by Nicole Fox
That's what I'd hoped, at least. Now . . . now I wasn't so sure. But, you know what? Why did I care what some whore thought of me in the long run? Sure, I'd help them get the money, and I'd go through with the plan. But when we were done, that was it.
“You really think that?” I growled. “Even after everything I've done for you? Putting you up for the night? Fighting off those two guys?”
The look on her face was awful, mirroring how hurt I felt. “I'm . . . I'm sorry, Ford,” she said after a moment.
A pang of guilt stabbed me right next to where Micah's icicle had, puncturing just as deeply and just as painfully.
The conversation ended there, though, as we pulled onto the long drive that led up to the Mansion.
The sun hung in the sky, covering the ground in a bright, beautiful sheen of desert light. Green grass, full trees. This place probably had the water bill of a golf course, what with all the watering it probably needed.
The structure loomed up in front of us we drove closer. An old, Victorian style home that seemed to crouch in the desert like a giant beast, its eyes windows to depravity and lust as it looked down on us. Something about the place just seemed off, like one look at it and you knew there was something hidden and forbidden going on inside its four walls.
And here we were, driving into it.
“You ready?” I asked as we pulled up around the circular drive and parked at the front steps, right in front of the valet.
She took a deep breath and silently nodded. She was nervous, I could tell. Nervous I'd betray her, nervous I'd leave Kessa and her in the dust while I fucked off with my money.
Honestly, she was right to be.
The valet gave my shitty Pontiac a once over before coming bustling over as I rolled down my window.
“Sir?” he asked. “Sir, this is a private residence. I'm going to have to ask you to leave before I call security.”
“Call Daddy out here before you do that,” I said, my voice cold as ice. “I got something he's going to want to see.”
He got a peeved expression on his face and took a step back. “Who I should tell him is here to see him?”
“Ford Taylor. He doesn't know who I am, but he'll want to.”
The valet sneered at my words, but nodded politely. He turned around and headed back inside.
“See?” I asked Micah. “Perfect so far.”
“I don't know, Ford,” she said, her words trailing off in the silent car.
I turned back to the front door in time to see a big bruiser come out onto the front porch, his giant frame filling the doorway. He was dressed almost the same as the two guys I'd beat down earlier in the day, back in the parking lot. “That ain't Daddy, is it?”
She shook her head. “Nope.”
“Guess he doesn't want to pay a finder's fee.”
“Guess not.”
I shook my head and opened the driver’s side door, climbing out of it as the bruiser came my way.
“You Ford?” the man grumbled like a mountain losing its side in a landslide, his eyes searching me up and down as I straightened up.
“Yep. Who the fuck are you?”
“Daddy sent me out here to get whatever it is you're bringing to him. That Micah in there?”
“Yep,” I replied as I looked up at him. He was almost six inches taller than me, and I wasn’t exactly short. This guy could've been a linebacker for the NFL if he'd cared to. “I want to talk to Daddy, though. I want a finder's fee.”
The big man shook his head, laughing. His eyes stayed on me the whole time. “You don't get it, do you? Ain't no finder's fee for his property. They're already his.”
“Then ain't no girl. We'll just leave.”
“Well, that ain't exactly gonna fly, neither.” He balled his hands up into fists at his side, his knuckles crackling loudly. They were so big, they looked like they could double for roasted chickens.
“How about you just go get Daddy Williams out here and save yourself an ass beating? It's been a long day, and I'm tired.”
He chuckled, then swung.
I was ready for him, though. I'd been watching his shoulders from the moment he got within striking distance, and he telegraphed his punches so loud and clear, he might as well have worked for Western Union. I ducked his ungainly but powerful swing and delivered two strikes to his massive belly as I danced around to his side.
The two punches didn't do anything to hurt him, but they did slow him down a little and knocked him off his center. He went to turn and focus back on me, but he was off balance already.
I kicked hard at the back of his leg, stomping with all my force. I didn't want to tear anything, just wanted to show him I was faster than I looked, and more experienced than he'd ever be.
The bruiser grunted as he went down on the knee I'd kicked, his arms going out in front to keep him steady. He started to try and get up, but with his back turned to me like that, I had a few moments of free rein.
I locked my fists together and swung hard at the side of his head, pounding him in the ear.
He bellowed as he toppled to the side, his other leg not being enough to stabilize him before he went down like a bag of rocks, hand pressed to his throbbing ear.
“You wanna get Daddy now?” I asked, my voice not even sounding remotely out of breath.
“Whoo, boy! No need!” a big, bellowing yokel-sounding voice came from behind me. “Look at that! You took him down like it was nothing!”
I swung around to find the voice, my fists raised and ready to go in case there was more security coming. The only thing I saw though, was a big, fat man with a belly the size of Nevada and jowls even a pig would be ashamed of.
“You Daddy?” I asked as the security guard groaned behind me, cussing about his fucking ear.
“I am, I am. You must be Ford Taylor,” he said, coming down the steps at me, hand out in front of him like an offer.
I looked at his hand and didn't take it. “Got your girl in the car. Thought there might be a finder's fee?”
He laughed and withdrew his hand. “Gotta respect a man what knows what he wants, don't I?”
“Fee?” I asked, letting the question hang in the air.
He shook his head. “No fee.” I frowned and went to shake my head, but he held up his hand. “Wasn't finished. No fee yet.”
Shit! No fucking money for a fee? That meant he was tapped for cash right now! What the fuck had I been thinking about ripping this guy off? Why had I trusted Micah like this? I glanced back at her, still in the car, then back to Daddy. “Yet?”
He grinned. “I got a big party coming up tonight, an auction of sorts for some dates with my girls, and I'll have your money for you after that. Meantime, though, I'd like to offer you a job. How'd you like to work security for me tonight? You handled yourself all right with my biggest guy. Think you can handle a few handsy party guests?”
“Security for whorehouses ain't exactly my thing.”
He stepped in close, his voice lowered. “I know who you are, son, and I know you got a debt with a mutual acquaintance of ours. I'll make sure that finder's fee is big enough to cover you with Joseph, and you make sure I get topnotch security.”
Double shit. I nodded with a sigh. “Fine,” I said, glancing back to Micah.
The look on her face was one of absolute horror and betrayal.
“You got me for tonight. But, that's it.”
Chapter Thirteen
Micah
There I was, sitting on a decorative, floral printed couch in the small parlor off from the main hall. The big bruiser who Ford had taken down in two seconds, Sam, I think his name was, just stood there, rubbing his ear and glaring. I didn't know what was supposed to happen to me. All I knew was that I had to get Kessa out of here.
The moment we set foot back in the Mansion, everything seemed to change. Ford hardly glanced at me, and Daddy just ordered me to this side room while he and Ford discussed his job for the evening. Neither of us went anywhere near
the office with the safe, because there was no finder’s fee to pay him with.
I was only there for a few minutes before Daddy joined me alone, and dismissed Sam to the other room.
“Micah, Micah, Micah,” he chided as he came in. “Micah, why'd you run off on us like that, hon? I thought you were part of our little family. What in tarnation we gonna do with you now?”
Family, my sweet butt. I turned away from him, hoping he wouldn't see my trembling lip or the tears welling up in my eyes at how quickly our little plan was falling apart.
“Send you to bed without your supper?” he asked, laughing jovially. He was in a rare good mood, it seemed, as he settled down into the chair across from me, his hands clasped together, resting on his belly.
“Cut me up like Kessa?” I snapped back.
The laughter drained from his voice and the smile faded from his fat face. “You keep this shit up, girlie, just might. We can put you on the docket same as the other girls. Ain't no one gonna get upset about seeing a fine little piece like you on the auction block.”
“I'm worth too much to you to do that, and I know it.”
He laughed. “Don't get me wrong, girlie. I know what you're worth. And I know it'd be even more if you'd follow some of the other girls’ leads. But what good's a dog that don't hunt, Micah? Huh? You going off on these little escort dates? Ain't no money in that for either of us, is there?”
An idea flashed into my mind right then. I knew how I could get back in his good graces, and get back to Kessa, and my money and Ford's ring.
I didn't like the idea, because I wasn't sure what would be asked of me if I did it. But it was the only plan I had.
I needed to make him think he'd finally won. “What then? You'll leave me alone if I whore for you?”
“More or less,” he said with a shrug, then leaned forward in his chair. “It's a win-win for both of us. You get more money, I get more money.”
I sighed. Pretended to consider it for a moment. “Fine,” I said finally, with an exasperated sigh. “Fine, Daddy, you win. But, so help me God, you ever pull what you did at the roadhouse, leaving me there and expecting me to blow guys for twenty bucks a pop, I'm out. Done. I'll kill myself before that happens. You hear me?”
He heaved himself up from the chair. “Oh, Micah, that was just me being sassy. Didn't mean nothing by it. Promise you, you're too sweet a strawberry to ever get passed around like that here. You have my word.”
I looked up at him, lips tightly pursed together, and nodded. “May I go back to my room, then?”
Daddy nodded. “Of course, Micah. Be my guest.”
I got up from the little couch I'd been sitting on and went to leave.
“Oh, Micah,” he said without even glancing back over his shoulder.
I stopped, my hand on the doorknob.
“Don't try getting any ideas about breaking your word on this. You hear me? Running away is one thing, but lying to me is one that's completely another.”
“Don't worry, Daddy. I'll keep my word,” I lied, pausing before I opened the door and headed back into the rest of the mansion.
I threaded my way through the halls, with their variety of furniture. Past the closed doors that led to differently themed bedrooms. Through the cabaret ball room, with its giant stage, hardwood floors, vaulted ceiling, and royal blue walls. Workers were busy cleaning and decorating for tonight's big event, completely oblivious to what they were setting up, or the auction they were helping to pull off.
I didn't blame them. I couldn't. They didn't know any better.
I did blame Ford, though. He'd knowingly dropped me back into this viper's nest and was helping Daddy pull it off. He'd decided to just take the position and the finder's fee, and hadn't even bothered to let me try and convince him otherwise. I guessed the threat from Tambor was just too big, too much. Even for him.
The fact that he'd chosen that path instead of helping me and Kessa, though, was what really tore me up. I'd wanted to believe he was different, that he wanted to be with me for more than just what was between my legs, or what I could offer him in bed. I'd thought he considered me more than just a pretty face.
The worst part about it, though? I'd believed in him. I'd believed he'd be able to help me and Kessa. But now I'd been shown the truth. There was nothing, and no one, I could put my trust in.
I pushed past the back door and headed into the yard that separated the Mansion from the dorms. As I headed down the little garden path, over and through the rocky, dusty terrain, I was reminded of how much of a façade everything was. Even me, and what I wanted to do in life. Acting? More like make believe, just like Daddy's business.
Perfect, manicured lawns were in front, well-watered and taken care of. In back? Rocks and dirt. A barren desert, like everywhere else in these badlands.
A woman who'd get down on her knees and worship the ground you walk on, laugh at all your jokes, and scream out her orgasm as she came on your cock? Only if you paid enough for her.
A man who would protect you, help save your friend, and fight for your honor? Only if your offer was better than everyone else's.
Disgusted, hurt, and disillusioned, I shook my head as I went into the dorms and back up to my room. Ford had at least shown me one thing: I couldn't depend on anyone but myself to get out of this mess. Something I should have known from the start.
I went into my room and looked around. Everything I'd left behind was completely undisturbed, including my clothes, my stash of money, and Ford's diamond ring. Which, unfortunately, I'd never managed to find out the owner of. He sure hadn't seemed like he had a girl who it was destined for. But what did I know? He clearly wasn't the man I'd thought he was.
I packed everything up and changed into a skirt and tight tank top, something they wouldn’t assume I was going to make a run in—my cash, a change of clothes, the ring, my jewelry. All the things that were worth serious money that I could fit in a small bag. I left my room, clothes and shoes still in their place, and headed out and down the hall, to Kessa's room on the other end of the floor.
The halls were empty as I made my way through them.
Quietly, I sidled up to her door and pressed my ear to it. “Kessa,” I whispered. “Kessa, girl, you in there?”
No answer. Maybe she was sleeping? We all kept crazy hours and slept even stranger ones.
I knocked on the door and whispered again, this time a little louder. “Kessa! You in there, girl?”
I gasped then, as I heard someone talking as they came down the hall. “Now, the girl I'm gonna need you to manage, we've had to keep her all cooped up in her room for the night.”
Daddy Williams.
And the man who replied? I'd have recognized his voice anywhere, even though he and I'd just met. Ford. “Manage? What does that necessarily mean?”
No! I couldn't let them find me here, especially not with this bag. Maybe I could get inside and hide? I tried the door, suddenly frantic, but it wouldn't budge.
“Micah?” Kessa asked from the other side in a drowsy voice. “Is that you? What are you doing back here?”
Crap! I tried the door again, but it wouldn't budge. I went across the hall and tried the door. It swung open and I went to dart inside.
“Micah?” called Daddy from down the hall.
I stopped in my tracks like a deer who's just realized she's on stage and forgot to wear her antlers. I slowly turned around.
Standing there in the hallway were Daddy and Ford, both thick as thieves.
“Micah? Is that you, hon? What're you doing . . .” he began, trailing off as his eyes settled on the bag slung over my shoulder and thought about where I was. Immediately his face twisted in rage. “You no good, two-timing little slut!”
He came after me, barreling into the room. Ford grabbed him by the shoulder though and held him steady. “Mr. Williams, Daddy,” he said, “don't hurt her! You hurt her, you hurt your money!”
Daddy shrugged off the hand on his shoulder an
d spun on Ford. “Don't you think I know that, son? Been in this business since before you was just a twitch in your poppa's cock!” He slowly turned back around as Ford dropped his hand and backed off a little.
I stared past Daddy, right at Ford. If my eyes were swords, I'd have gutted him like this was an Errol Flynn movie. No questions asked.
“No, I ain't gonna hurt her.” He yanked my bag from my shoulder and dumped it on the floor. Wads of cash, my spare panties, and jewelry fell on floor. “Watch her, Ford. If you ain't figured out by now, she's slippery.”
