The Devil Behind Me (10 page)

“He’s coming to pick me up,” I moaned. 

“You have the sizzle
, the guy adores you,” she smiled. “He might be an asshole, but he’s no Frank.”

“I guess,
” I said, knowing it was probably more the fact he wanted answers for something. What answers? I didn’t know. Him? Adore me? Not in this lifetime.

I left Elissa at the bistro a
nd headed outside, it was well past four o’clock in the morning. I didn’t see his car anywhere, I kept looking but he wasn’t there yet. I was tired, beat and exhausted, but glad I had come out with Elissa. She was completely understanding about Frank and actually wished evil things on him, which kind of made me happy. I suddenly heard a low rumble from a black motorcycle, the kind which races in the streets. It stopped right in front of me, the driver with his helmet on nodded when he saw me. I stepped back as he straightened up and removed his helmet. Daimon just smiled. 

“
You have a motorcycle?” I asked, looking at it.

“
It’s called a sport bike,” he argued.

“I’v
e heard them referred to as motorcycles,” I refuted.

“
Whatever, Addie, just get on,” he thumbed behind him.

“
You can’t be serious. I'm not getting on that thing,” I snapped.

He turned to the left of him and
unhinged a helmet. “Put it on and get your ass on my bike,” he bit out as he threw the helmet at me. I caught the helmet in my hands looking at him and his sport bike suspiciously. 

“I'm not
going to kill you. I know how to use one of these things,” Daimon smirked. I put the helmet on and jumped on the back of his bike. “Hold on tight,” he chuckled, “or else you’re going to fall off.” I grabbed at his black leather jacket and held onto him. “Put your hands around my waist,” he snapped.

I exhaled
heavily and relented. I slowly put my hands around his waist and held on nervously. He started the engine and off we went. I yelped surprised at how fast he was going. He weaved in and out between the spaces of the cars, making me feel scared and exhilarated. The ride only took about twenty minutes, when we finally stopped in front of my restaurant. I jumped off the first moment I could and took of the helmet. He laughed at me saying I was a natural but didn’t know it yet. I rolled my eyes at him. 

“
Don’t you get tired of working so much? I mean it, Addie. You haven’t slept since yesterday night. How the hell are you going to work today?” he questioned in a serious tone as he looked over me.

“My dad should be here in a few hours
. I’ll see how he’s doing. If he’s okay, I’ll go home and Sofia will work. It’s Sunday so it’s her usual shift,” I admitted. 

“You look like shit.
You know that, right?” He got off his bike and leaned on his seat. 

“A
we, thanks. You always know how to make me feel so special,” I said sarcastically.

“I try,” h
e laughed. 

“
You don’t need to try, you’re a natural,” I reassured him.

“
Thanks for the lift, I guess. I’ll just head inside.” I smiled and headed to the door.

  “Addie?”

“Yes, master?” I stopped.

“
About your dad, I didn’t know. I'm sorry,” he said ruefully.

“
Wow, you should have told me you were going to apologize. I would have recorded it and kept it as collateral.” I laughed it off. His apology perplexed me. The way he was right now made me completely feel lost at how I felt.
It’s a contract, Addie, nothing else.

“I need to go,
” I spat out nervously, almost running into the diner.

“Addie?” he called out before I entered.

“Yeah?” I called back over my shoulder. He didn’t say anything so I turned to look at him. 

“Never mind
,” he gave me a ghost smile.

It was now midday.
I didn’t know if it was the all-nighter or the excitement at the bar or even the fact I had told Elissa about Frank, but I was like the walking dead, exhausted. My eyes hurt and the sun was torturous to look at. I prayed that any minute now Sofia would come through that door. When the door did open, it wasn’t my father or Sofia, not even Daimon. It was Frank.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked
, glaring at him. He sat down all calm, like the world was his little oyster and smiled at me. 

“I'm here to see you,” h
e pointed at me.

“Get the fuck out
of here before I call the cops,” I threatened.

“
Is everything okay, dear?” Silvia asked as she rose up from her usual seat. Silvia would spend her days with me and talk to me about a world I hardly knew or understood, but I figured she was a nice, old, wacky lady who needed some company.

“
Yeah, Silvia, just an old friend. Go back to your coffee,” I said over my shoulder.

“
An old friend, I'm hurt.” He clutched at his heart. “Come on, Addie, I missed you,” he smiled. This wasn’t my Frank. This wasn’t the Frank I knew. 

“
What do you want?” I asked.

“
You and all that you have.” He held out his hands still smiling. “I feel a little upset at the way things ended with us. So I want to make it up to you,” he offered.

“Well I'm sorry
, but you can’t.” I moved away from him. 

“Come on
, little Addie.” He rose up from where he was sitting.

“I
'm not your little Addie,” I snarled pointing at him.

“I get it
, you’re angry, but I still want you back,” he admitted. I wasn’t buying it. This Frank was cunning and sly. I could see it a mile away. “I guess I should go see little Sofia and ask her what I should do,” he offered and he began to walk away.

“STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM HER!” I yelled out.  His eyes narrowed and he grinned. 

“If you want me to stay away from the young and impressionable Sofia, you need to give me money,” he said flatly. “You now have a new fucking life with a rich boyfriend. You fucking owe me, Addie. Now pay the fuck up,” he bit out. 

“
That’s why you came looking for me?” I asked, dazed.

“
Why else? It certainly wasn’t for you and your damaged ass. Get me some money from your rich boyfriend or I’ll let everyone know about our little relationship and all the ins and outs,” he threatened.

“I don’t have money to give you,
” I shouted.

“
You put me in prison, made me a criminal. I can’t get a fucking job and you want to talk about money? The guy you’re dating makes more than anyone in New York. Tell your boyfriend anything you want, but get me the money or I’ll see if Sofia wouldn’t mind coming out with me. You know, as a little date, nothing serious just her and me,” he said sadistically. “You remember right? How sweet I can be?” he laughed. 

“Get out of my restaurant!”
My father entered and yelled the moment he saw him.

“Ah
, if it isn’t daddy dearest. It’s okay, I came and said what I needed to say. I’m leaving so don’t worry.” Frank moved around my father and left. 

My father stood cursing and swearing at
him under his breath. He growled and marched passed me. I felt shame because I had brought this man into our lives. I was the one who desperately tried to ease my father’s pain and stress; yet, here I was the one who caused all his problems.

“Do you want to talk about it
, sweetheart?” Silvia asked as she clutched at my arm. 

“No,
” I said meekly.

“
Addie,” My father cried out from the back of the restaurant. “Go home. You’ve worked enough for today,” he snapped. I knew he was angry and I also knew he would be in pain all day from the stress. 

“Dad
, I could—”

“No
! You go now,” he said curtly. 

I took my things
and left. I was walking out on the street, pushing back the tears, willing them to not come out. I hated when my father was disappointed in me. I hated the shame I felt when he was curt and cold, as though I hadn’t met any of his expectations.

I came home and Sofia was there
, still angry with me about Frank and about yelling at her. I was growing tired of her silent treatment, but I was the oldest and I wasn’t about to give into the little tantrum she was having. I took a hot shower; my body ached from exhaustion. I eased my hands up and down my body careful not to touch my scar. I hated touching it. I hated the feel of how different my skin felt. I hated the memory it came with.

I
crawled into bed, relishing the cool sheets. My mattress was lumpy and old, but I didn’t care. To me it was the best feeling in the world. I lost consciousness within seconds of my head hitting the pillow. I was lost in my dreams, enjoying the world I was creating in my mind. 

“
Wake up!” yelled Sofia. My alarm on my phone kept ringing. “You’ve been sleeping for ten hours,” she kept yelling.

“
Shit,” I groaned and moaned, moving my aching body.

I picked
up the phone and saw the time. Sofia left in a huff. I had the night off which left me wondering. If I should or if I shouldn’t?  I kept looking at the minutes go by until I decided to fire off a text. The moment I sent it, I regretted it instantly.

I seriously wished there was a way to retrieve messages. I lay down on my bed wondering what the fuck I had done. Knowing Daimon, he’d tell me to know my place, that in the contract he decided when date night was to happen. Thirty minutes had gone by and I had no answer. I shrugged it off and threw my phone onto the side of my bed.

The doorbell rang and I stood alert
, worried it might be Frank. I ran down the stairs just as Sofia went to open the door. There in my doorway stood Daimon with a navy blue suit and light grey shirt. I stood still, floored at how damn sexy he looked. It was Sunday night, was he working?

“S
o you want to go out in that?” he smiled with that sexy grin of his. I looked down at my frumpy over-worn pjs.

“You didn’t tex
t me back so I didn’t get ready,” I said sounding stupid. Sofia rolled her eyes and left us.

Daimon
, still smiling, walked up to me and lightly touched my cheek with his fingers. “So go upstairs and get dressed. It’s not every day you ask me out.”

H
e looked down at me. The intensity of his light blue eyes nearly took my breath away.
Easy girl
. I had to remind myself this wasn’t real. I had to understand we were going to end this sometime soon. When? I didn’t know exactly, but Daimon had said that he would let me know.

“Addie?”
he murmured.

“Hmm…sorry.
Yeah, I’ll be ready in a few.” I forced myself to leave his presence and headed up to my bedroom.

“Nothing f
ancy, just some jeans and a t-shirt,” he called after me. 

I hur
ried up, worried Sofia might say something. I washed my face and applied some mascara. I didn’t know what to do with my hair so I put it up in a ponytail. Once I finished, I ran down the stairs to an awaiting Daimon who had his hands in his pockets and was leaning up against my doorway.  

“Ready?”
he asked.

“Ready
,” I said. “Sofia, make sure you lock the door up. Daddy should be here any minute.” I called out to her, but she didn’t respond.

“She
’s very… you,” he said laughing.

“What are you trying to say?” I asked.

“She seems like a stubborn pain in the ass,” he offered. 

“Thanks,
” I scoffed.

“Well
, she seems to take after you,” he said playfully. 

He led me to his car and opened the door for me. This was new, the
Daimon I knew never opened doors unless...

“Is there someone watching us?” I asked
, looking around.

“What?” he asked.

“You know, your father? Do they have someone watching you to see if we’re really dating?” I asked seriously.

“
No. Why?” he asked, holding back his laughter. 

“
Well you opened the door for me and you’re being nice. To be honest, it’s kind of freaking me out,” I admitted.

“
Shit happens, Addie, sometimes I can be nice,” he rolled his eyes. 

Daimon
drove us to his penthouse. The same jolly man opened the door for me and helped me out. Daimon handed the keys to him and started to make his way inside. 

“
Daimon?” I tugged at his suit jacket.

“What?” H
e looked down at me.

“Shouldn’t we be going out? I mean
, aren’t people supposed to see us?” I asked pointing down the street.

“
Addie, I had a long day and I still haven’t been able to come home. How about this?” He put his hands in his pockets and leaned down to my level. “How about we let everyone think you’re here in my home fucking me? That way I can eat and sleep in peace,” he winked. 

“
Daimon, don’t you dare make me regret contacting you. I did it so it would be easier for me,” I hissed.

He took out his right hand from his pocket and grabbed my
wrist, pulling me inside. We passed through the lavish lobby and made our way to the elevator. Daimon took out his cardkey and placed it in the slot. He then pressed the button to call the elevator down.

“Don’
t be difficult and just do this,” he muttered. 

The elevator doors opened and
Daimon threw me inside. He pressed for the top floor and leaned against the railing. We rode up in silence. I was cursing myself for being stupid and trying to preempt his attempt to ask me out on a day I couldn’t make it. The doors opened and little Drako came running to us. He happily kept jumping up trying to get me to play with him.

“It’s funny
, Drako hates everyone, but not you,” Daimon said in passing. “Are you hungry? ‘Cause I'm famished. Pizza okay?” he asked, taking off his tie.

“
Sure,” I said quietly as I knelt down and began scratching Drako’s belly.

He ordered t
he pizza, went upstairs to shower and change. I leisurely walked through his home, afraid I might break something expensive. His home was cold and dry. Black furniture with black accents, nothing with any warmth expect for little Drako. The tiny chocolate lab was cute and lively. He wagged his tail every time I looked at him. Daimon came down his stairs with a small towel draped over his head, drying off his hair.

“Why are you not sitting?” h
e asked as he took of the towel. His hair was no longer gelled back or perfectly coiffed, but tousled around wet and free. I watched as it fell loosely around his face. It was long on top and got shorter around the nape of his neck.

“
I—was—looking around,” I stammered moving my eyes away from him.

“Like anything?
” he asked, smiling.

“Your place
… it’s nice,” I said.

“I’m glad you like it.”  He walked over to his massive fridge and opened it
. “Water?” he offered.

“Yeah
, sure.” I walked over to him as he reached out and gave me the bottle. I started drinking the water, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Daimon wasn’t usually this nice. “You seem rested. Did you sleep when you got home?” Daimon asked, watching me drink my water.

“Yeah
, I slept,” I murmured.

“Good,”
Daimon smiled.

“So what is it? Why the
sudden change to a nice guy? Is there a full moon out and I didn’t know?” I asked, putting the cap back onto my water bottle. 

“Does there hav
e to be a reason for me to be nice?” Oh there it is; the underling hostility I knew which made Daimon who he was. 

“Yeah actually
, there always is a reason,” I said. He nearly slammed the bottle down onto the expensive marble counter.

“Think what you like,” h
e hissed. The gently features of his face changed almost immediately.

“I will
, since in your eyes I'm all about the money,” I half-laughed.

“For a girl
who loves money, you have no clue how to make it. Sell that stupid diner, get yourself out there and get a real job,” he said callously.

“It
sounds easy when you put things into words like that, but in reality it’s a lot harder than you think,” I fired back. For some reason fighting with Daimon always made sense to me, like it was something familiar. 

“
What does your mother think?” he asked, gearing up for a fight. At the mention of my mother I froze.

“
It was a bad idea coming here and an even worse idea to actually contact you,” I grumbled.

“What the fuck
, Addie? What just happened here?” he seethed.

“Noth
ing. Absolutely nothing happened here,” I bit out. Drako started to rub his head against my leg. “I—need to—leave,” I stammered.  I suddenly had a hard time breathing.

“
No, you are staying and you’re going to tell me what the fuck is wrong with you.” He blocked my way to the elevator.

“Drop it
and I stay. Push and I’ll leave,” I threatened. The elevator dinged.

“It’s the doorman with the food,” he said curtly
, still looking at me. 

Dinner
with Daimon was quiet and long. He barely spoke and I hardly wanted to be there with him. He insisted on driving me home. The entire night we were together was uncomfortable and uneasy. The guilt of losing my mother and how much I failed my family weighed heavily on my mind.

I crawled into bed late that night, thinking about what
Daimon had said. I had been trying for a while to speak to my father about the store and closing it down. I knew it would be difficult, but we needed to move on. My father must have known; he was avoiding me all together.