A Mafia Thing

Chapter Five

    “That doesn’t make any sense, though!” Brooke’s sniffling whine broke me out of my daze. I had been so lost in my thoughts I completely forgot she was even in the room. “Why would he just bail? And without a word?”

    I shrugged, “apparently it was his parents choice.”

    “He was a senior though, right? If he wasn’t eighteen at the time he was close enough. Why didn’t he come back for you?” I could see the wheels turning in her brain. She was doing what I’d spent years doing— wondering why. Questioning everything. Had I done something? Said something? Was he alive? In jail? I was haunted for the next two years until I received a letter from him.

    The letter.

    I shuddered at the thought. I’d brought up too many memories, too many emotions tonight. There was no way I was about to bring up the letter that he’d sent me. Plus, how could I? With everything I'd omitted from my story to her, the letter itself wouldn't have made sense. It would have just brought on a whole mess of unanswerable questions.

    “The love was one sided. Plus, it makes sense in a way. His life had to have been stressful always having to protect me.” I had to keep myself from rolling my eyes. Leon hadn’t cared about protecting me. He was dangerous— violent. He killed a man without batting an eye. It wasn’t stressful for him. It was second nature. I knew for a fact that it was something he enjoyed doing. It gave him an excuse to fight people, to issue threats whenever he wanted. He never actually needed an excuse to do that, but he told me once it made him feel better. It made him feel good.

    “No way. I’m calling bullshit.” Brooke jumped off the couch and was pacing around the living room. “You guys were in love, no way he’d stay away. What’s his name? We should do a full deep dive on the Internet. We should find him!”

    “Nope, not happening.” I deadpanned.

    “Why not? What if he’s still in New York? We could buy plane tickets and track him down. Maybe he’s still pining over you, like you have been over him!” She was getting herself worked up into an excited frenzy.

    “That all sounds very.. you, but he’s moved on. He’s engaged now.” That was something I’d learned last week— the night I ran twenty miles. Had my legs not stopped working I would have kept going. I never would have stopped.

    “Seriously?!” She was shouting now. I winced at the sound. “How did you find that out?”

    “Someone from high school told me. I made friends senior year.” More lies. No one messed with me anymore, they were all too afraid Leon and I still talked. They thought he’d come back and make good on old promises. No, no one had told me about his recent engagement. I had the joy of finding out like the rest of the world— on a magazine cover.

    After I graduated and moved across the country Leon started popping up everywhere. Social media, magazines, tabloids, all over the news. I couldn’t escape him. He had taken over all of the legitimate businesses for Banks Enterprises. Suddenly Leon Banks was a household name. The twenty year old billionaire, with looks that put models to shame.

    Girls across the nation swooned over him. He had gotten more toned, lean and muscular since high school. He was now a full blown gorgeous man. His dark and dangerous eyes were even more alluring. He started dating wealthy Manhattan socialites. Then models— singers, actresses. If the woman was wealthy, beautiful and influential Leon was seen with her.

    At first it was painful to see. My first year of college involved me actively avoiding television, magazine stands, hardly using my phone. My life revolved around class, gym, home. I had become a complete recluse. Normally this would have been fine seeing as I’m generally antisocial anyway. But this felt forced— like I was a prisoner in my own life.

    Sophomore year had gotten better. That’s when I got my job at the gym. Brooke didn’t see that as me “getting out there”, but I did. It was the first time I’d actively wanted to be doing something for myself. Class was mandatory, working out was what made my daily life possible. I didn’t need a job. Between grants and scholarships I was fine financially as long as I kept up my grades. Working at the gym was the first thing I did for myself.

    This year— junior year— I felt practically free from him. The clothing store we work at has two televisions playing all the time. One Brooke insists having on E! where I’ve had the pleasure of seeing him dressed elegantly on red carpets for movie premieres and galas. The other television is always set to ESPN— Leon sitting court side at a basketball game, in a private box at the football stadium. We even sell magazines that have his face plastered to them. It didn’t bother me as much anymore. The stabbing pain was replaced with a nagging burning instead. I’d survived Leon Banks.

    “Is the new girl hot?” Of course she’d care about that.

    I snorted, “she’s gorgeous. She has money and connections that match his. They’re an ideal couple.” My words had an underlying bite to them. I’d accepted losing Leon. I knew I couldn’t compete, not with someone like Claire Hastings. Beautiful, rich, entitled. A family with known mafia connections. They couldn’t be more compatible on paper. Still, I couldn’t help but feeling like someone had reached inside of my chest and begun squeezing my heart.

    “You’re gorgeous!” Brooke jumped back down on the couch, practically landing in my lap. “You said your guy’s rich, so why does it matter that you’re not? Crash the wedding!” Her blonde hair cascaded around her petite shoulders from her movements.

    “He's not my guy, and I’m good.” I slipped my phone out of my pocket and typed in Nick’s name, sending him a quick text message;

    I know it’s late but still down for the gym?

    It was past midnight now, nearing closer to one in the morning. I wouldn’t blame him if he turned me down, or if he didn’t even answer. I was surprised when only a few seconds past before my phone vibrated.

    I’m down. Need a ride?

    Normally I’d tell him no, but the uneasy feeling of earlier crept back to my memory. Logically I knew no one was watching me outside, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was.

    I texted him my address and he responded that he’d be there in five minutes. A calmness washed over me. Soon I wouldn’t be thinking about Leon Banks anymore.

    “It doesn’t matter.” I waved dismissively at Brooke. Grabbing the salad from the table that she’s brought me earlier I stood up from the couch. I placed the salad in the refrigerator before heading off to my room. I dumped the dirty clothing out of my gym bag before stuffing some clean sweatpants and a sweatshirt inside.

    “It does matter! He’s the love of your life. How are you ever going to move on without closure?” Brooke had already shoved her way into my room, plopping down on my bed with a light thud. “What’re you doing?” She furrowed her eyebrows together, staring at my gym bag.

    “I’m taking your advice. I’m going to hang out with a guy.” A cocky smirk spread across my lips.

    “Wait, seriously?” Her eyes grew wide. She glanced at her watch. “At this hour? Holy crap, booty call?”

    I rolled my eyes, “no.” I deadpanned. “He’s a basketball player. He had access to the athletes gym. We’re going to workout.”

    “Didn’t you already workout? Please don’t overdo it.” She was concerned, again. I understood why. There had been countless times over the last three years that she had to come pick me up from the gym — literally, and every time I assured her it was the last time. It never was. I doubt there would ever be an end to my insane workouts. 

    “I’ll be fine.” I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze just as we heard a knock on our apartment door. “And there he is.”

    I didn’t wait for her response. I grabbed my bag and hurried down the hallway. Nick and Brooke exchanged hellos before he and I headed for his car.