Chapter 4

Emma counted the bills she had taken out of her purse and felt a little relieved. The notes that Ramon had stuffed in her purse totaled two thousand five hundred dollars, and even if it wasn't enough to pay off all the debts and thus sleep peacefully without worries, she would at least be able to pay the most important ones that she had already set aside to pay, and that actually relieved her.

She looked out the window when the clock struck three in the afternoon and was surprised when she saw the same car from the day before stop a few meters away, as if they had made an appointment. Sebastian was there, and again she felt nervous. But she needed to work, and so she went downstairs.

With her hair tied in a bun, her face free of makeup, and wearing a simple dress and a knitted coat over it to protect her from the cold breeze, Emma said goodbye to her parents and saw the smile that Sebastian had on his face when she walked into the car without any resistance.

"You're beautiful," he said.

Emma laughed in disbelief but felt shy. "I'm not."

"Of course, you are, honey."

The girl's heart did not obey and melted for a simple "honey." Emma was hating him right now.

"The store I work for is on..."

"I know where it is," was all Sebastian said before starting the engine and driving away.

On the way, Emma decided to break the silence that was already forming between them when she asked, "Is it true that I can be murdered?"

Sebastian chuckled but shrugged. "The city is a bit dangerous."

"But can't you just... say you don't know me?"

"They don't care if I know you or not, people can hurt you for what you did. I was a great asset if they managed to kill me and you stopped them."

"Are you some... super dangerous criminal?"

"It depends on the point of view of who analyzes me," he looked at her.

"Have you ever killed a person?" she asked, curious.

"Only those who really deserved to die."

"Oh my God!"

"Relax, I'm not a bad person."

"That's not what it looks like. You... you're a gangster, aren't you?"

Sebastian just chuckled, enjoying her fear. "Are you talking because I have a lot of tattoos? You know this is prejudice, right?"

"It's not because of the tattoos, it's because of the one on your neck. I've seen it somewhere, it's from the southern gang, run by the mafia."

"Hm, looks like you really know more than you let on. Maybe you're a spy?"

"I'm nothing!"

"Should I trust you?"

Emma flinched in the passenger seat after seeing the smug smile the man wore on his lips.

When they finally parked a few meters from the small supermarket where she worked, Sebastian wrinkled his nose as he watched some men who were in an alley right next to them.

"Who are these people?" he asked.

"Ain't nobody."

Emma unbuckled her seat belt and seemed to gather her courage before getting out of the car. "Thanks again."

Sebastian just nodded.

When she pulled away, her car didn't move. He watched the girl's journey down the road to the store and then became aware when one of the men, who was sitting, stood up when he saw Emma approaching. Sebastian then didn't want to stand there just watching. He made the decision to get out of the car and also go slowly after Emma.

The girl tried not to look at the men who were already starting to talk nonsense to her, to her body, harassing her on the way.

"You're hot, you know that, right?" the man dared to stop in front of her while she was still on the road and approached, closing her in, touching her waist before groping her ass, causing her even more fear.

Emma tried to push him, but she was afraid of the look the man had on her, especially when she realized that that was always routine on that journey to work.

"Go away or I'll call the police," she said, taking his hand away from her but not being able to push it away when she finally entered the market she worked.

Emma looked for the apron on the counter when the previous employee simply handed it over and didn't even care about her in that situation. And when the store door closed, the girl panicked, tried to get the baseball bat that was always behind the counter, but again had her waist caught by the man's filthy hands.

"Oh, come on… don't you want to go out with me?" the man reeked of alcohol. "Take a date with me, I'll make you very happy, you know?"

Emma pushed him again to defend herself when her stomach lurched, but when she raised her fist to punch the stalker's nose, she just watched the hand that touched the man on the shoulder and squeezed, making him double over in pain. He felt before he hit the ground.

Emma's eyes found Sebastian there, which made her surprised to see him with a completely different face than when they were together. The man didn't have a smile, he didn't have patience, and he didn't have the twinkle in his eyes that delighted her anymore. It was just a strong, brave man, not afraid of anything, taking down an asshole with such ease that the man on the ground was completely confused.

Sebastian didn't even say anything. He kicked the man mercilessly in the stomach, over and over again. When his legs got tired, it was time for the punches to come. He bent over the man and made his whole face bleed, scaring Emma with the fury and strength with which he did it.

"What did you say, you fucking son of a bitch?" Sebastian asked, irritated.

The man was barely conscious, but a little more punching, and he would surely die.

"Why don't you try that now?"

"Sebastian, that's enough."

Emma touched Sebastian on the shoulder, but he pushed her away, going back to punching the man until he finally passed out for good.

With a sigh, Sebastian rose to his feet. He looked at the other men who were with him, at the entrance of the store, and pointed to the one who was on the floor.

"Get that shit out of here, or you'll get the same treatment!"

The men didn't know Sebastian, but they knew who he was just by the phoenix tattoo on his neck. They lifted the man off the ground and rushed him away.

When Sebastian looked back at Emma, his face didn't show happiness.

"Sorry about the mess on the floor," he asked, feeling his knuckles throb.

Emma looked at the floor; there was a lot of blood there.

"Who are you?!" she shouted the question at Sebastian. She was still afraid, enraged that she was now among angry men, and she didn't know what else to do to break free. And worse, she really felt something she didn't even understand what it was yet for Sebastian, and they had only seen each other three times, and one of them, the man was completely hurt.

"Are you irritated by the floor?"

"It's not because of the damn floor, it's because I don't know you! When I saved you, I thought I was different from those other men who were beating you, but you're just like them!"

"Are you mad at me? Really?"

Sebastian asked, reaching into his pocket for a handkerchief to wipe the blood on his knuckles.

"I'm a beast!" she said through gritted teeth.

With a lopsided smile, he approached.

"I'm not like them. I told you, I only hurt those who deserve it. Do you think that man or anyone else will harass you again after that?"

Emma sighed, no answers. At least Sebastian was right. Perhaps no man would harm her because now she had him by her side.

"Don't be irritated."

He dared to approach and touched the pale-skinned face. He loved the contrast of the straight, dark hair with the almost colorless skin. Emma's eyes were dark, but they had a particular, innocent sparkle.

"How about we go out? Do you want to eat? Maybe spend some money around? I can cheer you up like that."

"No, I need to clean up this mess and get to work."

She pulled back a little, breaking the man's touch on her.

"And I'm not going out with you until I really know who you are."

"Really?" he asked with annoyance. "You know who I am. What I am and what I do."

"No, I don't know. I just saw what Google and any other place with information about bad guys told me. But why don't you at least show me who you really are. Think you're capable?"

"You're not going to like what you see. Like I said, I'm a crook."

"I did not say that..."

"But you know I am. Show me," she asked again. "I want to see."

Sebastian took a deep breath but nodded after some thought.

"Tonight at eleven. Wait in front of your house."

"Eleven? I can't, my parents won't let me."

Sebastian chuckled. Emma felt offended.

"But I'll find a way and meet you."

"Are you sure?" he asked just to confirm.

"I have."

"Okay, eleven then."