HELLO BEAUTIFUL

Chapter 6

Hanna is not crying anymore, she’s talking now with her superior, I guess, because she’s reporting the cops’ death. Hanna’s voice is cold, emotionless and I sigh hard, shaking my head. The Ice Queen is back.

I pull a beer from the fridge while listening to Hanna making call after call on her cell phone. She’s still dressed in that fucking pink outfit I’m starting to detest.

There was a time when I loved to see chicks dressed like that and I would have paid for a free show without a second thought, but watching my own woman… that’s a completely different thing. Hanna never dressed like this and to be honest, even if it sounds weird even to me, I would pay to see her dressed in her loose clothes and white cotton panties.

When she’s done with her last call, Hanna picks her laptop and, connecting it, she starts typing on the keyboard like a woman possessed. I glance at my watch; it’s now around 5am.

“Gonna take a shower,” I say, passing by on her side. In response, she just nods ‘yes’ and continues with her task, not even looking at me.

I take my time showering, relaxing my aching muscles under the stream of hot water. It’s not like I’m in a hurry though. We’re not going anywhere until tonight. I close my eyes, trying to figure what we’re going to find at Reynaldo’s party and a huge shiver crosses my spine from head to toe.

The last party that fucker hosted that I went to ended up with a chick raped by two of his partners and another chick overdosing. That was the last time Vince and I hung with him. It was too much for us.

We were tough fuckers, and we were having the time of our lives, fucking stunning chicks, sniffing coke and drinking tequila, but we weren’t rapists. We never fucked with a girl who didn’t want us willingly.

I shake my head, sighing hard as I step out of the shower and wrapping a towel around my hips, I head toward the kitchen. I think I’m going to get drunk. I know for sure that I’m not going to sleep, so at least, I’ll pass out.

Hanna is on her cell phone again but this time, she’s speaking in Spanish with someone called Ricardo. I’m pretending I’m not paying attention as I grab another Corona, but whoever that guy is, he seems to be someone Hanna knows pretty well because she’s talking with him like I would talk with a good friend, someone I respect.

I narrow my eyes, tightening my jaw when I realize a painful fact. I don’t know anything about that woman sitting on the floor, speaking on the phone. I don’t know shit about Hanna. Come to think of it, I don’t even know her real surname.

The woman sitting there is a complete stranger to me, she has nothing to do with the woman I fell in love with.

I fell in love with Hanna Miles, freelancer photographer whose father abused her when she was a kid and died in prison under unclear circumstances when she was sixteen years old.

I’ve never met any of her friends or family members. Hanna Miles’ favorite colour was turquoise and she loved Italian food. She liked action movies and her favorite painting was ‘The Kiss’ from Gustav Klimt because she said that it celebrated the essence of pure love and devotion. In fact, she even had a copy of that painting hanging on her bedroom wall.

Damnit! I don’t know why I keep referring to that house as if it was really hers. I know that’s not true. Back then Hanna was working on a fucking case, just like now. I better start to get a grip because I was just another target. I don’t even know for how long she has been a FBI agent though. Maybe there are dozens of guys like me spread all around the state, maybe even more.

Yeah, definitively I’m gonna get drunk, at least while I’m out I won’t be thinking about her. A heavy sigh escapes my lips as I stare at her, sitting on the floor with her legs crossed Indian style and her laptop resting on her lap.

Who am I kidding? There’s no way I can get Hanna out of my head, so I gulp half of my beer in one long draught. The sooner I get drunk, the better.

Hanna ends her call and gets to her feet, padding to the kitchen. She looks at me, biting her lower lip, just the right corner. I lock eyes with her and a strong shiver runs through my spine. There’s nothing there. Nothing. Hanna is consciously hiding her feelings and emotions from me, and all of sudden I feel uneasy. What is she plotting now?

Hanna takes a deep breath and plunges.

“You’re out.” She says emotionless. I swallow my gulp of beer, blinking in puzzlement. “I’ll report your escape in three hours; you will have enough time to reach the Mexican border.”

“What?!” I ask, shocked by her words. Hanna ignores my question and continues as if I didn’t say shit.

“When you arrive in Tijuana, a good friend of mine, Ricardo, will be waiting to help you with everything you may need. He will call you in four hours. You don’t have to worry; Richie is a decent guy who has nothing to do with the FBI. In fact he hates us more than you do,” she chuckles sadly. “He won’t ask questions.”

I frown deeply, staring at her as if she’s a ghost.

“You gotta be kidding, right?” I reply, placing the bottle of beer on the counter.

In response, Hanna shakes her head ‘no’ and continues with her tirade. Her eyes hold no emotions, or feelings, and her voice is so cold that my soft hair stands all at once.

“I’ll arrange everything so Mia is able to join you. It will take me a couple of days, but I promise you that she will be in Mexico safe and sound. Nobody will hunt you, I give you my word. ” Hanna pauses for a second, looking away and continues. This time her voice is soft and gentle and she’s speaking almost in an inaudible whisper. “I never meant to hurt you…. and …and I hope you’d be able to forgive me …. someday.” She looks back up at me; her eyes are brimming with tears. “Thanks for everything.” Her voice sounds strangled. Hanna turns around, heading toward the bathroom but before she enters it, she freezes and turning her head she adds. “I’m sorry for all the pain I caused you, Dominic…. Good luck.” And with that, she enters the bathroom, closing and locking the door at her back.

I blink a couple of times as my brain tries to process Hanna’s words. I know this is my second beer, but I’m not even close to being drunk yet. So, I have to be dreaming or hallucinating or something because I don’t understand any of this shit. Is this some kind of joke?

Hanna is going to fuck with the FBI, sending the fucking deal to hell, not giving a shit about the consequences? Why the fuck is she doing this?

Hanna has gone crazy if she thinks she’s going to solve this case alone. There’s no way she’s going to be able to catch Reynaldo. That fucker will kill her before she gets closer to him.

Reynaldo might be all ready to fuck her senseless, I have no doubt about it, that’s if he hasn’t fucked her already. But, there’s no way that sick bastard is going to tell her shit about his business. He won’t ever trust Hanna that much not even if she would become his wife. Reynaldo always thought that chicks were good just for one single purpose, and judging by his actions tonight, I’m sure he still thinks the same way.

I frown deeply, thinking about her words. Is this some kind of sick game? Who the fuck does she think she is? What do I have to do? Let her sacrifice her life for me? Fuck! Am I thinking seriously about her offer?

I grunt deeply, rushing to my bedroom, grabbing my things, and dressing in clean clothes. I hear the water running in the shower, so I guess this is my chance. Shit! How the fuck did I get myself into this damn mess? I can’t believe how stupid I’ve become!

Why the fuck do I have to risk my neck? I’m not an FBI agent, I didn’t solemnly swear I would support or defend the Constitution of the Unites States or its people. I didn’t swear an oath of office. Why do I have to die? Because the FBI is after Reynaldo? Just because I knew him once? Fuck that! I’m not a damn hero, I’m just a man.

I grab my jacket and, picking up the cell phone and the gun, I storm out the apartment, slamming the door closed at my back. I’m not losing another opportunity. This is the second time Hanna has shown me a way out and this time I’m not going to waste it. Fuck you, Hanna! I don’t need this shit.

I get in my car, determined to leave all this shit behind, to not look back but when I’m about to switch the engine over, Hanna’s eyes popped into my mind, torturing me. Those damn beautiful green eyes with their damn grayish sparks around the pupils. Her hoarse voice whispering my name. Dominic.

Flash back

“Why do you call me ‘Dominic’ all the time instead of ‘Dom’?” I asked Hanna as I collapsed on the couch, making myself comfortable. Hanna knit a brow, turning her head to look at me.

“What? Don’t you like it?” she asked, turning completely to face me.

I frowned deeply, thinking about it. It wasn’t that I didn’t like it, but it reminded me of my mom and I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.

“Do you prefer if I call you ‘Alfredo’?” Hanna teased me, grinning.

“Hell, no!” I replied, groaning. Hanna laughed softly, walking to my side.

“Then, what’s the problem?” She asked me, stopping right in front of me. “I love your name.”

“It’s just that everybody calls me ‘Dom’.” I said, stroking her thighs up and down.

Hanna grinned devilishly as she made herself comfortable, straddling my waist. I mimicked her grin and grabbing her waist gently, I pulled her to me.

“I’m not everybody, baby,” she whispered, a breath away from my lips, her eyes flickering to mine. “I’m your woman, Dominic.” Hanna purred as she lifted a hand, caressing my cheek gently. In response, I buried my hands in her hair, pulling her even closer to me as I whispered.

“Damn right, you are, Hanna.” And with that I captured her lips in a searing kiss.

End Flash Back

Fuck it! I punch the steering wheel with all my will, cursing myself silently and before I realize what I’m doing, I’m stepping into the lift again, pressing the damn button to the fifth floor, heading back to the apartment. Damnit, woman! You still have me wrapped around your finger, bitch!

The water is still running in the shower and without a second thought, I head toward the bathroom, slamming the door open, causing the hinges to fly from their place.

Hanna is sitting inside the shower, her legs pulled to her chest, her arms encircling them. Her gaze is fixed on some spot only she can see and her lips are slightly blue. She’s shaking badly and her skin is gooseflesh. No wonder, the water is running ice cold. I shut my eyes for a second and closing the tap, I crouch at her side.

It seems she’s somewhere else, mumbling to herself, chanting incoherent things that don’t make any sense to me. Something about a load of automatic weapons, two jurisdictions, a deal and something about not being worthy, about losing me too.

I frown deeply, thinking. What the fuck is she talking about? Who else did she lose?

I’ve read about this kind of shock at the prison library. A subject who has been under a strong physical or psychological trauma may show this strange behavior.

“Hanna?” I call her, grabbing her chin gently to make her look at me.

“I pulled the trigger,” Hanna says absently as if she’s thinking at the same time. “I didn’t know if it was loaded or not….I almost killed you…” she’s whispering, her eyes are wide open, but her pupils are contracted. I’m not sure if she is seeing me or not.

“Yeah, but you didn’t,” I reply, brushing her wet cheek with my thumb. Fresh tears roll down her cheek as she closes her eyes. “You had no other choice, baby.” I sigh hard, frowning deeply.

I can’t believe I’m quoting her. Hanna is right, she almost killed me tonight and I’m already getting over that fact. Damnit! When the hell did I turn so understanding?

I get to my feet, pulling her to me and she whimpers softly. I grab a big towel and wrapping her body with it, I pick her up.

“Don’t touch me, please….I don’t want you touching me, Dominic….please, don’t…” she trailed off, shaking violently as she struggles to release herself from my embrace. I growl deeply, tightening my hold around her body.

“I’m not in the mood for sex, Hanna.” I reply, carrying her to her bedroom. She weighs almost nothing. I doubt she’s more than 110 pounds if that much. “I’m not gonna hurt you, baby.”

Hanna whimpers again, sniffing softly as she swallows hard, clenching my shirt.

“I’m dirty, Dominic…I don’t want you getting stained…” she whispers, hiding her face in my neck.

“The fuck, you are, Hanna. You’ve been in the shower for more than half an hour, woman.” I reply, leaving her on the bed and turning around, looking for clean clothes.

Hanna rolls on the bed, grabbing her pillow. “Not my body, Dominic, just….” I froze, motionless, feeling my heart skipping a beat. “… just my soul…” She adds. Her words cut my breath and my heart aches, hearing her sobs, muffled with the pillow.

All of sudden, the clothes are forgotten and I walk back to the bed, taking a seat at her side. Hanna jumps slightly when my hand stroked her arm. She’s trembling and so I am. I swallow hard, clearing my throat.

“When was the last time you slept deeply, Hanna?” I ask her as I keep stroking her arm up and down, feeling her relaxing under my soft caress. Hanna chuckles sadly, sniffing.

“The last night you slept with me.” She breathes. In response, I shut my eyes tightly.

I know I’m going to regret this. I know it, but I can’t help it. She needs me and I… I’m just too weak. Fuck it!

I get to my feet, pulling off my wet clothes, climbing in the bed, making myself comfortable behind her. Hanna tenses as she turns her head to look at me. Her eyes are sparkling with tears as they flicker to mine.

“Thank you…” she whispers softly. I grit my teeth, encircling her waist, pulling her to me.

“Don’t thank me yet.” I reply, frowning deeply. Hanna nods ‘yes’ and turning her head again, she takes a deep breath, relaxing completely.

I let out the air I didn’t realize I was holding and relaxing I rest my head on the pillow, closing my eyes. We’re both naked and even though I’m not in the mood for sex, there’s still blood running through my veins. Fuck! This is going to be a hell of a nap, I swear. Damnit, Hanna, I hate you, bitch!

———

It’s funny how a human beings’ mind works.

I’ve been having trouble  sleeping deeply for the last year I was in Lompoc and when I could finally catch some sleep, I always ended up having nightmares. And, now, here I am. I’ve been asleep for almost twelve hours like a little baby, dreaming with Hanna while she was spread all over me, sleeping as peacefully as a little girl.

This is the last place I thought I would be again. Naked as the day I was born with Hanna as naked as I am, embraced in each other arms on a king size bed.

We are in deep shit, but we still manage to sleep like nothing is bothering us. We could die tonight, but here we are like nothing is waiting for us outside these four walls. It’s like because we’re in each other arms, we are safe. Isn’t that fucking funny?

I’ve been awake for a few minutes, staring at Hanna’s face and I have a bizarre sensation. I already know the laws of the Physics say that it’s impossible to travel through time, at least now, but I swear I’ve been transported to my own past. To a point a little more than a year ago.

Those days in which we used to sleep until late in the afternoon because we had been making love all night long. Or we have been talking about everything and nothing, or just simply because we have been watching old black and white movies on some pay channel; and even sometimes because we had done all of those things over the night together.

All of sudden, my eyes sting and my vision blurs for a second and before I can’t stop myself, silent tears are falling down my temples. I grit my teeth and I shut my eyes tightly when I notice Hanna’s hand cleaning my tears as her own tears are wetting my chest. Shit! What a damn pair we make, damnit!

Here we are both of us naked and instead of fucking like crazy rabbits, we’re silently crying like little kids. What the fuck is wrong with us?

I take a ragged breath as I lifted my head slightly, locking eyes with her. Hanna sniffles softly as she moves up a little. We’re breathing in time and we’re so close that I can feel Hanna’s warm breath caressing my lips. Her eyes are flickering to mine, showing what she feels for me.  I know she’s waiting for me to make the first move, and even though I’m dying to kiss her, I won’t do it. I won’t kiss her; I won’t fall into her trap again. I can’t allow myself to do that. I won’t kiss Hanna.

She nods lightly like if she understands my choice. I close my eyes, feeling her heart beating against my chest. I’m aware that I’m the one putting this emotional distance between us, but I can’t help it. I’m too damn hurt and I just simply can’t let her get close to me again. I’m dying inside, knowing I’m probably killing her too, but…

Hanna clears her throat as she takes my hand in hers, interlacing our fingers, resting them on my chest, at her heart level.

“I was a FBI bookworm; working in the Criminal Investigate Division at the FBI’s headquarters at Washington DC. Always surrounded by tons of legal documents, offenders’ profiles and intell, but always far from the real action. I was great at doing my job; in fact I was fucking great, the best according to my superior’s reports. The special agent in charge of the office here in LA was going to be transferred overseas and I had always wanted to live here. So as soon as I knew the Assistant Director in Charge of the office in LA was going to need a new special agent in charge to covert the vacant post, I didn’t think twice and I applied for the post here.” She pauses for a second, her heart beating a little faster.

Hanna takes a deep breath, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly, but her heart is now racing. I’m not the only one having trouble controlling my yoga shit techniques, I guess.

“The transport labor union reported the stealing of several loads. Mostly DVD’s and high tech shit. The only intell we had was what the truck drivers had reported to us. Three Honda Civics, precision driving; the same green neon glow from under the chassis…. Lab said the skid marks came back with all the same tires and that those were used to race. So, we suspected that it was somebody in the street racing world.”

I tense slightly hearing her talking about me and Hanna cuts herself off, clearing her throat one more time. I rise, making myself comfortable and in one move I pull her to me. Hanna lets out the air it seems she was holding and smiled sadly.

“Go on.” I say coldly, but my voice sounds strangled and thick.

Hanna narrows her eyes, and after a moment of hesitation, she finally rests her head on my chest. I tense for a second, feeling her naked body against mine. We both take a deep breath at the same time and Hanna continues, relating how everything started.

“We were running out of time… Bilkins, my boss, was putting pressure on my team and we suspected the truckers were going to take the matter into their own hands if we didn’t find the ones responsible. The bureaucrats weren’t helping either. The transport association had contributed millions to some politicians’ careers. So, we were in a hurry, and we couldn’t spend time training somebody to race cars.”

I can’t help but grin at that. Of course, they couldn’t train somebody to race cars. That’s not the way it works. You have it in you or not. It’s not just a matter of training. Apart of that fact, they could have been sending dozen of undercover cops to race against us and we never would have trusted them.

“Every new trace was driving us again and again to Dominic Alfredo Toretto. We didn’t know if you were the one stealing the trucks, but for sure you had to know something about it. And then…then I saw your picture for the first time… and…”

Hanna sighs hard as she lifts her head, locking eyes with me, silent tears rolling down her cheeks.

“And what?” I swallow hard. Suddenly I don’t like where she’s heading and I’m not sure if I want to know about all this shit anymore. But somehow, I need to make sense of all the pain she caused me.

I didn’t notice but my free hand has been drawing invisible circles across and over her back while sitting with my back against the headboard. I’ve been stroking her skin, like I used to do when we were talking and I didn’t even realize it.

“I fell in love with my target’s eyes,” Hanna breathes as she holds my gaze. “I fell in love with you, Dominic.”

I swallow hard, forcing that damn invisible knot back down my throat, feeling my heart racing inside of my chest.

“Just like that, huh?” In response, Hanna shakes her head ‘no’ slowly.

“No, Dominic, not just like that…. I fell in love with the man, not with the target.” She whispers, taking a ragged breath.

I need to know but at the same time, I don’t want to know. I’m a mess and my mind is a complete chaos.

“Tell me why, Hanna. Why did you lie to me?” My voice is just a whisper. I can’t force my voice to sound louder. She swallows hard, frowning deeply as if she’s weighing her options at this point. “And don’t give me that shit about you didn’t have any other fucking choice, Hanna. I’m sick and tired of that bullshit.” I hiss through clenched teeth.

Hanna blinks fresh tears and my heart is about to explode inside my chest. It’s racing faster than ever before in my whole life and Hanna’s is matching my heartbeats.

“The truck wasn’t loaded just with DVD’s, Dominic. I received a phone call, ordering me to abort the theft before it took place…. In no way could that truck be stopped or diverted from its original destination.” She pauses as a small whimper escapes her lips. Hanna takes a deep breath in time with me, exhaling slowly.

“Why? What was in that fucking truck?” I ask, not sure if I want to know it.

I’m starting to suspect that the more things I know about that, the more I’m in danger and so is Hanna for telling me. But I need to know why Vince died and why I lost everything I loved. My life, my family, my woman…

“Weapons.” Hanna whispers. “Reynaldo’s weapons…” she adds, sighing hard. “It wasn’t the first time that an FBI investigation crossed paths with another, by one unfortunate connection, but…the other didn’t belong to the FBI jurisdiction. I did what I thought  would cause the minor damage.”

I tightened my jaw so hard that my neck muscles hurt.

“And you sent me to prison.” I hiss as I shut my eyes tightly. Hanna’s lips let out a heavy sigh.

“As I told you. It was that or death… your death, and I wasn’t going to lose you.” Hanna replied, blinking fresh tears.

“And you sent me to fucking prison.” Hanna locks eyes with me, swallowing hard.

“It was one thing to look  aside while you crossed into Mexico with your team and Mia, and another thing to be a silent witness to all of you getting killed before you were able to stop that truck.”

We are in complete silence, staring at each other eyes. I’m searching for signs that she’s bullshitting me, that she’s trying desperately to justify her actions, but there’s none. I know what she’s saying is the truth, at least her truth, her motivations. But knowing them doesn’t make me feel any better. Those facts don’t change the painful reality.

Probably Hanna was right when she told me in Lompoc that we were just pawns in their game, but I still feel like a pawn in her game.

She lied to me, she betrayed me, and she didn’t trust me. Hanna said she loved me, but she didn’t love me enough to trust me with the truth. I told her everything about what I was doing and she understood me, but she was unable to give me the same opportunity in return. Hanna made the decision on her own, taking for granted that I wouldn’t understand her like she did with me.

My dad was wrong. I never lied to my woman, expecting the same treatment in return, like I was told since I was a kid. But in spite of that fact, my own woman lied to me and that’s something I don’t know if I will be able to get over.

“Who are you?” I ask in a whisper, swallowing hard as my eyes flicker to hers.

Hanna takes a deep breath, tensing slightly as she squeezes my hand gently, stroking the back side with her thumb. An unconscious move back then; she was doing it all the time no matter where we were or with who.

“I’m Hanna Miles, FBI special agent and amateur photographer.” Hanna whispers, smiling sadly. “I have a degree in Psychology and I studied Art and History.”

I narrow my eyes in suspicion. I made Jesse search everything available about her and that’s exactly what came up, but I’ve seen her changing her profile in minutes, getting ready to play her new role; Hanna Evans.

How do I know she’s not lying to me now? How can I be sure she’s telling me the truth? I’m so confused and lost that I don’t trust my own instincts anymore.

Hanna nods ‘yes’ as if she’s able to hear what I’m thinking and I bet she can do that. Hanna can read me like an open book and now more than ever, I’m having a hard time keeping her oblivious to the existence of that part inside my soul and my heart that still loves her. I never was able to lie to her and that fact is not helping me either.

“Back then I didn’t use an alias. My real profile could fit with my covert role and I didn’t want to change it but I had no other choice though. My favorite colour is turquoise and I love Italian food. I’m a mess at cooking and…” she trails off, swallowing hard. “That motherfucker abused me for years…” Hanna adds, looking away, sighing hard. “I became a FBI agent because I didn’t want anyone else hurting me. I wanted to be able to fight any other fucker who tried to rape me. I refused to become a weak victim again.”

I can’t help it. I should probably feel sorry for her, for that poor girl whose father raped her and put such anger and rage in her heart that she decided one day she could pay every guy back, but I’m not. I don’t feel sorry for her because I know she’s tough. Hanna is a tough bitch. She’s playing now and I’m not buying her act. Not for a second.

“Why are you telling me all these things, Hanna? Why now? What do you want? My understanding? My forgiveness? What, Hanna? What the fuck do you want from me?”

Hanna blinks shocked by my words as she gasps soundly, and in one fast move she jumps out of the bed.

“I’m not expecting your forgiveness or your understanding, Dominic. I know I have no right to ask for that privilege. I just wanted you know that I lied about the facts, that’s true, but back then I didn’t lie about what I felt for you, and I’m not lying now.” She hisses, clenching her hands in fists.

Her eyes aren’t showing sadness anymore. They are cold and hard, just like her voice.

“I’m sorry if the reality is not what you expected. You can keep on hating me if you please but that’s not gonna change the fact that I love you. In spite of your rage and hate against me. I still love you.” Hanna mutters in disgust and turning around, she heads to the salon, slamming the door of the room closed at her back.

I grunt deeply, tightening my jaw. “You love me? Fuck that, Hanna! You have a strange way to show your love, woman.” I say as I climb out the bed as well, heading to the bathroom.

“Fuck you, Toretto,” she curses loudly enough to make me hear her.

Yeah, I’m already fucked, so why not? I shake my head, sighing hard, slamming the door to the bathroom.

I take a shower, shaving my head and my face. My stomach has been rumbling demanding food for the last fifteen minutes. No wonder, last time I ate was with William at that café and that was…damn!  Some things never change, I guess. Time still flies when I’m around Hanna.

I hear her laughing softly while talking with someone else about Reynaldo. I was thinking she was on the phone again, but then I hear another female voice answering and both giggling. I frown deeply. I thought this shit about being undercover was all a question of passing unnoticed as much as possible, and the less people knowing about our business the better. So, who is Hanna talking about that fucker with?

I wrap a towel around my waist and I head toward them. I blink shocked at the vision in front of my eyes. Fuck!

Hanna is lying on the floor, dressed only in a turquoise thong and a chick is painting her body. Actually, she’s painting just her chest. One butterfly over each breast. Hanna is smoking while chatting with the other chick.

The girl has her ears pierced with little rings along their lengths and in her nose and several tattoos covering her arms and ankles. Sitting Indian style, she’s drawing with a thin paintbrush with dozens of different colours; body painting tubes spread all round her.

I swallow dry, staring at Hanna’s erect nipples while the paintbrush slides around and over them, covering her skin in turquoise, pink and white. I don’t know how much time I’ve been staring at her with my mouth wide open. But all of sudden, the chick’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts.

“Wow! That’s a body you’ve got there, sexy!” The chick exclaims, giving me the once over.

Hanna turns her head fast, looking at me. Her eyes are talking silently. I figure this chick is here for some reason and that Hanna doesn’t trust her. So, I take a deep breath, ready to play my part.

“I could paint those thigh muscles with my hands.” She adds, grinning wickedly.

“Don’t get all wet, bitch,” Hanna replies, blowing the smoke up to the ceiling. “That hot sexy macho man over there is Rey’s friend and he’s off limits, Carmel.” She adds, winking at me. The chick, Carmel, burst out laughing, showing a little ring on her tongue.

“You’re not gonna share him with me, beautiful Hanna?” Carmel asks her, making my eyes narrow slightly at hearing what she called Hanna.

Beautiful Hanna. That’s what Reynaldo called her. Hanna tense for a second, never taking her gaze off mine. I’m impressed with my own ability, catching Hanna’s thoughts.

“Never was too good at sharing, girl.” She answers, taking a deep blow of her cigarette. Carmel looks at her.

“I wonder what Rey has to say about that, sweetie,” her voice sounds suddenly tinted with concern. I tense for a second, watching Hanna. In response, she chuckles, looking back at the girl, smiling devilishly.

“He was the one who told me to make sure Dom is comfortable. I’m just doing my job.” She retorts, grinning, playing her role. I mimic her grin, chuckling. “Wouldn’t you say he’s damn comfortable right now?” Hanna asks her. Carmel stares at me, her eyes sparkling with lust.

“So you’re Rey’s friend?” She asks me, grinning.

“Yeah,” I reply, walking to her side. “Dom.” I introduce myself, offering her my hand. She takes it, shaking it.

“Carmel, I’m the bitch who paints Rey’s women for his parties.”

“Yeah, I bet you are,” I retort, a cocky grin gracing my lips. Carmel blinks in puzzlement. “I mean a bitch.” I add, winking at her and with that I turn on my heels heading to the kitchen. A heartbeat and both burst out laughing hard.

“I like him.” Carmel says, giggling. “I would fuck him without a second thought.” Hanna chuckles sadly.

“You better wait at the back of the line, bitch.” She retorts.

I sigh hard as I lean against the counter, closing my eyes. Visions of Reynaldo and Hanna fucking are silently torturing me.

Rey’s women? My ass, bitch. Hanna’s my woman, mine and mine alone, and I’m the one who is no fucking good at sharing.

Tonight is going to be a hell of a night, and not because a gun may be pointed against my head one more time, but because I have a bad feeling. I can’t push aside the strong sensation that tonight I’m going to have to do something I promised myself I wouldn’t do again, and sure as hell, Hanna will be involved in some way.