Back To Me (4 page)

              I didn’t turn around because I knew if I did we’d be face to face. Literally, he was standing that close. The lapel of his expensive jacket brushed my arm and his breath felt hot against my skin.

              I swallowed the lump in my throat before answering him. “I appreciate it very much. It was very kind of you, Mr.….?”

              “Oh, please. Call me Raul,” he drawled out.

              “Thank you, Raul. It’s just that my friend needed it more. She has children and….”

              “Oh, so the púta has a heart does she? Interesting.” I thought it odd for this man,
this stranger
, to make such a peculiar and off-based assumption of me.

              “I’m sorry. Have we met?” My anger threatened to bubble to the surface, but I had to remember who I was dealing with. I had to keep my cool.

              “Not officially, my dear, but I’ve been watching you for some time. Tell me, how is
Billy
getting along these days, hmm?”

              At first my body sagged with relief. He must have been on the force with Billy.
But wait! In this suit? Here?
No. Way. Plus, just by the man’s tone I could tell something was amiss.

              “Um, I wouldn’t know. I haven’t seen him in over six years. We don’t speak.” I kept my answer truthful and simple.

              “Really?” he asked with amusement. “Well,
senóra,
perhaps this is my opening then, hmm?”

              “Um, I’m very flattered, Raul, but you see I’m not looking for any sort of relationship at the moment.”

              He laughed an evil laugh before regaining his demure composure. “Oh, sweetheart. A man like me doesn’t
do
relationships either. I
do
women before passing them on to the highest bidder.”

              The girl on stage had now gathered her clothes, clutching them to her chest before running off. I knew why her eyes widened in fear at the mere sight of him, and perhaps I was only just beginning to understand the depravity of this man and how dangerous he really was.

              “Look, Raul, whatever your name is, I’m not interested in being a call girl or a prostitute, whatever, and I’m certainly not interested in you being my pimp. Now if you’ll excuse me….”

              Just as I was about to walk away he grabbed me, spinning me around before slapping me hard across the face. My head snapped sideways in response, my skin burning as if he had ripped it open.

              “I don’t ask, little girl, and I don’t play games. You remember that. I have a lot of people in my pocket, including your boss.” He whispered his words and I took it for what it was. A threat. What the hell had happened to my life? And just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse.

              Raul turned me loose and started to walk away. He stopped abruptly and turned back around. He pulled another stack of bills from his pocket and threw them on the ground, no doubt expecting me to pick them up. I wasn’t falling for it. I didn’t want the dirty bastard’s money. I didn’t care how broke I was.

              “Pick it up or don’t,” he shrugged. “It doesn’t matter to me either way. Just know that’s your allowance for the whole year. You won’t get another dime from me.”

              He didn’t say another word as he turned and stalked away. Once he reached the door, I noticed two large men step from the shadows and fall in line behind him.
Bodyguards.
They must have been watching me all night. When the gravity of the situation hit me, I immediately went limp with emotion. I watched until the door closed and it was only then that I allowed my body to crumple completely to the floor and I cried.

              “Oh, my gosh! What happened?” Tracy yelled as she ran towards me.

              “It’s okay,” I assured her. I tried gathering my wits, but I was in shock. Not only that, I was in pain. “Just that man from earlier. He scared me.”

              “Oh, sweetie, it’s gonna be alright. He’s gone now. I’ll tell Johnny to keep an eye out. Maybe we should even tell Tommy,” she suggested.

              I looked up to her and stared, trying to find the right words. “Tommy’s on his payroll. What’s he gonna do to protect me?” I couldn’t help the panic and fear consuming me. Luckily, Tommy was already gone for the night. I had seen him and Sara leave out the back door earlier. He’d go ballistic if he saw me carrying on in front of paying customers.

              “Get her in the back and help her clean up. I’ll finish up and then lock the door.”

              The next thing I knew I was being lifted from the floor. I didn’t have to look to know it was Johnny. He was a big man; a teddy bear with the biggest heart you could imagine. He looked out for me and the other girls around here, and I never feared for my safety when he was around.

              “It’s alright, sweet cakes. I got ‘cha.” He carried me to the back room and sat me down easy on the couch. Grabbing a few paper towels, he wet them under the faucet before turning back and wiping the blood from my cheek. Apparently the asshole
had
broken the skin, probably with his cheesy pinky ring.

              “It shouldn’t scar,” Johnny said, eyeing me. “But you might have a nasty bruise tomorrow. Make sure you cover it up good with makeup so Tommy doesn’t go ape shit.”

              I nodded and sat up. “I won’t be here tomorrow, Johnny. I’ve got to go.” I tried to stand, but he wouldn’t let me.

              “What do you mean, ‘you won’t be here tomorrow’. Where are you going?”

              I could hear the genuine concern he had for my well-being and I loved him all the more for it. I explained to him what Tommy had said to me in his office earlier, and also what Raul had said just moments ago.

              “That asshole can’t get away with this!” he screamed as he punched the wall.

              “It’s okay, Johnny. I’ll just leave and let things cool down for a while. I’ll be fine.” I shrugged my shoulders, trying to convince myself more than him.

              He turned and looked at me for a moment before speaking again. “Take this,” he handed me a wad of cash from his pocket. “I don’t know how much it is, but I’m doing alright. I don’t even need this job; I just do it to watch you girls. Make sure you’re okay.”

              “Why? Who would do a thing like that?” I asked shocked.

              “Because my mother was beaten and passed around like a piece of garbage. I vowed a long time ago to do whatever I could to make sure that didn’t happen again.” He hung his head, thoughtfully remembering the painful time.

              “Johnny, I’m so sorry,” I offered.

              That probably didn’t mean squat coming from someone like me, but I really did mean it. He was one of the nicest men I’d ever met and it hurt to learn there had been so much tragedy in his life. Every time I’d been around him, he was always smiling and jovial and had never given any clues about what happened to his mother. This proved how guarded I’d really been. I never thought to ask someone their story and I sure as hell never shared mine.

              “It’s okay. It was a long time ago. Look, please, just take it. It’s not much, but it’s all I’ve got on me at the moment. Get somewhere safe and call me so I know you’re alright.”

              I smiled and promised him I would. It was the least I could do. I reluctantly took the money and tucked it in my back pocket. I didn’t bother to count it because it didn’t matter. It could have been a dollar or two hundred dollars. The only thing that mattered to me was his generosity and sincerity.

              “Thank you, Johnny. You be safe, too.” I stood and gave him a hug goodbye. “Tell Trace goodbye for me, will ya?” I knew there was no way I’d be able to face her without breaking down, and I was already drained emotionally.

              “You bet, sweet cakes.”

              “Johnny, can I ask you one more question?” I blushed, but I just had to know. “Why do you call me sweet cakes?”

              “Seriously, you have to ask?” I thought I saw him blush, too, and now I
really
wanted to know. “Have you
seen
your ass?” he asked, laughing.

              I rolled my eyes and threw a handful of stale peanuts from the counter his way and laughed. “You are such a guy!”

              He laughed, too, and for a moment it was nice to forget that my life was falling apart around me. We talked briefly before I heard someone clear their throat.

              “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know anyone was in here. I’ll just go.” The blonde girl from earlier turned to leave, but I caught her by the elbow.

              “Hi, I’m Heather,” I introduced myself. “Look, I don’t know you, but I think I may know how you feel. It’s just that… this doesn’t have to be your life. You’re young and beautiful, and…”

              She chuckled and blew out a long breath. “Oh, sweetheart, if that were true I wouldn’t be here, now would I? You going to work for Raul, too? ‘Cause I can tell you right now the other girls don’t take kindly to sluts like you cutting into their bank account.”

              “What the hell are you talking about?”

              “I saw you talking to Raul earlier. He offer you a job?”

              “Matter of fact he did, but I turned him down,” I replied.

              She laughed again. “
No one
turns Raul down. Just remember that when you have to keep looking over your shoulder.”

              “What’s your name?”

              “
Hope
. Ironic, huh? Ain’t a damn bit of hope left for me. Maybe you can find redemption for yourself, but don’t go looking to save me.” She continued walking, never once glancing back in my direction.

              I watched her go, feeling sorry that she actually believed the nonsense she’d spewed. Usually I didn’t give the tarts a second thought because I always assumed that they
chose
this life, but Hope was different. Something, even though I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, made me feel she had no choice.

              “Keep an eye on that one, okay?” I said, turning back to Johnny. I knew she wasn’t as tough as she pretended to be.

              “You got it. Now c’mon. I’ll walk you to your car.”

              I grabbed my purse from behind the bar and followed him outside. My beat up piece of shit car was right there waiting for me, just like I’d left it. I swear, I couldn’t catch a break. Was it asking too much to have someone steal it?

              “I mean it, you be safe. Call me if you have any trouble, okay?”

              “I will, Johnny. Thanks again.” I hugged him one last time before climbing in the clunker and turning the ignition. As usual it protested in response, but it finally came to life after a few tries.

              I drove for a while; taking as many twists and turns as I could, careful to make sure I wasn’t being followed. I don’t suppose it mattered one way or the other. If someone was following me, maybe they’d finally end it all and put me out of my misery. And even if they weren’t following me right now, I had no doubt that Raul had endless resources and plenty of ways to find out where I lived, if he didn’t already know. I had never tried to hide my identity just in case Billy ever came looking for me. Like a fool, part of me thought he would, but I couldn’t blame the guy. I wouldn’t look for me either.

              When I was convinced it was safe, I merged onto the highway and drove home. I was exhausted, but there was no time for sleeping. Raul and Tommy had both made it clear what they expected of me, and I had a feeling they weren’t going to let me off the hook just because I had morals. I sighed as I thought about my life and the drama that seemed to follow me everywhere. Deep down I knew it was all my fault. It started when I did the unthinkable and left Billy, and since then my life had continued to spiral downwards.

6

Billy

              I’d been driving for hours. My eyelids were growing heavy and began slowly closing. The truck swerved as I yanked the steering wheel, trying to keep it between the lines. I rubbed my hand over my face and rolled the windows down, letting the cool night air rouse me.

              Since climbing in the truck, I’d been questioning my decision to go after Heather. Deep down I knew it was right, but my conflicting emotions were maddening. I didn’t like feeling this way. Anger I could handle, though it’s not something I’m proud of, but I wasn’t feeling that right now. I was feeling excited and it pissed me off. Heather deserved better than me and that’s why I never went after her all those years ago. I was even less deserving of her now, but I was the only choice she had of making it out of California alive. Blake couldn’t help her and still maintain his cover. That left only me to step up to the plate and I wanted nothing more than to run away.

              I was also nervous about seeing her.
My
angel was sweet and loving; the kind of person that would do anything for anyone. I could only imagine that had changed, especially if she was working for Tommy, and that her once genuine heart had been hardened. I knew the feeling well.

              I wanted this trip to be as quick as possible, but I didn’t expect her to make it easy for me. I had wronged her and I was probably the last person she wanted to see. If she rejected me, if she refused to come back with me, then I’d just have to take drastic measures. I couldn’t, in good conscience walk away and that pissed me off, too. It made me mad that I cared so much. I cared so much about what she thought that I shaved and put on nicer than normal clothes, making sure I didn’t look like the train wreck I had gotten so accustomed to seeing in the mirror every day. I don’t know why it mattered, but it did and it didn’t sit well with me. Not at all.

              I flew down the interstate with ease, watching as the dotted white lines became one. There wasn’t much traffic this time of night, and that was a good thing. Blake told me that Heather would be at work until one in the morning, and I had just enough time to make it there. I hadn’t formed a plan and that was unlike me. In my profession, you never went in without going over the facts. Everything was meticulous and planned. All I’s dotted and t’s crossed. Going in blind made me uneasy. Extremely uneasy. Heather aside, I also had Raul to think about. I needed to get in and get out, sight unseen. To say I was out of practice was an understatement.

              I hadn’t planned on going back. It was a promise I’d made years ago, and at the time I’d planned to keep it. However, I couldn’t let this play out. I knew it and Blake knew it. No matter how devastated I had been, Heather didn’t deserve the hell coming her way. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves as I pushed the gas pedal down further. The sooner I got there, the sooner I could get the hell out, and that was fine by me.

              I dialed Blake one more time. I knew where Tommy’s was, but on the off chance Heather wasn’t there, I needed to know where she lived. He answered on the third ring.

              “Yeah?”

              “What’s her address?” I kept is short and sweet.

              He rattled it off and I entered it into the GPS. I wasn’t familiar with that area and now I was thankful I had the little gadget.

              “Raul’s there tonight,” he gritted through his teeth, knowing as well as I did what that meant.

              “How long?”

              “All night as far as I know. Look, I think this goes deeper than I thought. I overheard him talking to Sergio. Raul’s got Tommy involved somehow and it’s apparent he’s on the payroll.” Blake’s voice was low, but I didn’t know if it was to keep from being overheard, or if he was just afraid to tell me this bit of information.

              We’d had plenty of run-ins with Tommy in the past, and I knew from harsh experience what a low-life he was. He wasn’t someone you wanted to tango with. However, at the time of our association he and I were on the same side, at least as far as everyone else was concerned. I had watched him smack the girls’ around a few times and it took everything in me not to pummel the guy’s face.

              “Shit, that’s not good,” I mumbled to myself. My grip tightened on the steering wheel, causing my knuckles to turn white. I wanted to punch something. “I’m on my way. I should be there within the hour.”

              “Ten-four. Be careful, man.”

              I disconnected the call and tossed the phone on the seat hap-hazardously. I raked my hand through my air and blew out a breath of disgust. I wasn’t worried about Tommy. I could take the prick out easily with just a snap of his neck. He was no match for me and if he got in my way, that’s exactly what I’d do. I’d be doing a public service and his loss would only benefit everyone that had the displeasure of dealing with him. Raul was a different matter entirely. He surrounded himself with armed men, and not always ones you could see. They were well trained and hard to spot.

              ‘I’m comin’, angel. Just hold on.’ I kept saying the words out loud like some crazy man on the street corner, talking to himself. How could I be so naïve for believing this wouldn’t come back to haunt her? Raul was out for blood, and it didn’t matter whose.

              I cranked the radio loud, blasting AC/DC as the adrenaline coursed through my veins. I was coaching myself like a trainer would prep his prized fighter for a big match. I pumped myself up, getting into character. It had been a while and I wasn’t fool enough to believe that it would be easy. I turned my neck from side to side and cracked my knuckles, preparing for the fight of my life.

              I exited the interstate and put on my blinker. Being here sent chills up my spine; my old stomping grounds where I had been no better than the scum I’d tried to take down. When I turned onto Broadway, the street where Tommy’s is located, everything came rushing back. I felt sick remembering my time here. The blackness looked sinister, the only light coming from the neon signs hanging in the windows, and the dim street lights lining the sidewalk. I pulled into the lot, pulling around the back and parking behind the dumpster. Staying in the shadows was the safest thing.

              Grabbing a sweatshirt from my bag, I pulled it over my head and examined the area before stepping out of the safety of my truck. This was Raul’s territory and a little too close for comfort for me. I wasn’t scared for myself. If it was time for me to die then it was just time for me to die. My concern was for Heather and getting her out of this hellhole before shit went down. Once I knew she was safe, and far away from the clutches of his evil, then Raul could do whatever he wanted to me. I didn’t much care anymore.

              Quietly shutting my truck door, I put my gun in the waistband of my jeans for easier access. I moved quickly and stealth-like around the dumpster, and along the side of the brick, keeping my body tucked close to avoid the lights overhead. Ducking in the back door, I let it close quietly behind me. The smell of stale cigarettes and beer assaulted me immediately, an immediate reminder that I hadn’t missed this place at all. I could hear chatter and whistles from the low-life dirt bags in the main room, calling out to the on-stage bimbo. I don’t understand how or why these men could be so stupid, thinking they actually had a shot. Most of them were old and balding, and too stupid to realize that
none
of these girls were looking for someone like them. The strippers’ only interest was the losers’ wallets. Yet night after night, the men come in by the bus loads, hoping to score. I shook my head and chuckled at the absurdity.

              I pressed my body against the wall. I wasn’t thrilled about raking up against it, but it was safer this way. The lighting was dim, but I didn’t want to take the chance of someone recognizing me. It had been a while, but other than a few extra wrinkles, I looked the same. I pulled the hood of my sweatshirt up over my head so that my eyes were barely showing. I walked a little further, stopping when a couple came towards me. I faced the wall, pretending to be on the phone. It made me sick as I listened to their kissing noises and the incessant moans coming from the woman. Her pleasure was obviously fake, but if he didn’t care then who was I to judge? They were headed to one of the private rooms and the thought made me cringe.

              Once it was clear, I continued on until I reached the action. I didn’t sit in case I had to make any sudden moves. I took inventory of the closest exits, mentally counting how many people were in the room. Next I surveyed those lurking in the shadows like me. If Raul was here so were his men. I didn’t see anyone suspicious, just a couple of johns trying to convince random women why they were a good choice.

              I had yet to see Heather which only caused me to become increasingly worried that she may not be here. Either that or something had already gone down and I was too late. I looked at my watch, noticing the time. It wasn’t Raul’s usual style to be prowling this early in the evening, but who knew what to expect from him. Normally he waited until much later, when only the seediest of people come out of the gutters and back alleys. He was as unpredictable as a jack-in-the-box.

              I pulled a cigarette from my pack and lit it. Taking a long drag, I blew the smoke from my lungs, watching as it created a foggy-like haze in the dim pulsating lights. My eyes roamed, watching those partaking in various activities that should be reserved for the bedroom. A woman mentally undressed me from across the room, but I didn’t give her the time of day. I wasn’t here for pleasure; I was here to take care of business. I didn’t have time to play her games, or anyone else’s for that matter. I just wanted to find Heather and get the hell out of here.

              That’s when it happened.
I saw her.
She had a frightened look on her face and two things happened simultaneously. One, my heart felt like it stopped beating just at the sight of her. God, she was beautiful, just like I remembered. Her long dark hair fell in curls and hung just past the tops of her breasts. Her legs were a mile long, especially in the ridiculously short skirt she was wearing. She was thinner and even though I preferred a little more meat on my women, she still had an amazing figure. I was practically salivating as I watched her. Second, rage overtook my reverie because someone had obviously upset her. I didn’t care who it was, there was no reason for my angel to be walking around with such a sad look on her face. Just as I was about to blow up and lose my shit, I watched as she cuddled up to the bartender. I’ll admit it hurt, but then I noticed their body language. It was something I had been trained to do; to read people. It had come in handy quite a few times, especially when trying to gauge if someone was about to pull a weapon on me. I could tell they were both faking. Heather had no interest in this guy whatsoever and I knew it was all for show, I just didn’t know for who.

              He called something out to her and she gave him a thumbs-up while continuing to walk ahead. Heather stopped at a table and the man leaned forward, just enough that I could see his face.
Dammit!
It was Raul, that sick son of a bitch. Panic washed over me as I thought about her practically being alone with him. Just as I was about to push away from the wall and grab her, she made a beeline for the bar, trying to escape him quickly. My heart was beating out of my chest, and my nostrils flared with my rapid and angry breaths.
Raul
.

              “Hey, handsome. Lookin’ for some action?” The whiney voice caught me off guard and turned my stomach at the same time. Her bleached-blond hair and heavy makeup made her look more like a Halloween character than a woman, and I wanted to throw up. Not only that, her heavy perfume was choking me. She ran her hands up my chest and hooked them around my neck.

              I deftly unhooked her fingers and pushed her away. “I don’t think so, sweetheart. Not tonight.” I was trying to let her down easy, but I could tell she wasn’t going to take
no
for an answer.

              “Oh, c’mon, baby. I could do a little something to relax you,” she cooed in a baby voice. Why the hell women thought that turned men on, I had no idea. She licked her sticky, gloss covered lips and batted her false lashes while drawing imaginary circles on my chest with her pointer finger.

              “Nope. Not interested.” I never even looked down at her, hoping she would take the hint. The next thing I know, she’s grabbing my crotch and rubbing her hand up and down.

              “Enough!” I practically picked her up and sat her away from me. She looked at me with hurt eyes, but I knew better. She was angry that she wasn’t going to be getting any money out of my wallet.

              “Fine! Your loss, asshole.” She turned on her stripper heels and stomped away. I smirked and shook my head. Yep, that’s what I thought.

              While wasting a good fifteen minutes on the pushy woman, I had lost my target. Heather was nowhere to be seen.
Shit!
The last time I saw her she was over by the stage, cleaning up a table and stacking chairs. My pulse increased as I scanned the room. What if Raul got out the door with her?

              I heard commotion across the room and cringed.
That voice
. I’d know it anywhere. To this day I still heard it in my dreams. I turned slightly, preparing myself for what I was about to see.