Rocky

I was carrying Delilah down the hallway as she was blabbering about yet another thing I wasn't listening too.

When she tried to walk to the kitchen with me, but she decided to take off her shoes because her feet were hurting. Then, she became so uncoordinated that she took forever, so I made the decision to pick her up and carry her.

I'd never done anything like this before. Never held anyone in my arms because they wanted food. I never gave a fuck if someone was hungry or anything else, but I couldn't help and feel like it was my responsibility to make sure she eats.

It was her first time drinking. The least I could do was to help her get food in her stomach.

"Mango," She drug out the word with a giggle, "It feels funny to say mangos, you say it." She told me, and I repeated the word 'Mango' firmly, irritated with her excessive rambling.

She rolled her eyes, and reached her hand up to cup my face, her small hand soft against my jaw.

I'd never had someone touch my face before, and if this were anyone else, their hand would already be disconnected from their wrist. But I decided to let it play out, as she maneuvered my jaw around in her hands, "Mang-o, say it."

I gave in and did as she wanted, and it made her laugh, which I guess wasn't unusual. I found she had no poker face. She expressed every thought that ran through her brain on her face, which probably wasn't a good thing.

As I turned the corner that was adjacent to the kitchen, I ran into a frantic Mathew Cohen.

He seemed pretty upset at first, but then realized who he ran into and immediately took a few steps back. His mouth opened and shut like a stupid fuckin' fish when he saw that I was carrying Lilah in my arms, all the while she was squeezing my face and dragging out the word 'Mango".

I'm sure my parents were turning in their graves.

He looked about as dumbfounded as always as he reached out to grab her, "Holy shit, Don. I can't apologize enough, I- she doesn't know who you are, she's not-"

I felt her stiffen in my arms, and remove her hand off my face as the words came out of his mouth, "Where are you taking her? She's not-she's never," He shook his head in a panic, "She's innocent, please don't-"

"He's taking me to get food, Mattie boy. He's not going to deflower me, chill." She patted my chest as she let out a laugh.

It was my turn to tense at her confirmation, and he let out a scoff, "Delilah are you drunk?"

"No. Yes. Just a little bit." She giggled as she used her thumb and pointer finger, almost touching them together.

He ran a hand down his face, "Oh uncle Mitch is going to skin me alive, Delilah! I've been looking for you for fifteen minutes!" He shouted, and she recoiled into me, "I'm fine, we're just getting food." She told him in a small voice, and he shook his head, "Delilah, you know you shouldn't do that." He scolded, and it was my turn to talk, "Why not?"

He looked taken aback at my sudden words, but answered out in a stutter, "She's got a lot of food allergies. She's on a special diet."

I made a face for him to continue, and he sputtered out, "She's allergic to um, sesame seeds, not including oil so she can eat fried food," He paused, and I held back an eye roll. I'd never spoken directly to Mathew before, and it seemed to be going to his head as he slowly collected his bearings, "And the proteins in seafood, so she can't eat any of that, and uh mangos. No mangos."

That's why she was saying mangos.

"She's a vegetarian. She has got some digestive issues with meat." He finished, and I frowned at the list of allergens, "That's it?"

"Yes sir. I don't mind too-I'll get her food on the way home, you don't need to worry about it."

I furrowed my brows at his stupid face, "Go home."

I could tell he wanted to stop me as I walked away from him, but he knew I wouldn't tolerate any questioning, and he had no other choice but to listen. Lilah began talking again, but I wasn't listening as we walked into the kitchen. I was relieved it had been cleaned from the party, as I sat her down on the counter.

I pulled out a pot from underneath of its place in the cabinet, and filled it with water. I started searching the cabinets to find some pasta, and checked the label to make sure none of her allergens were in there.

What a fuckin' pussy I've turned into, I internally scoffed.

I rid my thoughts and checked the other label for the sauce, and made the food. Once she took the bowl from my hands, she stared at me for a moment, then looked down at the pasta. She didn't hesitate as she grabbed a piece with her thumb and pointer finger, and popped it directly into her mouth.

I furrowed my brows at her childish actions, then I realized I forgot a fork, but made no move to get her one. It was entertaining watching the small girl eat with just her fingers. I leaned against the counter and watched her eat it for a few minutes, and she offered me a bite and I declined, "What did you like poison me or something?" She asked with a sweet smile, and I shook my head.

She shot me a skeptical look, but picked up another noddle in her hand. I got closer to her, and took the noodle in my mouth directly from her fingers, "No poison." I confirmed.

She nodded her head and a small smile formed on her beautiful face, "I believed you, y'know."

"I know."

She looked at me again, "So, there seems to be an elephant in the room."

I raised an eyebrow, and she continued, "It would've been nice for you to mention that you were the Don. Especially before I let you carry me."

"Why?" I asked, and she let out a playful groan, "I don't know," She took another bite of her pasta, then shrugged, "So I wouldn't completely embarrass myself in front of  you. Maybe it would've sobered me up a bit if I knew who you were." She insisted with a small grin.

"Besides," She added, "I thought no one got to call you by your first name."

I gave her a look, then realized she stopped eating, "Eat." I told her, and she glanced at her half eaten bowl. "I'm done. Thank you." I was going to argue that she needed to eat more, but my phone rang before I could.

Delilah

With strict instruction to "not move", Rocky left the kitchen several minutes ago without giving me any clue as to where he was going. Still, me being me I was very tempted to move around, but I decided against it. I was in an unfamiliar house, and I didn't want to waltz into, I don't know, a sex dungeon of some kind, so I opted to just stay put.

"Who do we have here?" I heard an unfamiliar voice, and I peered over my shoulder to see a man who looked like a knock off Rocky, but a few inches shorter, and not nearly as pretty.

A wide smile took over my face, and the stranger smirked, looking me up and down, "Hi, I'm Delilah." I greeted the unknown man.

"Delilah, hm?" He grinned, walking closer, "Any particular reason you're in my brother's house an hour after everyone has left? I know for a fact he hates when people linger, even beautiful women."

He kept walking closer toward me, "Me on the other hand, I love when beautiful women linger."

I let out a giggle as he introduced himself, sticking out a hand for me to shake, "Cole St. James."

I shook his hand with a smile, "It's nice to meet you." I told him. He flashed me a grin as he pulled away his hand and laid it on the counter right next to my thigh, and reached over to grab a lock of my hair, "You didn't answer my question, pretty girl."

I tilted my head in a silent question, and Cole spoke again, "You're here for the Don?" He raised his brows suggestively.

"Oh, no! Not like that." I confirmed, "He just made me some pasta. I was hungry." I explained.

I didn't want this man telling everyone, including Rocky, that I led him to believe that we were doing anything besides eating. I mean, how embarrassing would that be?

"Yeah?" He confirmed as a smirk formed on his less than handsome face, "Then go ahead and tell big bro when he's done fucking you, to send you over my way." He laughed, as he placed a tight grip my thigh, before inching further up.

I was shocked at his nasty words, but it wasn't five seconds after that, that I felt Cole harshly yanked away from me.

I stabilized myself on the counter so I didn't fall along with him, and when I looked up, I saw Rocky had grabbed him by the back collar of his shirt, actively dog walking him out of the kitchen while threatening him in so many different ways I almost felt the hypothetical pain.

All the while I sat on the counter like a stunned idiot.

Only a few seconds later did Rocky walk back into the kitchen, and make a angry beeline straight toward me. He reached out and grabbed onto my cheecks in a firm, yet tender hold and my eyes widened in response.

"Do not ever speak to him again." Rocky sounded pissed, as he spit the words out in a guttural tone.

I softened my voice, "I'm sorry, I didn't-" I started, but Rocky interrupted me, "I'm serious, Lilah. Never again. If he ever comes near you again," He let out a deep breath, "Fuck. If he comes near you, you come find me. Okay?" He asked, still holding onto my face.

"Okay." I relented, and reached up to grab his wrist, but as soon as he let go of my face, I suddenly felt nauseous.

I put my hand over my mouth, the curdling in my belly moving up my throat. I jumped down from the counter, and Rocky stood directly in front of me, holding onto my elbow to stabilize me. I placed my hand on his chest as my mouth started watering.

"Rocky," I started, before moving my hand to cover my own mouth, "I think I'm gonna be sick."

He picked me up and carried me only a few feet until we were in a small bathroom adjacent to the kitchen. The moment he placed me on my feet, it was like a waterfall of vomit came out of my mouth.

I fell down onto my knees in front of the toilet, and Rocky gathered my hair with his hands as I threw up the contents of my stomach. And when I was done throwing that up, my stomach bile made its way up as well.

When I finally was done puking, I leaned back onto my calfs and a wave of emotion came over me. I was embarrassed, confused, my stomach ached, and I just wanted to go to sleep.

So of course, being as sensitive as I was, I started to cry. Not even just a little cry, either. It was just me of those giant sobs paired with fat, continuous tears that made my mascara run down my face, and snot come out of my nose.

And honestly? I'd prefer jabbing a fork into my hand to whatever was happening in this moment.

My tears kept coming, and after a few seconds my body was maneuvered back, and I went lax and let it happen. "I've got you Lilah girl." Rocky held me to his chest, and I slowly drifted off into the darkness.

•••

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