by Sandra Raine
The four us scampered around the bedroom looking for our clothes and whatnot. I hurriedly slipped back into my dress and heels and took a seat at the edge of the bed near Patrick's still sleeping body. The other girls, too, slipped back into their dresses and shoes, each taking a seat around the bed except for Tia who stood at the dresser pretending to gaze at herself in the mirror even long after Dominic and Justin walked into the room.
I quickly stole a glance in Dominic's direction and my heart suddenly skipped a beat when I found that he was already looking at me with those suspicious eyes of his. I immediately looked away.
"What up, Tia?" Justin said as if she were an old friend he hadn't seen in a very long time. Tia shrugged her shoulders. And through the dresser's mirror I caught Tia's eyes somewhat sizing Justin up which had me thinking if there was something actually going on between them? I figured I would ask her about it the next time we met.
"Is he done?" Justin asked Tia as he gazed at Patrick's body through the mirror.
"Spent, more like," she muttered. Justin nodded at Dominic before he crossed to Tia. He then eased her body gently away from the dresser. He even took a moment to cop-a-feel on her well rounded ass.
Meanwhile as Justin tended to Tia and the dresser, Dominic stepped into Chloe and me. He picked up Chloe's chin and studied her delicate features - well more like - inspected her delicate features, making sure Patrick hadn't roughed her up. Satisfied, he then shifted his attention to me and did the same only his expression altered from satisfied to suspicious the moment he gazed into my eyes and caught something which automatically disturbed him; I could read it in his expression clear as day. And as sure as I was about Dominic questioning the blistering red around my baby brown irises, he instead ran a thumb beneath one of my eyes and felt the faint of coarse skin, meaning, he knew I had been crying..
"Monies good, cuz." Justin said to Dominic who nodded then snapped his fingers at us, letting us know it was time to go.
There was a dark colored suburban idling out on the driveway with Josh casually leaned up against the Bentley. He was dragging on a cigarette while his eyes played touch and go with the quiet neighborhood all around us. I took a deep breath of Arizona's midnight heat - the 100+ degree weather scorched my nostrils and burned my skin despite the absence of the sun. Not even the brilliance of the stars nor the cool moon looming high above was enough to transcend the heat into a chill; how I missed winters.
Chloe, Tia and Bai were ushered into the awaiting Suburban while Dominic ushered me into the Bentley. A tear then grazed my eye after Dominic closed the back passenger's door 'cause I was missing the girls already.
There was silence as Dominic drove the Bentley back to Paradise Valley. The radio was on but it was low. Some R & B song was playing but I was having a hard time trying to decipher who the artist was considering my mind was still back in Patrick's bedroom with Chloe, Tia and Bai. And while the conversation was informative, and at times, intense, I still ached to hear more. I mean, I discovered more about my pimps within a matter of a few minutes than the year I had spent being their slave. I still couldn't believe that Tanya was a prostitute 'cause she hid it so well. I also couldn't believe that Dominic was twenty-three and not eighteen, and that Justin and Josh were once hustlers. And lastly, Bob and Helena Ray playing pimps to their own children while living it up in that big and ultra-expensive and deceitful lifestyle of theirs. . .It was fucking pathetic!
Then my mind settled on Doug - I was still having a hard time trying to believe that he could possibly be a pimp, or how he was even influenced into the lifestyle if it were true? I mean, it didn't make any sense to me. I mean, it wasn't like Doug was in desperate need of money. . .our parents were just as equally wealthy as the Ray's. And plus he just didn't fit the profile of a pimp, I mean, he was too clean, "Mr. Preppy" who didn't get his hands dirty for nothing. But after gaining insight on Dominic, Tanya, the Rays' and Justin and Josh, it didn't take me long to come to the startling conclusion that you didn't have to be a thug, a gangster, a crime boss to be a pimp as they were all testimony to that very fact.
I gazed out the passenger's window feeling jumpy, anxious, fearful toward the idea of confronting Doug who was coming back home in a couple of days so I knew phoning him with a confrontation would be out of the question. I mean, and suddenly, I began to feel desperate, compelled to weed out the possible speculation that Doug may or may not be this "Alan" Chloe and the girls were referring to. But because of the coincidences possessing fact over fiction I began to suspect otherwise, meaning, there could very well possibly be truth, and I began to wonder on how exactly I was going to handle it? I also began to fret on how I was going to break the news to our parents? I mean, and in all fairness, somebody had to pay for my suffering especially if this was a game between Doug and the Rays'. What Doug needed to remember was that our father was just as powerful as Bob Ray. And Bob Ray may have been a Lawyer but our father was a businessman, and equal to that of a spineless snake.
I could feel my blood starting to boil. And the intensity of my anger was building fast by the passing second. I inhaled, and exhaled. . .then I closed my eyes to envision Doug standing before me: I'm yelling at him. I'm cussing at him. My eyes are drenched in heavy tears of anguish, and immense pain but most importantly of all, betrayal. I tell him, 'So this is what you and Dominic do, huh. . .pimp out one another's sisters? No wonder you can afford Harvard!' And then I could see our father pointing his 9 mil at Doug's head. My father's hand is trembling. His eyes are exceptionally wide and beyond enraged for the damage he inflicted upon me while he, too, brutally confronts Doug with words sharp enough to cut through. Then. . .he pulls the trigger, and I rejoice in Doug's blood, particularly when I take a knife to his chest and cut out his still beating heart - a trophy for stealing mine.
"What are you thinking about?" Dominic demanded suddenly, and from out of nowhere, not only catching me off guard but Justin and Josh as well 'cause they both glanced at Dominic perplexed before they glanced at me guardedly.
I shot Dominic a hard and challenging stare and retorted, "About Doug." And I must've caught Dominic off guard as well 'cause he stirred in his seat for a moment before recomposing himself calm enough to hold my gaze through the rearview mirror.
"What about Doug?" Dominic then scrutinized, holding my gaze coolly and collectively even though he knew and I knew shit was about to hit the fan.
"About why he's a pimp."
Dominic suddenly swerved the Bentley into the right lane, nearly hitting another car. It honked and swerved around to the left to avoid hitting us.
"Jesus, fuck, Dom!" Justin bitched from the front seat as his body literally bounced off the door panel. Dominic ignored Justin and swerved the Bentley around the blinding corner of an oncoming neighborhood. He then slammed on the Bentley's brakes, cut the engine, and stormed out of the car. And normally about this time, if this were another time, I would have definitely been cowering in my seat. But since I was feeling a bit defiant, I kept my calm and kept to my seat.
Dominic flung my door open with such a temperamental force I actually thought I heard the door crack. He then grabbed my arm and yanked me out of the car; slamming the door before slamming me up against it. he then shouted in my face
"Is that supposed to mean something to me, Jane?!" Dominic shouted in my face and through an expression that was both livid and affronted.
"I don't know, Dominic, why don't you tell me?" I challenged still keeping to my defenses.
"I told you they talked," Justin then ostracized Dominic suddenly, and in a tone that literally screamed 'I told you so!'
"No. I believe you told Mr. Church that!" I then had the audacity to interject. And as with Dominic, Justin, too, stormed out of the car, stepping to Dominic and me. I quickly sidestepped Justin to avoid him hitting me but Dominic already had a firm hold on my arm. I glanced up unnervingly at Dominic, and beneath a raised fist. And while I should have flinched from his threatening to hit me
, I didn't. I was still holding my defenses, and quite honorably.
"I'm not afraid of you anymore," I finally denounced the Devil. "And it doesn't matter how many times you beat me, how many times you rape me, or how many times you point your fucking gun at my head, I will no longer give you the satisfaction of breaking me down." And as sure as I was about Dominic beating me to an absolute death, he instead did something I would have never imagined, not even in my most beseeching of prayers - he dropped his fist and stepped away from me.
"Hold on a fucking minute, Dom!" Justin interjected appallingly, stepping into Dominic gallantly. "You just gonna let this bitch get away with talking shit like that?" he then reprimanded in an obvious state of disappointment.
Dominic ignored Justin, and what seemed like an eternity was only for a minute 'cause all his attention was focused on me. And I could clearly see Dominic thinking, plotting, and I knew it wasn't good. Meanwhile, Justin continued to stand there in front of Dominic. And I could clearly see that he was having a very hard time trying to contain his rage against me 'cause his jaw protruded profusely with his fists clenching hard as if he were about to enter a ring with his worst enemy.
"What's the point, cuz," Dominic then strained after throwing in the towel as if giving up total control of me. "It's too late." he then stated matter-of-factly. He stepped around Justin and strolled around the Bentley and slid back into the driver's seat, closing the door gently behind him. Justin nodded like he already knew what Dominic's intent was with me only further down the road. He, too, slid back into his seat and shut the door quietly. Not exactly quite sure of what to do next since I was just left standing there, I opened my side of the door to get back into the Bentley, but something held me back, and I assumed it must've been my will. So instead of stepping back into the Bentley, I instead stepped away and held my pride. Neither then cared to say another word to me. . .not even Josh who leaned across my empty seat and shut my door.
Chapter 49
I had my chance to escape the minute the Bentley sped off. But in all honesty I could not move. For some strange and unexplained reason I dared not move 'cause I wasn't sure if this was a test, or even if any of this was for real?
I scrunched my forehead and stared down at my watch: it was passed 1:07 in the morning, and my first day at school was starting in less than nine hours. I mean, I just couldn't pick up my cell and call my parents, they'd freak out if they knew I was out. And secondly, my father would surely blow a gasket if he saw the way I was dressed, too. I sighed out nervously especially when I glanced my surroundings and found nothing was familiar to me. I knew Paradise Valley was somewhere nearby. The last street sign I remembered seeing was a blur 'cause my mind was focused on Doug. I quickly gathered up my emotions which included anxiety and fear, and took a deep breath, and took a step in the direction of the main street. I noticed there was a bus stop nearby. I walked over to it and took a seat on the bench. The air was still, or maybe it was just my blood still boiling with anger; anger because Doug had involuntarily hurt me, or anger because Dominic had abandoned me?
A few anxious beads of sweat trickled down the back of my neck as I watched a few cars zoom past me, and I felt relieved when not one stopped to offer help. I knew I must've stuck out like a sore thumb as it was the middle of the night, and I was a girl sitting in a party dress and high heels, alone and unescorted on a bench beneath a dimly lit bus stop. I was actually tempted on calling a Taxi but I had no direct numbers. I re-glanced my surroundings hoping that my eyes might have missed spotting a plaza nearby but I found none just trees, shrubs, and a winding road in both directions. Soon a minute had passed. Then another. And another. And before I knew it, a half-hour had gone by.
I leaned further back in my seat and tried to think happy thoughts but I was still enraged with Doug and Dominic and I couldn't think straight. My thoughts kept shifting between Doug and Dominic; Dominic and Doug. And the fact that Dominic made no attempt to deny my brother's involvement with him led me to believe what Chloe, Tia and Bai had told me held truth. I couldn't believe that my own brother was a fucking pimp; that he was caught up in a prostitution ring, and me, his sister, his blood, a victim to that ring.
My eyes were slowly starting to grow heavy with both sorrow and shame. And not so much for myself, but for my parents, particularly my father who worked so hard to give us the things we had, and Doug just went up and dragged our good name through the fucking dirt with his dirty little secret; and I just couldn't bear to think about it any longer. Instead I bowed my head and stared down at both my hands. . .hands that did sickly things with men. Then I stared down at my bare legs. . . legs that had spread wide and open for the perversions of men. I meant to look up and stare across the street in the direction of the other bus stop and lose my thoughts there but a strange car had unexpectedly parked itself in front of me, perhaps while I was lost in thought.
The car was a novel model Sedan. The color appeared to be bronze. The passenger window slowly rolled down after a minute, and two guys in their late twenties, one black, the other white were staring at me curiously while a hint of interest glistened in their eyes. The nerves in my stomach pinched, particularly when the black guy spoke.
"You lookin' for a ride, cutie?" He sounded drunk 'cause his words had slurred a little.
I shook my head and remained seated. But then my heart kicked up a beat when the white guy teased.
"We ain't gonna hurt you, babe. C'mon," he said prying his door open. "It's just a harmless ride, hon."
'Babe' and 'Cutie' and 'Hon". . .was I supposed to be fucking flattered? But soon I realized with time quickly passing and no Taxi's as of yet, these two guys could possibly be my only answer for a ride home. I took a deep breath and rose to my feet. Both the guys immediately straightened up in their seats, exchanging surprised looks at one another. I stepped toward the open door and to my unexpected surprise, Dominic pulled up behind the Sedan. I quickly noticed he was alone 'cause his shadow was the only shadow lingering in the Bentley.
Even I had to admit that I was actually relieved to be rescued from these two guys, but then at the same time I was also very frightened to see Dominic. For a brief moment I was stumped on which route to take straight to Hell between the Bentley and the Sedan?.
Dominic wasted no time stepping out of the Bentley. Both guys were looking at him through their driver and passenger mirrors. Dominic then hooked one hand around my left arm and gently eased me back from the Sedan. Once I was out of reach, he then peered fearlessly into the Sedan and glowered at both guys.
"What?" The white guy mused nervously. "She your girl or what?"
"Or what?" Dominic toyed, inquisitively.
"Look, man, we were just offering her a ride." the black guy then remarked offensively.
"Was I fucking talking to you. . .man?" Dominic snapped.
"Hey. . .hey, you fuckin' asshole - " the black guy began to interject but only found himself, along with his friend, suddenly tensing up in their seats 'cause they were no longer looking at Dominic but looking through the barrel of Dominic's gun.
"Now look here, 'you fucking asshole'," Dominic then retorted smug, cocking back the hammer on his gun. "If I were you I'd move the fuck on."
"Ah, dude, are you fuckin' serious?" the white guy then had the nerve to argue but very quickly recanted his argument when Dominic shifted the gun toward his mouth. The white guy then wasted no time slamming the door shut while the black guy slammed the pedal to the metal and the two sped off.
"Since when did you grow a conscience?" I scoffed at Dominic, and with minimal flattery.
"I've always had a conscience, Jane. . .but in my profession," and he used the term "profession" loosely, "you're not allowed to have one."
"Is that some sort of confession? Am I supposed to feel bad. . .for you?"
"Either you're fucking stupid, or you're just asking for it."
"Well what did you expect, Dominic? I mean, you left me in the middle of fucking nowher
e!" Dominic ignored me and shoved his gun down the front of his jeans. He grabbed a stern hold of my arm and led me back to the Bentley. When the door slammed shut however, I realized that somewhere within the rest of the night I was going to regret not making my escape when I had the chance to. I mean, if Dominic hadn't showed up, I would've been long gone with or without the help of the Sedan. As Dominic slid back into the driver's seat I couldn't help but to tense up as it occurred to me that there was probably a great chance he was going to lean across the seat and belt me one for being "stupid" and for disrespecting him in front of Justin and Josh, but he never does. Instead, he threw the gear into drive and we drove off, and I was somewhat relieved.
It usually took about fifteen to twenty minutes or so to get back to our neck of the woods but this time it seemed like it was taking Dominic forever just to get us home. He was driving like Ms. Daisy. And it was driving me freaking mad! I mean, I actually contemplated kicking Dominic out of the driver's seat so I could take control but I just kept my attention to the winding street.
In the past I would occasionally catch Dominic stealing a glimpse of me from the corner of my eye. I sensed he did it to make sure that I hadn't disappeared from my seat like opening the car door and jumping out, or tossing myself out the open window. . .But tonight there was none of that. Dominic was behaving strangely; he appeared reserved, slightly edgy, moody, and the consistence of his silence was starting to unnerve me, not that it ever did before, but tonight there was just something different about him, and I couldn't put a finger nor a thought to it.
Dominic veered the Bentley onto my neighborhood street. This time he drove much slower, almost cautiously. And when he decided to finally park the Bentley, he ended up parking it twenty feet from my driveway. I shot Dominic a confused and slightly perturbed look 'cause he never parked so close to my home when dropping me off after a night of "work".
