The Call

by Kathi Goldwyn

  “Okay, TABOO, is an underground card room. I’m a dealer for...” I say and take a long pause and a deep breath. I know this could get messy. Maybe he could help me? “...for the Cribs. Well, for Norris.” I finally whisper the name that haunts my days and nights. I can hear the oomph of air Jack blows out. I think it takes him by surprise. I look at him with a raise of my eyebrow. I’m just waiting to hear something, anything.

  “What the fuck!” he finally whisper-yells. “Why, Alex? Why? I don’t get it.”

  “They have me by the proverbial balls. When I was fifteen, I took something I thought was mine to take. But Norris called it stealing, and I’ve been forced to work for them ever since.” I try to explain as best as I can. I look up through my eyelashes, hoping he understands. “I mean, I did steal it. I stole a bag of money I found on the street.” I go on to tell him the entire story about the day I snatched that money off the street.

  * * *

  “Fuck, I say we go to the police,” Jack says, sounding stupid and oh so innocent. Poor boy doesn’t get it, does he? He doesn't realize what position that would put me in. I know I’d be dead. I know the gang owns a bunch of the police anyway. I’d be dead, and so would Jack.

  * * *

  Suddenly, I can’t help myself. I start laughing. “Oh Jack, you can’t do that. Never get the police involved. Don’t you know that, silly?”

  * * *

  “Okay, then when will they let you off the hook? When will your debt be settled?” Jack’s so gentle with me. His hands softly brush my face. If only it was so easy.

  “I don’t know. I started working for them when I was sixteen years old. It’s been almost ten years now.” Oh my god, I can’t believe it’s been so long. I need a way out. “I don’t think that asshole Norris will ever let me go.”

  “This isn’t over, baby. We have to figure this shit out,” Jack says bitterly.

  Yeah, I can’t agree more, but I just nod my head and kiss him madly, darkly, with all of me.

  I want my life whole again. Because Jack is so fucking sweet. Because he’ll never get me out of this mess, but I think he’s wonderful to want to try. And suddenly I want to try too.

  I want to fuck up Norris. Now that Jack wants in on my problem, maybe together we can go after him. I’d do just about anything to destroy his life like he destroyed mine.

  It’s time to take my life back. I’m a strong girl!

  It’s time to fuck some shit up.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Jack

  This is undeniably a huge problem, Shit! I don’t know a lot about how these gangs work, but the Cribs own this town. Going up against the notorious OG Cribs could fucking get us both killed. I remember the gang wars of the 80’s, when the Cribs and the Bloodlusts took to the streets of San Francisco. I remember the dude who approached me to join the Cribs back when I was out on the streets. I never gave it much thought. I was too busy surviving. Now I’m grateful they never got a hold of my ass and turned me into a gangbanger. Thank god I was never a part of their bloody war.

  I feel stumped. Okay, more than that. I feel stupid in all the ways. Fuck, how am I supposed to help Alex when I don’t understand Gang Code? It’s a total mystery to me. I understand why young kids get lured into joining, though. They feel unloved at home and are looking for a family to embrace them. They need support that I hope to give them through Derek's Kids. Before they join and can’t get out.

  “You can’t work for them the rest of your life. We have to figure this fucked-up shit out, right?” I don’t have a lot of hope to offer Alex at this moment. I know I’m naïve and need my brother’s help to understand what Alex is dealing with. Is the gang as powerful as they sound? Is ‘blood in, blood out’ for real? Fuck! I need to talk to Jeremy before I have a nervous breakdown.

  “Well, I don’t want you to be involved, you see that right? But I’m trapped in this nightmare. I do know one thing; I can’t just say I quit.” Alex starts crying. My heart splits wide open. I brush the hair from her face. “There’s no way out,” she adds. “Especially away from that asshole Norris. I heard on the streets that death is the only way out.”

  I fold her gently into my arms and pull her tight up against me. “You’re not alone, baby.” I wonder about this. She’s not a member; she never joined the gang. Maybe there’s some wiggle room there. One more thing to add to my list of things to research.

  Who the hell is Norris? At least I have a name. I need to look into this asshole.

  My god, I can’t imagine what Alex has been going through. This is the stuff novels are written about. Except it’s really happening to someone I care deeply about. And then it dawns on me how much I really do care for her. I’ve been lying to myself all along. I’m not fuck buddy material, and I know I’m falling for her. No wonder she’s been so secretive. I don’t want to make things worse, and I don’t want to let her down.

  I feel teardrops drip down my shoulder. Fuck, this is just batshit crazy. “It’s going to be okay. Look at me.” Alex pulls back and looks me in the eyes. I see a whole lot of fear there that I never saw before.

  She takes a deep breath in and blows it out slowly. “I just don’t want you to get into something here. I don’t want you to get hurt—or worse, dead,” Alex whispers. I can tell she’s really scared for me. I try like hell to calm her down.

  “Look, baby, I’m going to see what I can find out about this Norris dude. Then we can figure out a way to get you out for good. Trust me?” I gently wipe her tears with my thumbs. She sighs into my hands, and I can see she’s starting to believe me. Her tense shoulders sag, and she rolls over and lays her head on my shoulder.

  “Okay, I’m going to believe we can figure this crap out. I just want to protect you,” Alex whimpers. I’m committed to helping her. Something needs to be done to free her from this mess. I have no clue what that is, but I hope to figure it out. I really don’t want Alex to live in fear like this anymore. Fuck! I really am in over my head. My feelings for Alex have grown, and the need to protect her pounds inside my heart.

  “It’s going to take me some time. Take a deep breath, baby. Believe and receive.” We both laugh. I’m goofing around, being silly right now. I’m trying to lighten our mood.

  Alex has become way more important than I ever thought possible. She’s changed everything for me. My ‘fuck buddy’ has turned into something more. I just hope she doesn’t run from me.

  “So, first we do the research. Try to find out anything you can.” Alex nods into my shoulder. “And don’t give up hope. Can you do that?” I pray she can hang on for a while longer. “I need time to learn more.” I try to reassure her that we are in this together, like a team.

  I’ve met a lot of people over the years. Maybe I know someone who can help us. I know the District Attorney of this city. I met him when I was working at the bank. I can only imagine the cache of information he might have in his possession.

  There are other people, like the DEA officer I met just last month. They came into the bank for a loan. Still, it was an introduction that might help me get a meeting with him. All I know is I need to educate myself on Gang Code and then figure out who I know that can help us. This Norris dude…I feel he’s the key. I will figure this out.

  “Who do you know over there? I need a list of names you deal with. Can you do that for me?” I’m going to investigate every single person she comes into contact over there. It feels like it all changes today. “Alex?” She looks longingly at me, like I might hold the answers in my palm already.

  “Yeah, Jack?”

  I need to give her something. “We can do this. Together we can do this, like a team. Believe me?” Alex nods. “You mean a lot to me, baby.” There, I fucking said it. I finally confess my deep feelings for her. I cringe, holding myself back from asking her how she feels; of course, I’m on pins and needles with the need to know. I pray I mean as much to her.

  “Come here.” I kiss her feverishly. I slide my hands over her n
aked body. She feels so good pressed against me. I grab her ass and pull her sharply to me and grind on her with my hard-on.

  “I want to suck your cock.” Alex takes my cock in her hand and starts jerking me off. Her hands feel like magic, and when she slips the head of my cock in her mouth and sucks hard, I’m putty in her hands. I’m completely blissed out as she bobs her head up and down. I gently place my hand on her head.

  I feel myself getting close to release and pull off her mouth. “I wanna fuck you, baby. Lie back so I can pound your hot cunt.” Alex rolls over on her back and drags me over her luscious body. She looks into my eyes again and says “Jack” on a whisper.

  It’s all I need to release my passion for her. I thrust inside her and pummel her with my hard dick. I need to plunge deep and am lost to the feeling of Alex.

  Alex screams “ARGH!” and falls back on the mattress after her explosive orgasm. Her sweaty face looks so sweet.

  “We’ll figure this shit out, I promise.” Why the fuck I promise anything is beyond me, but I just don’t want her to freak out. There I go again, feeling protective of her.

  I don’t know what I’m facing, but I want to keep her safe. As I swipe the stray hairs off her face, I whisper, “I’m here. You aren’t alone anymore.” I know I said it before, but I really want her to know that feeling as a team, that we’re stronger together. “We’re a team, baby,” I whisper in her ear

  “You mean a lot to me too, Jack.” I lose myself in the moment. We have become more.

  My heart speeds up and I say, “You mean so much to me.”

  In the back of my mind, as I hold my beauty, I’m thinking through what she told me. I need to learn so much more about these fucking gangs. I realize my first move will be to ask Jeremy what I’m up against, what we are up against. This is his area of expertise, and I hope he can help me understand all this crap, and how to get Alex out for good. And if there’s even a pathway to freedom.

  Holy shit, I’m worried for her safety. “I’m going to help you. I swear I’m going to figure it out.” Alex gives me a thin smile. She doesn’t seem convinced. And maybe I can’t, but I really want to. I’d do just about anything to keep her safe in my arms.

  “I’m glad you’re on my side,” Alex whimpers.

  “Always, baby.” I cuddle her up close to me and send up a prayer that I can keep her safe.

  I need to figure this out so she can have her life back. Her whole life back.

  After that, Alex falls asleep. I can’t sleep, though. My thoughts are racing. What the hell? What the fuck did I just sign up for? I don’t know enough about these gangs, but I have heard many stories for sure. They’re dark, tragic stories, and I know I should be terrified. But I don't want fear to stop me from helping my girl.

  Holy hell, I just called Alex ‘my girl,’ and it feels right. Perfect, in fact. I really am in over my head with her, but as I listen to her softly snore, I can’t help myself. I know I’d go to the ends of the earth to keep her safe. There are a lot of things I need to do before we do anything. I know first off we need a plan.

  I just want to save her from all the stuff she’s been forced into all these years. I think she’s paid her dues for whatever she actually did. I need her to tell me all of it now. If I’m going to have a chance in hell of helping her, I need to know everything.

  I do know one thing.

  I’m going to help set her free.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Jack

  After a sleepless night, I quietly rise to the new day. I have so much shit to do today I might as well get myself going. I throw on my clothes and slip out of Alex’s house. I leave a note for her. See you later, baby. Thanks for the great night xxoo.

  I grab the handle of my car door and jump in. I ask myself again what the fuck I just got myself into. I need to figure this out. I think I might be able to find information in the old newspaper articles; they can be a wealth of knowledge. Maybe Jeremy has all that shit.

  I need to find someone with an in. Just the name “the Cribs” infers some really bad things. Of the two gangs, I believe this is the one that won the gangland wars back in the late 80’s. I remember they were fighting over neighborhoods. If you wanted in to the gang, it was a fight with fists and blood.

  They have a whole network of kids doing their dirty work. The street rats sell their drugs and run the delivery of large volumes. The other gang, the Bloodlusts…well, they won a few hard-fought corners, but the Cribs came out on top with a shit ton more property they called their ‘territory.’

  I go home and shower, throw some clean clothes on, and get started on the new day. I hope I can make a solid plan to move forward. There's research to do, and Jeremy to talk things through with. I have a lot to learn.

  When I hop in my Camero, I notice my windows are sparkly clean all the way around the car again. I guess that dude Tom came back. I hope he’s safe these nights. I hope he has a warm place to stay. I know from experience that sometimes a room is the only place to feel safe. It’s a chance to sleep and get clean; it can be everything.

  I go home and park the car. I slip into my apartment on the 3rd floor and sit down on my couch, waiting for my coffee to brew. I have a lot to think about, and I have to get to work. I have so much to do at work today. I really need to find Tomas, and I have a couple more appointments.

  After I get ready, I drive to work. My cell phone rings, and I’m relieved to see Jeremy is calling. I hit the button on my steering wheel and say, “Hey Jer, just the man I was hoping to hear from. Can we get together later, brother?” I need him to be free; I pray he has time tonight.

  “Sure, I can come over later. I’ll drop by after work. See ya then.” And he’s gone. I can hardly wait to talk to him, but right now I need to focus on my job.

  When I get to my office, I go inside after saying hi to my assistant. She comes into my office as I’m getting settled behind my desk.

  “Mr. Winton, How are you sir?” she says. She’s a pretty little thing. Maybe in her early twenties, Marge has dark curly hair tied up in a pony. She’s a curvy girl with intelligent eyes. She’s been great to work with, and she’s very respectful.

  “Marge, please call me Jack, okay?” I give her a warm smile.

  “Yes, S...ooops, sorry, Jack. It's a habit, but I’ll try to break it.” She giggles, and I think about how sad it is to have her embarrassed like this.

  “No worries. I have a big day. Any calls?” I ask.

  “Yes, you got a call from a…” She looks down at her pad of paper and looks up “Tomas.” Thank goodness, Tomas finally called. I hope I can hook up with him later.

  “He said he would call you back after school. But he said he’d like to stop by to meet you.” Thank goodness.

  “Marge, hmm do you know anything about the Cribs?” Hey, I thought to myself. Why not ask? I know it’s a shot in the dark, but you never know. People hear things; maybe she has more stories. I don’t know what to expect when I throw this out, but it can’t hurt, can it?

  “I’ve heard some things. My old high school boyfriend joined, and that freaked me out. It’s why I broke up with him. Something going on I can help with?” She looks over at me with the question hanging in the air.

  Now what the fuck do I tell her? I can’t tell her about Alex, that’s for sure. I grab at the first thing that comes to mind. “I heard some guys talking about them, and it just made me wonder,” I improvise. Well, I lie. Damn it. A white lie, for sure, but a lie. “Anyway, I have a full schedule today. Here are my appointments. Mostly I’ll be sending them to you via email. If you could keep up my calendar, that would be good.” I look over and smile at Marge.

  “I’ve got it. Okay, I’ll leave you to it.” Marge gets up to leave.

  “And Marge? Thank you,” I say and watch her as she walks out the door. She’s a cute girl, with her head full of curls and her bobby socks peeking out of her Oxford shoes. She seems on top of things. I’m relieved to have a personal assistant. Her
help will be invaluable.

  My day flies by. I’m so busy I have no time to think of the Cribs. I finally meet Tomas; he comes by at the end of my day.

  “Tomas, nice to meet you. Take a seat.” I point to a chair, and as he sits down I take him in. He’s 16 years old and looks all alone in the world. He just seems introverted, so maybe I’m putting a label on him that he doesn’t deserve. I need to get to know him before I start making broad declarations.

  Tomas is around 5’9” with dark curly hair and inquisitive dark eyes. His skin is a light mahogany, and he looks like he lifts weights. He seems strong for such a young man. He grew up right here on the streets of the city.

  “Nice to meet you, Mr. Winton.” He stretches out his hand to shake and then pulls his hand back to his lap.

  “Please, call me Jack. So, you have a new baby sister. What’s her name?” I smile at him.

  “I don’t care, but Ma is always up with her. She cries all night long. I hate it, so I’ve been staying somewhere else.” Tomas looks nervous. I wonder what that’s all about.

  “Babies cry, dude. But your mom is really worried about you. Maybe you could let her know you’re okay?” Tomas is giving me an incredulous look, like he doesn't believe me. “That’s what she said, that she worries about you. Honest.” I take a beat to see what he’ll say, but I get nothing. “Where are you staying? Can you at least tell me that?”

  “I’ve been staying with my boy Axel,” Tomas reassures me.

  I know who Axel is, and I worry that he’s trying to lure Tomas into the gang life. So I ask, “Who’s that?”

  “He’s a friend from the streets.” Tomas seems to finally relax.