A Deadly Blessing

by Kathy Bennett

high-profile men. That's when he'd met Heather McCall and he'd fallen in love.

  Within a week she'd cut ties with her other clients, and when she'd learned about Tiffany's need for bone marrow, it was Heather who insisted on being tested, just in case she was a match. No one was more surprised than Preston when she came back as a strongly viable donor.

  Preston had offered Heather a deal. He'd told her he'd pay her two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for her bone marrow and he'd set her up in a condo in Beverly Hills. He'd never seen Heather mad before, but learned she had a hell of a temper. She'd told him she loved him and would consider it an honor to provide Tiffany with her bone marrow. She'd said she was insulted to be offered money and a condo when she wanted to give the gift of life, and Preston could go to hell and take his money with him. It was that moment he'd known he was in love…when she'd refused his money. The only other woman who'd loved him with no strings attached was Monica.

  He rose from the bed and went to the closet. You've lost Monica, then Heather and now, Tiffany's been gone so long, she's probably dead too. He pulled down the gun case from the top shelf. His life was over. He had nothing to live for. He had nothing else to lose.

  TIFFANY – 85

  Brenda threw clothes and personal belongings into a duffle bag while Tiffany peered out the window of the dorms from behind the cheap broadcloth curtains.

  "So the deal is that Drejohn wants to set you up with a client who wants a virgin," Tiffany said.

  "Ha! Did you point out it was way too late for that?"

  "No. I told him you were a virgin – at least before he had you." Tiffany moved from the window and walked over to her friend and put her arms around her. "I'm so sorry Bren. It must have been awful for you."

  Brenda shrugged from her grasp. "He'd drugged me or something at the party. When I came to, we were in a bedroom and he was sticking his thing between my breasts. When he saw I was awake, he made me give him a blow job. I was sick from the booze and whatever he knocked me out with and threw up. He got mad and made me bang a bunch of his friends."

  Tiffany didn't know what to say, and her gaze dropped to the ground.

  "Has he screwed you yet?" Brenda asked, an edge in her voice.

  Tiffany shook her head.

  "You've always led a charmed life, Tiff, but you can save your pity. I'm over it already."

  "I don't pity you," Tiffany said, raising her head. "I feel horrible for you and I'm sorry it happened. But, the best thing we can do is make Drejohn think we're going along with his plan. It's critical we get to stay together so we can escape together. Once we've escaped, we can get his ass thrown in prison.

  "The first part of the plan is to convince him you can play the part of a virgin. Maybe when you go to meet the client we can somehow finagle to go together or something."

  Heavy footsteps outside made both girls pause and look toward the door, which opened so quickly it banged against the outside wall. Big M entered the room.

  He pointed to Brenda. "Dre wants to talk to you. You'll come with me." The goliath of a man turned his gaze to Tiffany.

  "You're to find Ginger and have her take you to Dre's private quarters. He wants you to bathe and get yourself ready. Ginger will show you what to do."

  Tiffany's stomach dropped to her feet. This was it. Drejohn was going to rape her. She had to do something. "Um, do you think I could talk to Drejohn first? I have something important to tell him."

  Brenda's eyes widened and ping-ponged between Big M and Tiffany.

  "Girl, you may got a platinum pussy, but you're gonna piss Dre off if you don't do what he says." Big M frowned. "He'll bust my balls for not making you do what he ordered." The big man pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his face. "No. You go get ready like he said, and I'll tell him you want to talk to him." He pulled on Brenda's arm. "Come on, and you'd better bring your shit with you," he said, eyeing the duffle.

  Biting her lip, Tiffany's mind whirled. She needed to stall. She followed behind Big M and Brenda as they headed toward the house from the dorm.

  The big man spoke to her friend. "He's down in the basement theater. Take my advice and don't make him mad. He already tol' me you're on his last nerve 'cause of the fire and wrecking the satellite and almost hangin' yourself. Just agree with everything he says and you'll probably be okay." They entered the house and he led Brenda to the door of the basement and opened it, motioning for her to go in. He turned to Tiffany.

  "Go find Ginger, she'll get you set up."

  Tiffany nodded and walked away slowly as if she was going upstairs. She watched as Big M monitored from the top of the stairs that Brenda went down to the theater. Satisfied she was going to meet Drejohn, Big M closed the door and went outside through the door off the kitchen. Wringing her hands, she debated what to do. Finally, she made a decision and pulled open the door to the basement.

  Her heart pounding with the fervor of a timpani drum, Tiffany inched her way down the stairs, trying not to make any noise. She wanted to hear what Drejohn was telling Brenda about the job he was sending her out on. Somehow, Tiffany had to convince their captor to send her to the appointment too. She paused on the stairs out of view of those in the basement theater.

  "If you pull this off, I'll buy you somethin' really nice, or maybe I'll even take you on a trip. With your big tits I might even get him to pay extra. Since I'm forced to take all the girls on the road, I need more money to cover expenses." A rustling sound and a yelp from Brenda told her Drejohn had grabbed her friend. "This guy is payin' some major bank to be with a virgin, so don't screw it up. You hear me, bitch?"

  Another cry of pain from her friend propelled Tiffany down the stairs and into view.

  "What the fuck…" Drejohn said. "What the hell are you doin' down here? I told Big M to send you to my room."

  "I'm sorry, Drejohn. I got to thinking about this virgin thing. Wouldn't it be great if you were to give him two virgins? You could charge the client double."

  The pimp's eyes narrowed and his face creased into an exaggerated smile. "Well, well, princess. Aren't you the little pimp," he said as moved over to Tiffany and bent down to go nose-to-nose with her.

  Tiffany's heart raced with the realization she'd over-played her hand. The putrid remnants of alcohol and weed on his breath invaded her nose.

  He pushed her away with enough force to cause her to stumble. "I've already thought of that bitch! Who the hell do you think you are, tellin' me how to do my business?"

  She was relieved there were only the three of them in the theater. She didn't want Drejohn to feel pressured to make an example out of her in front of an audience.

  Tiffany realized she needed to stroke his ego and make him feel in control again.

  "I'm sorry. I just got to thinking with such an important client you'd want to be sure Brenda's gig went off without a hitch. She's never done anything like this before and I'm sure you've realized if we both went, we could help each other to relax so maybe the client would want to date us both again."

  Drejohn moved a half step back, and relaxed his shoulders. Tiffany could see him mentally weighing her words. His gaze shot to Brenda. "You think you can do this on your own?"

  Brenda glanced quickly at Tiffany. "I…I think I could do it – but I'd be better if Tiff was with me. If I got freaked out, she could take over and vice versa."

  Drejohn turned away from both girls and paced the room. In a few moments, he stopped and turned towards them, fixing his eyes on Tiffany. "There's just one problem with your whole little plan. Brenda needs to leave immediately for her job, and you and I haven't had our first date yet."

  A crooked smirk covered the lower half of his face. "I been holdin' off making you my girl because it was exciting to think of what I was going to do to you. But I'm ready now. See?" Tugging on his sweatpants he exposed his engorged flesh and swiveled his hips causing his penis to lurch in the air.

  Tiffany forced herself not to turn away or close her eyes. It
might anger him. Besides, it was the first time she'd seen a man's private parts and she was horrified to find she was curious.

  After a few seconds, he covered himself back up, and laughed. "Some clown is gonna pay big bucks to fuck a virgin that isn't one, I'm gonna be doin' a preppy virgin and not pay a dime, and Princess, you're gonna get your cherry popped during the ride of your life." Drejohn laughed again, shaking his head. "That's the mark of a good businessman: everybody's happy!"

  A blaring hip-hop ringtone on Drejohn's cell phone caused his laughter to cease. Glancing at the caller ID, he answered. "Pleasure, where the hell you been, girl?"

  MADDIE – 86

  I found my partner sitting at his desk checking his department e-mail. "How are we looking for time?" I asked. "Pleasure is having a conniption fit at the thought of a patrol unit booking her into jail. Only Travis is good enough to do the honors. I don't think he should take her alone. In fact, I don't think he should be going at all."

  "Jealous, huh?"

  "Um, not exactly." It was time for me to confess my sins. I lowered my voice, so only Darius could hear me. "Travis is supposed to be at home…doing nothing. The last thing he's supposed to be doing is working our case with us. In fact, he's not supposed to be working at all."

  Darius rose from his desk and motioned for me to follow him. With angry strides he led me out of the office and down the hall. I had to hustle to keep up