"I can't believe you're bringing that bitch with you." Michelle sneered, sitting on my couch.

She had been here for six hours now, babbling on about how I broke her trust and betrayed her. I was exhausted, annoyed, and wishing Luna was here.

"Michelle, please. She's my secretary. Nothing is going on between us." I replied, sitting down next to her.

She rolled her eyes. "You say this, and yet somehow, I don't believe you."

"For fucks sake! I want nothing to do with her anymore. When are you going to get that through your head?" I yelled, becoming annoyed.

Saying that hurt like no other, but what else was I supposed to say? That I loved her and wanted to be with her every second of every day?

"Prove it." She muttered, climbing on top of me.

This was going to suck.

________

I sat in an old, quaint coffee shop, awaiting the arrival of my Dad. The truth is, I hadn't spoken to him in years and felt as though I needed some reconnection.

He completely disengaged himself from my life after Mom died; he couldn't handle the pain. It broke him entirely, and I couldn't help him.

Another part of me wanted to tell him about the Italy trip and Vinnie. He would most likely disapprove of me having relations with my boss, but I was twenty-three years old, he didn't have much say.

I took a sip of my now lukewarm chai tea latte, something my Mom always drank. Just the smell reminded me of her.

"Luna?" I heard a familiar voice say as the coffee shop doorbell jingled.

My heart began pounding, my face becoming hot. I stood up, greeting the man who half-raised me. He looked different, old.

"Dad." I said bluntly, trying to contain my nervousness. I couldn't get over how different he looked.

He had a slight limp but still acted the same—gray hair covering his head, his body a little bigger than before. Wrinkles and sunspots surrounded his face, but his smile was as bright as always.

"How have you been?" I asked, breaking the tension between the two of us.

He sighed. "Well, I uh... I got married."

I pursed my lips, sitting back in the old, creaky chair. The word kept replaying in my head. Married. Married. Married. Married.

"I'm sorry, what?" I said in complete shock, not wanting to believe what I had just heard.

He scratched the back of his neck. "I don't really know what to say." He replied, my anger becoming more apparent.

How could he sit here, acting as though it wasn't a big deal? Acting like he hasn't been hiding an entirely new family from me for the past couple of years.

"Is this why you left me?" I questioned, refraining from crying. I couldn't describe the hurt I was feeling, the betrayal that wrapped around me.

My Dad looked at me, shaking his head. "No. I met her, Lily, about a year after we stopped communicating."

"And you didn't feel the need to tell me? W-why?" I stuttered, choking through my words.

"We weren't talking; I thought you hated me."

"What a load of You know damn well you're the one who severed our relationship after Mom died. You just wanted nothing to do with me, don't fucking lie." I spit, not even caring if I was hurting his feelings.

He grabbed his jacket from the back of the seat, putting it over his shoulders.

"Luna, I know. And I'm sorry. I didn't come here to fight." He replied with a gentle tone.

I scoffed. "I wanted to tell you everything I have going on in my life. The good, the bad. Did you really think your little news wouldn't upset me?" I sneered, feeling disrespected.

"Honey, I-"

"No, ," I said, stopping him. "This was a bad idea from the start."

I got up, putting my jacket on, throwing a five-dollar bill on the table. I stood there, looking at the man I once looked up to.

"That's for both of us. I bought you a donut. I remembered they were your favorite." I said, wiping a lone tear that streamed down my cheek.

Turning around, I threw open the door, immediately getting hit with a brisk breeze. My cheeks were red, and the tears felt like they were turning to ice.

I know I overreacted, but how could I not have? I could've had an entirely new family, yet I was stuck with nothing.

Being left on the streets by my Dad meant I had to start an entirely new life. I had no means of money, no friends, nothing. He never bothered once to connect with me and ask how I was, it was always me.

I took out my phone, texting Amelia back from earlier.

Hey, how did it go?

Not good. I'll explain later. Coming home now.

At this moment, I wished I had Vinnie here to console me. I knew he would know the right words to say, but I couldn't rely on him. For all I know, he could be with Michelle right now.

________

"Harder!" She commanded, digging her nails into my back.

________

I plopped on my bed, feeling alone.

When I got home, Amelia was nowhere to be seen. She was probably with Dylan, her boyfriend, and just forgot to tell me.

I wasn't mad, though. It was nice having the apartment to myself, especially on a dreary night.

Picking up my phone, I noticed a notification from an unknown number. I furrowed my eyebrows, opening up the text.

Watch your back, bitch.

I bit my lip, not knowing why I would receive a text like this, or who would have the audacity to send it to me. I couldn't help but feel uneasy; if only I had Vinnie's number, maybe he could help me out.

I swiped left, clicking the option to delete the text. I'm sure it was just a fluke, one of those chain mail texts or teenagers playing a joke.

"Wow, so quick to swipe over that, huh?" A female voice asked, startling me. I looked up from my phone only to see Michelle standing in the doorway, a knife in hand.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I asked, scared shitless of what she might do.

She chuckled. "After that little you stunt you pulled on Monday? Did you really think you could get away with that?"

"You're just about the dumbest fucking person I know. I'm his . Nothing else. We have nothing going on." I said, my heart hurting at the words I'm forced to say.

"Please. I see the way you look at him." She muttered.

I rolled my eyes. "The way I look at him? If anything, I look at him with disgust. He's the worst boss I've ever had."

She stepped closer to me, caressing my cheek with her thumb. I don't think I've ever experienced anything weirder than this.

"Don't even try, cupcake."

She reached to her back pocket, pulling out a pocket knife. My eyes widened, I had no idea what to do.

Flipping the knife open, she held it up to my neck, pressing it lightly against my skin.

"You listen to me. You aren't to go Vinnie on this trip. He want you, he said it himself. He's . And mine." She said as my entire body began shaking.

"He s-said what?" I said, stuttering. I knew that one wrong move could get me killed.

"He said he doesn't want you. He wants nothing to do with you. So ." She said, removing the knife from my neck, pushing me harshly onto the bed.

I held my hand to my heart, catching up with my breath. I was shaking uncontrollably, while tears began to flow out of my eyes.

"Fine. I'll back off. I never wanted anything to do with him in the first place. Plus, I don't do sloppy seconds." I sneered, knowing what I said probably wasn't the best idea.

She balled her fists, yelling as she lurched herself at me. "You fucking bitch!"

I grabbed onto her hair, yanking her off me, throwing her into the wall. She reached for her back pocket, taking out the pocket knife from earlier.

Balling up my fist, I punched her in the face, causing her to drop the knife. I picked it up, opening it and holding it up to her face.

"Now you listen to me." I spit, pressing the cold metal up to her neck. "I want you to leave me the alone, or so help me god I will fucking kill you."

"Oh yeah? You and what army?" She sneered, making me angrier. I pressed the knife harder against her neck.

"You don't think Vinnie wants anything to do with me? Huh? So then why was it that last week he was begging me for more?" I said, a smirk playing on my lips.

She gulped, biting her lip. "He w-wouldn't do that to me. He l-loves me."

I cackled. "Loves you? Who on earth could love a piece of garbage like yourself?"

"He does. H-he told me." She said, stuttering as my hand crept it's way up to her neck.

"I'll stay away from him, as long as you stop threatening me. You're . You're ." I said, knowing damn well I wasn't going to stay away from Vinnie.

I had never quite been this ruthless with someone before in my life, but Vinnie has had such an impact on me, one I wasn't willing to lose.

Michelle looked at me, biting her lip. "Fine. But I better not see you near him."

I pressed the cold metal harder against her neck.

"What did I say about threatening me?" I growled. She gulped, nodding in surrender.

Taking the knife away from her neck, I flipped it back into its socket, putting it in my back packet. "I'll be keeping this, crazy bitch." I said, rolling my eyes at her.

She stayed frozen in place, staring at me. I smiled, knowing damn well she had never seen this side of me.

I wouldn't say I was crazy, but just defensive of myself. Plus, if anyone's crazy, it's her.

"You may go." I said, gesturing to the front door. She nodded before spring out of the room, and slamming the front door shut.

I fell onto my bed, covering my mouth with my hands. I really couldn't believe any of that just happened, and I hoped to god she wouldn't tell anyone. Especially Vinnie.

I haven't known Vinnie long enough to know how he'd react to what I did to Michelle. But, given his profession, I don't think he'd consider it abnormal.

"Um. What the hell happened in here?" Amelia said, walking into my room, her eyes widening at the sight of the knife in my pocket.

"Michelle paid me a little visit." I replied, walking out of my room and into the kitchen.

Amelia followed behind me, grabbing the knife out of my pocket. "A knife? Are you insane?"

I chuckled. "It was hers, not mine. Although I did feel powerful holding it."

"Damn. So you really did go crazy on her." Amelia said, lifting a brow. I rolled my eyes, snatching the knife away from her.

"Hey, she started it," I began, "And where were you, huh?" I continued.

She bit her lip. "Not having sex with Dylan."

"Bitch." I mumbled, insanely jealous.

I would give anything right now to be getting railed by Vinnie, but I'm sure Michelle is already on her way to tell him what's just occurred between us.

"Are you worried she's going to tell Vinnie?" Amelia asked, raising a brow.

I bit my lip. "Only a little. I don't want him to think of me as some monster."

"Oh, please. We both know the kind of business he's in, or we think he's in. He'll probably think it's hot."

I shrugged, pouring milk into the bowl of cereal I just poured. Taking a spoon, I shoved the food into my mouth. Sometimes, I angry eat.

"I don't think it's a good idea for you to go to Italy, Luna." Amelia said, taking me by surprise.

I knew she was right, but I didn't want to believe it. I couldn't not go now, especially after my conversation with Michelle today. It would make me look weak.

"Maybe you're right, but there's no turning back now." I replied, winking.

Amelia sighed, shaking her head at me. She had every right to be weary of it, but I knew what I was doing.

But, if I were to know one thing for sure... there will be blood.