Easter's Lilly (6 page)

I hadn’t thought about it. I can’t believe I forgot the holiest holiday of the year. He kissed me deeply and then his phone rang. We ignored it. He finally pulled it off his belt and said, “What Rudy.” He sounded annoyed. “Stop using them, Rudy, and just move them. Got it! I’m busy.” He shut the phone and put his body up against mine like before. His passion continuously consumed me like a fire suffocating a forest with its blaze. I was helplessly under his spell. “Okay,” he sighed, releasing me. For a moment I thought I might lose my balance and fall. “Good luck. I’ll see you later.”

“
I’ll try to come by but Easter is a pretty big deal at my house.” I stopped and looked at the pout on his face.

“
You’re my Easter Lilly, aren’t you.” He smiled again.

“
I love you,” I said before I left.

“
I love you more,” he replied. I walked to my car and he followed behind. He opened my door and let me in. “Be safe,” he said, “and always remember that I love you more.” I put the keys in the ignition and the car purred. I blew him a kiss as I drove off and he pretended to catch it.

As I drove away I noticed a black sedan following behind me. It was Ray, the man who had been watching me in the bar. Johnny must have sent him to keep an eye on me. This was starting to become a way of life. I wasn’t sure I liked it.

I pulled into my driveway and walked to the front door. The sedan was parked across the street. I breathed in deeply, remembering the events of the evening for my strength. Then, I pushed open the door.

“
Lillian Margaret O’Hara!” my father shouted. “Where in the bleeding hell have you been?” My father’s face was a new shade of red. He was standing with his hands folded and my mom was sitting on the couch, equally annoyed.

“
Dad, I’m a grown woman!” I shouted in anticipation of the upcoming argument.

“
Are you kidding me?” he asked. “Grown women don’t stay out all night.”

“
I’m fine,” I insisted. “I was with some friends.”

Suddenly his face changed. “Oh no, no not him!” He began pacing back and forth like a mad man. “Are you sleeping with him, Lilly? Are you part of his harem now?”

I was shocked and mortified that he assumed I would allow myself to be part of a string of women. “It’s not like that, dad.”

“
Oh no!” he kept saying. “It’s worse than I thought.” He was still pacing. My mother got up from the couch and stood beside him.

“
Do you love him?” she asked.

“
He’s a skinny, little drug dealer, of course she doesn’t love him,” my father barked.

“
I
do
love him, dad.” I moved slightly away from him. “I can’t help it, I need him.” My father continued to pace. If it were possible, steam would be coming out of his ears.

“
I know this guy, Lil. He has a different girl every night. I know his friends personally. I have arrested all of them at least once but we can’t seem to catch John.”

“
Maybe you’re wrong about him!” I shouted. “He’s with me now, dad. Only me.”

“
Lilly, why are you being so naive? He sell drugs to kids.”

I didn’t quite know how to win this one. Of course I was suspicious that he was involved in illegal activities. He wouldn’t have people watching me if he wasn’t. But I never asked and he never told. It was just kind of understood that I didn’t want to know. He carried a gun; that much I
did
know. He was the first person I had ever known to carry a gun that wasn’t a police officer.

“
Have you noticed the Hispanic population growing around you?” he asked. “Roberto and Ray, just to name a few.”

“
So what?” I asked.

“
John’s superior is a Latino somewhere. We’re trying to find him. He’s having you protected for some reason, Lil. This means you have a purpose. I don’t like it.”

“
Purpose?” I asked in surprise. “I don’t have anything they would want.”

“
You are now his
Achilles’
heel. They’ll keep you safe until they need leverage.” He said that last part very slowly as if to make his warning clear. I began to feel a little sick to my stomach. This was too much for me and my head was beginning to spin.

“
Lilly, I may have to move you,” he said. Then there was a pounding on the door.

“
Is he coming over here today?” he asked.

“
It’s Easter.” I too was surprised. “He works on Easter at the restaurant. I’m not expecting anyone.”

My dad reached for the doorknob and pulled the door open. It was Rudy. He had sweat dripping from his face and his hands were shaking. He pointed a gun at my father and said, “Sorry Mick. Wrong place, wrong time.” We heard a loud BANG! My father dropped to the floor and the vase behind me shattered. His icy blue eyes were blood red. My mother ran into the kitchen screaming. He turned and pointed the gun at me. “You should’ve picked me, Lilly. But they always go for John. It could’ve been different. I would’ve protected you.”

I am sure I had that “deer in the headlights” look as he stood there pointing his gun at me. His sweat was covering the gun as his hands shook involuntarily. I began to think my relationship with Johnny might have been a mistake. How many times was I warned? Why did I continue to see him?

“
At first you were just something new to play with. But then you became like an obsession and he couldn’t put you down. You’re now nothing more than a unnecessary distraction.” I bit my bottom lip as I watched him get ready to shoot me. “Goodbye Lilly.” Before I had a chance to move, I heard another loud BANG!

Chapter 6

Just One More Night

I woke up in a hospital room and Johnny was sitting next to me holding my hand. The smell of antiseptic and old people tickled my nose causing me some nausea. Then I remembered. “My dad!” I shouted. “Oh my gosh, my dad!” Johnny jumped up as though I had awakened him.

“
Your dad is fine. The bullet went right through his shoulder, that’s why the vase behind you shattered.”

“
Was I shot?” I began to check my body for holes.

“
No baby, you’re fine.” I looked around to evaluate the situation. “Then why does my head hurt?”

“
You fainted. You’re good.” I looked at him and he seemed almost amused. “You have a few cuts on your arms from the glass and a bump on the head but that’s about it.”

“
Johnny, what happened?” A nurse walked in and looked over at us suspiciously. Johnny gave her a nod and she left the room.

“
Ray saved your life,” he answered. “After you fainted, Ray shot Rudy.”

“
I thought Rudy shot me.”

“
No, that second shot you heard came from Ray’s gun.”

I was astonished. “Oh no.” I was still trying to understand this. “Is Rudy …” I tried to catch my breath, “dead?”

“
Yes, Rudy is gone,” he answered. “Better him than you.”

“
You seem pretty okay with this,” I pointed out to him, a little bewildered. I wondered why he wasn’t more upset.

“
He was eating up too much of my profits anyway.” He smiled. “Okay, I’ll try to be more sensitive.” He started stroking my hair. “Its time to go, baby. I have to move you.” I remembered my father saying that to me just before Rudy shot him.

“
I need to see my dad.” I started to get up when my mother appeared in the door.

“
That young man at the door with the gun… he worked for you?” She had her arms crossed in front her body.

Johnny said nothing. “Lilly, we warned you time and time again; stay away, stay away. Well if you can’t stay away, I guess it’s up to me then.” She uncrossed her arms and her eyes changed. “Get the hell out of my house and don’t come back until you lose this piece of trash!” She stormed out of the room.

“
Johnny, I’m sorry.”

“
I’ve been called worse. But seriously Lilly, you need to get out of here for a while.”

“
John, I don’t feel so good. I think this is just too much for me.” I started to feel overwhelmed and things started getting cloudy in my head. “I don’t want to leave you.”

“
I have a friend who works in Las Vegas as a leasing manger. She said she would find you a job leasing and hook you up with an apartment. Just until things settle down here. I don’t think you’re made for this kind of life, Lilly.”

“
Johnny, I know nothing about leasing apartments, and I
don’t
want to leave you.” I grabbed his hand and put it on my cheek.

“
She’s a really good teacher.” He smiled. “Time to get going.” He pulled his hand away and started handing me my clothes.

—

We went back to the house and started packing. “Johnny, I can’t do this. How long will I be without you?”

“
Only a few months,” he answered. “Just long enough to make people think we’re no longer involved. Do you see why I don’t commit?” I gave him a look but yes, I got it. He wanted to keep me safe and now I wasn’t.

He kept me at his house for about a month and then he moved me to Las Vegas. I guess he had to wait for a job to become available. I wasn’t feeling very well. At first Johnny thought it might be stress but as it got worse he began to get worried that I might be pregnant. We didn’t use protection that first time and I couldn’t keep anything down. I refused to take a test because… well… I didn’t want to know. We walked into the apartment leasing office and it was very busy. I was so nauseous; I could barely stand. A blond haired woman in her 50s ran over to Johnny and threw her arms around him. She was very attractive and dressed well. I did
not
like that. “Johnny, Johnny, is it really you?”

“
Yes, mom, it’s me,” he answered. I was comforted that it was his mother.

“
Your mother?” I asked. “You could have mentioned in passing that she was your mom, you know.”

“
Don’t take offense, dear.” She took my hands and smiled. “He doesn’t tell anyone that we’re related.” She looked a little embarrassed.

“
Seriously, Johnny,” I said.

“
She
is
lovely, dear. I’m so pleased that you’ve entrusted her to me.”

“
I had nowhere else to go mom. Don’t let me down.” He gave her a serious look and then he winked. She smiled.

“
Lilly, this is Cammy, my mom.” She smiled a very pleasing smile at me.

Just then a handsome, Hispanic man, maybe about thirty years old, walked in. Johnny was definitely upset with the expression on my face. I tried not to stare but… wow! He was dark skinned with bright green eyes. His body was solid and he stood about six foot tall. It was all I could do to take my eyes off of him. “What are
you
doing here?” Johnny asked, obviously not pleased to see him.

“
It’s just as big a surprise to me, John, as it is to you,” Cammy acknowledged. “Diego got transferred here last night.”

“
Really
?” Johnny asked. “What a coincidence.” Diego walked over to me and took my hand. Johnny pushed him back and stood in front of me.

“
Boys…” Cammy pleaded. “Play nice, there’s a lady present.” Diego shoved Johnny away and grabbed my hand again.

“
Forgive him for his rudeness,” he said. He had a thick, and very sexy, Spanish accent. “I am Diego.” I was almost sweating from the steam coming off of his body.

“
It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I replied.

“
The pleasure is all mine.” He kissed my hand never disconnecting his eyes from my gaze.

“
Get off of her,” Johnny responded. He pulled me away from him. “ I can’t believe you’re here.”

“
I’ve missed you too, John,” he answered. The two of them bickered back and forth until Cammy assigned me an apartment number and then they fought over who got to take me there. She finally intervened. “Johnny, apartment 346. Just take her.” Diego gave her a very unfriendly look. She turned her eyes away and handed Johnny the keys. As we left, I saw in the reflection of the window, Diego grab her arm and the two struggle a bit.

“
Do we need to worry about her?” I asked.

“
If there’s one thing I can tell you about Cammy, it’s that she can definitely take care of herself.” We walked into the modestly furnished room and I began to unpack my bags. I didn’t like the moldy smell or the hotel-like appearance of the room. “I don’t know, Johnny,” I said. “Can you stay with me tonight?” I was a little afraid to be alone.