Free Love Lost by Maria DeSouza Page A

had given her.  She put the gun in her purse and the file in the travel bag.  She grabbed some clothes and toiletries before heading out to the living room.  They were still rummaging through the mess.
    “I can call our cleaning service to clean this up.  We use them often enough that they know where everything goes.”
    Vin gave Jason a look that Selene couldn’t read.  Jason responded.  “Are you sure you don’t want to call this in?”
    “I’m sure.  Nothing was stolen.”
    He seemed to want to say more, but didn’t.
    “Ok, let’s go.  You can call your cleaning service from the car.”
    Vin reached for her travel bag, but she pulled back quickly. 
    “I got it.  It’s not heavy.”
    Vin snorted.  “Worried I might go through your thongs? Or worse, find your sex toys?”
    Selene felt herself getting angry.
    “You know, for someone that is supposed to be such a ladies man, I can’t imagine any woman wanting to do anything to you besides smack the shit out of you.”
    She walked out of the apartment and headed for the elevators, leaving both men stunned.
     

     
    The car ride over to his parents was uncomfortably quiet.  Selene was sitting in the back seat when they reached the car.  She was clearly upset, but refused to say anything.  Jason had tried to make small talk, but nothing worked.  Vin was fuming in his own seat, more over how Selene spoke to him.  No one ever spoke to him that way.  This was going to be one heck of a weekend.
    Jason pulled up to the driveway and Selene leaned forward to look.  His parent’s house was at least 3 floors with a roundabout where cars drove up to drop people off at the entrance of the home.  As Jason parked his car in the driveway, Selene could see a huge lake behind it along with a long stretch of land. The view was breathtaking. She climbed out as Vin walked toward the house.  Jason walked over to her and reached in the car to grab her bag.
    “I got it, Jason.”
    Jason threw his hands up in defense and backed away.  She grabbed the bag and waited for him.  She seemed nervous, but still angry.  He needed to set her at ease.
    “Hey, about Vin :  He likes to play around a lot, but he didn’t mean anything by it.”
    “He just seems pushy.  I knew someone like that once, and I try to avoid men like that. I think I avoid men in general.”
    “Oh, really?” 
    He faked a hurt expression.  She laughed and pushed him slightly. 
    “I can’t explain you, Jay.  You just seem different; in a good way, though.”
    He pulled her close and put his arm around her. 
    “I get it.”
    They walked slowly to the front door and two men stood at the doorway.  Jason rushed forward, and put one of them in a headlock.  He quickly got out of it, and threw a light punch to Jason’s stomach.  The other man just stood there and laughed.  A feminine, yet commanding voice interrupted their rough housing.
    “Come on now, boys.  I thought you outgrew the fighting stage.”
    A beautiful woman stood in the door frame.  She had dark brown hair that was curled in delicate waves, half was pinned back elegantly.  She smiled and Selene recognized the smile immediately.
    Jason ran over and hugged the woman, leaving a few kisses on her check.  He walked back to Selene and grabbed her hand.
    “Selene, this is my mother.  Those two goofballs over there are my brothers, Julian and Jesse.”
    His mother came over and pulled her into a hug. 
    “Call me Maribel.”
    The man Jason put in a headlock walked forward first.  He was taller than Jason, and looked like he could bench press 200 lbs easily.
    “I’m Jesse, his younger brother.  Jason likes to show off a bit, but I can take him anytime.”
    Julian approached her next. 
    “Sure you can, little brother.  I’m Julian, the oldest, smartest, and unfortunate witness to these two and their shenanigans.”
    Selene was ushered into the house, with everyone at her heel.  Jason grabbed her hand and pulled her