I made it home and thanked the driver. I stood on my porch and looked over my phone. Should I or shouldn’t I? I began nervously tapping my foot. Fuck it.
Me:Home safe. Thanks
I pressed send and walked into the house. I dropped everything off in my room and went and took a quick shower. Upon returning into my room I heard my phone. I quickly went through my bag and found it.
Daimon:Im glad. ur welcome.
The morning shift was mine by default. It was actually my father’s, but I hid his keys and left early. It usually worked and he didn’t fight me too much about it. Only lately he’s been a bit of a hard ass. I was beginning to worry. I had called the doctor’s office and had told him my father wasn’t getting better, but they insisted the steroid medication took time. I didn’t buy it. I don’t know how I was going to do it, but I needed another job to pay for his meds.
“Hey, darling!” Silvia walked in and sat at her usual booth.
“Hey, Silvia. How were your shows?” I asked only because the way in which she went on about them entertained me to no end.
I poured her a cup of coffee and dropped it off as she started on her usual line up of last night’s shows. I started to laugh as her hands flared as she started gesturing about some actor’s ass.
“You have to see it, Addie. His ass is so tight and so beautiful,” she was shaking her head at a loss for words.
“Really? That good,” I laughed.
“She’s seen better.” My happy demeanor was replaced by pure hate. I whipped my head around to see Frank at the door smiling.
“I see your friend has come back.” Silvia’s tone was none too pleased.
“She loves it when I show up,” he winked at her.
“I highly doubt that, boy,” she snapped.
“Oh, aren’t you a feisty old lady. I see you’re hanging out with the right crowd, Addie,” he smirked as he walked in and sat himself down.
“What in the hell do you want?” I said annoyed.
“Is that anyway to speak to your customer slash ex-boyfriend who loved you?” he mocked.
“Get the hell out, Frank. Now!” I snapped.
“Not before I get what I came for,” he bit out.
“And what is that exactly?” I asked, crossing my arms.
“My money,” he smiled.
“You have to be kidding me. I don’t have any money to give you and if I did, which I don’t, I still wouldn’t give it to you,” I seethed.
He rose up from his seat and made his way to me. He leaned in slowly and glared at me with a smirk on his face, which turned my breathing shallow.
“You listen here, bitch. You ruined my life and I want you to make it up to me,” he said low under his breath. “I can make this easy for you or you can make it hard for yourself. Either way, Addie, I will get what’s mine.” He inched closer, but I leaned away. He half-smiled and sent me a little peck.
“Get the fuck away from her.”
Frank’s eyes narrowed as he stood, cracked his neck and turned around to see Daimon standing at the door.
“Ah, if it isn’t the new boyfriend. We meet again.”
“You heard me, get the fuck away from her,” Daimon threatened. Daimon glared at him in a menacing way, waiting to see if he would comply. Daimon rarely had to repeat himself.
“As you wish,” Frank said and began to make his way to the door. “Hey, Addie, remember what I said.” He smiled as he left.
Daimon’s heavy breathing was accompanied by his pacing. His hands were on his waist as he would occasionally stop and look fiercely at me.
“What?” I finally mustered up.
The fear Frank instilled in me years ago had stayed. I tried hard to fight it and to be strong, but when he threatened me I broke down, afraid of what he’d do. Daimon left the store; I watched dumbfounded. I ran after him and stopped him just outside. He looked down at my hand that had grabbed onto him. I quickly let go and recoiled a bit.
“Do you really want this money, Addie?” he snapped. My heart sunk even lower. All I wanted right now was some comfort, someone to ease my fears.
“Yes, I need the money,” I said meekly.
“So why the fuck are you seeing someone else? The rules say you are mine and no one else’s,” he said bitterly.
“Daimon, it’s not like that,” I challenged.
“Then how is it, Addie? Tell me, because I swear to God you haven’t told me shit about yourself. All I know is what I see and what I see is your ex sniffing around what is mine,” he barked.
I couldn’t tell him. I stood looking at this man who was nearly perfect in every way. He had money, power, and connections, everything I didn’t have. And here I was nothing but a failure away from being left on the streets. Yeah, like I was really going to tell Daimon everything about my life so he could hold it over me what kind of loser I had become.