Apples, Love, and Other Strange Things, page 1
Apples, Love, and Other Strange Things
Mariah Marshall
Copyright © Mariah Marshall, 2023,
All Rights Reserved
First Smashwords Edition
Smashwords Edition, License Note
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite eBook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Running From Roots
Unexpected Meeting
Communication Haywire
About the Author
Running From Roots
My family lives by three rules. In whichever order has precedence at the time, you must:
Protect the family.
Keep the family first.
Never turn your back on the family.
Yet, here I was, breaking every single last rule.
“How long are we supposed to stay here?” Paula asked. The grey cigarette smoke danced in the air as she exhaled. “We should’ve gotten the call by now. Do you think something went wrong?”
I could understand her anxiousness to leave. But let’s be honest, everything about this situation was wrong. Well, almost everything. Stealing money from my father was wrong. Tipping off the pigs about where the drop was going to be, wrong. Skipping town, wrong. Hell, even this room was wrong.
I asked the front desk for three things; a room on the first floor so I could have a view of the parking lot, a king bed, and a balcony so I wouldn’t have to sit in the stench of Paula’s Newport’s. We’d been here for only a few hours, but she was halfway through her pack.
They stuck us up on the 6th floor in a room the size of a closet. The walls were painted a disgusting mud brown and based on the questionable stains on the carpet, housekeeping didn’t care about their job. One corner was occupied by a nightstand with a notepad and landline, and in the middle of the room- two double beds.
“Ronnie, we need to make a plan in case this thing goes south,” Paula said closing the balcony door behind her.
“I wish you would stop saying that.”
“I just think we need to be prepared,” she said. “I mean, how do you know we can trust him?”
“He chose his side,” I said grabbing Paula’s arms. I pulled her down on the bed. “Without him, none of this would even be possible.” Pointing to the dark green duffle on the floor, “That money is enough to get us far away from here. Larenz watched the halls while I emptied the safe. He knows just as well as I do what happens when you go against the family.”
I didn’t tell anyone of my plans to run away with Paula for fear that they would tell my father. Betrayal like this is handled one way and it would make for a speedy promotion since I’m the only one to truly bear the Marino name. Someone would have to take my place.
“Are you going to miss any of it?”
“No, being in the mafia comes with strings I’d rather not be attached to. Besides, you’re the only thing that matters to me.”
“I love you,” Paula said placing her lips gently against mine. She pulled me close, wrapping her arms around my neck, deepening the kiss.
A knock on the door caused us to jump apart, suddenly reminding us of why we were here in the first place. “Hey, Ron, come on open up,” said a voice from behind the door.
“Finally.”
I opened the door ready to meet him, only to come face to face with The Don himself. Behind him stood Larenz, whose head was bleeding, and his left eye was starting to turn purple and black.
“Sorry kid got damn pigs were on the payroll,” he said. My father pushed himself into the room and threw Larenz to the floor.
Stepping in front of Paula, I held my hands up in defeat. “I did everything on my own, Pop. Leave them out of it.”
“You know Ronnie if you would have just said you wanted to leave… I would’ve set you up somewhere nice.” He pointed to the room, “all this wasn’t even necessary.”
“Pop, I- “
“Did I say speak?” he asked. “Now,” pointing his chin behind me, “who’s this?”
Paula stepped in front of me, head high, and reached out her hand.
“My name is Paula Cohen,”
“Well, Ms. Cohen, I’m sorry we had to meet this way. I can only imagine what you must think of me.”
“I assume it’s pretty close to what you probably think of me, sir”
“You’ve got yourself a feisty one, huh Ron?”
“What are you going to do with us?” she asked.
“Well for starters, I’d like to get to know the woman my son planned to run off with. What you planned to do with my money.”
Reaching up to grab her lighter she asked, “Do you mind if mind if I smoke first?”
Unexpected Meeting
Donatello’s Lounge was among the most popular late-night spots in the city. The venue was known for its sensational performances, delicious drinks, and even better prices. There was only one problem with the place: everyone who came was a hardcore criminal. From the bouncer at the door to the bartenders. It was common for opposing gangs to engage in fights if they were present, with cops shortly involved after.
Paula checked the crowd around her, searching for the smallest inkling of chaos that could serve as an excuse to end the night prematurely. It was only the dance floor that provided any commotion as guests crooned along with the band’s tunes.
“I’m so happy we could be here tonight!”
Paula glanced across the table.
In front of her, Athena smiled, showing all 32 of her teeth behind a red fiery lipstick. Her latest obsession, Larenz sat on her left side. A soft-spoken thug who had won her heart only but a mere two weeks prior and across from him, sat Ronnie. Despite being handsome, his demeanor was nothing short of douchey.
Paula felt a kick from underneath the table. She looked up to see Athena’s play nice death stare.
She took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Ecstatic,” she said. She pulled a glass of water to her lips. She murmured to herself, “So much for a girl’s night.”
“Athena mentioned you liked good Jazz, but she didn’t say anything about you being a church girl,” Ronnie said. He eyed her up and down, unimpressed by her choice of clothes.
“Really? She didn’t tell you I was the Pastor’s daughter, “Paula said.
“…Seriously? “
“No, asshole. I have a real job. What exactly do you do for a living?” Paula asked. As she crossed her arms across her chest and raised an eyebrow.
“Come on, guys,” Athena said. She looked to Larenz for help, but he sat back, watching the two bicker.
“Feisty one, aren’t you doll face?” Ronnie said. “Could’ve fooled me.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Why not? You’re pretty like a doll.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Does that work for you?” Paula’s eyes rolled to the back of her head.
A smirk spread across Ronnie’s face as he leaned forward. “You tell me, “He replied, reaching out to stroke Paula’s hair with his hand.
Paula jumped back. “Ew, could you not?!” she screamed.
Her water splashed all over Larenz’s suit.
“Oh God, I’m so sorry,” Paula said.
Athena grabbed napkins off the bar as Larenz stood up soaked.
“Come on babe, let’s go try to dry this off in the bathroom,” Athena said.
“Wait, you can’t leave me here with him!”
“It’s okay, he’s going to be on his best behavior from this point on,” Larenz said. He stared down at Ronnie who sat back with a grin on his face.
Paula sighed as they walked towards the back of the club.
“What do you say we try again?”
Ronnie broke her train of thought.
“Let me get you a real drink,” he said.
“I’d rather you didn’t, “Paula said.
Ronnie ignored her and flagged down a bartender. He ordered a beer for himself and “something pretty for the lady.”
For a while, they sat in silence. Their attention focused on the band.
“You think they ditched us?” Paula asked. “It would be just like Athena to do something like that.”
“Nah, I’m sure they’re somewhere around here… but if you hurry and finish your drink, we could follow suit and disappear off into our own little corner.”
“Excuse me?”
“I mean, fighting disguised as flirting is only cute for so long doll face, besides the bar closes soon.” Ronnie stood up, holding his hand out to Paula.
Paula’s eyes narrowed as she rose to her feet. “You are without a doubt the biggest pig I have ever met in my life and just so you know, I wouldn’t touch you with a ten-foot pole.”
She stalked off from the table.
“Hey doll face,” Ronnie called out chuckling from her outburst. “You forgot your bag.”
She turned back around and grabbed her bag and the untouched Cosmo. Tossing the contents into Ronnie’s face. His grin fell.
“I told you t
With her head held high, she made her way towards the exit, daring someone to try her.
Communication Haywire
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Jenna, rolling her eyes.
“I wouldn’t just make something like that up,” Cameron said.
“Yes… you would,” Jenna said. “You told everyone Earth people communicated through apples, remember?”
“That wasn’t a lie! My grandpa told me.”
“Why didn’t it work when we tried it then?” Jenna asked. “I wasted perfectly good fruit rations.”
“We don’t get the same reception in space!” Cameron said as they reached the end of the hall.
“Your room or mine?” Jenna asked.
“Mine,” Cameron said. “We can catch gramps before his nap, and I’ll prove it to you.”
Seconds later they reached the cabin Cameron’s family shared.
“Hey Gramps, you in here?” Cameron asked, pushing the door open.
“Quit all that yelling. Whaddaya want?” he asked.
“Did you really talk on apples, old man?” Jenna asked hastily.
“Sure did,” Gramps said.
“Now do you believe me?” Cameron asked.
“Well, how did you do it?”
Grabbing a metal rectangle from the bottom of his bin, Gramps explained, “you just push this button like this and say “Hey, Siri?”
About the Author
Mariah Marshall is a novelist who writes young adult fiction. She is attending Full Sail University to obtain her degree in Creative Writing. In her free time, she enjoys performing spoken word, Disney movies, and spending time with friends and family. She can be reached at
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariah-marshall-27b13a23b/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067884376647
Mariah Marshall, Apples, Love, and Other Strange Things
Thanks for reading the books on GrayCity.Net
