Chapter 6

<Gavin Forrester>

I've been pacing around my apartment for at least six hours trying to figure how I'll ever complete this mission for Talon. I can't kill her, she doesn't deserve it but if I don't then Talon will kill me. No one knows what that man is capable of more than me. He's ruthless and he'll feel no regret once he puts a bullet through mine and Victoria's heads.

I stop pacing for a second and stare out my window. There's a beautiful view of the New York City skyline which calms my nerves for about a minute. Then reality sinks in and I begin pacing again. When he said he wanted me to gain her trust, I don't think he realized that the more time I spend with her, the more attached I will become. I'm not like him, I can't gain someone's trust and then break it without any hesitation.

Maybe he should've just hired a female operative because I'll never be able to do this.

She's kind and hilarious and spending time with her makes me feel happy. I'd kill myself before even thinking of putting a bullet through her head. I let out an angry sigh as I think back on our day together yesterday.

She talked to me like she'd known me forever. She didn't treat me like an outsider, like I wouldn't understand her world. Victoria smiled sincerely and made me feel like she was enjoying herself. That's something I wouldn't give up for anything, not for money, not for power, not even for my own life. Victoria deserves to live and I refuse to be the one to take that away from her. Maybe it'd be easier if I just left. Got out of town and just left her alone.

No, then someone else would be sent out to kill her and they'd surely succeed.

I guess I have to stay around and pretend that at some point I'll actually be able to kill her, for Talon's sake.

No, you have to stay around and protect her because you know no one else will...

I roll my eyes at the fact that my conscience it once again right. I check the clock on the wall and curse under my breath. I was supposed to be at Grand Central fifteen minutes ago to pick her up. Hopefully, cake shopping went a bit longer than expected and I'm not really late at all. I grab a jacket and my keys before leaving my apartment. I lock the door and race down the stairs to my Ferrari.

The lights flash once signaling me that it's unlocked. I slip inside and turn the key while buckling myself up. I back quickly out of my park and speed down the streets, turning a few times until I reach Grand Central station. I park quickly and walk towards the doors where the large clock reads 5:30.

If she wasn't mad before then she'll definitely be mad now.

I call her number and take a seat on the bench, looking around for the magazine stand. The phone continues ringing and then goes to voicemail.

"Hey Victoria, I'm at the station. Call me when you can." With that I hang up and pray that she comes soon.

I check my watch a few times and let out a deep breath.

5 minutes.

10 minutes.

30 minutes.

The big clock rings out the start of the 6 o'clock hour and I decide to call her again. I'm about to dial her number when a girl in a pair of large sunglasses and a head scarf sits down next to me. She's dressed in dark jeans and a tan coat. Instead of stilettos she opted for a pair of tall boots that look abundantly more comfortable to walk in.

"I thought you'd ditched me for the devil." I smirk and watch as a smile spreads across her face.

"Red velvet," Her smile disappears and she crosses her arms.

"Excuse me?" Confusion crosses over my face and I shift so I'm facing her.

"That's what kind of cake we're having and you know what's ironic about that?" She chuckles sarcastically and turns to face me.

"What?" I raise my eyebrows and wait for her to continue.

"I'm allergic to the red food coloring they put in that cake. My throat closes up and I get this awful rash all over my arms."

"I'm guessing it was his choice..." I grab her hand and lead her out of the station.

"No, his mother's, he didn't even bother to show up...I guess Jack Daniel's was calling his name again." She takes off her sunglasses the minute we reach my car.

I unlock it and allow her to sit down inside. I turn the key in the ignition while she settles in. Victoria turns on the radio and smiles at me.

"Ready to go," She confirms as I begin driving.

"Why'd it take you so long to get to the station?" I ask as I back out of the parking lot.

"I had a minor allergic reaction and my mom had to take me to the emergency room to get me some medication but you know I still have to deal with a red velvet wedding cake because it's what the Jacobson's want." She folds her hands together and scoffs.

"Are you sure you should be out and about?" I smirk and drive the familiar route towards my favorite pool hall.

"Eh, who cares? If I stay home then I'll get lectured about how I should learn to control my allergies or something stupid like that." Victoria cranks up the radio and looks out the window.

"Your mom is stupid enough to give you a lecture about controlling your allergies?" I mutter incredulously.

"I would not be surprised," She admits with a small chuckle.

The rest of the ride is silent except for the ever changing songs on the radio. I keep my eyes on the road and pull up in front of the pool hall in about ten minutes. The light up sign reads 'Magic 8 Pool Hall and Bar' but thanks to slow business the lights in a few of the letters are going out. I help Victoria out of the car and grab her hand as we walk up to the front doors of the place.

"You look a little scared..." I smirk and turn the handle of the door.

"I am not," She mutters in a very unconvincing tone.

"You totally are...Have you ever played pool before?" We walk through the door and are immediately greeted with the smells of stale alcohol and cigarette smoke.

"No..." she rolls her eyes and takes in the place.

A few guys whistle as she takes off her coat.

"No? Boy are we going to have some fun tonight." I grin and hang it up on the wall for her.

"I don't feel comfortable here," She whispers and crosses her arms self-consciously.

She's wearing an insanely tight top and I now understand why she's self-conscious here. I turn towards the guys at the bar and give them a 'why don't you move look'. They scramble away from the bar and I turn towards Victoria with a grin.

"All clear and we're staying here until you've mastered the game of pool." I lead her towards the bar and we both take a seat on two of the empty stools.

"We'll be here forever," She pouts as the bartender comes out of the back.

"There's my boy!" The bartender chuckles and scruffs my hair up.

"Joe," I laugh and Victoria raises her eyebrows in confusion.

"Who's the pretty lady?" Joe punches my shoulder and turns towards Victoria.

"This is Victoria. Victoria, this is Joe." They shake hands and Victoria looks scared.

She's so out of her element.

"No need to be scared, sweetheart; I don't bite." He chuckles and picks up two beer glasses. "We've got your favorite on tap tonight, Gavin."

Joe smirks and fills up the two glasses, handing one to each of us.

"How do you know him?" Victoria whispers the minute Joe is out of earshot.

"I'm a bit of a legend here." I take a sip of my beer and watch as she just stares at hers apprehensively. "Everything in that glass is legal."

"I know," Victoria mutters quickly and takes a sip.

An annoyed smile crosses her lips as she takes another sip.

"Gavin Forrester!" I flip my head around and see my friends Blaze and Slick walking towards me.

They take a seat at the bar and order what I'm having.

"Blaze, Slick," I nod my head and set my glass down.

"There's some new fishes over by the door who had enough balls to challenge me and Slick. Needless to say they lost, it was a break and run game." Blaze chuckles and high-fives me.

"Sounds like they need to put their money where their mouths are." I turn around so I can try and spot the fishes.

I point to the pair by the door who I've never seen in here before. Slick nods and takes a sip of his beer.

"Who's your friend?" He nods towards Victoria and a grin spreads over his face.

"Victoria," I state simply and smile towards her.

She looks a bit less scared then before but I'm still convinced if someone touches her she'll scream bloody murder. She holds out her hand and smiles. Both Slick and Blaze shake her hand before turning back to me.

"You are a lucky man, Gavin." Blaze grins and takes a drink from his glass.

"I know, my friend." I pat his shoulder and finish off my beer.

"Are you the shark?" The fishes from earlier are now standing right in front of me holding their cue sticks.

"Is that my picture on the wall?" I point towards the wall behind the bar where a picture of me is framed.

"Yes," They mutter bitterly.

"Then I guess I am." I cross my arms and wait for them to continue.

"We'd like to play you." They cross their arms and I suppress the urge to full-on laugh in their faces.

My friends don't suppress their laughter and are practically rolling on the floor with amusement.

"You have guts, I'll give you that but you guys aren't really ready to move up to the big leagues yet." I smirk and take a sip from my refilled beer.

"Are you too scared?" They sneer and a collective gasp is uttered from the people all around us.

I stand up and glare at them.

"No, I just like to save my skills for players who are worth it." My eyes narrow and I can tell that my opponents are scared of me.

Just the way I like it.

"Blaze, chalk up two cues. You and I are going to show these princesses how real pool is played."

Blaze stands up and walks over to the rack of pool cues. He picks up two and chalks them. I grab Victoria's hand and walk her over to the empty pool table. Slick and a crowd of people follow close behind.

"We're breaking," The fishes call and I smirk.

"Like that's going to make your loss any easier to take." Blaze mutters and tosses me my stick.

I catch it midair and wink at Victoria. She rolls her eyes and turns to face the pool table. The fishes have the balls set up in the rack and are tossing the cue ball to each other.

Amateurs.

"Set the damn ball down before I grow gray hair." Blaze mutters, scaring the pair into putting it down.

Someone takes the rack away and the taller fish lines up his shot. He hits the cue ball but it does little to break up the pool balls.

"Weak," Someone shouts from the back making me chuckle a little.

"You are up, my friend." Blaze smirks as I walk over to the cue ball.

I line up my shot and aim for the yellow 1 ball.

"1 in the corner pocket." I hit the cue ball lightly and it sends the yellow 1 ball into the exact pocket I predicted. "Solids."

Blaze offers me a high-five as I continue my run. I hit in 5 more balls before it becomes my opponents' turn again. The shorter one looks angry as he lines up his shot. He hits the cue ball but he put too much topspin on it and it completely misses the ball he was aiming for.

I gesture for Blaze to take his shot and walks up to the table. He lines it up and hits the cue ball across the table towards one of our two remaining balls besides the 8 ball. It goes in perfectly and the cue ball stops before it goes into the pocket too.

Blaze narrows his eyes as he decides the best way to get our final ball in so we can go for the 8 ball. Needless to say, Blaze shot our final ball in and then went on to sink the 8 ball. I high-five him and turn towards the fishes.

"Like I said before, you're not cut out for the big leagues yet." With that I grab Victoria's hand and walk her over to the rack of cue sticks.