Still Life With Taylor

::THIRTEEN::

Can't help but be happy with myself, her legs shaking just a little, as I watch her hips sway, making her way to the bathroom. I'll join her in a minute. I'm a little shaky myself. At this pace we'll both be dead in a week. Not a bad way to go.

The knock on the door comes just as I'm getting up. Grab a sheet, go answer it, keeping my voice down.

"Sorry, Taylor. I had Sal bring a couple of guys in. We're going to go to the bar. Try and sort out what we're going to do."

I look back at the bathroom. Can't help but think of what I said to Christine last night. About just picking up and leaving. This is getting out of control. But I can't leave Matty with this shit either. I just can't.

A last look at the bathroom before answering. "Give me half an hour. A GOOD half an hour." Matty just grins at me. There are times I wish I could be mad at him.

"It'll take that long for everyone to show up anyways. I'll knock when they get here."

Stand in the doorway and just watch her as she brushes her long dark hair. Puts it up, I guess so it won't get wet. I miss her apartment already, and I've only been in it twice. Her bathroom smelled like candles, and I can see her, soaking after work, in her deep claw foot tub. I have to see this made right. So she can be where she belongs.

Reach for the dimmer switch in the bathroom. It's not candlelight, but it will have to do. She likes her water hot, making her skin glow. She lets me wash her, slowly, gently, every inch of her. I can't help but get hard, touching her, but I shut it out. Not enough time to do it right, just enough time for this. Hold her hand to keep her from touching me. Wash her shoulders, her back. She still purrs, that low deep growl, when I massage her back. Never knew a woman could be so content before, over such a small thing.

"You're killing me, Christine, so unless you like cold showers, you better step out now."

A yelp, when he turned off the hot water, stand still for a moment, watching his faint outline behind the glass doors of the shower, letting the icy water wash over him. So cold it sucks all the steam from the room. I suppose it would be cruel of me to still be standing here naked, when he gets out, after he's just tortured himself in there.

Quickly go get dressed. Jeans and a t-shirt. Had to search under the bed for my boots, making me smile. Let my hair back down. I'm standing out on the balcony, when he comes out, wrapping his arms around my waist. A knock on the door. He holds me a little tighter, before taking my hand. A head in the door.

"They're here, Taylor."

A tense, quiet ride down in the elevator. Taylor, me, Sal and Matty. Sal walks me down the block, around to the back alley, while Taylor and Matty run through the routine of making sure there's no one inside. I hope we don't have to do this too much longer, it's hell on the nerves. Sal holds my elbow, passing me to Taylor, like something that would break, when he opens the back door for us.

Down the alley, two men get out of a dark car. More suits. There is something terrifying about these men. I have been around dangerous people for much of my life, but there is something cold and empty about these two men. Like looking into a deep black pit, only to find cunning, intelligent eyes looking back at you. Taylor's hand tightens on my arm, he looks at Matty.

"We need to get her the fuck out of here, Matty."

"No one is going to hurt your beautiful girl, Taylor, it'll be all right."

Sal's words don't seem to be easing him any, his grip on my arm becoming painful. His eyes are black, and dangerous. His voice is low, almost expressionless. I've never been afraid of him, until now.

"This is too fucking far. We're supposed to be getting out of this. You know what those two are."His eyes flick to me, he doesn't want to say, doesn't want me any more involved than I already am. "If those two are here, this becomes something else completely, Matty. How far are you willing to go?"

Matty is standing toe to toe with him now. He's not backing down.

"I want this over, Taylor. Over. I don't want to be worrying about what happens a week from now. A month from now. We don't have anything. We're nobody. You know that. I would have preferred to do this some other way, but if we don't push back hard, right now, we're done, Taylor. We may as well pack up, and move on, because we'll get taken over."

The men are already at the back door. It's too late to do anything. Too late to back out. Too late to leave. Taylor interlaces his fingers in mine, walking out into the bar, ahead of Matty and Sal, as though neither of them exist. We sit down, at the big table in the back. His voice in my ear, before anyone else sits down.

"Don't say anything. This will be all right, Christine."His hand stroking my jaw, his eyes asking me to trust him, to do whatever he asks.

Everything in me wants to run. I don't want to be in the same room with these men. Taylor strokes my thumb with his, our fingers interlaced. Sal on the other side. These men are killers. Professional killers.