Free Mr. Mysterious In Black by S. Ann Cole

restaurant, I noticed we’d drawn unwanted attention. But Natalio’s eyes were hot on my face, I could almost feel the heat of his burning glare.
    “Was that necessary?” I hissed through clenched teeth. I wouldn’t let him know that I was afraid of him. I’ve learned how to hide my fears from being with Cali D .
    Natalio gritted his teeth and glared at me. Why was this man so angry? He seemed to get ticked off at the drop of a hat. Leaning back in his chair, he uncurled his fists. “I’m sorry,” he apologized. “You keep saying you’re okay, when I know you’re not. And I want to know what bothers you, all that bothers you. I will try everything in my power to fix it.”
    There’s no way to fix it, Natalio . You can turn a straight man gay but you can’t turn a gay man straight. He’d still be demanding the woman’s ass.
    “You can’t,” I told him.
    He leaned in, his eyes pleading. “Tell me. Whatever it is. I’ll try my best to fix it. If I can’t, I’ll find someone for you who can.”
    I snorted. “What, are you supposed to be my savior or something?”
    “If you would let me. Yes.” His intense blue gaze locked on mine. The man was truly serious.
    “But why? You don’t even know me.”
    He stared at me a moment longer before he closed his eyes and said, “I know you more than you think, Sadie.”
    “How? I don’t understand,” I said, bewildered beyond all borders.
    Natalio sighed, opened his eyes, leaned back in his chair and ran his fingers through his silky, raven hair. “Please. Just let me be your friend.”
    “I thought I already agreed to that.” I couldn’t understand him. Was he schizophrenic? Bipolar? Did I really want to be friends with this man? Dismantled, that’s what he was.
    “Well, friends tell each other what bothers them. And you’re not communicating with me. It angers me.”
    Jeez dude, you need to get your emotions in order.
    “You get angry just like that?” I asked, befuddled by this troubled man. “You are almost always radiating tension. Why are you so bilious?”
    He gave a brief shake of his head. “Ignore it. It’s a dysfunction.”
    “You take anger management?”
    “Yes.”
    “Effective?”
    “Hardly.”
    I swallowed hard as I asked, “You don’t go all crazy and hurt people brutally on impulse, do you?”
    “Christ, no. Am I that frightening?”
    “No. I was just curious.” I’d always had a nagging thought that he was someone of danger since I’d seen him at the club. But Tico said he knew him well. And Tico was fond of me, so I’m pretty sure he would’ve warned me about any red flags. And Devon knew him, and world-renowned Geo Lee. So I guess I could eradicate my worries of him being a sinister.
    “Okay. I’ll be sure to talk to you whenever I have worries,” I placated. “I promise.”
    “And you promise to allow my aid with them, too?”
    My eyes rolled. “Yes, I promise.” Why does he insist on helping me? Did I look destitute and desperate?
    He stared at me expectantly as he bit into a slice of pizza.
    “What?”
    “I’m waiting for you to tell you what was bothering you just now,” he explained, chewing patiently.
    Should I ask him? That’s very personal, isn’t it? It just might anger him even more; especially if he wasn’t gay. Not now. Some other time when he’s not so choleric and guarded.
    “It’s nothing I want to talk about right now. I’ll tell you some other time. I promise.”
    He cast his eyes upwards and blew a breath before saying, “Okay. Fine. We don’t have to talk about it now. But be sure that I’ll be asking you again and again until you tell me.”
    I nodded. Damn, what persistence.
    “Now back to you and transportation,” he started in his usual unrevealing tone. Wiping the corners of his mouth with a napkin before taking a sip of his wine, he continued, “I’ll have a car dropped by your apartment later. One less thing to worry about.”
    “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Are you asking me