by L. Wilder
“I’m on it.”
“I want to know the minute you find her.” I slammed the phone down on my desk with an aggravated growl. “Dammit!”
Murray shook his head as he muttered under his breath, “Yeah… he’s definitely a man with his head in the game.”
“Fuck off, Murray.”
“I’m glad to know I haven’t lost my touch.” He smiled wide. “I was right about the girl.”
“Don’t you have some work to do?” I growled as I tried to focus on my computer screen. Thankfully, I had plenty of work to keep my mind off Tristen. I thought it would help distract me from the fact that she’d gone AWOL, but it didn’t. I tried making a few calls and sorting through all my messages, but nothing helped. I looked down at my watch and cursed myself when I saw that it’d only been fifteen minutes since I’d gotten off the phone with Max. I was growing impatient. I reached for my phone to send him a message, but he’d beaten me to it.
Max:
Found her.
Me:
Where?
Max:
Tracked her phone. She’s at the college.
Me:
Doing what?
Max:
Don’t know, but I’m about to find out.
Me:
Good.
Max:
You want me to pick her up?
Me:
No
Me:
Make sure she knows you’re there.
Max:
You sure about that?
Me:
Absolutely.
I’d asked Max to watch her for a reason. In our line of business, you could never be too careful. He was there to keep her safe, and he was going to do his job whether she liked it or not. Period. It had only been a few seconds when I got another message from him.
Max:
She’s at the enrollment office.
I remembered her telling me that she wanted to go to college, but I thought she’d meant later, much later. Regardless, I knew she was safe and that was all that mattered. As ordered, Max continued to give me updates every hour or so, letting me know exactly where she was and what she was doing. It might’ve been a little over the top, but it gave me peace of mind to know she was okay.
It was well after dark by the time I got back to the condo, and I was already on edge from a shitty day. Finding Max waiting for me when I got off the elevator didn’t help things. Over the years, he’d more than proven that he was reliable--- it was why I’d hired him—but he’d fucked up, and he knew it. I was in no mood to talk, so I told him, “We’ll discuss it later.”
“Understood.” He started towards the elevator, but he hesitated. “Today was on me, one hundred percent. It won’t happen again.”
He should’ve left it, but the door had been opened and there was no going back. As I took a step towards him, I could feel the muscles in my neck tighten. “You’re damn right it’s on you, Max!”
“I know I screwed up, but I thought she’d accepted the fact that I was there for her. I had no way of knowing she’d run out on me.”
“It’s your fucking job to know.”
“There’s no excuse, boss. I know I screwed up. You have my word it won’t happen again.”
“It had damn well better not, or it will be more than just your job on the line.”
I’d said enough. I was ready for the day to be over, so I started for the door. I was about to go inside when he said, “You do realize she gave me the slip for a reason.”
It wasn’t exactly the smartest thing he could have said when I was already pissed, but he said it nonetheless. I turned and glared at him. “It doesn’t fucking matter.”
“It mattered to her.”
“Fuck off, Max. That’s enough of your bullshit.”
He turned and started to leave. As he got on the elevator, he looked at me with his eyebrow cocked high. “You just hate it when I’m right.”
The doors shut before I had a chance to respond, leaving me even more frustrated than before. I stormed into the condo and found Tristen on the sofa watching TV. I wasn’t greeted with one of her bright smiles or ‘How was your day?’. Hell, she didn’t even turn around. She had a point to make, and she was making damn well sure she made it. I’d met my quota on arguments for the day, so I kept walking, leaving her there to stew in her own anger. I should’ve stopped and talked to her or tried to work out this thing between us, but I just didn’t have it in me.
I walked into my room and slammed the door. Without turning on the lights, l laid down on the bed. I was exhausted. My crappy day had taken its toll, and I just wanted to sleep it off. I closed my eyes, but I soon became restless as all the craziness of the day came crashing through my mind. I was thinking about Joe and that damn load of timber when I finally drifted off. I had no idea how long I’d been asleep when I was awakened by a blood-curdling scream. At first I thought it was just my imagination, that I was having one of my dreams, but then I heard it for the second time. I rushed out of bed and headed down the hall to Tristen’s room. I paused at the door, listening for any kind of struggle, and that was when I realized she was having a nightmare.
“No, no, no… please don’t,” she begged.
I reached for the door knob and was relieved to find it unlocked. I slowly eased it open and found Tristen thrashing around on the bed. Tears were streaming down her face as she mumbled incoherent phrases under her breath. Trying my best not to spook her, I lowered myself onto the bed and gently pulled her into my arms, cradling her close to my chest. Hearing her little whimpers and cries made my chest grow tight, and I wanted nothing more than to make them stop. I lowered my mouth to her ear and whispered, “I’m right here, Angel.”
I repeated it over and over again until she started to settle down. With her head resting on my shoulder, she curled into my side. Just seeing her looking so peaceful, so angelic, made my day from hell all but disappear. There was no denying that I felt something for her. Hell, the pull to her was so strong she could’ve been at the end of the Earth, and I still would’ve felt it. I couldn’t explain it, but I liked it. I’d always hated the feeling that I was missing something, that I’d left something behind. When I was with her, I didn’t feel that. Instead, I felt peace. As much as I liked having her next to me and feeling the warmth of her body next to mine, though, I had to move. Every second I stayed in that spot, it became more and more difficult to stay awake. Knowing she needed her rest, I slowly slid my way over to the edge of the bed and was just about to lower her to the pillows when I caught her looking up at me.
“Please don’t go.” I tried to resist, but it was no use. She was just too beautiful, too fucking tempting, and I knew there was no way in hell I was ever going to be able to tell her no.
I nodded as I eased back into my spot. “I didn’t realize you were awake.”
“I haven’t been for long.” She laid her head back on my shoulder as she released a deep breath. “I thought they were getting better.”
“The nightmares?” She nodded against my chest. “They will in time. For now, just try to get some rest. I’ll stay here until you fall back asleep.”
“Thank you,” she answered in barely a whisper.
When her breathing became slow and deep and her body completely still, I knew she was sleeping soundly. I carefully lowered her onto the pillows and lifted myself out of the bed. I stood over her for several moments to make sure that she hadn’t woken up when I’d moved her. Once I knew for sure that she was okay, I went back to my room and got into the bed. I tried to go back to sleep, but it was impossible to ignore the coldness I felt without her next to me or the faint scent of her perfume on my t-shirt. It’d been a lifetime since I’d had any real reaction to a woman. Sure, I’d had sex with women, lots and lots of sex, but there was never anything more. I’d figured I was broken and incapable of feeling… until her. I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, she’d be the one person that could save me from myself.
/> My dreams used to be filled with hope and possibilities, a sneak peek into a desperately wanted future, but those kinds of dreams no longer came. Now whenever I closed my eyes, I was back in that room. I felt the chain gripping my wrist, the sweat trickling down my spine, and the all-consuming fear that took over my every thought each time I heard their footsteps coming down the hall. I always knew what was coming—the needle. At first, I’d tried to resist them, twisting and pulling against their grip, but it had only made it worse. They’d known how to cause pain without leaving marks: twisting a handful of my hair in their fist, forcing my arm behind my back, or delivering a painful jab to my abdomen. Eventually, I’d stopped trying to fight and let them shoot the drugs into my veins. It was absolute hell, and there was no escape, not even in my dreams. I tried to wake myself up. I tried to break the cycle, but I was trapped. I couldn’t pull myself out of the nightmare. Then, I heard his voice. It was soft and low, just barely a whisper, but it was enough. The dingy, old room with the putrid yellow walls and the dirty mattress started to fade. The overwhelming panic subsided, and I was finally able to let go of the fear. For the first time in weeks, I felt safe—I was safe, and it was all because of him.
The next morning, I pulled myself out of bed and rushed to the bathroom to take a shower. I was eager to start my first day of work. I turned on my shower and was about to undress when I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I was surprised to see a goofy little grin on my face. It’d been a long time since I’d had a reason to smile, but thinking of Nathan holding me in his arms until I was able to go back to sleep definitely gave me something to smile about. I was still grinning like the Cheshire Cat even after I’d gotten dressed and headed to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Unfortunately, that giddy little feeling died a miserable death when I found Max sitting at the table.
He had to be furious with me. I’d heard Nathan arguing with him the night before, and I had no doubt that had only made him even more angry. I bit my bottom lip as I headed over to the counter and reached for the coffee pot. I almost dropped it when I heard him say, “Good morning, Ms. Carmichael.”
“Good morning, Max.” After I poured my coffee, I walked over to the table and sat down next to him. He looked up at me with a half-smile, and I knew I had to do it. “I wanted to tell you that I’m sorry about yesterday.”
“Okay.”
“Well… maybe I should clarify that a bit. I’m sorry that you got chewed out by Nathan, but I’m not sorry that I ran off without you.”
“Glad we got that cleared up,” he grumbled under his breath as he took a sip of his coffee.
“I really am sorry. I didn’t mean to cause you trouble, but the whole thing rubbed me the wrong way. Nathan never mentioned to me that he was going to have someone watching over me, otherwise I would’ve sorted it out with him.”
“I’m sure he figured you were used to it.”
“What does that mean?”
He leaned forward and studied my reaction as he asked, “You were one of the Satan’s Fury girls, right?”
“Not exactly.” I knew where he was going, and I tried to swallow my annoyance. “I worked there.”
“Okay. So, you worked there. However you want to say it, you were part of the club. When they ran into trouble or your safety was a concern, they had someone watching over you.”
“But that was different.”
“How?”
“The club was under attack… people were after them for one reason or another. They put us on lockdown or whatever because they didn’t want anything to happen to us.”
“It’s the same.”
“It’s not the same. Nathan doesn’t have people coming after him.”
“That’s not exactly true.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s not for me to explain, but I can tell you this: your safety is important to him, and it’s my job to make sure nothing happens to you. I plan to do my job and to do it well, whether you’re on board or not.”
“Why is he so concerned about my safety?”
“You’ll have to talk to him about that.”
I groaned as I rested my forehead down onto the table. “He isn’t exactly the easiest guy to talk to.”
“You have no idea.”
I looked up at him with my eyebrow raised. “Gee, thanks.”
“I’m just telling you the way it is.” He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “There are things you’ll have to get used to.”
“Fine.” My mind was spinning, and I just wanted it to stop. It was my first day at work, and I wanted to get on with it. I stood up and put my empty coffee cup in the sink. “I need to get to work.”
His lips curled into a mischievous grin as he snickered, “Ready when you are.”
“Of course you are,” I groaned.
Since I was in training, I knew I would be busy, especially in a place like West End. From the minute they opened their doors, the crowds steadily rolled in, and I was excited to have the chance to work there. More customers meant more tips, but it was more than that. I had money—plenty of money—but I hadn’t earned it. It was my parents’ money, the money they’d spent their entire lives working for, but I didn’t feel like I deserved to have it. My sister, Josie, had done the responsible thing by going off to college and preparing for her future, while I’d acted like a spoiled brat and run away from home. I’d made so many mistakes, but I refused to keep living in the past. One way or another, I was going to find a way to make them proud of me, and while I was at it, I’d find a way to make me proud of me.
Once I’d gotten my things, I headed back to the kitchen to find Max. “I’m ready.”
He nodded, and I followed him down to the car. He opened the door, and I slid inside. Seconds later, we were on our way to the bar. “How long is your shift?”
“He didn’t say.”
He reached into his front pocket and then extended his hand into the backseat. “Here’s my card. Just call or text when you’re ready for me to come pick you up.”
“You aren’t staying?”
He looked at me in the rearview mirror. “You’ll be safe here.”
“Okay.” I stepped out of the car and headed inside. I turned back towards the car and gave him a quick wave.
He waited for me to go in before he drove off. I was a bundle of nerves as I walked into the bar. Brooklyn was standing at the hostess counter with two of the other waitresses. One of them was blonde like her, but her hair seemed more natural and less processed than Brooklyn’s. The other waitress was tall with naturally wavy, brown hair and big, brown eyes that reminded me of one of my sister’s old China dolls. When Brooklyn saw me heading in their direction, she rolled her eyes and sneered, “She’s Katie’s replacement.”
I lifted my hand and gave them a half-wave as I smiled. “Hi. I’m Tristen.”
“Hey, girl. I’m Ava.” The curvy brunette smiled as she took a step towards me. “Come on.”
“Thanks, Ava.”
We’d only taken a few steps when Brooklyn shouted, “She’s yours for the day, Ava. If she screws up, it’s on you.”
“I’ve got it,” she shouted back. It was clear that she wasn’t Brooklyn’s biggest fan when she grumbled under her breath, “Fuckwad.”
When we got back to the staff room, Ava gathered up my uniform and showed me where to change. “Thanks for your help, Ava.”
“No problem.” She turned and started walking towards the door. “I’ll meet you out front by the kitchen.”
“I’ll be right there.”
Once I was done, I headed out to meet Ava. She motioned for me to do a full turn, then said, “Looking good.”
“You don’t think the skirt is too short?”
“Hell, no. Not with your figure. With legs like that, the shorter the better.” She handed me a note pad and started walking. “Today, you’ll be my shadow. It’s your chance to ask questions and learn what you need to know.” She looked
back up front to where Brooklyn was still talking to the other blonde. “But tomorrow you’ll be on your own. Jada is off for the next couple of days, so Tony will want you serving. I hope you’re a fast learner.”
“I am.”
“Good. Now, let’s get to it.”
The next few hours were a complete blur. People just kept rolling in, and poor Ava never stopped moving. She was buzzing around from the kitchen to the tables to the bar and back again, and I started to worry that I’d never be able to keep up. She seemed to notice that I was getting a little panicked, so she stopped for a second to reassure me. “I know it’s a lot to take in, but it really isn’t all that bad. It’s all about timing. Once you catch on, you’ll be fine. You’ll see.”
“How long have you worked here?”
“A couple of months.”
I swallowed hard, trying to push down my anxiety, and smiled. “OK. Let’s do this.”
Things slowed down after the lunch crowd left, so Ava suggested that we take a quick lunch break. She grabbed us a couple of sandwiches, and since it was a nice day outside, we headed out to the front deck. As soon as she sat down, she smiled. “You’re doing great, by the way.”
“I’m not so sure, but thanks. I think I’m getting the hang of it.”
“You’ll do fine.” She took a bite of her sandwich and looked over at me, studying me as she chewed. “So, what’s your deal?”
“My deal?”
“You know… where ya from and all that.”
I hesitated for a moment. I wasn’t quite ready to tell the world about my fiasco with the cartel or how Nathan rescued me, so I avoided it all together. “Well, there’s not much to tell.”
“Somehow I doubt that.” She took a sip of her sweet tea and continued, “A chick like you definitely has a story.”
“I guess you could say that I’m a girl who’s made some stupid mistakes and is looking for a fresh start.”
“Hmm… sounds like some asshole did a real number on you.”
