Outlaw's Virgin:: New Adult Romantic Suspense (Zodiac Alphas: Cancer Book 1) Page 2

  In my heart of hearts, I wanted Vegas. I’d never been to a major metropolitan city outside of Albuquerque, especially since my teenage years were spent studying for exams in between caring for my sick mother. Yet, while I desired Vegas, I was scared to leave my mother here in New Mexico, the place she’d always called home.

  So yeah, today was a great day, amazing. My father was into aeronautical sciences, and he taught me everything he knew. We studied astrophysics, space theory, and aeronautical science.. When he died, my decision to study in his footsteps was sealed. Even though he wasn’t here, his spirit was always with me, and I wanted to make him proud.

  My best friend, Madison, aka Maddie, warned me against the loans.

  “Best friend, you have no idea what this man is into,” she warned, popping her gum.

  We were discussing my decision whilst working out at the gym on Kirtland Air Force Base, where her parents were stationed. I had no idea why my best friend always insisted on a full face of makeup and gum while we worked out.

  Maddie was easily one of the most gorgeous girls I’d ever seen. She was black, with caramel colored skin, and an angelic face. She looked like Tammy Rivera-Malphurs from Love and Hip Hop Atlanta.

  Maddie’s petite frame was ultra-curvy. She had super thick thighs, a flat tummy, and generous breasts. Her curly hair was super thick and pulled up in a semi-dry puff, allowing her curls to transform and sculpt as we exercised.

  “You have no idea what you’re signing.” She warned. “This man has too many roots around town, and everyone around him ends up dead or in jail every five to ten years. He seems all shiny and ‘Good Guy’ but I know there’s something up with him. What if he makes you work in a brothel or something?”

  “Maddie.” I rolled my eyes at her dramatic Leo personality. Maddie was always thinking the worst, always skeptical to the highest degree, and never afraid to show it. “I doubt there’s any reason for him to do that when I signed a contract.”

  “But did you read it, though?” She asked, turning on her protective side.

  I looked away, guilty. “So what’s up with prom? You still going with Tryce?”

  “Nuh-uh, girl.” She waved her manicured finger in my direction. “What we are not finna do, is pretend I didn’t catch that.”

  My face burned. Even at sixteen, I knew better than to sign something I hadn’t read.

  “I mean, if it’s that bad… I can argue that I was underage,” I ground out, my voice low and semi-hopeful.

  Maddie looked at me like I was crazy. “Girl… he’s not a regular businessman. Otherwise he would have never had you sign a contract while you’re only sixteen.”

  If you think that was bad, she flipped when I signed the amended contract for school.

  “Bitch, are you crazy?!” Her eyes were wide with disbelief and fear. “Why didn’t you just get a regular student loan?”

  “Because I would’ve needed to pay back two institutions, and I need every dollar I have for my future.”

  “So how long have you agreed to work for him now?”

  “Five years.”

  She was disheartened and angry, but she promised not to tell anyone what I’d done. I didn’t want anyone to know that I was going to be throwing my future on ice in order to pay back loans to Antonio. With the salary I thought I could make, I would easily pay him back. I had generous offers on the table, all of which had I turned down to keep my word to Antonio.

  Antonio made sure I never wanted for anything whilst in his care. My mother’s medical needs were taken care of, our groceries were stocked, and all of my clothes and school supplies were handled. Mom eventually made a stable recovery, and was even able to work a little without stressing herself about money. All of my father’s debts were also paid off - no bankruptcy or bank loans needed.

  Why wouldn’t I stay and work for the man who made sure I had everything? Five years would fly by. Then my life would begin. Once I had repaid my debt, served my agreement, and the fact that I graduated with honors, finding a job wouldn’t be hard.

  Maddie and Aunt Corinne met me on the grass after the show. They were easy to spot because Maddie was dressed to the nines. No matter where we were, she had to treat it like a fashion show. We wore matching dresses and heels today, plus new designer bags. All the extravagant items were graduation gifts from her parents. Theyspoiled us both.

  “Congratulations, babe!” Aunt Corinne leaned in for a hug. “I’m so proud of you, honey. You did it! Your father would be so proud of you.”

  A tear slid down my cheek at the memory of my father. I wished he was here today. He would have been so proud of everything I accomplished, despite the odds.

  “Yassssss girl, has!” Maddie grabbed me and we twirled in excitement. “Best friend, you did that! And you looked so good walking across the runway.”

  “It’s not a runway, Maddie,” I teased. “It’s a stage.”

  “Girl, all the world is a runway in my world.” She waved me off. Maddie had killer fashion sense. She had also earned her degree in finance and planned to move into investment banking.

  “Yes, this is seriously the best, most important day of my life,” I said. “And I cannot wait to go eat.”

  “Girl, we have to get some selfies first.” Maddie pulled out her phone. We took pictures together, and then I took some with Aunt Cori, determined to capture these moments. They’d never come again.

  Maddie took several shots of us all taking turns on each of our camera phones. When she finished up, she looked down and her face wrinkled.

  “Kara,” she said in a lower voice. “Look at this.”

  Her tone let me know something was off. When leaned over to look at the pic, she said, “don’t look up. Pretend to look at this picture. Who’s that guy behind you… who has been behind you, and why is he staring so intensely?”

  I paused. I didn’t know who the tall, handsome guy was, but the look on his face was anything but friendly.

  She showed me several photos. In each photo he was looking at me, no matter what angle I was facing..

  I looked up to see the man spotting me. He was tall, about 6’2” or 6’3,” intense dark brown eyes, straight nose, and a crisply lined beard, close cropped to show his perfect jawline. Dark curls were cut close to his scalp.

  When our eyes met, I gave him a nervous smile, masking the chill that went through my heart. I thought about Antonio’s contract. I wondered if he were one of Antonio’s people.

  “Girl, it’s fine,” I said, speaking in code. “I like these pics, so let’s go. Now. I’m starving!”

  We smiled innocently, partners in crime at Aunt Cori, who was none the wiser. Like my father, Aunt Cori’s smoldering Mediterranean features were strong, courtesy of our Greek grandmother. Bright blue eyes were a part of our genetic inheritance, thanks to our English grandfather.

  “Where would you ladies like to eat?” Aunt Cori asked. “I have a taste for Mexican, but this is your day, girls.”

  “Let’s do Wrigley Mansion.” My mouth salivated at the idea of a good steak, garlic mashed potatoes, and a glass of wine.

  “Alright, sounds good to me.” Auntie gestured. “Lead the way, madam?”

  My stomach bristled. We’d walk right past the strange guy, the one who’d been staring the whole time. Maddie and I shot each other silent, knowing looks. She grabbed my hand for comfort.

  “I’ve got you darling. No creepy guys will be hitting on my best friend.” She blew a kiss toward me.

  Just as we walked past, he called out. “Kara Taylor?”

  I stopped in my tracks, yet my heart sped up a thousand beats. Turning to him, I responded, “Hello, I’m sorry. Do I know you?”

  “Miss Taylor, I’m Luke. Antonio Lopez’s nephew.” He walked toward Maddie and I, extending his hand. Besides the fact that he had an imposing presence, his glide was purposeful. His deep brown eyes were piercing and hard. His groomed beard was thick with glossy black hair to match the close cut style on his hea
d.

  “Uh, hi.” I jittered. His handshake was firm enough to communicate business. There was no sign of flirtation or friendliness in that grip, which swallowed my hand easily. “How are you?”

  “Good, good.” He flashed a professional nod, without bothering to show teeth. “I’m sure you know the reason for my visit…”

  The words trailed off. He didn’t need to complete the unstated question. I was well aware of the reason he was here. I knew he came to collect me. I was needed to immediately pay back my dues to Mr. Lopez.

  “Already?” Maddie spoke up. She didn’t pretend to mask her disdain, and she seemed completely fearless of the tall, imposing guy. “It’s her graduation day. She hasn’t even walked off campus!”

  Luke shot her a look that would have killed were the option available.

  “Maddie, calm down.” I pleaded, because last thing I wanted to do was make a scene.

  I knew this day would come. I once looked forward to it, figuring the quicker I got started, the quicker I’d repay my gratitude and debt. Then it would all be over. But something in Luke’s tone, the harsh way he looked into my eyes, it wasn’t good. Something told me this wasn’t going to be the five year internship I thought it would be. I mentally recoiled, wishing I had given Maddie’s advice serious consideration.

  “Kara, what’s going on?” My aunt looked over at us all. My face reddened with embarrassment. She had no idea what I’d done. Besides Kara, Antonio, and now Luke, nobody else knew.

  “Look,” I mustered up the courage to speak for myself. “I intend to go with you. I keep my word, especially for matters like this. But I would like to celebrate with my aunt and my best friend for a couple of hours, perhaps get something to eat, and enjoy this occasion before I head home to pack.”

  I looked into his deep, unreadable expression, and asked, “Would that okay?”

  He looked back into mine, and then looked at Maddie, whose hands were defiantly crossed, and my aunt Cori, whose wide blue eyes bore a mixture of fright and shock.

  “Sure.” He pulled out his phone. “Give me your number.”

  He called me right then and there to ensure it was accurate.

  “I’ll call you at 6 PM. Sharp.”

  I nodded. That wasn’t as much time as I would have liked. I really wanted to spend time with my mother before I left. She wasn’t able to make it to my graduation. But a contract was a contract, and something told me not to get on this guy’s bad side.

  With rocks tumbling in my stomach, I avoided my aunt and my best friend’s concerned glances and said, “Come on. Let’s eat!”

  Luke

  I watched Kara walked away with her friend and (I assume) older sister. I could see how shaken she was. Her feet were already pointing towards the exit, and nearly every hair seemed to stand up on edge when I introduced myself.

  There was no mistaking the message in her body language. Flared nostrils, wide blue eyes, and fidgety demeanor were clear indicators of fear.

  She feared me. She feared Antonio. She feared everything that was coming. Every drop of her intuitive fright was justified.

  At twenty-six, I was a seasoned man. I’d been forced to grow up fast, and I’d seen a lot. Things that would keep the biggest, scariest alpha man up for days, biting his lip and rocking back and forth just to cope. I could accept a lot. But this - witnessing Kara - didn’t feel good at all.

  I asked myself, What’s worse? Being the source of her beautiful, innocent fear - she was truly innocent, you could see the purity in her eyes. Or having to see and sense the discomfort register in her spirit as she realized she had truly made a deal with the Devil, and you were one of the demons coming to collect?

  Kara was only twenty-two, which meant she signed that contract as a teenager. To do such a thing should have been illegal, but Tío was never the kind of man who played by anyone’s rules but his own. Anyone willing to sign his contracts would abide by that agreement, regardless of age or alleged legal limitations. I’d seen firsthand what happened to those who didn’t.

  It wasn’t pretty.

  What made this situation feel even worse was the fact that, my thoughts were confirmed. Kara wasn’t anything like the women that were usually contracted in this way with Antonio. Her glossy black hair, sculpted brows, and high-glam beauty were not naturally present in the women Tío put to work. Their beauty was usually dulled by the hardships of life; drugs, prostitution, and domestic violence.

  Women often agreed to work for us in exchange for enabling their escape and freedom from their abusive partners or husbands, only to start over in the wings of yet a more controlling environment.

  Kara would work for five or six years - or so she thought. I was yet see a woman enter one of Antonio’s contracts and leave on time, if at all. Most of the women who were working for him had their contracts extended. Others…

  … Well. Let’s not go there.

  I trailed the women in the older sister’s sedan, an unassuming black Nissan, circa 2010. The women seemed to be in improved spirits by the time they got to the restaurant.

  I was hungry, but I waited until they had already started to eat before sliding off to the nearest McDonald’s and placing my own order. I usually didn’t eat that shit, but time was tight and I hadn’t left the loving and remarkable impression that would have allowed me a full welcome to that steakhouse table.

  Usually, I don’t leave my pickups to their own devices. They usually come when I say come, and there’s no discussion about it. But I could see this girl was truly clueless to her fate, even if her intuition was warning her this wasn’t right.

  I needed to find a way to soften my demeanor with her, make her feel more comfortable during our transport. It would be the last semblance of peace she would have before she adjusted.

  Besides, I stuck a tracker on her sister’s car, so even if she attempted to escape this situation, she’d get nowhere. And it would hurt a lot more.

  For everyone involved.

  I called at 6:00 PM. She answered on the first ring.

  “Where are you?”

  “I’m getting ready now.” The fear in her tone was tangible and copper-flavored.

  “Gimme your address.”

  She provided the name and address of the hotel where she was, which wasn’t far from the airport. I gave her an estimate of 30 minutes. In reality, I was outside the entire time. I just wanted to give her some time to say goodbye.

  When I finally “arrived,” I met her in the lobby. By then, I’d given myself enough of a pep talk to give her a smile.

  She was no longer in her glamorous sparkly heels, just a tank and some yoga cutoffs. Her flip flops were Givenchy, and she matched her best friend perfectly. They looked like twins, one Black, one White, both gorgeous and united.

  “Hello…” She smiled, widely to mask her nerves. She held a plain grey duffel bag in one hand and pulled the handle of a rolling suitcase in the other.

  “Good evening, graduate!” My smile was wide and relaxed, thanks to a couple of drinks at the bar. I reached out to shake her hand, which was clammier than I’d remembered. “You ready to get on the road?”

  Her pupils were still dilated, and she swallowed hard, but nodded. “Yes.”

  She put her things down and hugged her friend, the sassy Black girl with blonde locks. They hugged each other and a tear rolled down the Black girl’s eyes.

  As they separated, she turned to the older woman. “Thank you so much for coming Auntie Cori. I’m sorry I have to miss the party. Please tell everyone thank you for everything.”

  Auntie Cori? They looked like twins, sisters, not aunt and niece. I wondered where her parents were, what kind of fate befell them to put her in this position.

  “Sure sweetheart.” Her aunt squeezed her tightly as they swayed for a moment. The hold was extremely impassioned, as if there was an instinctive knowing that this would be the last hug they’d ever share.

  “You call us regularly to let us know you’re
okay and you got there safe, ok?” Sassy demanded. The aunt looked at me, her piercing brown eyes unimpressed as they swept my frame, dismissive of my attempt to impart a “friendly” disposition.

  I would have been attracted to her, Sassy. She was gorgeous, and I could tell this girl knew bullshit when she saw it. I wouldn’t have been surprised for her to see through what was happening. But here right now, she was nothing but an irritation. One wrong move, and she wouldn’t have had any second thoughts about interfering. It would have been a shame if I needed to put her down to carry out my duties

  The older woman’s eyes held civilized steeliness. She seemed calm but the fire beneath her ice blue gaze communicated that she’d be neither warm nor receptive. She was no longer clueless to the arrangement her niece had made with my people, and her suspicions were up.

  “You know it!” Kara winked. The smile she gave Sassy was so generous and relaxed, I even felt lighter at heart.

  She looked at me and her smile downgraded to one that was polite and tightlipped. Professional courtesy. What I wouldn’t have given to make her warm and friendly toward me so she could give me that genuine, beautiful smile.

  I knew better than to try.

  I couldn’t get my - or her - hopes up like that. That would only make the crash even more brutal, and she wouldn’t be the only one wounded by the gritty harsh reality ahead of us.

  “You okay?” I inquired, all too aware - and concerned - of her anxious disposition. I shouldn’t have given a fuck, but I did. It mattered to me more than I wanted it to. I didn’t know how to feel about that. “I hope I haven’t freaked you out in any way. I can call Antonio for you…?”

  Kara picked up her duffle bag. “No, no. It’s fine. Antonio has been nothing but generous to me” - she stopped to look at her friend and aunt - “and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to pursue my degree, graduate with honors, and take care of an otherwise impossible situation.”

  Her aunt gave her a grim, regretful smile. I wondered her real thoughts, what she would have said if I weren’t right there.