Falling For The Kingpin

⋄CHAPTER 2⋄

Kelsey was in the middle of a particularly challenging task at work when her phone rang. She picked it up, expecting to hear from a client, but was surprised to see her friend Angie's name on the screen.

"Hey Angie, what's up?" Kelsey asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

"Hey Kels, how's it going?" Angie replied, her voice laced with excitement. "Listen, I was hoping you could come over to our place for Freddie's birthday dinner this weekend. It's going to be a small gathering, just a few of our closest friends."

Kelsey hesitated, her heart sinking at the thought of seeing Dylan again. Freddie and Dylan became close friends when Angie started dating him. Kelsey thought that their bro-mance was perfect since the two couples could hang out without any issues. She was confident that Dylan would attend the dinner party ... and she was even more certain that he'd bring his girlfriend, Jessica. No matter how much time passed, Kelsey couldn't imagine herself being in the same room as them. "Uh, I don't know if I can make it," she said, trying to come up with an excuse.

"Why not?" Angie asked, sounding surprised. "Freddie really wants you there, and you know how much fun we always have together."

"I don't think I can face Dylan." she admitted.

"I hear you, but" Angie began and Kelsey could tell that she already had a speech prepared, "Dylan's an ass and his should be the one feeling uncomfortable, not you! You have no reason to feel like you don't belong, you have every right to be there and if he doesn't like it-"

"Okay, okay " Kelsey said quickly. She knew her friend would rattle on until her point was made. Kelsey considered her words and sighed, knowing she couldn't avoid the situation forever. "Okay, I'll come," she reluctantly agreed.

Angie let out a whoop of excitement. "Yes! I can't wait to see you. And don't worry about anything, it's just going to be a relaxed, low-key night. Don't give into their energy Kels, you are too classy to entertain Dylan and Jessica. f**k that hoe!"

Kelsey smiled as she said her goodbyes. Angie really had a way of boosting up her confidence but it was short lived. After hanging up with Angie, Kelsey couldn't help but feel anxious about the upcoming dinner. It had only been three months since Dylan left her and she'd been avoiding him ever since. How could she sit in the same room with him after what he did and now have him rub it in her face.

But Kelsey knew that she couldn't avoid the situation forever. It was bound to happen eventually. Dylan was Freddie's best friend, and she didn't want to come between their friendship either. She was certain that this would be the first of many encounters and she'd have to get used to seeing the man she once loved -still loved?- in the arms of another woman. So with a sign, she accepted the fact that she'd have to be the bigger person and move on - even if it tore her apart.

Fuck Dylan, she thought, and f**k that hoe.

After a long day at work, Kelsey stepped out of the office building, her body tingling with a mix of excitement and nerves. The weight of the day's work slowly lifted off her shoulders as she inhaled the crisp evening air. As she turned the corner, her eyes met a familiar face leaning against the wall. Kade, with his charming smile and mischievous eyes, greeted her with a playful nickname.

"Hey there, beautiful," he said, his voice laced with warmth. "How was your day?"

Kelsey rolled her eyes at his flirtatious tone but couldn't help the blush that rose to her cheeks. Kade had a way of making her feel special, even in the simplest of moments. They shared a bond that went beyond mere friendship, filled with banter, laughter, and a deep understanding of one another. They met by chance in the cafeteria when Kade's chocolate bar was stuck in the vending machine and Kelsey just happened to have some extra change to spare. He was stuck to her ever since, and Kelsey enjoyed having him around. He was younger than her but they shared the same interests and had the same witty sense of humor. To her, Kade was the brother she never had.

With a sigh, Kelsey responded, "Long, as always. But I'm excited to embark on this delivery job tonight." She bounced on her feet, a mix of excitement and apprehension coursing through her veins. Kade, ever perceptive, saw through her facade and noticed the anxiety etched on her face.

Raising an eyebrow, he voiced his concern, "You sure about this, Kels? I mean, I know I encouraged you to apply, but we barely know anything about this job. It could be dangerous. You're a young woman doing deliveries at night. This is insane."

Kelsey met his gaze, appreciating his genuine concern. She knew deep down that he only wanted what was best for her. A flicker of doubt passed through her mind, but she quickly brushed it aside.

"I know, Kade, but I need the money," she replied with determination. "And besides, it's just delivering packages. And there's plenty of woman who do deliveries at night, what could go wrong?"

"There's a million things that could go wrong." He said as he held her gaze. "I just wish there was more I could do tohelp you out."

"Buy my apartment at the asking price." Kelsey teased making them both laugh. Kade's concern remained, but he understood her financial struggles and didn't want to push her further. Instead, he opted to change the subject, eager to bring a smile back to her face.

"Anyway, let's talk about your word of the day," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I can't believe you chose 'plethora'. It's such an overused word." he said sarcastically.

Kelsey laughed, the sound was like music to his ears. "Hey, it's a classic for a reason. Plus, it's just fun to say. Try it, 'plethora'."

Playing along, Kade rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his smile. "Fine, fine. But my word of the day is much more interesting. 'Sesquipedalian'."

Kelsey raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Sesqui-what now?"

"Sesquipedalian," Kade repeated, his voice rich with amusement. "It means someone who uses big words."

Kelsey's eyes widened in mock surprise. "Sesquipedalian? Really, Kade? I'm impressed. I didn't know you had it in you to know such big words," she teased, raising an eyebrow playfully.

Kade chuckled, his eyes dancing with mischief. "Oh, come on, Kels. Don't underestimate me. I may act like an i***t most of the time, but I do have my moments of brilliance," he retorted, feigning a serious expression.

Kelsey couldn't help but laugh at his playful response, feeling the weight of the day lifting off her shoulders. Kade had a way of making even the most mundane moments feel like an adventure. As she tried to sidestep his playful banter, Kade made a quick move, attempting to catch her and tickle her sides.

She squealed and tried to evade his ticklish assault, laughing uncontrollably. "Okay, okay, you win! No more big words for today," she gasped between giggles, surrendering to his playful antics.

Kade grinned triumphantly, releasing her from his ticklish grasp. "That's what I like to hear. Just remember, I've got a whole arsenal of big words waiting for the next challenge," he quipped, his eyes sparkling mischievously.

Their bantering continued leaving them both laughing until their stomach hurt. This was a regular occurrence for the two of them. Kelsey's heart warmed, cherishing the bond they had forged over time. Little did she know, hidden beneath Kade's playful demeanor, lay a growing affection that he couldn't quite bring himself to express. The subtle hints of flirtation in his words and the way he looked at her should have told her a different story, but Kelsey remained blissfully unaware.

As the evening wore on, Kelsey glanced at her phone and realized the hour was growing late. Reality beckoned, reminding her of the task at hand.

"I better get going," she said, her voice tinged with a mix of excitement and nervousness. "I don't want to be late on my first day."

Kade pulled her into a warm embrace, his arms enveloping her in a comforting gesture. "Good luck, Kels," he whispered, his voice filled with genuine concern. "Be safe out there, okay?"

Nodding, she stepped back, her eyes meeting his for a fleeting moment. "Thank you, Kade," she replied softly, appreciating the support he always offered. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Kelsey nodded and headed to her car. As she drove home, she felt a sense of nervous anticipation in the pit of her stomach. She had no idea what to expect from this job, but she was determined to do her best.

As she entered her apartment, she kicked off her shoes and headed to the bathroom for a shower. The warm water cascaded down her back, and she let out a sigh of relief. She got dressed in her favorite ripair of blue jeans and a white t-shirt. She tied her long hair up in a messy bun, deciding to keep things casual.

She sat down at her kitchen table, twirling her fork around the pasta. The only sound present was her fork colliding against the porcelain of her plate. She looked around and felt a tinge of sadness over the current state of her life. She missed having someone to share her life with, to talk about her day with, to have dinner with. But she knew that she couldn't dwell on it too much. She had to learn to be happy on her own.

As she ate her meal, Kelsey decided to call her mother. They chatted for a while, catching up on each other's lives. Kelsey mentioned the dinner party that she had been invited to and how she worried that Dylan would be there.

"Oh, Kelsey, I don't know why you even bother with that boy," her mother said with a sigh. "You should have moved on by now. It's been months."

"I know, Mom, but it's not that simple," Kelsey replied, feeling a bit defensive.

"Well, you should have tried harder to make it work. Maybe then he wouldn't have moved on so quickly," her mother said, her tone slightly judgmental.

Kelsey felt a twinge of hurt in her chest. Her mother always seemed to have a way of making her feel like she wasn't good enough. She loved her mother, but sometimes her words cut deep.

"I did try, Mom. It just didn't work out," Kelsey said, trying to keep her voice even.

"Well, I just don't want to see you hurt again, Kelsey. You deserve better than that," her mother said, her tone softening a bit. "You should get some advice from your sister. She's never disappointed me."

Kelsey couldn't help but feel a slight pang of jealousy as her mother began gushing about her older sister, Jillian. Jillian was the epitome of responsibility and success, always achieving great things and making their mother proud. Kelsey, on the other hand, felt like she constantly fell short in comparison. They were both in finance but Jillian was always a step further. She had the best grades, was ahead in all her classes and became a qualified finance analyst a year earlier. She had a few boyfriends in the past but her mother never judged her because Jillian still made her proud.

"I'm so proud of Jillian, you know," her mother said, her voice brimming with admiration. "She's achieved so much and always makes the right choices without making some boy influencing her decisions. Her goals and future came first. I wish you could learn a thing or two from her."

Kelsey bit her lip, trying to push away the hurt that threatened to consume her. It wasn't the first time her mother had compared them, emphasizing Jillian's accomplishments while subtly pointing out Kelsey's perceived failures.

"I'm doing my best, Mom," Kelsey replied, her voice tinged with a mixture of defensiveness and vulnerability. "I have my own path, and it may not look the same as Jillian's, but that doesn't mean I'm any less worthy or capable."

There was a brief pause on the line before her mother sighed softly. "You're right, Kelsey. I shouldn't compare you two. You have your own strengths and talents. I just worry about you, that's all."

Kelsey's heart ached with a bittersweet mix of love and longing. She knew her mother cared about her, but sometimes it felt like her efforts were overshadowed by her sister's shining achievements. Deep down, she craved her mother's approval and acceptance, even if it meant forging her own unique path.

"I appreciate your concern, Mom," Kelsey said, her voice softening. She knew that her mother meant well, but sometimes her words just made things worse.

They chatted a bit more, and Kelsey ended the call feeling a bit drained.

Kelsey's phone beeped with a new message, and she saw that it was from Pinch. She opened it to find the location where she needed to pick up her delivery. She quickly finished her meal, cleaned up the kitchen, and grabbed her keys.

As she drove to the location, her mind was racing with questions. What was in the package? Who was Pinch? And why did she agree to this in the first place?

When she arrived at the designated location, Kelsey parked her car on the side of the road and looked around noticing that there wasn't a soul in sight. Oh God, this might be my end, she thought. She took a deep breath and got out of her car, clutching her phone tightly in her hand. She followed the instructions on the text message, walking down a narrow alley until she saw a man standing at the end of it.

The man was tall, with broad shoulders and dark hair that was shaved close to his head. He was dressed in black from head to toe, and his arms were covered in tattoos. As Kelsey approached him, she could see that his face was handsome, but there was a hardness in his eyes that made her feel uneasy.

"Are you Skullie?" Kelsey asked, her voice shaky.

"Yeah, who's asking?" he replied, eyeing her suspiciously.

"I'm Kelsey. Pinch sent me to pick up a delivery," she said, holding up her phone to show him the text.

Skullie looked at the message and then back at Kelsey. "You sure you're not working with the cops?" he said, narrowing his eyes.

Kelsey felt a lump form in her throat. "What? No, of course not," she said, her voice rising.

Skullie took a step closer to her, and Kelsey could feel her heart pounding in her chest. "Relax, I'm just f*****g with you," he said, a smile spreading across his face, "You know, when Pinch described you, I thought he was f*****g around. I still can't believe Spike wanted you around. Looks like we're hiring girl scouts from now on."

Kelsey let out a nervous laugh, relieved that he wasn't going to hurt her but confused about what he was talking about. who the hell is Spike? "Oh, okay ..." she said, feeling a bit foolish as she wrapped her arms around herself.

Skullie studied her for a moment before speaking again. "You don't know who's Spike, do you?" he asked.

Kelsey shook her head. "No, I don't."

Skullie let out a low whistle. "That man's lost his mind. His never hired someone without meeting them." he muttered to himself. "Look, I'll give you the package, but you need to be careful. You never know who's watching. Be aware of your surroundings and keep your head low." he warned.

Kelsey nodded, feeling a sense of dread wash over her. She took the package from him, feeling its weight in her hands, and quickly turned to leave.

As she walked back to her car, Kelsey couldn't shake the feeling that she was in over her head. Kelsey weren't the type to judge a book by it's cover, she gave Pinch the benefit of doubt when she met him, but after meeting Skullie she couldn't The shake the feeling that she was walking into dangerous territory. Skullies advice was enough to cause a stir in her gut but who was Spike? As her mind began to race, she thought of the pay once more but the money was not worth the risk, and she couldn't help but wonder what she had gotten herself into. If she was caught in any illegal activities, her entire career would go down the drain. After all, who would hire a dodgy accountant? She made up her mind, she'd drop of the package and call it quits and hopefully, never see these men again.

Finally, she arrived at the drop off location and she couldn't be more relieved that she was one step closer to getting this night over with. Kelsey parked her car near the warehouse, still feeling uneasy about the whole situation. She took a deep breath and checked her phone for the instructions on where to go. As she got out of her car, she saw several men carrying crates and boxes into a loading dock, all of them looking busy and serious. In the midst of it all, she saw Pinch giving instructions to some of the workers.

To her surprise, she also saw Lucas standing there, looking as if he belonged.

As she walked towards him, Lucas greeted her with a warm smile.

"Hey there, Kelsey. What brings you here?" he asked.

Kelsey was hesitant at first, but then decided to speak her mind. "I'm just curious as to why you're here. This morning you seemed like a regular guy. I'm surprised that you're involved in whatever crazy s**t I've gotten myself into."

Lucas chuckled. "I guess I'm not as regular as you thought."

Kelsey felt a bit more at ease now that Lucas was around. She didn't feel as afraid as she did earlier. "So, you work for Spike too?"

Lucas smiled, showing his dimples and his eyes laughed with humor as he nodded. "Yeah, you can say that. Tell me, how do you know about Spike so quickly?"

"Skullie mentioned him." she shrugged.

"I see... Skullie lips were always too lose for his own good." Lucas chuckled then looked at Kelsey intensely. "But don't worry about him. He won't harm you. Just remember your role, follow your instructions carefully and everything will be fine. But don't worry, Kelsey. You're safe with me. I won't let anything happen to you."

Kelsey felt a mix of emotions at his words. Part of her was relieved to hear it, but another part was annoyed that he assumed she needed protection. She wasn't a damsel in distress. "I'm not scared, Lucas. I can take care of myself."

Lucas chuckled again, the sound low and husky. "I never said you couldn't. But it's nice to know that you have someone looking out for you."

Kelsey rolled her eyes, but couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips. Despite her annoyance, she was attracted to Lucas. She couldn't deny the chemistry between them.

Lucas then moved closer to her, his breath warm on her face as he leaned in to whisper in her ear. "But if you ever do need someone to protect you, Kelsey, just let me know."

Kelsey's heart raced as she felt his lips brush her earlobe. She stepped back quickly, trying to regain her composure. "I'm thinking of quitting," she said, her voice low.

Lucas looked at her, his expression changing. "Really? That's too bad," he said, his tone laced with disappointment. As he spoke, Lucas reached out and lightly caressed Kelsey's cheek. His thumb brushed lightly against her bottom lip as he spoke. She felt a flutter in her stomach, but quickly dismissed it. She knew better than to fall for a guy like him. After she'd been warned by Skullie and got a bit of insight into her 'new job', it was clear that Lucas was a dangerous man, but she couldn't help but feel drawn to him.

"I'd hate to see you go, though," Lucas continued, his voice low and flirtatious. "You're a beautiful woman, and you've got a lot of potential."

Kelsey didn't respond. She just stood there, feeling a mix of fear and attraction. She couldn't believe that she was standing there with Lucas, a man who was clearly involved in something illegal and yet he was able to stir her desires with just his words. It was thrilling and terrifying at the same time.

Just then, Pinch approached them and took the package from Kelsey. "Good job, kid," he said, giving her a smile. "You did well."

He then turned to Lucas and raised his brow. "Shouldn't you be working?"

Kelsey noticed the glint if humor in Lucas's eyes when he responded. "I was just telling Kelsey that she's got a lot of potential." The two of them smiled as they played along to their joke. To Kelsey, Lucas was just another worker that Pinch ordered around.

Pinch then took a stack of cash out of his pocket and handed it to Kelsey, thanking her for the delivery. Kelsey's eyes widened as she counted the money.

"This is more than I expected," she said, her mind racing with the possibilities.

Pinch grinned. "Like I said, you did a good job."

Kelsey stared at the money, feeling conflicted. On the one hand, it was a lot of money, and it would help her pay her bills. On the other hand, she knew that she was involved in something dangerous, something that could get her in trouble.

Kelsey pulled away, tucking the money into her purse. "I'll be on my way then." she said, her voice laced with confidence. As she walked back to her car, Kelsey couldn't help but feel a sense of power. She knew she was playing a dangerous game, but for the first time in a long time, she felt like she was in control.