retire at 11:59 tonight. If it’s any consolation, it doesn’t have to be permanent. This can be a temporary thing until they find someone more permanent.”

            What do I have to lose?

            “I’ll think about it.”

            “Son of a b***h!” I couldn’t stop the words from coming out.

            What does one do when they run into there now ex-fiancé and her f**k buddy in public? Well, it’s not certainly what I found myself doing.

            I’ve never been the person to start fights or even be involved in one, but today was the day s**t was about to hit the fan. Chase and I were heading to the diner on our lunch break when I saw them. Standing in the middle of town square hand in hand.

            “Nico, man-let it go. We’re on duty” Chase pleaded.

            f**k that.

            f**k this.

            An most importantly f**k her.

            What I was about to do next was completely out of my character. I found myself approaching them, fist clenched. My vision was clouded. I was seeing red. I quicken my pace, getting closer to them with Chase following closely behind.

            “Hey ASSHOLE” I yelled as my fist contacted his face. “That’s for sticking your c**k in a p***y that’s already been spoken for.”

            I follow up my words with a few more punches to the bastard’s face before Chase pulls me off the sorry excuse of a man.

            “Enough- Back the f**k up man” Chase growled “Seriously dude, you’re going to get suspended over this. He’s not worth it.”

            The look on Elizabeth’s face as chase pulls me away shows no remorse. How could I have ever loved someone who is so emotionless. I can’t help but wonder if she ever loved me to begin with?

            “Touch me again, and I’ll have your ass arrested for assault” the ass whole who goes by the name of Gus I later learned yelled out.

            “Seriously Nico. Don’t ever come near us again” she follows up before directing her comments to Chase. “Keep your best friend on a leash you hear me.”

            What the f**k is that supposed to mean. I shouldn’t care, I really shouldn’t care. She did this not me, but for some reason her words struck a nerve.

            “Don’t worry-Very soon you won’t have to see me ever again.”

            As we back away, Chase slowly releases his grip from my shoulder. I can’t help but hang my head in shame as we walk towards the diner. Why do I let her get under my skin so much? We enter the diner, taking our seats at our normal booth. As we wait for the server to take our order, I can see the gears turning in Chases head as if he’s about to explode with questions any moment.

            “So- want to fill me in as to what you meant that they’ll never see you again? You’re not going to kill yourself or something like that right?”

            I let out a loud frustrated sigh “No” I pause for a moment. “I think I’m going to take a leave of absence. Get a change of scenery.”

            That wasn’t the plan until about 10 minutes ago when I jumped that asshole. Sure hope that position my uncle mentioned was still available. Make note- Call Enzo as soon as you get off.

            “My uncle called and offered me a job this morning “

            “I thought your uncle was dead?”

            “Not that uncle- My mother brother. He offered me his old job. I wasn’t so sure at first, but after everything that’s happened today and yesterday-I’m beginning to think it might be a good idea.”

            I can see the skepticism on his face.

            “s**t man- It was supposed to always be me and you dude. The two amigos protecting and serving till the end.” He lets out a sad sigh “I got your back dude, no matter what you decide to do.”

            The rest of my shift that day was uneventful. Saved a cat from a tree, helped some ducks cross the street, you know real keeping the community safe type of thing. I pull up out front of my parent’s house, sitting in the car a few moments longer. How pathetic was I? I was sleeping in my childhood bedroom all because that C- You- Next- Tuesday couldn’t keep her hands to herself. She destroyed me.

            Why she did this to me, I’ll never know. Maybe it was all a façade. That we were never actually in love but infatuated with each other and settled. Pushing my thoughts aside, I pick up my phone and dial my uncle. I needed to get out of here one way or another. Find a good distraction from the past.

            “Hello?”

            “Uncle Enzo, glad I caught you. Is the job you offered me still available?”

            The long pause on the phone had me a little nervous that the position had already been filled.

            “Uh- Uncle Enzo. Are you still there?”

            “Sorry-still here. I’m glad you called. The jobs all yours.”

            “It’s a done deal. Where am I going and when do I need to be there?”

            “Chicago- Tomorrow morning. Flights already been booked. I’ll send you all the details and will pick you up when your flight arrives.”

            Flights already booked? How was he so confident that I would take the job without giving him a direct answer this morning? Doesn’t matter. This opportunity couldn’t come at a better time.

            “Great. I’ll see you then.”