LOVE IN CROSSFIRE

DAMIAN WITH SOME HONESTY

Getting pissed was an option. Leaving that room was definitely not an option.

I got pissed and wanted to leave, but the door was locked. Damian remained silent through it all.

It bothered me why he wouldn't let any other guy have me for the night, then starve me of what I needed the most.

“What exactly do you want? You want me to f**k the living hell of you? You really want to do this? Or…” he gazed at me for a while, as if he was pondering on what you say, “Or… Do you want the money?”

That question hit directly in the heart. What exactly did I want? I wanted the money so badly — Corey had to get a transplant soon, and I have to pay for all the hospital bills. But also, I needed to engage in the sinful act too. My demons will kill me if I don't satisfy them.

But I wasn't going to give him the kind of response he expected. “Do whatever you want to do, but you better give me my money.”

He sat upright, propping his head with a pillow and placing his two hands behind his head. “You're admirable.” He said, with a weird smile.

I shut my eyes in frustration. I moved to the bed, and I laid down facing the wall. I thought to myself, how does Damian switch up just like that. I was having the best time of my life with his fun way of having a foreplay, and he just messed it up.

Then I wonder how I wanted to leave the room unclad. Gosh!

I kept wishing Damian would just touch me while I lay next to him, but he didn't.

“I'm sleeping next to you, Rora. You're free to come in for a cuddle, if you don't mind.”

I don't respond or make any move. Then he added, “Good night, my lady. Lastly, I always keep to my promise.”

Something about the way he said made me believe him. I turned around, still lying next to him on my side. “Why did you stop?”

“Because you're not mine yet, Rora.”

I got confused, “Not yours yet?”

“Let's go to bed.”

I didn't say anything. He opened his hands wide inviting me for a cuddle, and I went in without hesitation.

“Good night.” He whispered to me, placing a kiss on my forehead.

When I woke up the next morning. I was still in the room. Alone. Typical Damian! Leaves me alone after hooking with me, and pays me whenever he wants to.

My clothes were folded neatly on a chair beside me. And other things were different this particular morning. A glass of water, a black rose, and a black card which read “For when you’re ready to stop hiding” sitting on the table.

For some reason, that made me smile. It had been a while since I was actually taken care of like that. The gesture was very little, but it made me feel good.

But then, for some reason, I felt sad that Damian left me again. I blinked, my heart heavy and confused. I didn't know why I felt that way, especially about a guy who would rather starve my demons.

Then, it hit me — my pay. I picked up my phone like I was expecting something. I froze.

$2,500 credited to my account. How the hell?

“He didn't lie, he kept to his promise.” I said to myself.

I shut my eyes severally and opened it again. It felt like I was dreaming. Would he just send me such an amount of money when I didn't do anything?

I got up from the bed immediately, and put my clothes on. When I got out of the room, there were two uniformed men waiting by the door.

“Good morning, my lady. Don Damian asked that I drop you off at home.” One of them said, with a bow.

My mouth sank open immediately. “Damian asked that you drop me off? Why?”

The other responded, “that was his order, my lady.”

The whole formality made me sick. It felt like my head was spinning. I shook my head, “I'll go home by myself.”

“No, my lady. That was an order, and we have to keep it.” One of them said.

And Order? I wanted to ask them what kind of order that was. All of this was beginning to feel familiar, but I kept telling myself to not think in such a direction.

Again, I refused to read any meaning to all I was noticing.

I was escorted home by this men. When I got there, Bella was already home.

“Hey, Mama. What's up? Why are you home?” I asked.

She looked at me, and didn't say anything. Then, I understood. Bella didn't like the condition that Corey was in. I didn't like it either, but I wasn't going to be all moody about it. Well, she was closer to Corey than I was.

“How's he now?” I asked, collapsing om the couch.

Tears filled her eyes, “I believe he'll be fine. It's still the same.”

I signed, definitely not of relief. But then, I had to lighten her mood. “Guess what?” I asked, sitting upright.

She looked at me, rolled her eyes and said, “what”

“Guess.” I said again.

“Aurora, there's nothing that I can I guess at the time. What could possibly happen? You hooked with someone who sent a thousand dollars again?” She said, and hissed.

I didn't like the fact that she was making me feel tired about telling her, but she was my best friend and family.

I took a deep breath. “You're close though. But I'll tell you. From last night, Bella….” I started chuckling and jumping around the living room like a five year old.

Bella watched me, and for the first time that day I saw my best friend smile. I loved to see the smile on her face.

“Tell me, Aurora.” She said.

“Alright. I made a whooping two thousand, five hundred dollars last night.”

Bella's mouth dropped open, words couldn't come out.

“Breath, my love.” I said with a smile.

She got up and hugged me, with tear flowing down her cheeks.

I know that the money didn't go anywhere close to sorting Corey's bills for as long as he'll be in hospital, not to talk of the money for his transplant. But that money was not what was expected of a hook for a night.

“How?” She asked when she finally found her breathe and her voice.

She smiled sheepishly, “it's a story for another day. The most interesting part of this whole stuff is that, I actually didn't know do anything with him.”

She looked at me as if she was trying to solve a puzzle. “How's that possible? Who's this guy?”

“Damian.”

Her forehead curved in a frown. “Damian? The same guy you spoke about the last time, right?”

“Yes.”

Her eyes widened. “Wait.” She looked at me like things were beginning to dawn on her.

“What is it?”

“This Damian you've been speaking of, is the Coldstone?”

“What do you mean Coldstone?”