The novel ‘A Woman between Two Men’, with an Albanian-American Theme, is authored by Carrie Hooper and Skifter Këllici

“One morning, two years ago, James came into my office and sat right where you’re sitting. He looked troubled and intoxicated, but not from alcohol. He was in a bind and asked me to bail him out. He had lost a lot of money playing poker and had borrowed money from a gamester on the condition he would pay it back later with interest. But he had gambled away that money, too. After awhile, the gamester, a swindler through and through, asked for his money, but how was poor James supposed to pay him back? With wild pears or whisky?”

Kreshnik felt drained.

“With tears in his eyes, he begged me to help him or that gamester would send someone to kill him. I told him there was nothing I could do. But James persisted. So I agreed to give him the money so he could pay back the gamester on the condition you would work for me as a drug trafficker and would not find out that I was responsible for this situation. James was stunned. He didn’t want things to end that way, but since he had no choice, he agreed.”

“But how is he paying off his debt?” whispered Kreshnik.

“He gives me part of your payment for running drugs. Did you know that?”

“Not until now,” said Kreshnik, exhausted. James never told me the name of the benefactor who loaned him the money, and I never pursued the matter. Forgive me for saying this, but now I know the truth. I started working in this dirty business to rescue my adoptive father, James, from the hands of a loan shark.”

Kreshnik hung his head, his mind in a whirl. He recalled that whenever the subject of Max Cooper came up, James became listless and curled up into a ball. He wanted to forget about him. Therefore, he sought to change the subject. Now Kreshnik knew why.

Max looked at him triumphantly, not seeming to care that Kreshnik had called his work dirty. The time had been right to tell him this story.

“I’m sorry about the things I told you,” said Max, feigning sorrow. “But that’s why, every time you wanted to quit, I said no.”

“How much does James owe now?” asked Kreshnik.

In order to conceal his anger and hatred, he did not look at Max. After hearing his story, he realized he was worse than he had imagined.

“What does it matter?” asked Max. “Do a few more runs and then we’ll decide how to proceed.”

“You’re right,” said Kreshnik in resignation.

“Just don’t tell James our secret. Let things happen as they happen.”

Kreshnik knew his evil boss had and would continue to deceive him. Therefore, he rose from his chair and got ready to leave.

“Wait a minute,” said Max. “I told you it would be good for you to shave and cut your hair. You look handsome. You can’t help but make a good impression on the police wherever you go.”

Then, he squinted, recalling Dolores’ suspicions, and mocked him. “Or is there another reason you improved your appearance?”

“What would that be?” asked Kreshnik. He had not expected that question.

“To capture the heart of a woman who is not interested in you. You’ve become a Rudolph Valentino. I’m sure you’ve heard of that great actor. They say thousands of women went to his funeral. Some of them cried, swooned, and practically lost their minds. Perhaps someone like that is making you crazy.”

“No, Boss. I swear I’m not and will never lose my mind over a woman.”

“Good for you! Work comes first, then women. As you know, they even lure the devil.”

Max looked at his watch.

“You may go now. In a little while, I have a meeting with some of my workers.”

Kreshnik left Max’s office and descended the staircase. He had almost reached the bottom when his cell phone rang. It was James. He grew somber, and his eyes flashed.

“Did you make it?” asked James. He sounded worried.

“Not only did I make it. I finished my work,” said Kreshnik. He tried to sound calm so James would not suspect anything.

“So soon?”

“Something unexpected happened.”

Kreshnik moved to the corner of the step.

“What matters is I’ll be home for a while. We’ll talk about the rest when I see you.”

“Thank God!”

Kreshnik walked through the large room with its high ceiling, filled with shelves, tables, and chairs. Two workers were loading a heavy chair into a truck when he heard a woman’s voice behind him. He suspected who it was, but there was nothing he could do. He turned his head, and from an open office door, he saw Dolores, dressed in a white, checkered skirt which matched her emerald face and dark hair. It appeared she had waited for him to come out of Max’s office.

“It looks like you and your boss made a first-rate business deal. Have you become like his son-in-law?” she asked, giving him a flirtatious look.

“No,” answered Kreshnik. “In fact, I’m not working at all today.”

“Still, with that outfit, which I’ve never seen before, with your hair cut, and your mustache trimmed, …”

Dolores kept her eyes on Kreshnik as she spoke. They sparkled shamelessly as they took him in from head to toe and focused on his changed appearance.

“Why are you just standing there like a statue?” she pleaded. “Come in. I won’t grab you like I did that afternoon at the club.”

“You were practically drunk.”

Kreshnik kept his voice down.

“Don’t forget, Max Cooper is my boss who helps me put bread on the table. He is also your lover.”

“Enough of your moralizing.”

Dolores’ seductive eyes penetrated Kreshnik.

“I have a big heart. There’s room for you.”

“Please, Dolores. If Max had seen you rush at me at the club, he would have thrown me out on the street.”

“I could call Max right now. I could go in his office and tell him you are harassing me. Then, you would suffer the consequences.”

“No. As awful as you are, you wouldn’t have the heart to do that.”

“I won’t because I want to be with you.”

“I can’t, Dolores.”

Her lips tightened and her eyes grew foggy.

“Now I understand. It’s not fear that’s holding you back. It’s something else.”

She drilled him with her devilish eyes.

“What else?” asked Kreshnik.

“You have fallen madly in love, I can tell. All women, once they realize a man is not interested in them, try to find out why.”

“You’re not making any discoveries.”

“The point is, you’re not interested in me, and she’s not interested in you. We are both failures who can find comfort in each other’s arms. One night together will suffice. Later, we can spend other nights together wherever you wish. Max will never find out. I will take you to Paradise, my dear failure.”

Dolores closed the door, as if preparing to fulfill her ardent desire.

“How do you know we are failures?” asked Kreshnik.

“Lately, you’ve been tired and distressed like someone unlucky in love. You’re trying to gain it. You’ve changed your appearance in the hope she will find you more attractive, but you forget she knows you through and through. Your new look will disgust her. That happened to me with a guy who decked himself out, and it will happen to you. To be honest with you, you look like a sick puppy.”

Dolores said these last words with evil intent for in fact, Kreshnik’s new clothes attracted her even more to him. But she had accomplished her mission. His resolve weakened.

“Did I get it right, Nik?” asked Dolores. She came so close to him that he could feel her rapid breathing, and her warm hand caressed his.

“Good-bye, Dolores,” said Kreshnik, and quickly left the office. He felt as if he had awakened from a harrowing dream. He heard her muffled voice behind him warn, “You’ll regret this.”

From the half-open door, Dolores’ flaming eyes followed him until he disappeared among the buyers who entered the large main room.

“Who is the woman who has enslaved him to such a degree that he wants nothing to do with me?” Dolores asked herself. “I attract men as handsome as this sinner, Nik. I will find her and will send one of my admirers after her right now!”

Her face darkened as she went to her desk, picked up her cell phone, and with trembling fingers, dialed a number.

“Hello, Pedro,” she said. “He’s coming out. Follow him.”

Mary had looked worried when she and Wilma had parted. Now, she was driving to the hospital. She looked at her watch. It was five to two. She had an hour before she had to be at work. She shook her head and screwed up her face. She had lied when she had told Wilma she was going to the hospital early to check on a sick patient. A nurse who worked the first shift would do that.

Mary was anxious. But why? Because of Wilma’s parting, condemnatory words: “Do you intend to find him and help him?” That was exactly what Mary was trying to do. But how would she do it? Perhaps she would see him along the road and would stop to pick him up. But she had no idea where she would take him. She just wanted to save him from his pursuers, especially from Ralph Kallagan.