“My pal Tom saw him near her apartment, sniffing around early this morning.” I explain who Tom is, and then I tell them what I know of Norris and about the text I got from him.
“Fuck!” Rocco screams. I feel helpless. Men at the bar move away from Rocco. Maybe they think he needs some privacy.
“So, this dude, Norris. We need to find him. I’m gonna kill him for taking our girl,” Rocco growls. And holy fuck, I’m swimming in a sea of anger and self-doubt. I’ve never had these kinds of thoughts before. Killing someone? I feel all sorts of fucked up right now. I know Rocco is as good as his word.
“She got a text from him just before she left last night. But she texted me when she got home and said she was safe. I thought she’d be okay until I didn’t see her today. Fuck! I’m so pissed at myself.” Rocco looks between Jeremy and me, his head bobbing back and forth. His face is all tight angles. He looks so angry.
“This is not your fault, Rocco. I’m serious.” I try with no success to make him see things clearly.
“I think we need to know more about this gang shit. Jeremy, step in anytime,” I say looking over at my brother. I pray he has the wisdom I can’t get a hold of right now. I do know that you don’t mess with them.
“They are a powerful group of...” Jeremy tries to finish, but he starts shaking, and I know he’s terrified. He’s got sweat dripping from his brow and his jaw tightens. “They started out as neighborhood street rats, but they built a huge drug empire. It’s blood in, blood out, brother.” Jeremy takes a shaky breath, then adds, “Sounds to me like this is Norris’ deal.”
Oh my god!
“I hate not knowing what’s happening with Alex. We need a plan, but what the fuck? How do we make a plan when we’re completely in the dark?” I grab my cell, but my hands are shaking so hard I can’t click on anything and my fingers lose their grip. My phone goes flying right off the varnished wood. I go to pick it up off the floor. I’m such a freaking mess. I don’t know how I’m going to save her when I can’t even work my own damn phone.
“Yeah, I don’t know what they could want.” Jeremy looks up from his cell. “I think this is all Norris, really. It sounds like he might benefit from a ‘favor,’ right Jack? Sounds like she doesn't know anyone else affiliated with the gang,” Jeremy whispers.
“Hey, hold off, you two. Clearly this is about something I can give him, then. I just have no idea what that could be.” I’m trying like hell to stay on point, but when I think of everything he could want from me it really doesn’t make any sense. It just doesn’t add up. I’ve got nothing, and my mind goes blank.
“I mean what do they want from ME?” I yell out of frustration, and the drinkers around me look up, startled by my outburst. I’ve got to calm the eff down or I’m going to fuck this up. There has to be an answer.
My cell goes off, and I grab it quickly off the bar.
Marge: Got a reply. They want to talk to you.
Aww shit, it IS about me. I share the info with the two men. I text back.
Me: Give him my number.
My cell makes that blurry sound and a text pops up.
Unknown: Time to talk, Jack. Meet me.
“Okay, guys. Looks like you were right, Jer, I just heard from that fucker Norris. He wants to meet. Promise me you won’t go to the police. I pray we can figure this shit out. What the hell could he want from me?” I say in a whisper.
I swap texts with this Norris character, and I know where and when now. I have about an hour before I need to be downtown. I explain everything to Rocco and Jeremy.
“You need backup, dude. Let me go with,” Jeremy pleads.
“Wait just a goddamn minute!” Rocco’s voice booms through the bar and both Jeremy and I look at him with stunned silence. “I’m going with Jack. Jeremy, stay here. I’ll back you, dude.”
“Umm, Rocco, he said to come alone. I’m not messing around. I‘m going to follow his instructions to the tee. But hey, if you don’t hear from me in an hour, then you got to come find me and Alex. Will you do that? I’ll tell you where I’m meeting him and I’ll call when it’s over. But I have to go in alone. I mean it,” I warn. I hope they listen to me. Alex’s life is on the line, and I feel certain I must do whatever I can in order to get her back.
“I’ll be close just in case you need me. Is that cool with you? I can hang back.” Honestly, I’m glad to have Rocco right now.
“I think Rocco’s right. You hang here, and he can come with in a separate car. Rocco?” I look up to see Rocco nodding.
“Yeah, sure. Jeremy, you’ve got to stay here. Just in case,” Rocco demands. Cleo, Rocco’s black lab, comes over and rubs her face on his leg. It seems she’s picking up on his stress and wants to comfort him.
“We’ll get in touch with you as soon as we can. Once I know what he wants, I mean that I’ll do anything to get her back. You know I will,” I say, my heart and mind shredded with all this worry. Honestly, I’m petrified.
Fuck, this is such a mess. I never in a million years thought I’d be going head-to-head with a street gang like the Cribs. Talk about being in over my head.
But the clock is ticking.
“I’ll be right behind you, dude.” Rocco’s reassuring voice settles me. I’m grateful to know he’ll be close if I need him. Rocco looks at Jeremy and says, “Take care of Cleo for me, yeah?” Jeremy nods. Cleo always hangs here at the bar with Rocco. She’s always by his side. She’s a gorgeous black lab; I’ve befriended over all this time coming here. Sometimes Cleo comes to hang out with me when I grab a table. She always has a smile on her face, except now she seems as anxious as me.
I have to get going right this minute. I just hope this isn’t a huge mistake. We both need to come out of this alive.
“Alex has got to still be alive,” I whisper to myself. I’m trying like hell to believe, to reassure myself.
There’ll be hell to pay if Alex isn’t safe and sound.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Alex
“What the FUCK do you want?” I scream. I’ve been tied up for hours. I’m filthy, and grime fills my ears. What the hell is going on? I’ve been reduced to a pile of snot.
And I need to pee. Holy hell, how long do I need to hold this? I feel like my bladder’s about to burst and I’ll pee all over myself. “I need a bathroom!” I yell, hoping someone will come to my rescue.
Oh lord, does anyone know I’m gone? What if no one notices for days? I could be here for never-ending days, and fear spikes straight through me. It’s sticky, and my body starts to tremble out of control. Will I even get out of this alive? My blood runs cold as the tendrils of fear grab hold and won’t let go.
I hear the door push open, the rattling of keys at the door, and footsteps coming closer. My heart jumps into my throat. Oh my god! Is this it? Am I done for? My heart pounds, blood freezing inside my veins.
“Shhh, girl, calm the fuck down,” Norris whispers. That fucking asshole? The dude has made my life a living hell. He’s not coming to save my ass, that’s for damn sure. He wouldn’t mind putting a bullet straight in my head. I know this with every fiber of my being. He’s the worst kind of person I have ever known. He’s pure evil, a true narcissist. He loves to taunt me and shake my belief in humanity. He holds no humanity inside. He’s a total sociopath.
He’s despicable, and I feel the hate trickle off me in small drops of desperation.
I try to stay calm. I tell myself not to react and take a deep, soothing breath. But nothing will soothe my ragged thoughts. Fear strikes the very essence of me.
Norris slides the blindfold off my head. I look around to see that there’s not much to see except Norri’s ugly fucking face leering over me, his hood pulled down. I’m in a small, freezing cold room. There’s one tiny window and the shadows dance on the walls, framing the room in dark isolation. I’m tied to a furnace-looking thing. My heart speeds up and I feel like I might pass out. I’m absolutely terrified. Fear pounds into my skull. Drip, drip.
The walls are closing in on me as I look up at Norris’s ugly mug. He's got a cocky as fuck expression on his face. And honestly? He’s got nothing to brag about. He’s a short, slight man with a fucking hideous face. He has a hooked nose and dark, beady eyes. I’d say he’s around 5’7”? He’s got nothing going on to boast about, that’s for damn sure. He’s got me tied down inside this room and, ugh, I want to scream bloody murder.
Maybe this has to do with a tiny cock. Men with small pricks always seem to try to compensate for it. I kind of chuckle to myself. God, I hope I never see his dick. I’m just guessing here. I’m starting to feel downright crazy. My thoughts fly away.
“Here, I brought you a bucket. I wouldn’t want you to pee all over yourself. Come on, bitch,” he says with a sneer. He urges me to stand up and unties the rope holding me down. He grabs at my left breast. I try to hold back a grimace. The bile crawls up my throat, and I fight to swallow it down. One more move by him and I’ll barf all over the cold floor.
He pulls my jeans and panties down all in one quick action. They pool around my ankles. He pushes my body onto the bucket he brought with him. Cold metal hits my ass cheeks and I’m humiliated down to the bone. Why I’m embarrassed is another difficult question. Who gives a flying fuck what this asshole thinks? The pink floods my cheeks at the thought of my ass on this fucking bucket. It pisses me the fuck off.
“Well, what are you waiting for? I'm not sitting around for long. Pee, don’t pee, but get it going now or I'm just gonna tie you back up,” he grumbles almost to himself, like I don’t really exist. Like I don’t deserve a minute to fucking pee! He looks down at me, like he wants to watch. Ugh, I want to kick him in the face. I don’t even flinch. My hands are tied, and I’m in no position to fight him.
Anyway, who can pee on demand? But I close my eyes and finally let go. The sound of pee hitting the metal rings out in a steady stream of urine. I finally feel relief as it all pours out of me like a warm flood. I don’t know how long I’ve been here, but I’d say many hours. My arms burn, but now my bladder’s empty, thank goodness.
“Okay, done? Here, let me pull up the jeans. Oh, wait. Let me see what you’ve got going on under there.” His voice slithers over me like snakes. Chahahaha sounds inside my head. “Blonde down below.” He chuckles, and evil drips with every word. It’s like I’m a something instead of a someone. Finally, he pulls my pants up and snaps them closed.
“Be a good girl. Come on now, I don’t want to have to knock your ass out again.” He talks to me like I’m five years old and fuck, I feel like I’m five years old for real. I feel like I might snap. I silently pray. Please dear God, please help me. I’m praying to God right now inside this bleak cell. I’m consumed with fear. Norris’s hands push me up against that fucking radiator and he ties me a little tighter than before.
“Norris, can’t you loosen the ropes? I’m not going anywhere.” I’m reduced to begging this asshole creep. He’s the worst man I have ever known and he gives me a snarky as fuck look.
“Ha! Yeah...no, I’m not so inclined.” Bastard thinks he’s so big! If I wasn’t tied up I would kick the shit out of him and picture him sprawled on the frigid floor while I make my great escape. I’ve been a kickboxer for years. The desire to kick his face in and knee his balls simmers just below my skin.
He finishes tying me tight and I will him to leave. I dream of finding my revenge with his blood. But I’m quiet for now. Why stir the nasty beast? I know what he’s capable of, and I want no part of the monster. He’s a deplorable person with no conscience at all. At work, he would grab my pussy when he passed me, just cup it in his small man hands while I held back the urge to vomit.
I sit quietly and listen as he heads out the door. He locks the door with a click of the key. I have no clue where my prison is. Am I being held by this gang, or is this something Norris cooked up on his own? Is this personal?
At least he left the blindfold off. Thankful for small favors, I try to relax in my bonds.
Yes, I work for the Cribs, but I’ve never caused them to look at me twice. I haven’t met any of them either, just street soldiers Norris runs with. His crew of thugs never interested me. I always assumed Norris was far up the chain, and I think over what I know about him. He runs the card room with an iron fist and runs his boys in the same manner. I’m sure I've paid them back triple by now, but I curse my fifteen-year-old self for her stupidity. How could I have been so foolish?
I try to give myself a break. Who would walk past a bag of cash? I know now I should have just left it lying where I found it. But I was young and witless. I didn’t think it through. I saw free cash, and to me it was too good to be true. Come on, I was young and dumb. I’m crushed that I have paid for my stupidity for so long.
I get to thinking about my situation. I’m tied up tight to this heater, but I don’t know what he wants from me. Or is this about something else?
I’m sure Jack and Rocco have noticed my disappearance by now. But do they know where? Have either of them tried to get me back yet? Or are they still in the dark, just like me?
I just have to pray somehow that they get to me in time.
My courage is failing me.
I want to go home. I feel the tears slide down my cheeks and I know I’m breaking apart. I cry in silence for a long time. I allow myself this moment to fall to pieces. I know that soon enough I’ll have to find all my strength to survive this asshole. I allow myself a small reprieve and let my emotions rule me.
Then I’ll get a hold of myself, find the fierce girl I know I am. It will take everything in me to get the fuck out of this situation.
Time is not my friend. I want to go home. I wish Jack was snuggled up behind me. I want to feel his arms circle around me as we fall to sleep. I want to feel safe in his arms again.
But the worst part? The very worst part?
Will I ever get a chance to tell Jack I love him?
Chapter Thirty-Five
Jack
What the hell are we doing? I’m here at Rocco’s and we haven’t decided on our next move. How are we going to find Alex? Fuck! Time isn’t on our fucking side and we aren’t even a little bit closer to finding her. She's been gone for hours now, and I’m starting to stress out big time. What are they doing to her? I don’t know anything about this Norris asshole, but I’m going to find out some more shit before we meet. I have a little less than an hour before I have to leave Rocco’s. Reality begins to sink in, and my heart breaks.
I pull off to the side, by myself. I leave Rocco and Jeremy to talk while I do a little digging. He’s a top dog in their fucking gang, like third in line of their power tree. I see countless articles about how the authorities have tried to take him down all these years. They‘ve set up traps and had inside info, but nothing stops this guy. He’s like a cockroach, impossible to stomp out. He seems to get stronger with every passing day.
Norris is apparently a main gangbanger. He’s their ‘big earner,’ leading a pack of gangland soldiers. The city has tried countless times over the years to get this dude off the streets. Like I said, he’s a cockroach. The article goes on to say that Norris is indispensable to the Cribs.
They have an army of gangbangers and street rats for sure. But Norris heads up the whole drug disbursement for the upper east side. He has an army of street soldiers who do his bidding. He's the most powerful thug under ChuckD and his son MarkD.
I’m revolted by Norris, and the whole thing really is sickening. How do they get away with this shit? Drugs ruin our society and divert millions into the pockets of greedy mofos.
Plus, this Norris character’s a fucked-up asshole. He’s been charged many times with rape and sexual harassment. Every single time the woman drops her case against him before it even goes to trial. The authorities think hush money is involved. I about retch in my mouth the more I learn about this bastard.
I hate a rapist.
This guy is a callous piece of work. He’s a violent mofo known to beat the
shit out of neighborhood dudes, even murder them if they don’t cooperate. He gives the orders, but his homeboys carry out his dirty work. It’s how he keeps his hands clean. That’s laughable, I think with a snort. He sounds like a vile human, and all I want is to get my hands on him. I want to destroy him now that he’s touched what’s mine.
I’m so worried about Alex’s wellbeing. Is she still alive? I can’t imagine he’d hurt her if he wants something from me. But you never know what this shit stain is capable of.
She’s got to be okay. She’s got to be alive, I keep telling myself. I’ll know more after this meeting. But what if he says he’s already hurt her in some way? No! I can’t allow myself to go down this disastrous road of thinking. I’ve got to stay focused. Find her. Save her.
I ease back over to the bar where Rocco’s stern look sweeps over to me with a mess of emotions. He loves her too. I think he’d do anything to help bring her home safely.
Jeremy says, “Hey, we don’t know anything yet, guys. Let’s take a breath.” He takes a deep breath of hot air, and I mimic him. I need some oxygen flowing to my brain. I need my brain to outfox the asshole who took her.
“I’m going to try to think positive. Jack? You ready for this?” Rocco’s a tough motherfucker, and I hope to use his venom to propel us to success. Rocco used to be Prez of an outlaw motorcycle club years ago. I heard he was the last man standing when shit went bad for the OutKasts.
“Yeah, I’ve got this. I’ve got to go. Rocco, you know where to wait?” I look over at him and pray he’ll be close enough. I don’t even know what the fuck that means. If this dude wants to kill me, he won’t be ‘close enough,’ that’s for damn sure.
Rocco says, “Hold up, dude,” and walks away. I look at Jeremy, and he shrugs his shoulders. Neither of us know what’s up, what Rocco’s doing. I watch him walk briskly to his office and come back quickly.
The Call Page 16
