Design for Love ((Women of Landry's Landing and The Fabrizio men) by Shelli Quinn Page A

recruiter whom I’d met at the University. My sisters begged me not to go because they said they didn’t trust the guy. Nevertheless, I decided to go anyway and when I got to New York, there was no job, he’d lied to get me there. He thought that he had me at a disadvantage, by the time I realized that it had all been a lie. Well, he found out the hard way you do not mess with a Landry woman.” She said with a smirk.
    “ What happened to the little creep? What did you do to him and am I going to need to hire you a lawyer? Alternatively, maybe fly us to another country?” He asked as he gazed at her with an arched brow.
    “ No he’s alive he may never father any children but as least he’s breathing.” She said with a grin.
    “ You didn’t. You crippled the man?” He asked laughing so hard he almost dumped her onto the floor.
    “ You’re damn Skippy. I kicked that cream-puff in the jewels so hard he had to have surgery to find them and when they did find them. They had to use forceps to pull them out. And just to make sure he didn’t try the same crap on some other young girl. I broke a couple of his ribs.” She said with a grin on her face.
    “ Damn dolcezza, you are definitely a true Landry woman.” He said grinning with pride. “So finish telling me about meeting Toni.”
    “ Oh so after the ambulance hauled him off, and after I gave the police my side of the story, I went to rent a room, and the next day set out to look for a job. I ended up getting a singing gig at a dinner club. I work there for almost a year before get hired as a buyer at the department store. Anyway, I still sang at the club a couple of nights a week and one night after work. I was headed back to my loft when I saw this drunk man beating the crap out of this young girl. I yelled at him to stop, but he just started cussing at me, so I called the cops. Before I even disconnected the call he stalked towards me attempting to intimidate me.” She said with a faraway look in her eyes.
    “ Let me guess that was a mistake on his part?” Gabe asked with curiosity.
    “ You got that right, that stupid son of a…well you know. He reached out and grabbed my arm, and I broke his wrist right before I chopped him in the throat for having such a filthy mouth. While, he was clutching his throat, I went to make sure that the girl was alright. I tilted her face up and could not believe what he’d done to that poor girl. Her face was a swollen, bruised and blood mess.” He didn’t even think she realized that tears had begun to fall from her eyes as she continued to tell the story.
    “ That low-life had broken her arm and several of her ribs she had bruises on her back and torso. He’d even pulled chunks of her hair out. Well, as I was squatting to check and see how bad, the damage was to Toni. He pushed me to the ground with his foot. That was another mistake and very unfortunate for him, because when I hit the floor, I took him down with me. It gave me great joy to whip his ass using the wedge heels. I was wearing. I kicked him right in the jaw, and shattered it. By the time the police got there, he needed paramedics more than she did.” London said as tears continued to roll down her cheeks.
    Gabe pulled her closer as he put both his arms around her to hold her tight and kissed her gently on the temple. “You are quite a woman, and you make me so proud to be your man. Neither you nor Toni ever has to worry about being hurt by anyone again. I promise to protect you both with all that I have and all that I am.”
    “ When you say that it makes me feel like never need to worry again, but as long as her stepfather is breathing, he will continue to come after us. And I don’t want to put any of you in danger.” She said wiping her tears away.
    “ Are you kidding me, hello have you missed all the danger and action that has accrued around this place, since we got here?” Gabe asked. “Being here at Landry’s Landing Inn has made us feel