When we first moved to New Orleans I used to love walking the French Quarter, but also other districts like taking the old trolley down through the garden district. Everyone knows the French Quarter for things like Mardi Gras and Bourbon Street, but there is so much more to see here.
There are a lot of creative people that seem to find their way down to Nola and the magic of it's streets. On any given day you'll see someone playing a brass instrument on the corner or a parade of musicians to hook in the tourists.
For the locals Nola is a different place though. There is City Park, which is acres of trees and even a pond right in the heart of New Orleans. There is St. Louis Cemetery where the actual voodoo queen herself is buried. People often leave offerings beside her tomb.
Due to vandalism and even grave robbers the cemetery is now permanently closed to the general public. Didn't stop me and my brother from climbing the gridiron gates and hopping over them in the middle of the night when we'd first moved there.
I got to see the grave, but I hope she didn't curse me for breaking into a cemetery. Though we touched nothing and left soon after when we saw a cop car down the road.
I'm one day back and I already heard about a pop up art flea market-type thing down by the French District. It's where I'm walking to today since all of my family will be at work until later. It's no problem for me. I know these streets. I spent two years wandering this magical place.
Why is it magical? I can't explain it. There is something in the air here that is different. That's why so many people here believe in the supernatural. It is a very superstitious place.
The French market is where you go to do your shopping. It's an open air market, and today some local artists have a pop up shop I would love to check out. The common style of the New Orleans French Quarter is the infamous Creole Townhouse style, where there are commercial businesses usually on the bottom floor with apartments up above it. They are usually lined by a balcony made up of the ironworks you see a lot here. It's all cast iron.
Since the French Market district is over by the canal I was walking the streets closest to the view as I honestly walked at leisure. I had nowhere to be. I was on 'vacation' but really I was just hiding for a few days until I figured out how to restart my life here in Nola again.
My father is strict and living under his roof again might make me digress to how life was before Boston. Maybe that's a good thing. Things got a little out of control back there.
July is the hottest month in Nola, usually staying in the 90s, so I was sweltering as I walked under the harsh sun. I was only in a baby tee and high waist shorts, but I could feel the clothes clinging to me. I'd already put my hair in a high ponytail, hung long down my back for the amount of hair I had. I need a trim.
I wasn't carrying a bag. I never liked to. It's annoying to keep track of. Instead I had my phone tucked at the front of my pants, because yes you can get pickpocketed around here, and anything I needed was in my phone case.
I decided to stop at a corner to buy a water bottle because I was thirsty from all the sweating I'm probably doing. The man was carrying a little cart with a refrigerated ice box to sell water and pops to the kids. He had a cartoonish white mustache, and his shirt sagged like maybe he'd lost weight in recent years.
I dug around in my pocket for the dollars once he told me the price, but just as I pulled them out a hand extended past me and handed the man the money. The old guy's eyes shifted up above my head, and when I glanced back my body jolted from the shock of seeing Renzo Revello leaning over me to pay for my water bottle.
I just stood there frozen on the street. Gaping.
The old man continued to roll his little cart away after he'd gotten his money, while I remained frozen in place. "I've always meant to come visit the French Quarter. Maybe during the cooler months" he stated casually, clearly mocking me right now.
"W-what-" I couldn't even formulate a proper question. "What am I doing here?" He asked for me. I just blinked up at him. Renzo took the water from my hand, cracked the top open and took a few gulps. Then he placed it to my lips telling me to drink.
I did, simply because I might pass out if I don't.
"You know why I'm here" his voice finally darkened. People were walking right by us on either side having no idea what was really happening on this street corner in Nola. "Don't hurt my family" I breathed, fear gripping my throat.
If he made the effort to come here then I'm in worse trouble than I thought. He was serious about keeping me. Will I become some plaything for him and when he's bored of me he'll kill me and feed me to the fishes? Isn't that how mobsters do it?!
Renzo took my arm and pulled us under an overhang on one of the buildings for the shade. "I'm not going to hurt your family. We're going to go say goodbye to your family, you're gonna pack a bag, and we're going to be flying home" he told me, not asked.
"Renzo, this is crazy...y-you can't do this," the tremble started to form in my hands and run up my body until it felt like even the base of my spine was moving. "Do you wanna show me around the Quarter first, or would you rather get to your parents house now to start packing?" He ignored my statement.
"T-this is...y-you're crazy" I was breathless.
Renzo was in a black tee and jeans, I bet he's regretting that decision. This isn't Boston heat, this is Louisiana heat. He lightly placed his hand on my hip and pulled me a few steps closer, so he could speak only for us to hear. He reached up and brushed my flush cheeks with his thumb.
"You aren't running home because you're scared of a reality you've already been living in for months now. That's not how this ends" he whispered to me. Something in my gut fluttered, though I don't know if it was fear or something else.
"You said we weren't anything, so why did you even take the time to come here? Are you worried I'll snitch?" I needed to know why he made the effort. Renzo ran a hand through his hair and looked away from me, down the road.
"Because I don't like being disobeyed, and...Dante misses you. He's offended you won't talk to him" he only looked back after saying that.
"Renzo, I'm afraid of you" I said outright. I don't think he seems to understand that. Renzo pinched my chin and leaned down in a way that I almost thought he might kiss me, but he stopped just close enough for our noses to brush.
"But you have always been a little bit scared of me. It's what kept drawing you back to me. It's what makes you wet" his whisper caressed my lips. My heart was beating so hard, but my mind and body reacted differently to him, and I felt torn.
"T-this is different" I swallowed down the growing heat inside me. I'm already sweating. I can't handle more of this.
"I know you fear the idea behind the 'mob', but I'm still the same asshole I was the day I met you. Nothing has really changed except your slightly broadened horizons. There are two worlds, Kat. Stay on the good side with me. I won't bring you into any of the other shit" it almost sounded like he was making me some kind of promise.
Since Renzo still had my chin in his fingers he leaned the extra few inches forward and placed a soft kiss on my parted lips. I stumbled back in confusion. My mind was screaming for me to run away, my heart was aching in the confusion, and my body wanted me close to him. My lips tingle like they needed more of his touch. No. He's a criminal. He's a bad guy.
The hand on my hip gained a little more grip and he pulled me to him, not to him, against him. "Renzo please" I pleaded, but I'm not even sure for what reason. His hand came around my waist and to my back to hold me close. Any lower and he'd be cupping my backside.
Our eyes met and the magnetism of them drew me in further. Our eyes remained locked until I heard my name.
"Kat??" Renzo's head snapped in the direction of the voice, though he didn't let me go from where we were pressed together. It was Val's sister and she looked shocked and possibly a little angry. "What are you doing back home? Who is this?" She scowled at Renzo.
His grip on me tightened, but I shifted slightly to face her to speak. "I'm just here to visit family" I explained, not even wanting to acknowledge Renzo.
"And does my brother know you're hanging out with such close friends?" Again she scowled at our romantic position. I realized she didn't know we broke up.
"Wait...did Val not tell you guys? Erin, we broke up" I informed the girl. Her eyes went wide and she actually almost looked embarrassed to have addressed us so forwardly. I don't blame her though. If I saw my brother's girlfriend this close to another man I would be upset.
"What happened?...He didn't say a word about this. We even asked how you were adjusting over there" she shook her head in disbelief. "Is it because you found someone else?" Her voice was a little quieter, but again she acknowledged Renzo.
Actually her eyes caught on him like a web, and she started checking out this magnificent creature. I know, I did the same. That's what got me to this place.
"Your brother cheated on her. His loss, my gain" Renzo spoke up before I could. I gave him wide eyes telling him to stop it. "Val cheated?! Ugh, Kat, I'm sorry" she sighed. "But I guess you aren't doing so bad..." Erin once again looked up and down the body of Renzo. Over his tattoo sleeve and up at his face. She has no idea.
I just smiled quietly at her, but didn't respond verbally. She apologized again and ended up walking off.
"Well that was awkward" I cringed to myself. "Is your family going to start asking a million questions too? Did you tell them you broke up with the douchebag" his eyes narrowed in on me. I removed myself from his hold and took a long sip of this cold water that I very much need.
"Yes, I did tell them we broke up" I looked away from him. "Good, so they won't question me too much," he said. My head snapped in his direction. "You can't come in my house" I spoke incredulously. His jaw tensed.
"I already told you how this was going to go down Kat. Don't make it harder than it needs to be" he gritted out. "Okay, yes, I will go so long as you leave my family alone. Please" I asked him one thing.
"As soon as we're back in Boston, then yes I will leave your family alone, but today we are going to go pack your shit and leave...together" he narrowed in on me again. "Who the heck would I say you even are?! My boss? Dad would find that to be too weird" I shook my head. My fear was more so nervous right now.
My emotions have been all over the place. I just know the shock of all this has soured my gut since yesterday. "Tell them I'm your friend helping you move" he deadpanned. I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I'm not asking Kat. I'll behave as long as you do" he told me.
I just nodded silently and told him let's go to my house. The sooner I leave Nola the sooner my family is safe from him. He clearly already found out where I lived. I don't even wanna ask how. I just know my family's safety is my number one priority.
If that means I have to go back and be caged away by the big bad wolf then so be it.
When I got home it was like my worst case scenario. Everyone was there. Mom, Dad, Michael, even Mya. They all looked at me then up to the giant behind me. "Mae, Pai, this is my friend. He's going to help me pack some more stuff for Boston" I gave them a forced smile.
Michael was checking Renzo out. Of course my father stood and walked right over to him. Renzo put out his hand and put on the charm.
"Mr. Costa, sir, nice to meet you. I'm Renzo" his deep voice introduced himself and gave my father a firm handshake. My mom had that flighty look that told me she liked him, and was gonna gossip to see if he was my boyfriend or something.
"A friend you said?" My father turned back to me and picked his pants up higher as he eyed me. He always knows how to make me feel 12 years old and unable to lie to my dad. Mom was shaking Renzo's hand too.
"Her boyfriend, sir." The room stopped.