30 - A PIMPING PARRTNER

KYLE’S POV

“You know, I really wish I could permanently move to California instead – ” Sophie was saying to me while we were seated having lunch together but I was barely listening even though I was staring intently at her. I was looking at her, but my thoughts were filled with Aria. She must’ve left for Florida already, and I couldn’t help but think about her last words to me

*I can’t do this with you

*Maybe I do need this time away from you.

I couldn’t think of anything else, I couldn’t do anything else because everywhere I turned something reminded me of her, and somehow I was sick of it – sick of missing her when in reality, I knew I should be staying away from her.
My father’s words rang in my head, I hated that man but somehow he always seemed to slap reality back into me. I have a dark past that I had been trying to escape, to run away from, one that involved Aria and part of the reason why we can never work out, and Aria can never find out

*How do you think she’s going to act when she finds out you killed her father?

I didn’t – I didn’t mean to. It wasn’t me.
I have to stay away from her, it’s the only way I could protect her.

“Fuck!!” I screamed internally, her face coming to mind, her emerald green eyes that sparkled when she looked at me, her –

“You’re not listening to me” I heard Sophie say, bringing me out of my daydream and I cleared my throat

“Of course, you were saying something about moving to California”

“No, I said I wish I could” she corrected and I could honestly care less about she had to say but she humored me. Sophie wanted me and I knew it, I could sense it in the way she looked at me – her sultry gaze that aimed to seduce, the way her body reacted to my presence and her hands touching me at every chance she got. She was hot and incredibly pretty – but she just wasn’t Aria.

“Then why don’t you” I said back to her and taking a sip of the Arabia tea that sat before untouched, but I had to do something to distract myself from Aria constantly invading my thoughts.

“My father wouldn’t let me – he can be just a sleazebag” she confessed and I eyed her curiously, I was about to sign a deal with this man and if his daughter thought he was shady, then I had to know more.

“How so” I leaned forward, stretching my hands out to lightly caress her palm before pulling my hands away so that she could inch for more and she regarded me curiously with a suspicious gaze.
She leaned forward and said in a whisper “I probably shouldn’t be saying this, but Aria or whatever her name is could be in danger”
My eyes widened and I froze “What do you mean?” I didn’t want to be subtle about my curiosity, I was on a need to know, but Sophie stayed quiet and it infuriated me, this was not a time to stay quiet.

“What the bloody hell you mean Sophie?” I was fighting to maintain my composure but I wasn’t sure how long that’ll last.
Sophie had a guilty look on her face and her hands went over her mouth immediately “My father would kill me if he finds out”

I grunted impatiently “I’ll kill you first if you don’t start talking” I made sure there was no hint of amusement in my words and then she groaned

“Fine, I’ll tell you” she said “My father is a pimp”

Oh shit!

“Go on”

“Venzos automobile is like an undercover for what he truly does, but he’s a Russian mobster and he traffics drugs – and women”

“Why – why didn’t you say something earlier” I half yelled, nearly banging my fist on the table and all I could think about was Aria being helpless in the arms of a Russian mobster.

“I can’t – he’ll kill me” she cried now and I stood up abruptly, confused and my brain racking ways on how to get to Florida immediately but Sophie stopped, grabbing my hands before I walked out.

“You’re too late” she said “He’ll probably invite her for dinner tonight and he’ll drug her then. It’s like a five hour flight to California and by the time you arrive, it’ll be night”

I looked at my watch and it was a few minutes past three pm and anger surged through me at the cockiness of Sophie’s tone

I grabbed her arm tightly, my eyes boring into her to make sure she understood the length of my anger “You best pray nothing happens to her Sophie – ”

“What are you going to do? Kill me? My father will be after you and there’s no where in America you can hide”

I pulled away from her and headed outside, I whipped out my phone in a panic and immediately I called the pilot to my private jet. The knot in my stomach tightened with each ring. Finally, after what felt like eternity, Captain Nicholas answered.

I took a deep breath, trying as much as possible to compose myself “Captain, I need you to prepare the jet immediately. We’re heading to Florida, it’s an emergency”
There was a brief pause before he replied, his voice laced with uncertainty. “I understand that, but I have to inform you that the weather conditions are not favorable at the moment, it wouldn’t be safe to – ”

My frustration mounted “Fuck!”