Survival

Just work

I was driving to the pick up address. This time it wasn't a warehouse but an arts and crafts store. I walked to the back where delivery trucks pull in. There were men loading trucks and cars. I walked up to one of them, clearing my throat. He looked at me.

"Im here for the red wrapping paper." I said feeling nervous.

He looked at me hard before calling out. "Ben! Red wrapping paper is here for pick up! Load her up." He shouted to the back of the loading dock.

"Pull your car up and pop open the truck for me." He demanded. I nodded getting back into my car and doing as told.

I was driving back to the bar with whatever this was in my trunk. I was shifting in my seat every 5 min worried of getting pulled over.

I walked into a now open and crowded bar. I looked around and spotted Rio. My smile faded when I saw him sitting with a girl, his arm around her shoulders as she was whispering something in his ear. Something in me poked at my jealousy. I couldn't help but feel angry. I don't know why. Im married and belong to someone else. He's allowed to do what he wants. We've never even done anything together so I need to shake this off.

His eyes locked with mine and he whispered in the girls ear. She nodded as he got up and he made his way towards me.

"You got it?" He asked over the loud music.

I didn't answer I just nodded my head and walked back out of the front door and towards my car in the back parking lot. He followed me closely. I popped open the trunk and gave him the box of wrapping paper. He took it out and a car pulled up behind us. A man that I now call Mick, stepped out, taking the box from Rio's hands and driving off.

We were alone in the dark and quiet now. Just looking at each other.

"Good job." He said and began to walk away.

"When am i going to get paid." I blurted out.

He turned back around. His face had anger written all over it.

"Im sorry?" He asked but I know he just wanted to make sure he heard me correctly.

"How many more jobs until I can get the money that I need?" I asked silently.

"How much you need?" He asked.

"About 400k" I admitted. I had been researching on how to start a new life and obtain new identities. It wasn't cheap or legal. But I needed both mine and Cason's existence wiped in order for us to move on.

He took a step closer to me, pushing my hair out of my face. I flinched back.

"Don't do that." I demanded. "Not when you've got somebody waiting for you inside"

He laughed. "You think I like her or something? She's just a one night fuck sweetheart." He bluntly stated.

I retracted at his word choice. He could tell the disgust in my face.

"My bad. Did you want me to lie to you? This here, between us, ain't nothing. It's just work. We watched a movie one time and you think you're my girl? Nah you've got this wrong. Just do the jobs that I give you and that's it. You'll get your money. Stop making this more than what it is. Stop questioning me. Only thing i want to hear coming out of that mouth of yours is 'Yes, boss'" He spat.

I stood there in silence. I looked down holding in the tears that wanted to spill out. Why was I even acting this way. He's right. He's a criminal and im just one of his runners.

"You're right. Sorry." I softly spoke.

He shook his head and walked back inside. I slipped into my car driving home looking at the time. 1035pm. I was in big trouble.