by Marie James
“I want out,” she says through her sobs. “I’m only half way through my contract.”
“Can’t you just ignore him? Do what you want?”
She shakes her head vigorously. “He told me that if he found out that I hooked up with another one of the guys he’d send me to The Cat House.”
“Fuck,” I mutter.
“Yeah,” she says, “fuck.”
***
Darby and I sat in silence for a long while. I didn’t leave her room until she said she was tired and wanted to sleep.
I hate that I can’t tell her about BT and his plans to rescue me. I don’t know how many of the other girls would want to leave when the time comes. My hopes are they would have no choice because the entire SINdicate would be broken up and no longer a working organization. What happens to them then? Will they just be thrown out into the world?
I know Darby’s story and how miserable her life was before Vito found her at the strip club. I imagine most of the other girls’ stories are similar. Life has to be pretty rough for the idea of living in a brothel to sound like a good plan.
No one here seems to hate it much, but I know when Darby finally comes out of her room, she’ll pretend to be just as happy as she pretended before Vito hit her last night. She can’t show weakness. Especially not when all the other women hate her. The other girls could be just as unhappy, but I’ll never know that because they despise me for just being friends with her.
I curl up on the couch in the living room. If I go back to my room, I’ll never want to leave. My sheets smell like BT, and that makes me miss him tremendously. I know that’s where I’ll end up shortly, but for now, I need a little distance.
I’m flipping through channels when I feel the presence of another behind me. I look over my shoulder and see a tall, model-thin woman. She’s stunningly beautiful, and I can see the appeal the men would have when they visit her. Long, wavy blonde hair is braided over her shoulder, and her natural beauty is obvious since she’s not wearing makeup. She has a plate of fruit in one hand and a bottle of water in the other.
I smile up at her and hope for a split second that she’s here to be nice. I’ve seen her before. We’re in such tight quarters; it’s impossible not to see everyone that’s here.
She sneers back at me. So much for hoping.
“Looks like you’re a whore after all,” she says maliciously.
My eyes widen. I wasn’t expecting that. All of the other women have just kept their distance. They’ve been rude, but it’s been more ignoring and shunning than blatant aggression. The other women may not talk to Darby and me, but apparently they talk to one another. This woman wasn’t anywhere to be seen last night when I took BT to my room. A few of the other girls were. Clearly gossip travels fast around here.
I don’t answer her because honestly I can’t think of anything fast enough. I turn my head back to the TV, doing my best to ignore her.
She won’t give up though. I feel her lean down closer to my head.
“You won’t last long,” she pants in my ear. “Your pretty little ass can’t keep up with the guys. You’ll be in The Cat House faster than you can spread your legs for the guys.”
I turn to look back at her, resisting the urge to flinch away from her hard stare.
“Funny you should say that,” I begin with more bravado than I actually feel. “Vito mentioned that’s where you’re headed if your ass gets any bigger.”
My words are harsh, and have no basis in truth; she’s practically perfect. As a woman though, I know almost every woman has things they’d like to change about themselves.
She stands to her full height and sputters as if she’s trying to come back at me with a witty retort. She fails, miserably. I watch as she slams down the plate of food on the side table and storms off to her room. Bitch. I bet she spends the rest of the day throwing up. Landing in The Cat House is the worst nightmare of everyone here, myself included.
Chapter 24
BT
When I’m stressed back home, I hit the gym. To say I’m stressed right now is an understatement. I do as much as I can in my room, but Vito hasn’t been generous enough to let me hit the gym. Not like I’ve asked. He and Frankie are both pretty thin. I’m certain it has more to do with the coke they snort than natural metabolism.
I miss Scout and my normal routine. I need to hear my dad’s voice. He’s always kept me grounded, but I know that’s not a possibility. If I can be successful at getting Aviana out of Vegas alive, it will all be worth it.
A knock at the door startles me temporarily. I take a quick look at the ancient digital clock on the bedside. Vito normally doesn’t show up until later in the evening, but if he’s here now it means tonight is going to be super fucking busy.
I open the door. “You ready to go?” Vito asks from the hallway.
“Yeah, man. Give me a minute to grab my shirt.” I walk back into the room and grab my shirt and a hoodie. It’s warm during the day, but the desert gets cold at night.
Hours and several jobs later we’re in yet another shitty hotel room. I yank the guy up, but he struggles, and we tilt to the side. Crashing into the bedside table, his flailing arms knock everything to the floor. His cell phone shines like a beacon in the night. I crowd close to him, holding his dirty shirt tightly in my fist. Reaching down with my free hand I scoop up the phone and slide it into the front pocket of my hoodie.
I pull my fist back and punch the guy in the nose. I regret hitting the man, but I have to make it look good. He’s another junkie, and I see Aviana’s dad in my head as I hit him. He groans and his head rolls on his shoulders. I release his shirt and pilfer his pockets as he slumps, breathing raggedly on the floor.
“Stupid fucker,” I hiss as I pull a few dollars out of his pocket.
I hand the meager collection to Vito. He’s talking on his phone and paying no real attention to me. He’s getting more relaxed around me. Of course, I’ve given him no reason to doubt my loyalty, even though it’s been forced. I’ve mentioned once or twice about continuing to work for the SINdicate after my debt is paid. He’s not given me an answer one way or the other, but his confidence in me seems to be growing daily.
***
The sun can be seen over the horizon before our night is over. That seems to be the schedule in Vegas; awake at night, sleep during the day. My circadian clock is so fucked it will take weeks before it’s back to normal.
I never want to work for these assholes, but the phone in my pocket increases my distaste in the twelve hour day we just finished. As usual, Vito hand delivers me to my door.
“Get some rest,” he instructs. “Tomorrow will be another long ass day.”
I nod my head. We, well I, worked my ass off today. Not that the money I recover will make any difference in the end, but I haven't been pulling hardly anything off the guys the last couple of days. I pull the phone out of my pocket, and it might as well be a gold bar. This thing is more valuable than a truckload of money at this point in the game.
Vito never comes back once I’m in my room, but I shower and wait to make sure today won’t be the first time he returns before pulling the phone out. I dial the eight-hundred number Shadow had me memorize. It’s a recording for a mattress company. I leave the phone number as instructed and nothing more.
He never told me how long it would take for them to get back to me, and the hour long wait nearly kills me.
The phone rings and I can tell by looking at the number that it’s Shadow. The readout is the same as the number I left the message for.
I don’t answer with a normal greeting. “I think my crabs have infested my mattress.” It’s the “code phrase” Shadow insisted on when he told me about the contact line.
His laughter bellows through the phone, and as much as I want to get pissed it actually brings a smile to my face.
“Stupid fucker,” I mutter into the phone.
“How’s Sin City,” he asks after his laughter dies down.
“You ready to admit defeat?” His tone is serious now.
“You have no idea,” I admit. Most men would feel shame in this situation, asking for help is never easy, but when it comes to requesting it from your brothers, it’s easier than most times in your life. These men trained as I did, and we all know that assisting each other is a lifelong commitment.
“Oh, we have some idea. We’ve had eyes on you since we came and got Kid.”
“He’s okay?” I ask with relief.
“Well,” he pauses. “He’s home.” He doesn’t offer more so I don’t ask. He hit that table pretty fucking hard. The thought that he may be paralyzed rests heavy in my gut.
“I found, Aviana,” I inform him. “They’re holding her in the hotel connected to The Golden Dragon casino. I’m sure Kid told you that I took a loan from the main guy Vinnie. They have me working for them to pay it back. I’m sequestered in the same hotel, but a few floors down from her.”
“We can get you both out tonight,” Shadow says. “We were waiting to hear from you before we swept the place.”
“This organization is much more than giving loans and kidnapping girls when someone can’t pay. Aviana says they have another whore house where they force girls into prostitution.”
“Another one? Fuck, do they have her in one?” Shadow’s voice gets lower, and I can tell how pissed he is at the idea that these men are forcing women into prostitution. He deals with this shit on a regular basis, but the instinct to protect every woman he can never falters.
“Sort of,” I tell him and run my hand over my head. “She says the women who are on the top floor are there by choice. They’re working a contract and are there pretty much to fuck the men in the SINdicate who don’t have time to hunt for pussy on their own.”
“And they’re making Aviana do that shit?”
“She still has time left on her dad’s extension. She hasn’t been forced into anything yet. I could kill that fucker with my own hands for putting her in this situation.”
“Yeah about that,” Shadow begins. “You won’t have the chance.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“We did some recon on her apartment, hoping to find more info about her dad and the organization. Her dad was dead on the couch. Looked like he overdosed.” I let out a heaving breath.
I have no idea what this will do to her. By her own account she had no relationship with her father, but at the end of the day, he was her dad. The loss of a relative, even after all of the hell they’ve brought into your life is still difficult. The what-ifs and regret of not doing and saying things can be heavy in the heart of the people left behind.
“We called the police. Reported the smell and left. I honestly couldn’t believe no one else had called. It was a pretty rank situation,” Shadow says when I don’t respond to the news of their discovery.
“I don’t know how she’s going to take the news, but it won’t matter if we can’t get her out of here safely.” The truth of my words isn't as bitter now that I know Cerberus is involved.
“We cleaned out a bunch of her shit, put it in storage. There’s no way she needs to come back to that mess.”
“I appreciate that, man.” These guys think of everything.
“So this is more than the quick in and out? Now we have to figure out where the other girls are being taken.” Shadow grows silent on the other end.
“The entire SINdicate needs to be dismantled. They’re preying on weak, drunk and drugged out men. Men who have no hope of paying them back. It’s bad business all around, but they don’t show any signs of stopping,” I tell him. “Aviana doesn’t want to leave until she knows the other girls can be rescued.”
“Brave girl,” Shadow praises.
“Extremely,” I agree.
“We have quite a few guys on this. It won’t be long before we have the intel on where the other girls are being housed. What else you got?”
“Key cards are required to get into my room, the area where the women are at on the top floor as well.”
“Those are easy to bypass.” Maybe for you, I think.
“We need a day when both of you will be in the same location. We make every effort on every job to ensure the safety of all those involved, but it’s easier for us if we don’t have to split the teams too much.”
“I’ll call you back when I know we’ll be together. I can’t carry this phone with me and risk getting caught with it.”
Shadow gives me a direct line to memorize, so I don’t have to go through the bullshit of leaving a message again.
“I’ll call you when I have more information,” I tell him.
“Keep safe, brother.” The line goes dead.
I manage to stash the phone inside of the bedside lamp. They haven’t tossed the room for contraband, but these guys are mercurial on a good day, so the chance is always there.
I have no idea when I’ll get to see Aviana again, but I know the minute I do is not a second too soon.
Chapter 25
Aviana
It’s been five, long miserable days since I saw BT last. Darby has kept to herself more than usual. My heart thumps loudly when the double beep of the door echoes through the room. I watch with baited breath as it swings wide and Vito, along with BT and another guy I don’t know, walk in.
I train my face to as much impassivity as I can when all I want to do is jump up from the couch and run into his arms. I see his fist clench, and I know he wants to come to me also.
I see Vito slap him on the back and point to the bowl on the small entryway table. BT nods and grabs a condom from the bowl. Just when I thought my pulse couldn’t get any faster, it beats at the speed of sound. I swallow thickly as I see him pocket the prophylactic.
I watch Vito disappear down the hall, bypassing Darby’s door and choosing the one right next door.
Other girls are milling around, visibly preening at BT as he walks across the room. No luck, ladies, this man is mine.
He approaches me and holds his hand out. “Aviana,” his voice is husky. “Want to have a little fun?”
I lay my hand in his and stand. I smirk at the blonde bitch that was so mean to me the other day when we walk by.
“Skank,” she mutters under her breath.
I don’t let it bother me. With BT here, nothing can phase me.
“What the hell was that about?” BT asks as soon as the door closes behind us.
I pull him toward the bed and straddle his lap before speaking. “It seems some of the girls hate me by association. I’ve made friends with Darby. Hell, she’s the only girl who will speak to me.” I nuzzle my nose against his neck and feel his hands grip my ass. “From the way they were all looking out there, they’re pissed you’ve chosen me instead of them.”
“Mmm,” comes his only response when I nip at his ear.
I hear his stomach rumble and pull my face away from him. “Are you hungry? I can make you a Nutella and jelly sandwich,” I offer.
He scrunches his nose up. “I’m not hungry for food, and I don’t want to waste our time together eating.” He smirks. “Well, eating food anyways. Besides, Nutella is some nasty shit.”
I narrow my eyes at him and point at the door. “Get out.” A moment of confusion marks his face until he sees me smiling. “If you don’t like Nutella we can’t be friends. Dealbreaker,” I tell him and begin to slide off his lap.
He grips me tighter to his chest. “I’m a peanut butter guy myself.” I look at him with disbelief. “Seriously! I can’t keep the stuff in my house; I’d eat it all in one sitting.”
“I guess you can stay,” I say with a big smile.
His face grows serious. “How are you doing here, Aviana?”
The mood in the room shifts immediately. I go to climb off his lap, but his hands hold me in place. “What’s happened?” His voice is laced with anger and regret.
“Nothing,” I answer softly. The loo
k on his face says he doesn’t believe me. “Seriously, BT. Nothing has happened. One of the new guys got handsy with me yesterday, but Frankie shut him down. He didn’t try anything after that.”
“Frankie was here last night?” I nod. I can see the anger in his eyes. “He wasn’t with Vito and me yesterday. I assumed he had the day off or something. What else?”
I frown. This is not how I want to spend my time. “Well, I had words with that girl that called me a skank a couple days ago, but she didn’t hurt me or anything. Oh,” I say remembering my time with Darby after their last visit. “Vito hit Darby in the face. Her cheek was swollen and bruised. It was hard for me not to tell her it would be over soon, but she says she’s ready to get out. She doesn’t want to be here anymore.”
“Everyone will get out, Aviana. I’m working my best to make that happen as quickly as I can.” I give him a weak smile. I know he’s doing everything in his power, but I don’t know just how much power one man can have. I haven’t given up hope, but as each day goes by, the time they gave my father dwindles, my safety fading away with it.
“I know you will,” I tell him. I twirl a lock of his hair at the base of his neck, and the atmosphere in the room begins to shift.
His eyes shine up at me, and I think we’ve been talking enough. I lean in and press my lips against his, running my tongue along the seam.
He gives as much as he gets, groaning when I suck the tip of his talented tongue into my mouth. He pulls away too soon, and I grumble my displeasure. He releases my ass and brings a gentle hand to my cheek. “I thought you’d be mad at me because of what I did before I left last time.”
My core clenches at the memory of his thickening cock near my mouth. “My feelings were hurt,” I admit. “But I know why you did it.”
“Vito made me grab that condom. He’s going to think I had sex with you,” he says tentatively. “I’m going to let him, Aviana. He can’t think anything other than sex is going on between us.”
