Dangerous

Two pictures rested on a dark, mahogany desk.

The first picture, the one on the left, was dated back to 2000, when the young woman was only sixteen. She was awkward, with thick braces, choppy hair, and blemished skin, and her body was still quite underdeveloped.

The second picture, the one of the right, had been recently taken.

From the top of her scalp to the tips of her boots, she emitted perfection. Her hair tumbled down her shoulders in thick, shadowy waves, and came to rest just above the waistline of her jeans. Her eyes, a steely gray that shimmered in the light, were sharp and calculating. They sat symmetrically above her high-lifted cheekbones, followed by her thin, delicate nose and full, plump lips. Her jaw was slender and her chin was rounded, but there was a certain degree of defiance in her features.

Next was her impeccable, busty chest. The outline of her lacy bra could be seen through her sheer, black shirt that settled just below her midriff. Her stomach was flat and a pair of tight-fitted jeans clung to her long, toned legs as if they were a second skin. She was curvy in all the right places, and slender in all the others.

Puberty had done her justice.

Victor DaVici gazed down at the latest picture and grinned. She was beautiful, she was smart, and she was strong.

She was just what he needed.

“Tell me, Matthew,” Victor spoke, his voice leaving his lips like silk. “What else have you found out about this lovely specimen?”

Across the room, Matt was stirring with anger. His fists were trembling and his jaw was so tightly clenched that his teeth were beginning to ache. He knew the look on Victor’s face; it was the same look he’d seen nearly five years ago.

Clearing his throat and ridding himself of his anger, Matt explained what he and Brian had found after observing the young woman all week. “Phoenix wakes up every morning at 7:30. After taking a shower and making coffee, she wakes up her younger sister, Shiloh,” Matt reached into his pocket and grabbed another picture, one that he’d taken of the young four-year-old. He handed the photo to Victor and continued. “Afterwards, Phoenix makes Shiloh breakfast and gets her dressed before driving her to the preschool center she attends, Sunshine School for Kids. They usually leave sometime between 8:30 and 8:45. After Phoenix drops Shiloh off, she heads home to get dressed and heads to her job as a bartender at a local pub a few blocks from their house, usually around 9:00. She works until 3:00 and then she leaves to pick up Shiloh.”

“And the father?”

“He’s been working nearly 24/7, sir,” Matt said. “He leaves before the girls wake up and comes home after they’re asleep. They hardly see him.”

Victor nodded, still staring at the picture of Shiloh. Matt swallowed nervously. “And the girls…she and her sister, are they close?”

Fuck, don’t tell him. “Yes, sir, the two are very close,” Shut the fuck up, Matt. “Phoenix practically raised Shiloh from birth.” Why the fuck are you still talking?

A sick, victorious smile slowly spread across Victor’s thin lips, and Matt felt his heart drop into his stomach. “Perfect. This is absolutely perfect. Do you know what this means, Matthew?”

Of course I know what it means, you spineless fuck. “Yes, sir,” Matt replied bitterly, casting a glare towards the older man.

Victor continued as if Matt hadn’t spoken. “This means she’ll have something to fight for; someone to protect. She’ll do just about anything to keep that little girl safe, won’t she, Matthew?” Victor’s smirk was sickening, and it caused Matt’s grip on his rage to slowly diminish. “Just like you’ll do anything to protect—”

“If you say her name, I will walk out of here right now,” Matt snapped, glowering at Victor with an intense heat.

Victor’s smirk only widened. “Will you, Matthew? Will you really?”

No. “Yes.”

“I don’t think you will. In fact, I know you won’t. You want to know why, Matthew?” Victor paused, casting a glance at the hulking, hazel-eyed figure in front of him. “Because if you walk out of here now, she and every one of your little friends that you have dragged into this, will be dead. I will slaughter them all without a moment’s notice. You won’t even have enough time to say goodbye,” A throaty chuckled left Victor’s lips at the sight of Matt’s defeated expression. “You need to remember something, Matthew: I will always win.”

Minutes passed and Matt hadn’t said a word. Victor was right; he would always win. He had hundreds of thousands of people working for him, people that Matt didn’t even know. Even if he did manage to kill Victor, from six feet below, the bastard would still be able to control every aspect of the young man’s life, including his friends…and family. Disgust bubbled up inside of Matt. He needed to leave. “May I be excused, sir?” Matt asked weakly, keeping his eyes locked onto the wooden floors.

Victor nodded, a cold grin seeping onto his lips. “I expect more information next time we meet, Matthew. More personal information, understand?” Matt nodded, turning on his heel. His hand had just skimmed the doorknob when Victor stopped him. “Oh, and Matt?”

“Yes, sir?”

A beat. “I’ll tell Amy you said hello.”



Phoenix grunted as Shiloh catapulted herself out from her car seat and into the young woman’s arms. “God, Kid,” Phoenix chuckled, adjusting the child onto her waist. “You’re getting heavier every damn day.”

Shiloh giggled and tugged on a strand of Phoenix’s ebony hair. “That’s good, Phee?”

“For you,” Phoenix said before muttering, “but not for my back.” Shifting Shiloh onto her opposite side, Phoenix grabbed ahold of a nearby shopping cart. They needed groceries for the week ahead. Entering the store, the two sisters were welcomed by a cold and refreshing gust of air conditioning. Phoenix headed towards the produce while little Shiloh recounted her adventures of the day.

“Today Miss Macabee asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up!”

“Oh, yeah?” Phoenix replied, mildly interested. “And what did you tell Miss Macabee?”

Shiloh beamed. “I told her I wanted to be like you. I said that I wanted to be just like Phee.”

Pausing in the middle of the isle, Phoenix turned her head toward Shiloh. The little girl was grinning, heavy admiration shimmering in her bright, jade eyes. The older of the two was swelling with pride, and if they hadn’t been standing in the middle of Walmart, then she’d probably start crying. Phoenix planted a loud and loving kiss to the side of her baby sister’s cheek and pressed her nose into the little girl’s hair. “That’s really sweet of you, babe,” She whispered. “You’re one badass kid, ya know that?”

Shiloh giggled. “Dollar in the swear jar!”

Rolling her eyes playfully, Phoenix gently prodded the young girl’s side. “Yeah, yeah, you got me. Now, quit squirming and get in the cart. We gotta get some goodies.”

The two walked around for an hour or so, picking out snacks and meals that the both of them would like. After arguing over how many boxes of cookies Shiloh was allowed to put in the cart, a frustrated and defeated Phoenix was ready to head home.

Shiloh sat in the front of the shopping cart, playing with Phoenix’s phone while the older of the two started placing their groceries onto the conveyer belt. The cashier was a silent old woman who mostly ignored the young woman; the only exception was when she told Phoenix the total amount.

“Eighty-nine dollars and sixty-two cents,” The elderly woman rasped, staring Phoenix down with cold, icy eyes. Phoenix’s stomach dropped. It was far more than what she’d thought. Pulling out her wallet, Phoenix first tried her debit card. “Insufficient funds,” The old woman muttered. Phoenix swallowed and continued with her other card; her father’s credit card. “Inactive. Ma’am, if you are unable to buy these, then you might want to step out of the way. There are other people in line.”

“If you just give me a second, I can find one that works,” She whispered to the cashier before running a hand down an anxious Shiloh’s back. “We’ll be done in just a second, kiddo.” Dumping out the contents of her purse, Phoenix sifted through old receipts, loose change, and wrappers, eventually coming up short. “Uh, could you maybe keep these on hold for me? I can get the money—”

“If I keep them on hold for you then I have to keep them on hold for everyone,” The elderly cashier snapped. “Maybe you should’ve—”

“I got it,” A deep, unfamiliar voice bellowed from over Phoenix’s shoulder. Twisting her neck around, the young woman settled on a pair of hazel eyes, cropped hair, and a dimpled smile. The man towered over her, tattoos coating his outstretched arm as he leaned toward the elderly cashier, a wad of cash in his hand. “This should cover it.”

Phoenix cleared her throat and smiled politely at him. “You don’t have to—”

“I want to,” He murmured, winking over at Shiloh. “She’s a cute kid.”

Shiloh giggled, having heard the stranger. “Thank you!”

“You’re welcome,” He laughed, turning his attention back to Phoenix. He gave her an oddly soft smile. “Have a nice day.” The man then left abruptly, and Phoenix watched him walk away, his back muscles rippling against the black t-shirt he wore. She was astounded, as was the cashier, but she remained silent.

The look the man gave her had nearly knocked her over. There was an unsettling amount of guilt and sorrow in his hazel orbs, but there was also recognition.

He knew who she was.



“You did what?!”

Matt rolled his eyes at Brian’s surprised outburst, taking another long pull from his beer. The two sat in their house, one that they shared with three other men; Zacky Johnny, and Jimmy. Three of Matt's closest friends.

Victor had given them the place when they started working for him. It was spacious with six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, two separate kitchens, a working fire place, an outdoor pool, and a backyard that sat adjacent to the beach. As much as Matt truly loathed working for Victor, he couldn’t complain about the living conditions. They were practically living like royalty.

Now, sitting in the living room, Matt had just explained to his friend about his run-in with Phoenix at the grocery store, and Brian was having a hard time grasping the fact that Matt had actually spoken with the young woman. “Would you calm down, please? Christ, you’re getting all hot and bothered over fuckin’ groceries.”

“No!” Brian shrieked, staring at Matt with wide, stunned eyes. “Do you know what will happen if Victor finds out that you actually talked to her? He’ll have you by the balls, dude!”

“Who will have who by the balls?” A tall, lanky frame spoke up as he entered the room. Jimmy, one of their roommates, best friend, and another employee of Victor, plopped down beside Matt and leaned forward, stealing a cigarette from the large man’s pack that sat on the coffee table. Matt glowered at his friend, who in return gave him a goofy grin and blew him a kiss. “Seriously, what are you fucker’s talking about?”

Brian sighed, motioning towards Matt as he explained the situation. “Hulk over there had to go and talk to Victor’s newest fucking interest. And now, like I told him, Vic’s gonna have him by the balls.”

“I don’t know why you’re getting so worked up over this,” Matt cut in, taking another swig of his beer and stealing the now-lit cigarette from Jimmy’s fingers. “I helped the girl out, so what?”

“How’d you help her out?” Jimmy asked.

Matt shrugged, taking a drag. “She couldn’t pay for her groceries and she has a four-year-old to feed. I gave her the cash for it.”

Jimmy smiled at his friend and clamped a hand on the larger man’s shoulder. “That was a good deed done, bro.”

Brian sat across from the two with his mouth unhinged, a noise of protest leaving his lips. “Are you serious?! How was that a good thing, Jimmy? Victor’s gonna find out and he’s gonna be pissed!”

“But he’s not gonna find out, Brian, because neither of you are going to tell him,” Matt snapped suddenly, glowering over at his spiky-haired friend. “Look, I know exactly what he’s gonna put this girl through. He’s gonna take everything away from her; everything important. Just like he did to me,” Matt paused. “I figured maybe if I try to make it as easy on her as possible then…I don’t know, I guess it’ll make me feel better about this whole situation.” Matt stood suddenly, handing his half empty beer and his unfinished cigarette to Jimmy, before starting towards the staircase. “I’m taking a shower. If Victor calls, tell him I’m busy.”

Stalking up the stairs, taking two at a time, Matt entered his room and slammed the door behind him.