KADENCE
11:30 p.m. rolled around quickly, and I was dead on my feet when I finished cleaning the tables. There was thick tension lingering in the diner, and Ricky was white as a ghost. That woman must’ve really scared him. In the two weeks I'd been here, he’d never acted like that. I shook it from my mind. It was none of my business what he did. I was here for a paycheck, nothing more.
I finished cleaning and brought my dishes to the back, walking to my locker and pulling my small sweater over my arms. I’d need to invest in a heavier coat here soon with the colder weather moving in. I didn’t do my research before taking that train, but living in New York my entire life, I was used to brutal winters.
“Bye, I’ll see you tomorrow,” I told them. I should be rude and walk out, but it was not in my DNA.
“Baby cakes, I can take ya home!” Billy yelled from the kitchen.
“You say it every night, Billy, and my answer is still the same—thanks, but no thanks.” He was a persistent man, I’d give him that, but I wouldn’t trust him to hold my wallet for a second. I wasn't stupid enough to get into a car with him alone. Was Ibeing stereotypical? Possibly. Did I care? No. When men didn’t get what they wanted, they could be aggressive and take it anyway. I didn’t plan on allowing anything like that to happen again if I could help it.
I peeked around me as I dipped into the dark corner and unbuttoned the top of my uniform, peeling back the blood-soaked bandage from my irritated skin. A wince tensed my body, and a gasp fell from my lips.My stitches ripped. My fingers grazed the red, scabbed skin and my stomach tightened at the pain that enveloped my body with a simple, feather-light touch. I needed to get back to the motel room so I could disinfect it and patch myself back up. My only hope was for it to scab over since I couldn’t stitch the wound myself and I wouldn't be going to a hospital or urgent care to deal with it.
I knew a little about sutures, but I didn’t think I could do them myself sterilely. I dropped out of nursing school when I had one year left because I was chasing dick like a bitch in heat to piss off my father. For someone who was book smart, my street smarts left the fucking window when I met a pair of pretty brown eyes and shitty jailhouse tattoos.
I was almost at the motel when I heard something behind me. I refused to be a cliché from a horror movie and turn to the problem. My thighs burned from the effort as I raced back to my room. The hair on the back of my neck rose, and I felt a terrified shudder dance up my spine. My paranoia always got the best of me, thinking my demons were going to jump out of the shadows and finish the job. Thankfully, my demons didn’t know I was alive, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t still petrified of them. I looked over my shoulder and saw nothing. I sighed in relief and continued to walk, only faster this time. Nothing popped out to scare me, so I kept walking on high alert.
I just need to get to the motel and out of the dark streets. My walk turned into a painful sprint as I gripped my side thatthrobbed with each step. My lungs burned like someone was pouring liquid fire down my throat, but I pushed through, even with my breathing ragged. I put myself into a panic attack for probably nothing but my own paranoia.
The air was pulled from my lungs when I was grabbed and painfully thrown against the wall by a masked man while his buddy circled behind him, watching me. My mouth fell open to scream, but the first man slammed his hand over my mouth. I was the prey trapped by the predators, about to be devoured instantly. He crushed my body with his, causing my wound to scream in agony as he curled his fingers around my throat. The other man came up to my side, gripping the inner part of my bare thigh.
“We’re going to have so much fun with you,” the first one said, his tongue going up my jaw, stopping at my ear. My skin crawled and my stomach churned in disgust.
I kicked my legs in any direction that I could. I refused to be a victim again. If they wanted to rape me, they’d have to put up a fight. I was not drugged or incoherent, and I would fight before I let another fucking pig defile my body ever again. My shin managed to hit the man who was pinning me in the balls, and he groaned, releasing his grip on me. I stomped on his feet, and he screamed, stumbling back.
I took my chance.
And I ran—well, I sprinted painfully.
I was running on pure adrenaline because the pain, fear, and anxiety soaring through me would be enough to put a normal man down. I was crying, and I knew if someone didn’t help me soon, I would die.
“Help!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, the soundwaves echoing through the empty streets.
One of my assailants grabbed me by the back of my long hair and pulled me to the ground. My head collided with theasphalt, and I swear I felt my brain rattle against my skull. They laughed as they circled me. My head lolled to the side, and in the distance, I saw a gang of big, burly men headed toward me in the distance. One of the men who was circling me pulled my arms up while the other straddled my hips, pushing up my skirt and dipping his disgusting fingers into the band of my panties. I kicked and buckled my hips to no avail as he tore my underwear from my body.
I was going to be sick.
I looked to the side to see the burly men get closer, some of them running. They must be with these two. I squeezed my eyes closed, praying they would kill me quickly.
I wouldn’t survive this brutality again.
My skull throbbed as my mind fell into a hazy cloud. My world started spinning, but I felt the man on top of me get pulled off and thrown to the ground. He grunted as I felt the other one let go, forced away from my arms.
“Get those pieces of shit and take them to the clubhouse.” A different man hovers above me like an angel sent from the heavens as he touches my cheek. Something warm blanketed my legs, and he caressed my skin softly. Impulsively, my body flinched at his touch. “They can’t hurt ya, darlin’.”
I wanted to believe him, but all I could do was hope and pray to whatever deity was watching over me as everything faded to black.
CHAPTER 10
BLAIZE
My eye was throbbing alongside the migraine I had, and the relentless hum outside my office window was enough to drive me to commit arson. My fingers dug into my temple, barely rubbing an ounce of the pressure away from my skull.
It was confirmed that the feds were poking around my hotel. Lennox informed me that one of the regulars at the club, one of the many who have committed tax fraud, got cornered after he was spotted leaving the club. It spooked him. That man told his friends, which spooked them, causing my money to run to the hills as they did. These higher-up politicians didn’t want their wives to know they’re fucking barely legal women, or to have the government know they were stealing thousands from the IRS.
How did they know? The hotel was invite only, either from the girls or customers who enjoyed the services. The hotel was truly a hotel with benefits. There was a spa, gym, and a dining area. The rooms were lavish. Even if they were to snoop, they’d see couples doing things that wouldn’t raise any attention other than public display of affection. I wasn't ignorant. I knew people got curious, so I had to play coy if people asked what I owned.
I was not going to boast about a hotel where men and women paid top dollar for the best pussy and dick money could buy. While I had friends in the police department, I didn’t have anyone in the FBI or higher, so I had to be cautious. I didn’t like my name being the talk of the town. I made this my home after killing Elijah West and healing my broken heart.