The Deal : Billionaire Romance (14 page)

Chapter 12

  Alia wipes her knuckles over her tired eyes, exhausted from having not slept even a single wink the night before, as she shakes a silver mixer before pouring the tart, orange drink into tall, thin glasses.

“Here you go.” She smiles, nodding at her customer as she slides the drinks over to them.

“Oh, hold on.” She says as she reaches under the bar, pulling out two little umbrellas before poking them into the ice, her eye quickly darting over to the door as it opens.

  Her smile turns to an awkward frown as she watches the Rebel’s Keepers walk through the door, and she looks away, playing busy as she notices Leon split from the group and make a bee line towards her at the bar.

“Please go away…” She says, her voice as monotone as she can muster.

“Can I at least get some beers?” He asks, leaning on the counter. “Or have I been banished.”

  Alia pauses, her eyes squinting as she looks into Leon’s blue pools, her mind racing with things she wants to say before she turns around, sighing defeated, and pulls out a few bottles from the cooler.

“Send someone else up here next time.” She says, glancing up at him as she pops the caps off.

“Alia… Last night…” He says, wiping his finger over the grain of the wood on the bar top.

“Don’t worry about it.” She says, feigning a smirk as she pushes the bottles towards him. “We had fun. Now it’s over. Get back to your gang shit and find another girl to fuck, Leon.”

“Alia, please…” He says, shaking his head as she walks away before bending down behind that bar. “Talk to me, we can work something out.”

“No.” She says, getting up from her squat on the floor. “And I was serious about what I said before; send someone else for your next round or get out.”

  She watches as he pulls the beers off the counter, her chest tight as she watches him walk back over to his table.

“Boy troubles, sweetheart?” She hears from down the bar.

  She looks over, her face flushing as an older man with a short, dyed black beard gazes at her.

“Yeah, I guess.” She smirks, shrugging her shoulders.

“Surely a pretty girl like yourself has more options than that scumbag, huh?” He says, lifting his glass and tossing his whiskey down his throat, before hissing out the burn. “I’m sure you’ve got guys hanging off of you, especially in such a small town like this.”

“Oh, please.” She giggles, her heart pounding in her chest as she looks over to Leon, her eyes catching his for a split second just before he looks away. “No, there isn’t much in this town.”

“Well,” He starts, pushing his glass towards her as she reaches behind her for the bottle of whiskey. “I’ve been by every small town within eight hundred miles of here, and you’re the prettiest girl I’ve found yet.”

“Why are you going through so many small towns?” She asks, pointing towards the wedding ring on his finger as she pushes his glass back towards him.

“I’m a trucker.” He says, spinning his ring with his thumb. “Just passing through. But you know… My wife understands what the road is like…”

“I’m sure she does…”  Alia sighs out, turning around as she hears a ding from the window behind her.

  She picks up the warm plate of French fries from the windowsill with one hand as she reads over the bill with the other.

“Hey, Jason…” She calls into the kitchen. “Can I get a side of mayo, just like, a little cup or something, says here they want some mayo…”

“You got any fries for me, sweetheart?” She hears the black bearded man say from behind her.

“Well, I don’t know, you gunna order some?” She replies, glancing back as Jason hands her the cup of mayo before she tries to fit it on the plate.

“Still mad about that boy, huh?” The man asks.

“Look, I’m just trying to get through my shift, sir…” Alia replies, stepping out from behind the bar.

“Well then, let me help you out…” He says, grabbing Alia by the waist as she walks past him, knocking the plate of fries out of her hands.

“Let go of me!” She gasps, stepping backwards into the middle of the floor, every single one of the few patrons turning their attention towards the commotion.

“Come on now, sweetheart…” He says, reaching out to her again. “Let me make you feel better…” 

“Hey!” Alia hears from across the bar. “She said no, scumbag!”

  She watches as Leon gets up from his seat before slowly walking over them.

“Me? Scumbag?” The bearded man asks, turning around to face Leon. “According to this young lady right here, you’re the scumbag, buddy.”

“You leave her the fuck alone.” Leon says, getting in the man’s face and pressing his finger against the guy’s forehead.

“She’s going to be screaming my name, pal, you just wait.” The bearded man says, hitting him against the chest with his palms as he pushes him away.

  “Leon stop!” Alia yells, her voice cracking as she rushes behind the bar. “Please! I’m calling the cops! Just get out of here!”

  Leon growls as he pushes the older man back before grabbing him by the shoulder of his jacket and pulling him back towards him.

“You stupid piece of shit…” Leon says, spitting in his face as he presses his nose against the man’s before pushing him to the ground.

  He gets on top of him, straddling the man as he holds his neck down, his thumb on one side and his fingers on the other as he lifts his arm into the air, winding it up.

“Stop!” Alia screams, as she covers the receiver, stamping her foot on the ground as she wipes a tear off of her cheek.

  She jumps, turning around and sobbing as she hears the loud crack of Leon’s fist against the man’s face as he hits it over and over again.

“Leon, get off!” One of his buddies grunts as they pull him off of the bearded man.

  Leon pants, hitting his fist against the floor as he watches the man get up to his knees and squeeze his nose, trying to stop the bleeding from the damage Leon caused.

“It’s not worth it…” His friend says, turning his head as they watch the door open up, the sunlight backing the two officers as they walk into the bar.

Chapter 13

  Alia walks away from the officers, wiping the drizzle off of her face as she makes her way over to the end of the sidewalk.

  She sits beside Leon, his hair matted down from the rain, his shirt soaked and his hands cuffed behind his back as he hands his head down low between his knees.

“Hey.” She whispers, turning towards him as she brushes his hair out of his eyes.

  He glances over to her, sighing softly as he lifts his head.

“So, he said he won’t press charges on you if I don’t press charges on him, so…” Alia starts, biting her bottom lip. “So, I guess that’s settled then.”

  She shrugs her shoulders, looking up at the sky as it drizzles down on them, before turning as she hears a jingling behind her as an officer uncuffs his hands from behind his back.

“Free to go.” She hears the officer say as he walks away.

  Alia watches as Leon rubs his wrists, before he wipes his face.

“Looks like it kind of hurts.” She says, grabbing his hand as she brushes her fingers over his wrist.

“It’s fine.” He says. “Not my first time in cuffs.”

“Didn’t think it was.” Alia snorts softly as she drags her thumb over the back of his hand before brushing over his sore, split and blood knuckles, making him wince. “This looks like it kind of hurts, too.”

“Not my first time for that, either.” He says, pulling away from her as he gets up from the edge of the sidewalk.

“Leon, stop!” She says, grabbing his leg as he tries to step away.

“Oh, now you wanna talk?” He asks, shaking his head. “Maybe I don’t wanna talk to you, ever think of that?”

  He shakes his head again, sighing out deeply as he sinks back down to sit on the wet sidewalk.

“You know…” He starts, resting his elbow on his knee and his chin in his hand. “You weren’t just a fuck, at least not after the first time.” He says, jokingly shoving her shoulder. “Maybe we don’t know each other that well, or for that long… but you’re important to me.”

“But not important enough that you wouldn’t put me in danger like you did…” Alia whispers, wrapping her hair behind her ears as she looks down at the tiny flow of water as it rolls down the sidewalk under their feet.

“You were never in danger. I would never do that. I would never, ever, put you in danger, Alia.” He says, shaking his head, letting out an unbelieving chuckle.

  He slides his boots through the loose gravel on the road before picking up a little wet rock and rolling it between his fingers.

“I just wanted a girl to ride with, ya know?” He says, clearing his throat and gazing behind them as he watches the blue and red flashing lights stop as the cop car rolls away. “Someone to be there. Someone to celebrate with. Someone who wouldn’t mind when things got a little crazy.”

  He stands back up, getting off of the sidewalk before placing his hands in the pockets of his jeans.

“I guess I just really hoped it would be you.” He says, beginning to step away.

  Alia stands stepping quickly beside him as she reaches for his wrist, grabbing it and slipping his hand out of his pocket.

“Leon…” She says, staring up into his icy blue eyes. “I…”

  She gasps as she feels him pull her in close, sighing out as he presses his lips against hers, his hot, shaking breath heating her lips as he slowly pulls away.

“I want to be that girl…” She whispers, reaching up to his face and caressing the coarse stubble on his chin. “I want to be that girl for you, Leon.”

“Alia…” He whispers as he rests his forehead against hers.

“Come on, Leon.” She says, clearing her throat as she wipes the droplets from her face, the rain beginning to pick back up. “Let’s go back inside.”

Chapter 14

“Who’s are these?” She asks, scrunching up her nose as she lifts a pair of large grey boxer shorts out of the wicker basket with the very tips of her fingers. “These are way too big to be yours Leon…”

“I don’t really keep tabs on the underwear around here…” He replies, leaning against the wall as he tilts his head to the side “But if I had to guess…”

“Well, I don’t really care, I’m not washing them.” She says, shaking her head as she tosses them into the dented metal trash can beside the dryer. “I’m not here to do laundry for everyone. They can get their own girlfriends or they can do it themselves.”

“Not really their fault.” Leon says, walking over to sit beside her as she goes through his clothes. “You’re the only one who it’s not broken for.”

“The washing machine is not broken.” She says, giggling as she shakes her head. “That’s a top of the line washing machine you guys got here, I’m just the only one who’s smart enough to know how to use it.”

“Well, it’s complicated.” He says, sighing as he trails her hand up the small of her back.

“It’s two buttons.” She says, lifting a large, stinky white t-shirt out of the pile and tossing it onto the floor before standing up and dragging the basket of Leon’s clothes over to the washing machine.

  She lifts the basket up, pouring his clothes into the waiting water before tossing in a pillow of detergent and shutting the lid.

“I don’t know why you don’t want to move out of here…” She says, pressing the button on the washing machine control panel, starting its first cycle.

“I do.” He says, smirking as he leans back on his hands, looking up to her from the floor.

“Leon, you know my parents won’t let you move in.” She says, sinking down to the floor beside him as she rests herself against his chest as he wraps his arm around her shoulders.

“No, really.” He says, whispering into her ear. “I’m moving out.”

“What?” She asks, pulling away from him.

“Yeah.” He nods, scratching the day old scruff on his sharp jaw. “Boss called last night. I’m being sent to open a new chapter in Kansas.”

“What?” She asks, her jaw hanging open. “And when were you going to tell me this?”

“I’m telling you now!” He says, shrugging his shoulders.

“So, what? You’re going to just leave me here?” She asks, biting her bottom lip as she pouts.

  He shakes his head as he stands up from the ground before walking out of the door and down the hall.

“Leon!” She says, calling after him as he leave her alone in the shady back porch.

  Alia watches intently as he walks back into the porch, a medium sized duffle in hand before he tosses it over to her.

“Are you leaving right now?” She asks, her eyebrows furrowing as she unzips the zipper.

“No, it’s for you.” He says, leaning against the door frame, watching her open the bag.

“Kinda small isn’t it?” She asks, holding the thin leather jacket up against the light.

“You think so?” He asks, rising his eyebrow.

“You would never fit into this.” She says, shaking her head as she brings the jacket down to rest on her lap.

“It’s not for me.” He says, chuckling. “Turn it around.”

“For me?” She asks, her cheeks flushing as she squints her eyes in a smile.

  She turns the jacket around, gasping at the finely detailed embroidery as she lays it over her lap.

Alia drags her finger tips along the design before tracing over the lettering.

“The Rebel Keepers…” She whispers under her breath, a smirk crossing her lips as she looks up at Leon. “This is for me?”

“Yeah.” He says, nodding his head. “You’re going to need it.”

“Why?” She asks, her heart fluttering in her chest as she watches Leon stroll over to her.

“Because.” He says, stopping in front of her before reaching out his hand. “You’re coming with me.”

  Alia snorts, bringing her hand up to her mouth to hide her growing smile before reaching up to his hand and grabbing it as she nods her head.

  She sighs out, biting her bottom lip as he pulls her close before leaning down and pressing his lips against her temple.

“So pack your bags, Alia.” He whispers into her ear. “Let’s get out of this fucking town.”