Chapter 2 2

Leandro Diaz. All I knew about him was what Jane had just told me, and why he was in our gallery, enamored by a painting of mine, was a complete mystery. When I got to him, he was in the same position he'd been in since he got here - his brow furrowed with focus as he stared at my painting.

"Hello," I said, touching his back gently so I wouldn't startle him.

So much for that. He spun around, jerking away from my touch and immediately putting his hand on his hip. Was that the outline of a gun? His sudden movement made me jump, and I dropped my wine glass, shattering it and sending the crimson liquid all over the both of us.

"Fuck!" He hissed, tearing his suit jacket off before the wine could seep into his shirt.

"Leandro?" One of the other men said.

"I'm fine, Beanie." He held his hand up.

"I am so sorry. I didn't mean to... Here, let me take that for you." I started reaching for his jacket, unsure of what to even say. So much for getting another sale.

"I said I was fine." He set the jacket down on a nearby cocktail table, the tone of his voice unnerving me even more. As he rolled up his sleeves, intricate black tattoos peeked out from beneath them. The paper-thin shirt was tight over his bulging muscles, and the first few buttons were undone at the neck. A dark five o'clock shadow covered the sharpness of his jawline as our eyes met. There was the slightest hint of Italian accent dripping from that deep, husky voice, and a veil of dark mystery clouded his eyes. He gave me a smug smirk, having caught me checking him out. There was just enough ambiguity in his smile that I wasn't sure if he was about to kiss me or kill me. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as he held my gaze, refusing to be the one to look away.

"You're the artist?" He gestured to the painting, breaking through the awkwardness mounting between us and cutting right to the chase.

"Um, I, uh..." What was wrong with me? Had I suddenly forgotten how to speak?

"The painting. Is it yours?" He repeated. This time there was an edge of annoyance to the question. Could I blame the guy? I had doused him in wine and somehow lost the ability to form sentences within seconds of meeting him.

"Yes, I am," I said, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. This was a disaster. "I'm Tiara. It's nice to..."

"Have you been there?" He cut me off sharply.

When I didn't answer immediately, he grew even more agitated.

"The door in your painting. It belongs to a house in Italy. Have you been there?"

"Oh, no, it's not of anywhere in particular. Just from my imagination, I guess."

He studied my face, trying to determine if I was telling the truth or not.

"I'll take it." He said, turning away from me and fixing his eyes on it again.

"You'll what?" Had I heard him right?

"Settle with her." He said towards Beanie. "I'll be waiting in the car." He started walking out the door without another glance or word to me. Was this happening? This had been the most awkward interaction of my life and now he was buying a painting from me?

Beanie pulled out a checkbook and pen from his pocket.

"Miss?" Beanie said, trying to get my attention. I couldn't take my eyes off the other man walking out the door. "Who do I make the check out to?"

I blinked, coming back to reality. "Uh, to Tiara Ross."

He scribbled the checkout and then handed it to me. We hadn't even discussed the price yet, so I took the check with a bit of confusion. When I reached the amount line, my heart nearly stopped. Thirty thousand dollars. He had just handed me a check for thirty thousand dollars. My chest tightened, and I could feel the blood drain out of my face. That was over double the sticker price on the painting.

"Miss Ross? Is everything okay? Is the painting more than that? I can write another check, just tell me..." Beanie said with a confused expression.

"Um, no. This... This is too much." I smiled nervously, handing him back the check.

"This is what my boss told me to pay for it." He refused to take it from me.

"I understand, but... But this is more than double what it is worth."

"I think you underestimate yourself, Miss Ross." Beanie smiled. "Keep the money. If Leandro says that's what it's worth, that's what it's worth. We'll be back tomorrow to pick it up."

"Great." I smiled, trying to make light of the situation. "I'll make sure the wine is locked up."

"I think that would be a great idea." Beanie chuckled, and then he left as well. Almost as quickly as they came, the four men had disappeared, and I was standing stunned in a room full of people. I couldn't wrap my mind around what had just happened.

The rest of the night went by in a blur.

"Tonight was such a success!" Jane busied herself picking up a few empty glasses that were left around the gallery.

"It was amazing." I agreed, although I'm sure my feet wouldn't. I had had these heels on for way too long and was looking forward to sinking into a bubble bath the second I got home.

"Hey, do you mind locking up? I am going to meet Vincent for a few drinks." She looked at me with pleading eyes.

"Vincent's the lawyer, right? Sure." I said, trying to remember if she had ever mentioned a guy named Vincent to me before. I was pretty sure she hadn't. She went through men so fast I couldn't keep up if I tried.

"No, Kenny was the lawyer. Vincent is a chef!" Jane grinned, grabbing her purse and coat. "You're the best. And tomorrow, we're going out to celebrate your TWO sales. By the way, what did they end up paying you for that?"

"Oh, I gave them a good price." I lied. I didn't know why I felt like I couldn't tell Jane what had happened, but I felt so weird about it I still didn't want to admit it out loud.

"Good. Well, see you tomorrow." She said, kissing my cheek. "Text me when you're home."

"Be safe tonight," I yelled after her and heard the front door close behind her.

I finished up some of the cleaning and was about to leave when I heard a crash coming from our back room.

"Hello?" I called, thinking it was one of our clients who we didn't realize was still in the bathroom.

No one answered, and I hesitantly made my way toward the noise. The hallway was dark, and my heels made a loud clicking sound as I walked. If I wanted to be sneaky, I was failing miserably.

Suddenly, I felt a gloved hand slip over my mouth and pull me back against something. Someone rather.

"Mmmm." My screams were muffled as I struggled against whoever it was. My strength was no match for him. After slamming me into the wall, I felt his arm press hard against my throat.

"Hello, Tiara." A voice growled. How did he know my name?

"What do you want?" I whimpered, trying to catch my breath. "We don't have any cash here..."

A wicked smile spread across the man's face.

"Sweetheart, I got what I came here for." He spat. "You."

I raised my knee, connecting with him right in his crotch. He winced and loosened his grip for a split second, allowing me to break free and sprint to the front of the store as quickly as I could.

His footsteps boomed from behind me as I rolled my ankle right out of my shoe. These God damn heals. I took it off and threw it behind me, praying it would connect with him and buy me a few more seconds.

Arms wrapped around my waist and jerked me backward. Another man had come out of the shadows. He threw me to the ground and my head hit the floor with a thud. I cried out in pain. "You little bitch." He seethed, hitting my cheek with the butt of his gun. I winced in pain, trying not to give him the satisfaction of hearing me scream.

The sound of my dress ripping caught me off guard, and I was terrified as the realization of what was about to happen hit me. He grabbed my wrists roughly and held them above my head.

"Are you fucking crazy? He said he wanted her untouched." The other man came out of the shadows. I had never seen either of them before and had no clue what they would want with me.

"I won't leave any marks." The man on top of me smirked as tears poured out of my eyes. I was sure this was it. I was going to die right here, on the gallery floor. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to speed up the process.

"Get off of her." Damn it, how many of them were there?

"What the hell are you doing here?" The man on top of me said.

"I said get off of her." Why did I recognize that voice?

"Listen, man..." A gunshot rang through the gallery. Oh my god, I was going to die.

When I didn't feel any pain, I realized I wasn't the one who had been shot. My attacker had. He slumped forward, and a warm feeling blanketed my chest. I thought I was going to be sick as his blood seeped into my the fabric of my dress. Scrambling out from under him, I backed towards the wall, now able to look around me. Beanie? What was he doing here?

"Damn it, Jermaine!" Beanie hissed towards the door. Another one of the men from earlier was standing there. "I had it covered."

"Didn't look like," Jermaine smirked, walking in.

My whimpering grew louder, and they turned to me, suddenly realizing I was still there. I was frozen with fear.

"Shit." Beanie rushed towards me.

"What are you..." I said with terror. Was he going to kill me, too? They had just killed the man attacking me, and I was thankful for that, but was I safe with them?

"Listen to me," He said, grabbing my arm roughly. "Get behind that couch. Do not move. There are more of his men in the back. Stay right the fuck here and I will be back. Got it?"

What choice did I have?

Beanie and Jermaine disappeared towards the back of the gallery and more gunshots echoed off the walls. The terror felt like it was going to consume me and the only thing I could think to do was run. Sliding my other heel off, I peered into the hallway. Gunshots were still ringing, but I couldn't see anyone.

I spun around and ran out the front door. The harsh air hit my tear-stained cheeks, and the pavement was cold on my feet. I ran as fast as I could, looking back quickly to make sure no one was following me. When I turned around, I ran smack into something.

Two powerful arms came around me, forcing something over my nose as I sucked in a sharp breath. Oh no. No, no, no, this could not be happening. Pain seared up my nose and into my throat and lungs, and I could feel myself getting dizzy. Desperate for air, I started coughing as the world around me got hazy. My legs gave out and my body fell limp into my captor's arms, and for a brief second, I recognized him. Another one of Leandro's men.

"Should have listened to Beanie." He shook his head.

That was the last thing I saw before everything went black.