Danika's Gift by Jayn Wilde

clear my head.  I missed Danika already.  It had only been a few hours since we were together, but knowing Sergio wouldn’t allow me to see her again brought a lump to my throat.  I pulled out my cell phone and went to my photo album.  I had snuck a fast pic of her while she was sleeping last night. I didn’t want to ever forget how beautiful and peaceful she looked. 
    My groin twitched at the memories of our time together.  It was short, but hot and exciting.  I’d felt things I never knew were possible.  Could I really love her after such a short time?  I knew it seemed unlikely, but I also couldn’t explain the magic between us.  There was a connection, a bond that you simply cannot find outside of love.
    My phone suddenly vibrated in my hand.  It was a text from Danika.  I didn’t even realize I could get a message on the plane but was happy to hear from her.  Then, I remembered Sergio’s words…cut all ties now…I typed out a short reply to Dani and after staring at it for awhile, I finally hit the ‘send’ button.  Once it was sent, I turned off my phone and shut my eyes.  I felt the tears but I couldn’t allow them.   It was for the best.  At least for now.
    ****
                  “Dan, what else can we do?”  I was getting more pissed off every day that went by.
                  “Look, my department is looking into what we’ve given them.  We are probably safer here in L.A.”
                  “It’s been almost three weeks now.  After Vegas and Denver, we’re now in LA with nowhere to go but home.”
                  “Kid, I know this is hard for you.  Like I said, after we finished in Vegas, things went crazy back home.  Those guys were trying to kill Sergio and now there’s even more heat then before.”
                  “I wish they’d done it.”
    “I know.  That would be easier in some ways, but kid, he’s got connections and if he gets killed, other people will just take over.  It will be like he never left.”
    “And if you arrest him, won’t the same thing happen?”
    “Yes and no.”  Dan scratched his head.  “See, if we can throw him in jail, we can freeze all of his assets, close down his businesses, seize everything he’s got and his connections will disappear into their own rat holes.  We’d like to get his connections too, and if he’s alive, there’s a better shot at that.  But, if he is killed, it will all continue on, just under new management.”
    “Can you do me a favor?”  Derek looked around them.  “Can you check on her?”
    “My guy, Joey, has been keeping tabs on her, her cousin and that lady Katia too.”
    “So the girls are okay?”  Derek straightened up as relief filled him.  “Well, I don’t care about Katia.”
    “Yeah, they are.  Although, Joey mentioned the girls are working at the pizzeria now and that your girl isn’t happy. Lovesick I think.”  Dan gave Derek a shove in the shoulder.  “Once we get you home, maybe you can remedy that?”
    My heart danced at the thought but then my stomach churned too.  When would he get home?  Would she forgive me?  Would she understand everything that had happened?

Chapter 8
    Danika
    It has been three long months.  How does that happen?  How does someone jump into your life, sweep you off your feet and then just leave you like that.  What did I ever do to deserve all of that crap?  First, Derek left me.  Then, I was accused of murder.  Now, I had become a miserable shell, going through the motions and trying to make it just one more day.
    The sorority sisters blamed me for Celeste’s death.  Even though the medical examiner declared it an accidental drowning and I was at work when it happened, they still blamed me.  I could just see it in the way they looked at me.  Around campus, people still pointed at me and whispered.  Sam tried to help me, but they weren’t talking about her…she didn’t