He nodded again as she used the gauze and tape to cover the wound, and began to explain what he would need to do to care for it over the next few days. Finishing up, she stood, looking down at her bloodied white tee and considered what to do about it, as she could not go into work like that. D'Shawn, feeling better already, began his cross examination.
“Now, why yo' heya girl? And where's yo' man? Last time I seen the two o' you, he waddn't abo’ to leave yo' alo'.”
Tori chuckled at his description of Eddie and his attachment to her. Doing her best to explain, she decided the truth, as far as she could go with it, would be her best option.
“Well, Eddie, my man, is dead. We ran into some trouble, and I came to see if you could help me get some weapons and tools.” She paused to see what his reaction would be, and his eyes widened a bit as he considered her words carefully.
D’Shawn knew she must be in one hell of a mess if she’d come to him for help. Sticking his lips out for a moment, he allowed her to stew before he asked, “Wut kinda weapons?”
She gave him her short list. “I’m hoping to get a knife, preferably an OTF, but if not, any switchblade will do. I also need a pocket nine, with an extra clip if I can get it, and a box of bullets, any brand or type that will work in the pistol.” He nodded as she spoke, so she pushed for the item that would be a longshot, “And lastly, I’d like a set of lock pick tools; five or nine pieces at the largest.”
Lamont stood with hands behind his back, looking down at his father, who studied the girl in silence. “You wanna holsta' fo' tha nine?” he asked her after a few moments.
“No, no,” she shook her head briskly, “Just the pistol would be great.”
D'Shawn looked over his shoulder at his son, and with a wave of his hand, the boy darted off again. Only gone about fifteen minutes, it seemed like an eternity to Tori as she looked around the rundown apartment and surveyed the clutter it contained.
When the boy returned, he did, in fact, have everything she had required, plus a new shirt for her to boot. Tori stared down at the items in amazement, “What do I owe you?”
“Nuthin',” D'Shawn replied weakly, indicating his freshly patched wound with an open palm, as if thanking her for fixing him up, “Lamont’ll make shore you git back down t’ yur taxi safetly.”
She smiled sheepishly as she gathered the items, “I’m afraid that my taxi left me.”
D'Shawn only gave a wave of his hand, smiling as he sent her on her way; Lamont disappeared a final time, returning a few moments later to wait patiently for his charge.
Preparing to leave, Tori pulled her jacket on and gave the knife a quick flick test. She grinned widely as the blade popped out the end. Hitting the release again, the steel shaft snapped back into its sheath, and she shoved it into her boot, pulling her pant leg down to cover it.
Pushing the Beretta Nano into her right hand pocket, she put the tools, clip and bullets into her left. Leaning over, she kissed her benefactor on the forehead while caressing his cheek one last time. “Take care of yourself, D’Shawn,” she breathed. She then followed Lamont back down through the darkness and out into the front of the building.
She then realized her presence had not gone unnoticed, as several people were watching as she exited the building, but to her relief a yellow cab, in fact, waited for her. Lamont closed the door with a thud, and the driver pulled away, asking for the address. She gave him the name of the supermarket close to the house, and then sank back into the seat to enjoy the ride.
Peering down at the shirt she still held in her hands, she checked the size and decided it would fit. Sliding out of her jacket, she pulled her blood covered original over her head, and noted the driver adjusted the mirror to get a better view, which made her smile.
The man swallowed hard when he noticed the large bite mark on her left breast, but made no comment. Tori tugged the new shirt over her head, reaching beneath her dark waves to free her hair from being trapped inside. Although short sleeved, no one would notice if she kept her jacket on, and it would have to do.
Sitting back and watching the scenery as it passed, Tori felt thankful she had made it in and out of unfriendly territory unscathed. Her jacket lying across her lap, she could feel the outline of her new toy in the pocket and the familiar pressure of her knife inside her boot.
In retrospect, it didn't feel so bad having her old life back. Remembering the vow she made to herself, she knew someday she would do exactly that, but at the moment, she intended to enjoy herself while she was there.
One Man's Fantasy
Exiting her yellow chariot at the supermarket, Tori stopped next to the garbage barrel out front, and shoved her bloodied garment under a few layers of refuse. She then scurried inside to purchase a few supplies and get back to the house as quickly as she could. She would have to hurry to avoid being late for work. Thinking quickly, she grabbed a roll of duct tape, a box of tampons and an extra-large box of feminine napkins, paying for all at the counter.
Walking back towards the house, she tore open the larger box first, throwing some of the pads out onto the ground. Taking the gun from her pocket, she slipped it down into the box and covered the top with the remainder of the pads, making it appear she had opened the box to remove one. Next, she opened the box of tampons, hiding the clip and bullets inside them the same way.
She shoved the small roll of tape into her pocket, feeling confident she would pass inspection if anyone chose to search her. Inside the kitchen, the small gathering generally looked surprised to see her. She made quite a show of her purchases as Enrique sat watching her, but she knew full well being on her period wouldn’t deter him if he really wanted to fuck her.
Running up the stairs, she took a quick shower, and stuck one of the pads to her panties, hating the way it made a lumpy feel between her legs. Later, if she had to remove her pants she could always claim she must have only been spotting to explain its pristine condition. Going back to her room, she closed the door and dumped the contents of the box onto her bed.
Lifting the nightstand, she slid the clock and lamp onto the bed, and flipped it upside down. Using the duct tape, she attached the pistol, box of bullets, and extra clip to the bottom, which stood only about three inches off the floor; that meant someone would either have to get down on all fours or flip it over to see it.
Replacing the small piece of furniture to its location, she shifted the clock and lamp back into place, and returned her feminine products to their boxes. Finally, slipping the lock pick kit into her inner jacket pocket next to her sunglasses, she felt ready to head to work. Bounding back down the stairs, she cursed under her breath as she realized she didn’t have enough time to get there on schedule. Only giving Enrique a cursory glance, she suspected he watched her as she left.
To her surprise, Brandon waited for her in the driveway with the car, “Hey; hop in.” Climbing into the front seat, a shocked expression on her face, he smiled and continued teasingly, “Even you deserve a break once in a while.” She smiled her thanks at the older man, and he dropped her off at the single door with one minute to spare.
Terry looked up as she entered, his reading glasses sitting down on the end of his nose while he worked. Pulling them off, he grinned, “Wow, I was beginning to worry. It isn't like you to be just on time.”
Tori giggled back, swinging her hair while she made her way around the glass counter. “Sorry,” she murmured, “I had female problems and had to run home for a shower and change before I came in.”
He laughed at her honesty, thinking most girls would have made up a lie before admitting that was the reason they were late.
She made a trip around the store to see how things looked, and found Max and Keith in the back leaning on a wall. “Don't you two have something to do around here?” she demanded crossly.
Max rolled his eyes, and Keith gave her a dirty look, but both exited through the double doors to the floor. Unlocking the office, Tori pulled her jacket off and laid it ov
er the chair; then opening the safe, she pulled out the deposit for Terry to take to the bank. Locking everything, she herself returned to the front.
Laying the bag on the counter next to him, she suddenly felt a wave of attachment wash over her, and she realized that somehow, Terry had become her friend. Dropping into Russian, she inquired playfully, “What’re you working on?”
He replied softly, “Just looking at some parts for a new guitar I may be building for Brian Madson. He called me this morning with some specs, and I want to get the parts in case he decides to give me the go ahead on it.”
Tori knew Brian Madson played the guitar in a band called Indelible. They had been pretty successful for about five years, and were going to be in the shop later in the year for a big promotion that they were putting on for their new album.
She nodded her approval, then nudged his elbow, pointing at the bag. Glancing over at it, he sighed his agreement that it needed to be done, and the ordering would have to wait. Taking it, he tossed her a wave, “I’ll be back later,” and headed out.
As soon as he left, the two boys came over to the counter to razz her a bit. Their latest theory as to why Terry gave her all the easy jobs fresh in their minds, they could not wait to run it by her. She gave the pair an icy stare, causing Keith to laugh before he proclaimed that Tori must be spending her nights over at Terry's place, instead of the halfway house.
Her jaw dropped when she heard this, not realizing they even knew where she lived. “And how exactly did you come by that information?” she demanded.
The pair fell into fits of laughter, and Keith taunted her, “It’s impossible to have secrets from someone who really wants to know.”
She shook her head at the boys, morons, and let it go, shooing them back to work. The rest of the day went smoothly, and Terry did return for a short while to finish ordering the parts. Then, with a friendly nod, he bade her good night, leaving her alone with the young men and the customers for the rest of the evening.
Tori felt fine until around 7:00 pm. Grasping they would be closing soon, she began to feel her chest tighten and her heart rate climb in anticipation or dread; at this point she couldn't tell which. Running her fingers through her hair nervously, she made sure the guys were straightening up and getting ready to close.
A few minutes before 8:00 pm, she shut down the instrument register, and then locked the doors to close out the other. By a quarter after, everything had been completed, and they were ready leave.
Letting Keith and Max out and locking the door behind them, Tori looked up and down the street; the lump in her stomach rapidly ballooned with her date nowhere in sight. She decided to move around to the double doors, and then made her way back in an anxious pacing motion.
On the third trip, she met Enrique outside the single door. He walked right up to her and casually looped his arm around her waist. Sliding back hastily, she explained that some of her coworkers may be spying on her, and they needed to be careful until they were somewhere more private.
In silent agreement, he spun around haphazardly on one foot, looking for anyone that might be looking at him. Not seeing anyone, he indicated for her to follow with a curled finger and a sly smile, and they crossed the street, stepping up to his motorcycle.
Sliding onto it behind him, Tori shivered as she could feel the familiar hum that made her female parts tingle. Grabbing her long hair, she twisted it and pulled it down inside her jacket to protect it from whipping around as they rode.
It turned out, they didn't have far to go, and he pulled in beside a little bar, very much like the ones the Dragons had frequented so much of their time on the road. Once inside, Enrique twirled around, grabbing her around her hips with both arms and lifting her feet to swing her in a playful circle.
The behavior surprised her a little, and she clung to his shoulders to hang on. Resting her feet back on the ground, she became aware that she smiled at him uncontrollably, and he kissed her gently on the lips. He rested his forehead against hers in an intimate fashion, exhaling deeply.
Tori felt confused, not really sure what to make of his behavior. Her arms still draped around his neck, she raised her hand to caress the back of his head and run her fingers through his short dark hair. The movement excited her, and for a moment she felt her brain go fuzzy, his chocolate brown eyes seeming to pull her in.
“You know; I’ve been thinking about you all day,” he spoke in a low voice, “And I just wants you alls to myself.”
Tori's heart began to thump in her chest as they continued to sway to the beat of the jukebox. She made no reply, and simply studied his handsome features and coy grin. He’s quite the charmer, she mused; not something she had ever run into in her past life, unless Eli counted.
“You don't know it, but you’re my fantasy, baby girl. I’ve dreamed about you a long times now.” He smiled at her, and was exactly right; she didn't know it… and even as he said it, she really didn't believe it.
Hold on Tight
Tori might not have believed what he said, but she had been around enough to know better than to say so. Instead, she played along, laying a long deep kiss on him that made her own knees weak.
Slowly working her further into the room, he opened up, “Ok, you gotta tells me how the hells you got away from the Dragons. Last time I seen you, things was pretty tense between our two groups, and I hate to says it, but you was right in the middle o’ the hassle.”
“How do you mean?” she asked in authentic surprise.
Looking down at her luscious lips, he ran his hands up and down her back, trying to decide exactly how to put it. Finally, he spit it out. “You remember Brett Spears?” he asked quietly.
Tori nodded, recognizing the head of the Scorpions.
“Brett put an offer on the table to buy you from Eddie. I mean a hells of an offer… 300K.”
Tori stopped moving in stunned silence, her surprise evidenced by her gaping mouth.
Thinking he might have offended her, Enrique grasped a few stray hairs and smoothed them down. Gently, he continued running his fingers through her ebony locks to soothe her, and whispered, “I'm sorry, I thought you knew.” He had dropped into Spanish and obviously wanted to appease her.
Clamping her mouth shut, Tori drew a deep breath and released it slowly, laying her head against his shoulder and falling back into their sway. At only a couple of inches taller than herself, she couldn’t help thinking he fit her size perfectly.
No, she hadn't known. But the discovery put many other things into perspective. Henry had told her he intended to get another group to kill the Dragons; clearly, that group the Scorpions. Of course, if Brett had wanted to own her, it would have complicated her escape to whoever he had alluded to that night in the café, the one who would be looking after her.
The couple continued to turn, occasionally sharing a kiss, while their hands moved easily over one another's bodies in a familiar manner. If anyone had been watching them, they would have thought the two were lovers by the way they held one another, and Tori soon became lost in the comfort his actions produced.
Growing relaxed, she admitted to being alone and that the Dragons were gone. She explained that she would have died herself if she had not been found in time and rushed to the hospital. When he asked what happened to them, she claimed not to know; she only knew that she had been drunk, and when she awoke in the hospital, the Dragons were all dead. If he didn’t believe her, he gave no indication as she spoke, and she smiled inwardly that her version of the past had been approved.
She then told him about what had happened in Chicago, but left out the part where she had betrayed The Organization, as that would have been a problem, as well. Finally, she explained that the Feds stuck her in the halfway house for six months, hinting at punishment for being uncooperative, but they had promised after that she would be released.
He listened intently, continuing to run his hands over her body as she spoke. His touch made her dizzy, and she allowed hers
elf to briefly imagine the two of them alone, and naked, in a more private location.
“Looks like we’re both home free then,” he commented offhandedly at her news.
In the back of her mind, Tori doubted his really being free. However, she wanted to believe her new friend, needing someone she could trust; he didn’t offer any details, and she didn’t pry, finding herself lost in the sweetness of his words and the tenderness with which he held her.
The time passed too quickly, and at 11:00 pm, she reluctantly pointed out they had to be back at the house by midnight, and it would be better if they did not return together. Enrique had to agree, and so they mounted up and headed towards home. As they rode, Tori leaned forward, her arms tight around his chest. It occurred to her that her ruse might have worked, and her period trick kept him at bay.
He stopped the bike two blocks from the house so she could walk and make it in plenty of time before he arrived just before midnight. He remained sitting on his bike while she slid off and turned to lean in beside him, kissing him goodnight. She decided to test her theory and whispered, “I’m sorry about getting my period.”
He emitted a small laugh, hugging her playfully while running his hand down the crack of her rear end, “That's ok, baby. We’ll have plenty of time when it's over.” He grinned at her, arms holding her firmly as he spoke, “We’re free now, remember? You and me.”
Tori's heart made a strange leap at his words. Reluctant to walk away, her hair bounced as she trotted the rest of the way home.
Enrique waited until she had disappeared into the dark, then reached inside his inner pocket and pulled out a small flip phone. Opening it, he pressed the send key and dialed the only number he ever called. A male voice picked up on the other end, and Enrique gave the voice a quick update, “Yeah, I got her… Yeah, she’ll be good to go, I promise. I’ll check in again later.” He ended the call by flicking the phone shut. Starting the engine, he rolled smoothly up to the front of the house, and dismounted to head inside.
A New Life Series - Starter Kit Page 22
