Love doesn't cost a thing

*trigger warning: Blood, murder*

The heavy smell of metal and gun powder slams into my nose as I swirl the ice in my drink. A smell I am all to familiar with. I watch as Officer Peter's shoots a hard glare my way. I don't have friends, but if I were to consider myself having one it would be Darren Peters. He was an old childhood comrade, he has always been such a noble guy. In school he had all these aspirations about becoming a cop and saving the day, yada yada yada. Straight A student, never lied. Meanwhile I was always the one in trouble, or should I say causing it. No one ever understood our relationship, hell I didn't. I still don't. The goody two shoes cop, and the notorious criminal. Really though, how good is he? I can't count the number of times he has helped me in these sort of questionable situations.

Before he can begin to lecture me about the body on the floor, I cut him off. "How much for all of this to go away?" I gesture to the once inconvenient man and the room. The chairs were toppled over, glassware broken, the poor souls brain matter covering the ground and walls. He shouldn't have lied to me.

I hear Darren sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Gio this is going to be at least 50k, to repair the damages and dispose of-" He nudges the man with his shoe causing a small pool of blood to form. I snort before pulling out my phone and transferring the money to a secret offshore account. "Done, 100k." I toss back my drink, feeling the whiskey burn as it goes down. "You can't keep-" Ignoring him I slowly stand and make my way out of the room. I mutter a grumbled thank you before leaving.

I already knew what he was going to say. Money doesn't solve everything. One day money won't be the answer. Yeah right. I find myself rolling my eyes. Money has always been the answer. I learned that very young from my supposed father. Humans are greedy creatures, everything and everyone has a price.

I shove my hands into my pockets as I step outside. The brisk October air whips harshly against my face. I take a deep breathe, unclench my jaw and begin walking. There was a safe house not far from here where I had my men set up. We would need to move operation asap, due to my miscommunication with the kind fellow whom was currently splattered across the bar. I cannot take any extra risks of being caught, not that it would matter. This towns police department will bat an eye at almost anything for extra cash. I guess I could thank the shitty pay on their parts.

A soft squeal, shoes shuffling against the snow, followed by a thump catches my attention. Quietly I start towards the sound, my hand finding the glock I kept tucked into my waist band. The voices were trailing down one the darker alleyways. "Do you know how much trouble your brother has gotten you into?" I squint, ducking behind the trash bin.

There was a taller man, towering over a small girl. He had her cornered, and I could her the sniffles and sobs escape her mouth. "I promise I have no idea where Elijah is, he never tells me anything." She pleads with desperation in her voice. Normally I wouldn't bat an eyelash, I am not some hero. Something about this girl lit a fire in my chest. She needed to be protected. She was small, maybe 5'3-5'4. She looked malnourished almost, her sweaty, red hair clinging to her forehead. She gazed at the man with big watery eyes, even from here I could tell they were a beautiful forest green.

"I suggest you let the poor girl go and walk away." My voice echo's, bouncing off the brick walls on either side of the alley. Surprised, the man turns to me with wide eyes, before recollecting himself. "Oh look, a friendly neighborhood hero. Here to save the poor girl. Little do you know buddy, this is not one you would want to save. Her family has caused mine a hell of a lot of trouble." He sneers back at the girl, I can see her shuddering but not from the cold. I let out a chuckle, the man furrowing his brows in confusion.

"I am not friendly, nor am I a neighborhood hero. This little family drama also has nothing to do with me." I pull out my glock and cock it back, aiming between the guys dark eyes. The sight of the gun causes the girl to gasp. I avert my gaze to meet hers only briefly before I turn back to the guy. "I think I said leave her alone." The man tilts his head in a smirk, challenging me. He begins to take a step forward and without hesitation I pull the trigger.

I watch the unknown mans body fall to the side, revealing the girl. She covers her mouth, tears pooling in her eyes as she frightfully stares at me. "What is your name?" I lower my voice, attempting to sound reassuring. Something I am not very good at, I have never had a need to sound concerned. She meets my gaze, appearing like a deer in the headlights. "G-Gemma." I can barely hear her stutter over the broken sobs escaping her lips.

"Hi Gemma." I extend my hand out to her, in a kind gesture. "I'm not going to hurt you. But I do suggest we get out of here and away from him so my men can come and clean this up." She places her tiny, shaking hand in mine and carefully steps around the body without looking down. I frown, her hands are freezing. She's freezing. I shrug off my jacket and offer it out to her. She peers up at me before quietly taking my jacket and putting it on.

Without a word I pull out my phone and dial a very familiar number. The line rings once before I hear a gruff hello on the other side. "I need you to come do a cleanup job. I'll text the address, once the area is secure and I have confirmation I'll link you the cash." I glance up to see Gemma staring with wide eyes. I quickly scan her body, seeing my giant jacket swallowing her. The line beeps as the call ends meaning this would all be handled. I smirk to myself. Money does solve everything.

I can tell she is curious. She twists her fingers in her hair, chewing on her bottom lip. We walk in silence, her a few steps in front of me so I can fully see her. She truly is a beautiful creature, much different then the women I am usually surrounded by. "Just a little further, that red building is where I want you to go inside without a peep." She turns and looks at me as I speak, silently nodding her head in confirmation. I'm unsure why I brought her. Why I saved her. Something about her intrigues me, I just haven't figured it out yet.

We approach the building, I hold the metal door open as she steps inside. I hear her gasp softly as our eyes adjust. Printers were set up, and my men were printing and washing millions of dollars. She looks around in amazement and wonder. Who is this girl? She isn't the slightest bit afraid? I cough, pulling her out of her trance.

"Tyler." I call out, the young boy quickly scurrying over. "I need you to get a room ready for Gemma here ok? We also need all equipment and operations moved to the west docks before sunrise got it?" He looks at me with excitement, to be tasked with something. "Yes sir." I watch as he leads Gemma upstairs. I quickly scan the room before heading into my makeshift office.

I sit down and begin to do my research. She did not tell me her last name, but it doesn't matter. Within seconds of opening my laptop, I've found her. Gemma Alves. 20 years old, she has one sibling. Elijah, seemingly the one who got her into this mess. I furrow my brows, pouring myself another drink. I divulge into her life, her friends, her family. Particularly her brother and his extensive crime record. He was currently wanting for drug smuggling and robbery. Meaning, he stole from someone important for them to come after his sister. She claimed to have no idea about any of his actions or whereabouts but I needed to ask her myself.

I make my way up the creaking warehouse stairs to the end of the hall. This is where Tyler has her staying with two of my men guarding so she doesn't leave. I knock softly on the door, but after no response I push open the door. She is laying on her stomach, her soft snores filling the room. She showered, the smell the cheap soap filling my nose once I step closer. I sit in the chair next to the bed and silently study her. She has freckles which I didn't notice before, they danced across her nose and pale cheeks. She had on what looked to be one of my extra shirts, it was entirely to big on her, but that didn't matter. She was beautiful, an angel.

An angel who had no right being in this world, yet by her brother here she was. Or was it me? Something inside of me refuses to let her leave. My eyes snap down at the abrupt stop to her snores. Her eyelids flutter open and peer at me. Once she recognizes me, she jumps back onto the bed. Fear written all over her face. In that moment I realized that Darren was right, money doesn't buy everything. I can't buy her trust. I can't buy her love. Love? What am I thinking.