“Thanks,” Gianna muttered and kept moving. Bullet would give her a terrible beat down if she used any of his money to buy an umbrella. He’d also smack her around if she spent too much time inside the pharmacy, so she picked up her pace and grabbed a box of Sudafed.
She perused the cashiers and selected the one who had the shortest line. In front of her was a young woman holding a baby. A cute little girl. Gianna smiled at the baby. The baby gurgled loud and happily, causing the mother to turn around.
“She’s cute,” Gianna said.
“Thanks.” The mother smiled at Gianna and then beamed at her baby. The mother, who looked to be in her late teens, was wearing low-cut jeans and a short top that showed a butterfly tattoo below her navel. She was light-skinned with reddish-colored hair and light brown eyes. Her brown-skinned baby didn’t favor her at all.
“How old is she?” Gianna asked, sticking out a finger and allowing the baby to curl her hand around it.
“Five months,” the mother replied.
Gianna didn’t normally initiate conversations. She was conditioned not to talk to anyone other than Bullet and the tricks he lined up for her. But the baby was so cute.
It was refreshing to interact with an innocent baby. But was it worth the risk of Bullet plowing through the front to door to see what was taking so long?
Seized with terror, she extracted her finger from the gurgling baby’s hand and focused her gaze on her water-sodden sneakers.
“Do you sell gas cans?” the teenage mother asked when she reached the front of the line.
“No,” the cashier replied, “but you can get one from the Sunoco station at Twenty-second and Fairmount.”
“I don’t know this area. How far is that?” There was a distinct tremble in the young mother’s voice.
“Just a couple blocks south.” Through with giving out directions, the cashier said, “Next,” and beckoned Gianna to move forward.
While Gianna paid for Bullet’s medication, she could see from her peripheral vision that the mother was standing near the exit, cooing to her baby. The mother had an umbrella but appeared hesitant to run out into the rain.
Holding a crinkly bag, Gianna headed for the door. She gave the teenager a tight smile and pushed open the door.
“Excuse me. Are you driving? I don’t think I have enough gas to make it to the Sunoco station.”
“No, I don’t drive. I’m…with…uh, my boyfriend.”
“Do you think he’d mind giving us a ride?” Her eyes pleaded with Gianna. “My name is Brielle. I drove all the way from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and I wasn’t paying attention to the gas gauge.”
Bullet would not like it if Gianna brought this woman and her baby to his car. Her mouth was fixed to say, Sorry, I can’t help you. But when she looked at the baby, her heart melted.
“Okay, I’ll ask him to give you a ride.” Gianna swallowed a lump of fear. Her fate was sealed. Bullet was going to punch her dead in the mouth for this. She’d be tricking tonight with busted lips.
When they reached the car, Bullet was kicked back, seat reclined, puffing on a blunt. Gianna opened the passenger door and poked her head in. “She ran out of gas,” she explained, inclining her head toward Brielle and her baby. “Can you give her a ride to that station on Twenty-second Street?”
Jolted from his blissful high, Bullet scowled at Gianna. His look promised punishment. “Yeah, aiight,” he mumbled, adjusting his seat and turning the ignition before Brielle and the baby were situated in the back seat.
Wheeling out of the lot, Bullet instantly started chatting with Brielle. “What’s a nice-looking chick like you doing stranded in the rain? Where’s your man?”
Brielle laughed. “That’s the question I’ve been asking myself. And that’s why I drove to Philly. He hasn’t called me in a week. That bum hasn’t even called to check on our daughter.”
“Is that right?” Bullet said in his slimy way. “Shame.”
“If I were a no-good mother, I’d drop Samantha off at his house and keep rolling. I swear, I’d love to give him a taste of what’s it’s like to be a single parent.”
“You doing the right thing, by forcing him to accept his responsibility.”
“You think so?” Brielle’s tone was uncertain.
“Yeah, let that nucca take care of a screaming baby for a minute. That’ll make him get his act together.” Bullet laughed heartily.
“That’s exactly what I intended to do, but I don’t know…I’m too attached to my daughter. It would kill me to be separated from her…for even a day.”
“Sometimes you gotta go hard to get whatchu want,” Bullet counseled.
Gianna was perplexed. Why was Bullet acting so friendly? Doing good deeds and engaging in light chatter wasn’t his style. Maybe he had a soft spot for the baby.
Bells chimed when they pulled into the service station lot.
“I’ll be right back,” Brielle said cheerily. “Can you hold Samantha for me? I don’t want her to catch a cold out in this weather.”
Gianna’s eyes darted to Bullet’s, silently asking for permission. He gave a curt nod and she twisted around and took the baby in her arms.
Giving her daughter a proud smile, Brielle got out and trotted inside the convenience store.
“Hey, Samantha,” Gianna said, smiling. The baby smelled good.
“Listen up,” Bullet said gruffly. “Fuck all that coo-coo, baby talk bullshit. We gotta put some plans together. Quick.”
Through the picture glass window, Gianna could see Brielle standing in line, holding a red gas container. “What kind of plans?”
Bullet glowered at Gianna. “You a slow learner or something? I’m ’bout to snatch that bitch. You think I wanna be wheeling this 2001? A nigga deserve a come-up. That light-skinned honey can make me a mint.”
Gianna pulled the baby closer, nuzzled her hair, inhaling her baby fresh scent. “What about the baby?”
“Lemme worry about that crumb snatcher. All you need to do is play your part. Put on your game face, bitch. I’m ’bout to catch me another ho.”
Brielle came out of the store and walked toward the gas pump. She waved at her daughter, who was in Gianna’s arms.
Wearing her game face, Gianna smiled back. She took the baby’s hand and let her wave back.
Gianna wanted to scream…RUN! But she knew Brielle wouldn’t run without her daughter. And Bullet would beat her to a pulp if he realized that she was thinking about giving Brielle any kind of warning.
Maybe she could make an excuse to get the baby out of the car… hand her to her mother and then whisper that she needed to run for her life.
As if reading her mind, Bullet cautioned, “Don’t fuck this up. Just follow my lead. Play your part.”
“Okay.” Gianna held the baby tight.
Brielle slid into the back seat. The baby turned and reached for her.
“Mommy has gas on her hands, Samantha. Your wipes are in the car. I’ll pick you up after I clean my hands.”
Whimpering, the baby kept reaching. Gianna turned in her seat so Brielle and her baby could communicate. Brielle made funny faces at her daughter. Samantha’s crying was replaced with laughter.
Gianna’s eyes latched on to Brielle’s as she tried to silently connect with her. She tried to communicate with her eyes that she was in danger. Her eyes screamed for Brielle to take her innocent baby and run for her life. But Brielle’s trusting smile forced Gianna to give up, and shift her gaze away.
“Whatchu driving?” Bullet asked as he approached the Rite Aid where Brielle’s car was parked.
“That’s my car over there.” She pointed to a dark-colored Honda.
He parked on the same sidestreet as before. “Gimme your keys. I’ll get the diaper bag while I fill your tank.”
“You’re such a gentleman. Thanks.”
Gianna felt guilty. And sad.
Bullet took the car key ring that dangled a plastic framed picture of the baby. “Hand me my
cap,” he told Gianna. She took a cap out of the glove box. Bullet pulled the brim down low to conceal his face from the security camera. Then, braving the rain, he dashed to the parking lot, carrying the red gas can and dangling Brielle’s keys.
A few minutes later, he returned to the Cadillac. He got back in the driver’s seat and tossed Gianna the diaper bag, and then shifted his car into gear.
“That was fast. Uh, can I get my keys back?” There was a nervous shiver in Brielle’s voice.
It had finally dawned on Brielle that something was amiss.
Shame and fear bowed Gianna’s head.
“Nah, I’ma hold on to ’em.” Looking over his shoulder, Bullet pressed down on the gas pedal, moving down the small street in fast reverse.
“Why are you keeping my car keys?” Brielle shouted. “What’s going on? I thought you were going to put gas in my tank.”
“I am. Eventually, but not right now.”
“Why not?” she shouted. She poked Gianna in the shoulder. “What’s wrong with your boyfriend?”
Gianna didn’t open her mouth. She tightened her grip around the baby.
Brielle rose up and tried to yank her child from Gianna’s arms.
Gianna shook Brielle’s hands away. “Get off me, bitch,” Gianna snarled, playing her part.
“Girl, are you crazy?” Hysteria rose in her voice. “You better give me my baby!”
Driving fast down another small street, Bullet suddenly hit the brakes. The car screeched and lurched to a stop. Bullet lifted his T-shirt, revealing the butt of his newly purchased gun. “Settle yourself down, sexy.” He pulled the gun out of his waistband and aimed it toward Gianna and the baby.
Gianna flinched. Bullet had just bought the gun a few days ago and already he’d pointed it at her more times than she could count. Having a gun aimed in your face was scarier than being poked with his knife.
“All this tussling and struggling might make me lose control of the car. Who knows, I might skid out of control or hit a bump or something. All I’m tryna say is…I don’t want to make a mistake and put a hole in lil’ Samantha’s head. You don’t wanna make me do that, do you?
“No,” Brielle whispered.
“Aiight, then. Sit back and relax.”
Brielle went silent. Probably from shock.
Bullet pressed the gas pedal. He put the gun under his seat. “Damn, I hate that I had to fuck around in the rain. Now my sinuses are acting up.” He rubbed his nose, made a loud sniffling sound. “All this trouble over a piece of ass.”
From the back seat, Brielle began to cry softly. It was a pitiful sound.
Grimacing, Bullet’s hands gripped the steering wheel. He spoke through clenched teeth. “Didn’t I say my sinuses are acting up?”
“Yes, I bought the Sudafed,” Gianna answered promptly.
“Well? Give it to me, bitch.”
Gianna knew Bullet was apt to pop her upside her head if she didn’t react quickly enough. With his eyes concentrating on the road, he might accidentally punch the baby while swinging at her and that would be tragic.
With her arms protectively encircling little Samantha, Gianna ripped open the package of Sudafed, and quickly shook out two tablets and handed them to Bullet.
CHAPTER 12
Four weeks had passed since the night Gianna had been abducted. During the first two, she’d broken free a couple times—slipping out of the abandoned house, slithering out of a motel window, persuading a trick to allow her to stow away in the back seat of his car. But every attempt to escape failed. Bullet always caught up with her, thwarting her getaway, and then dragging her back to some remote, shabby quarter.
But despite the harsh punishments that Bullet dispensed, Gianna kept trying to break free.
Then he bought a gun.
With his finger on the trigger, Bullet shoved the barrel inside her mouth, demanding that she suck it, imploring her to stick her tongue inside the muzzle. And threatening to blow her head off the next time she tried to flee.
He also made her write down both of her parents’ separate addresses as well as the location of their summer home. He said that he knew people who would kill for him. Former inmates whom he’d served time with. The kind of people who would knock off her parents—put them six feet under without batting an eye. A swift death would be too good for Gianna’s parents. Bullet promised they’d suffer slow, torturous deaths if Gianna ran away again.
So Gianna stopped running.
She also forced herself to stop thinking about her parents. There was no hope of ever being rescued… of ever being reunited with her family.
She belonged to Bullet, and was growing accustomed to trading sex for pay.
The hardest part of her day was keeping Bullet satisfied. Trying to not give him a reason to hit her or do the other cruel things he did for fun.
But her compliance to his wishes didn’t matter. Bullet still tormented her, instilling fear by tying her to trees in secluded areas and shooting rounds over her head, using her for target practice. Scaring her out of her wits—keeping her in line.
Now Gianna leaned against the metal door, her rain-slicked hair plastered to her face.
Bullet held a large black umbrella over his head. His full attention was on Brielle, but Gianna wasn’t even tempted to run. With the diaper bag slung over her shoulder, she waited to be let inside.
She held Samantha close, providing warmth and protection from the rain. Gianna loved babies and used to pretend that she was the mommy of the toddlers she used to babysit during the summer vacations in Ocean City.
Brielle stood stubbornly near the car, unfazed by the steady drizzle of rain. “I don’t know what this is about, but that girl shouldn’t be holding my daughter.”
Bullet’s eyes sparked with anger. “Fuck your daughter.”
“Oh, God,” Brielle said, her voice a long screech of disbelief. “Please. Don’t do this. Give me my baby.” She stretched out her arms, wiggling her fingers anxiously.
The baby was sleeping peacefully, but Gianna rocked her anyway. Gently…comfortingly, hoping to ease some of Brielle’s anxiety. It was the least she could do.
Bullet sneered. “Bitch, please. Get yo’ ass back in the damn car. Lollipop gon’ take care of the baby while me and you take care of some business.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you!” Brielle started striding quickly toward her child. Bullet caught her by the scruff of her collar. Using the butt of the gun, he bashed her on the side of her face.
Brielle dropped like a rag doll, her body splayed on the wet concrete.
Gianna’s heart sped. “Is she dead?”
Bullet flashed her a look of annoyance. “Can a dead bitch sell ass for me?”
“No.” Gianna nibbled on her fingernail, eyes shifting downward.
“Aiight, then. Stop asking dumb-ass questions.” Shaking his head at the ridiculousness of Gianna’s inquiry, Bullet took out a key ring and opened the door.
Without instruction, Gianna went inside. Being held captive inside different storage spaces in the Philadelphia area had become routine.
Pulling Brielle by her wrists, Bullet dragged her across concrete. Gianna gawked at Brielle’s bloody face, and then quickly looked away with a shudder.
Carefully, she placed the baby’s blanket on top of the lumpy, stained mattress that was on the floor—the mattress where she had been turning tricks for the past few days.
She scrounged inside the baby’s diaper bag until she found a bottle of milk. She wanted the milk close at hand. Who knew what Bullet would do if Samantha awakened, screaming from hunger?
Bullet tossed Brielle onto the mattress. He frowned at her sprawled body and then grunted in disgust when he observed the gash in her face.
“Damn! How dis bitch gon’ make me some money with her mug all dented up? Damn!”
Gianna dug a hand into the diaper bag and retrieved a wipe.
“Did I tell you to make a move?” Bullet snarled.
Her hand was poised to clean the blood from Brielle’s face, but Bullet’s growl stilled her.
“She’s bleeding.”
“So!”
“I was going to clean the wound.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Oh, you a doctor all of a sudden?”
“No.”
“A paramedic?”
“No, I’m not a paramedic,” she responded in a shaky whisper.
“I know you ain’t no paramedic. You a ho. The only thing you need to be concerned with is getting my money.”
“You’re right.” She forced a “what was I thinking” smile, convincing Bullet that she was grateful for the reality check.
With a look of self-satisfaction, Bullet sauntered over to a plastic lawn chair. The scruffy mattress and the green plastic chair were the only items in the storage space. Gianna’s wardrobe, a scant collection of hooker wear, was kept in the trunk of Bullet’s car.
He tinkered with his cell phone, checking messages, frowning, and then scrolling through his address list.
After a series of beeps, he said, “Yo, Flashy. I need a favor, man.”
A twinge of apprehension worked its way down Gianna’s spine. Flashy was one of Bullet’s prison buddies. She’d never met him, but she knew he usually assisted whenever Bullet called him. And Bullet didn’t call for ordinary favors.
“Straight up. Don’t I always take care of you?” Bullet growled into his cell phone.
Gianna held her breath. Maybe Flashy would show some humanity, stand up to Bullet, and refuse to assist in his corrupt and immoral deeds.
“Money ain’t no thing,” Bullet roared, indignant. “Look, I gotta dump a car. And I got another serious issue. I’ll get at you in a minute so we can put our heads together.”
Her hopes dashed, Gianna picked up Samantha. She clutched the sweet-smelling baby to her chest. Her lips brushed the top of the baby’s head, affectionately. She had no idea what favor Bullet needed from his jail friend, but she had a hunch he had a devious plan that involved the baby. She didn’t wish any further harm to Brielle, but she felt much more protective toward the innocent baby.
“Hand me the baby,” Bullet said, his tone a low drone, as though he were asking Gianna to pass the salt.
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