The HUSH Series: (HUSH, HUSHED and JANE.)

by Sandra Raine

  "Yeah, Sookie?" Dominic finally acknowledged her. I stole a glance over my shoulder toward Dominic who was now standing at her attention.

  Dr. Sookie ignored Dominic and zipped up her duffle bag instead. From the corner of my eye I secretly watched as Dominic crossed to her. And when she made an attempt to turn and leave, Dominic then swept her up in an embrace.

  "These favors are getting old, Nick." She said sighing out with her face barely touching his chest. Eventually Dr. Sookie does look up at Dominic but it was to only add sheepishly. "Don't you like what we have together?" Her eyes are somber as Dominic gazed at her through blank ones. I could very easily sense that he wasn't to content on what they had together, or even if there was a sense of contentment? But Dominic being the ever charming, convincing, deceiving and betraying asshole that he was, simply nodded. Dr. Sookie stole a tender kiss from Dominic's beautiful lips with Dominic barely kissing hers in return. But since Dr. Sookie was so wrapped up in her "boy toy's" wicked charm, she failed to grasp that meaningless kiss.

  Dr. Sookie then took the initiative and wrapped her arms around Dominic's neck and embraced him as he embraced her lightly. My eyes gravitated to Dominic's and our eyes lock. And for the life of me I couldn't understand why I didn't look away? I mean, after all the trauma he had caused me both physically and emotionally I still couldn't bring myself to look away from him. It was as if I was flirting with blasphemy, and just behind that blasphemy, the Devil.

  Dominic, much to my amazement, held my stare through his embrace with Dr. Sookie. The sullen look in his eyes forced me to shiver and my heart to thump. I quickly noticed the spark in his once luminous eyes were now hazed by, and what I gathered, a regret of magnitude proportions, maybe even beginning with me? Could it be, I mean, really be, that Dominic was starting to have a conscience toward me? Or, was I just wishfully thinking that he would? I broke our gaze and looked away, closing my eyes ever so damaged.

  When I opened my eyes however, it was now mid-afternoon. I could hear Tanya shuffling around her room, opening a drawer, moving a chair, closing the bathroom door, etcetera, etcetera, and it was driving me freaking nuts! I finally sat up to mumble something harsh to her but I froze on the edge of the bed: Dominic was sitting stout in a chair caddy corner to Tanya's bed, and he was staring right at me.

  "Tanya, give me a second with Jane, please?" Dominic then politely said to Tanya. She nodded and walked out of the bedroom. "You need to be resting." he then casually reminds me. I meant to ignore Dominic's remark but it was his reminding that suddenly reminded me of my pain 'cause it shot through me like a bolt of electricity causing me to convulse slightly. "Did you not hear me?" Now Dominic sounded like a bitch, another Dr. Sookie. I held my tongue and nodded. But just as I was in the throes of lying back down Dominic bitched. "Well don't fucking lay down now, I'm talking to you." UGH! my mind screamed. I straightened myself back up and made an attempt to listen intently.

  Dominic inched his way toward the edge of his seat. He then casually leaned over his lap, clasping both hands together in prayer. He then gazed into my eyes for a second, probably to reflect on his next words - words that will probably haunt me for the next few days as they tended to do from time-to-time like when he threatened to blow my snatch into tiny pieces all over the back seat of his father's Bentley just to make a point. A chill ran through me.

  "Something's been on mind, Jane, and it's been troubling me a bit, too." Oh, oh! And the unmistakable taste of Dominic's incessantly toxic-laced words then grazed at my throat as he continued. "Who told you about Chloe Reynolds?" Oh, God! I bit down on my tongue. I could taste blood. "I mean. . .how did you stumble on her name?"

  I bit my tongue again, and bleed twice as hard. I really liked Miss. Walker, but. . ."Um. . .Miss Walker."

  "'Miss Walker'?" Dominic's ear suddenly upturned, and questionably. "The school nurse?" he then retorted somewhat taken aback as I nodded. "Hmm." He droned for a few seconds in thought. "What else has she disclosed to you?"

  I shrugged my shoulders. "Not much." I said honestly.

  "Well mentioning Chloe Reynolds is 'not much', Jane. . .I mean," and Dominic chuckled, "her name must've had an impact on you. . .especially when you're asking Tanya about her. No?" I bit down on my tongue a third time. The blood made my stomach turn badly. "So what did Miss Walker say about her?"

  "Hmm. . .she said I reminded her of Chloe. . .and Ta - "

  Dominic threw up a hand, and my jaw snapped shut. "Reminded her of what?"

  "Of being tired. . .run down."

  "Is that it?"

  I shook my head. Dominic cocked his. "She said Chloe would've been a Sophomore this year, too."

  "She did, huh?"

  I nodded, this time feeling a little at ease. "That's it. She wouldn't tell me more." I added confidently.

  Dominic sighed, running an anxious hand through his hair. "So is that why you've been searching for Chloe on your computer. . .'cause Miss Walker left you cold in Chloe's tracks?"

  I instantaneously shot Dominic a harsh, accusing stare without realizing my place in his company. "You've been snooping on my computer?" I accused.

  "It doesn't matter what I've been doing, Jane. What matters is what the fuck you've been doing?! And I don't think you understand how bad you actually got it, either? I mean, despite your misfortune, you still haven't learned a goddamn thing!"

  "I don't understand?!"

  Dominic leaped up from the chair. His grasp was fast on my face, forcing me to look up at him. "What we got going is bigger than you'll ever imagine, and you can never escape from it. We're always watching you, Jane. We always know where you go, who you're seeing, who you're talking to, what you do and don't do, whether in house or out. We're around you in ways you would never think imaginable. I mean, how do you think we get into your house, your bedroom, hmm? And even that elaborate security system isn't as "elaborate" as your parents' think it is."

  Suddenly a wave of emotions, particularly terror, tsunamied over my entire body thus drowning me to the very depths of the ocean's black floor where other creatures of insignificance dwelled in its darkness - I realized there was no escaping Dominic.

  No escaping this life.

  I was doomed.

  Chapter 35

  Mid-June -

  Dominic graduated from high school. I was both elated and saddened.

  I had been invited to his graduation and his after graduation party - a bash his parents were throwing for him in one of the ballrooms at the Montelucia, a luxury resort and spa.

  Dominic's mother, Helena Ray had been planning Dominic's graduation party since after Christmas. I had never seen a mother so proud over her child's accomplishments which included a full scholarship to ASU not to mention Sun Devil notoriety; I swore one would think she had been planning the event in commemoration to her own happiness.

  I had also never seen Dominic look so handsomely glum in his graduation cap and gown - he looked like he was in pain throughout the entire ceremony particularly when he posed for pictures afterwards. Because he never smiled. He just kind of stared straight into the various camera lenses in a blanketed expression. But when Dominic motioned me to his side to take a picture with him, I almost had myself a panic attack 'cause I didn't want any harm to come to me, not in front of everyone, and especially from Dominic. But then being surrounded in a sea of proud, smiling parents made me come to the conclusion that no harm could come to me even if I attempted to make a scene.

  I stepped in beside Dominic. He casually wraps an arm around my waist prompting me to nervously wrap an arm around his and together we smiled for the cameras, or at least I tried to smile. The cameras all around flashed. When Dominic and I parted I asked Helena Ray if I could see our picture. She smiled and handed me her camera.

  I fumbled with the camera for a moment 'cause I couldn't comprehend the button to display the last picture. I scrunched my forehead and looked to Helena for help but she was locked in conversation with a couple of other
graduate parents. So it was Dominic who then ended up easing the camera from my hands. He smirked and pulled up our picture in the digital screen viewer. Dominic then slipped the camera back into my hand. He meant to say something to me 'cause he opened his mouth to speak but he was quickly interrupted by some of his fellow grads who also wanted pictures with him. Dominic strolled away and I was left staring down at our picture where I just about lost my breath - Dominic smiled. And he smiled. . .with me. I quickly glanced up just in time to stop Patty Michaels, a Junior, and a friend of mine and Tanya's just as she was passing by. She was carrying a handheld digital photo printer and I talked her into printing the photo which I quickly shoved into my purse when I saw Tanya coming my way.

  "You're going to ride with me to the party." she said matter-of-factly as if I didn't have a choice in the matter in which I didn't have 'cause I came to the graduation with Bob, Helena and Dominic; Dominic who tried desperately hard to be a gentleman in his parents' presence while sitting next me. And Dominic's supposed "gentlemanly" demeanor had me rolling my eyes in total cynicism the whole time as it left me to think if his parents only knew what kind of an animal Dominic was. And the thought had me wondering if they would have gone through the great lengths that they've just gone through, with the party and everything, if they knew that their only son, their pride and joy, their reason for living was actually a predatorial raping pimp?

  The ballroom was crowded. It looked like Dominic's entire graduating class was there. The music was loud. The dance floor was crowded. The tables were occupied. The food was plenty. The alcohol was endless. And did I fail to mention that the Ray's also took the liberty of booking half the resort's suites to avoid having the grads and their parents drive home drunk?

  I had grown bored out of mind an hour into the party. I tried to eat but I could barely swallow the food. I tried to drink soda, punch and some water but I wasn't thirsty either. So I just sat at the Ray's table trying to make myself appear as if I was having a really great time when deep down inside I was dying. I needed a valium, coke, anything recreational to take the edge off my nerves and the people constantly swaying around me. I felt like I was literally on the dance floor, spinning myself into a frenzy then staggering to and from the table dizzy.

  After the lights to the ballroom had finally dimmed down, the crowd went wild and I dug through a hidden pouch in my purse for some valium I carried for emergencies, and this, this freaking party was an emergency! I quickly popped the pill into my mouth and reached across the table for the semi-emptied goblet of wine belonging to Tanya and sipped hard while the pill went down smooth. And before I could even begin to enjoy the rest of the sweet taste - of an obvious pricey wine - the goblet was snatched right out of my hand. I quickly looked up with Dominic shaking his head in slight disappointment. He settled the goblet back down onto the table and sat down beside me.

  Dominic picked up his beer, the same beer he'd been nursing since we first took got here, and took a lengthy sip. After, he leaned into my ear and muttered. "I'm fucking bored!" he complained as I nodded and tried to pretend I was humored by his dark humor.

  Then out of the blue, Claire Collins, a fellow grad in long blond hair and a sleek black strapless party dress and sky high heels, and obviously no match against my long brown hair and conservative cobalt blue halter dress and silver ballet flats, tapped Dominic on his shoulder and asked if he wanted to dance. I looked away just as Dominic turned back around to look at me. I had hoped he wasn't searching for my approval 'cause he wasn't going to get it from me simply 'cause I didn't care if he danced with Claire Collins or not. Dominic apprehensively stood to his feet while Claire grabbed his hand and lead him to the crowded dance floor.

  After another hour of being bored, ignored and exceptionally bothered by the loud music and the endless swarm of girls determined to dance with Dominic, I got up from the table and headed toward the ladies room. I washed my hands, surveyed myself in the mirror, chatted with a couple of cheer-bitches, and at last headed back to the party feeling slightly refreshed and a bit hungry. But just as I was clearing the ladies room back into the ballroom, a guy I had not recognized, and who could have easily passed for a graduate, grabbed my hand and pulled me close to him while another guy in which I figured to be the friend of the guy holding me, grinned ear-to-ear. He then took the liberty of publicly sizing me up from head-to-toe. I tried to pull away from the guy holding me but he just ended up tightening his grasp around my waist.

  "So you're Diamond, huh?" the guy grinning then said to me much to assumingly. Suddenly a wave of panic filtered through me, and I couldn't help but to self-consciously glance around the party only to find to my dreaded surprise Justin and Josh standing nonchalant near the buffet table with Justin nodding at both the guys in approval.

  "C'mon," the guy with his grasp around my waist then said, tugging me toward the exit of the ballroom. I could feel a panic attack building 'cause my heart started beating really fast and my breathing intensified. I anxiously glanced over my shoulder, my eyes in a frantic search for Dominic but I couldn't spot him anywhere within the enormous crowd. The guy continued to tug me toward the exit with the other guy taking hold of my arm, forcing me to walk that much quickly.

  Once we were outside beneath the warmth of the night sky, I tried to make a run for it. But Justin unexpectedly grabbed me by the back of my hair and yanked me to him. He then spun me around and slapped me hard across the face. It burned.

  "Where in the fuck do you think you're going, hmm, bitch?" Justin then seethed toyingly.

  "Pl. . .please, Justin," I whimpered behind stinging tears.

  "Please. . .what?" He then continued to toy, yanking my hair some while the two guys stood nearby snickering and chuckling over my humiliation.

  "Please. . .This isn't the time." I pleaded. Justin laughed. And it was in that moment Dominic finally came to my rescue. He grabbed hold of my hand and pulled me away from Justin. He then ushered me to stand behind him. I clung to his shirt beneath trembling fingers.

  "What the fuck are you doing, cuz?" Dominic fumed at Justin who started to fume himself.

  "Tryin' to make some money. What?!" He scoffed. "You not game tonight, cuz?"

  Dominic, too, glanced around self-consciously. "This is my fucking graduation party! We can't be doing this shit here!"

  "Oh, c'mon," Josh, too, then scoffed. "It's a freaking party at a freaking hotel, man. It's the perfect opportunity to make some serious money. Know what I mean?"

  "I don't give a fuck what you mean, Josh!" Dominic spat.

  Justin upturned an ear. "What was that?"

  "I didn't fucking stutter, dude!"

  The three exchange heated glances for a moment which left Justin and Josh to eventually sigh out perturbed over Dominic's refusal to pimp me out. Sensing a total loss with Dominic, Justin walked back to the two potential "John's" who were now looking just as equally perturbed as he and Josh. A few words were then exchanged between them with both guys finally shaking their heads and walking away; both kicking up air like kicking up rocks on a lost opportunity. Dominic turned around and grabbed my hand to leave but Justin interrupted our sudden getaway.

  "I need some money, Dom." Dominic and I stop walking. We both turned around with Justin lighting a cigarette.

  "How much you in the hole for?" Dominic pried, sighing out in a state of exasperation.

  "Three grand." Justin said while a plume of smoke enveloped around his words.

  "Is that why you were trying to do business without me. . .without my consent?"

  Justin shook his head and chuckled through another plume of smoke. "Damn, man, I didn't realize I had to consort with you? I mean, I thought we were all partners here, bro?"

  "We are, bro, just not on the day of my graduation."

  Justin ignored Dominic and rolled his eyes but in a threatening gesture. "I don't give a fuck about your "so-called" graduation party, Dom. So looky here. . .either you get me my fucking money now, tonight, or you
can leave her and go back to your fictitious party and let me handle business. 'Cause to be honest with you, cuz, I'm not going to wait for you. I will use Diamond with or without your fucking consent."

  Dominic let go of my hand and stepped to Justin challengingly. "This is not why we're in this business, cuz. Diamond is not payment for all your gambling debts - "

  "Then what the fuck is she for then, huh, Dom?" Josh callously incensed. Dominic shifted his attention to him. "Seriously? Enlighten us!" he urged 'cause Dominic just stood there silent, and looking obviously stumped over Josh's question. I was starting to get the feel that Dominic really had no idea of why he was prostituting me out. I mean, it wasn't like Dominic needed the money, not with his overly extravagant teenaged lifestyle. I mean, his parents' were funding that. So now I was left pondering that same question: Why was Dominic pimping me out? And did "they" really exist? Or was "they" actually "them"? I mean, people in general were known to refer to themselves in third person so this wouldn't be a surprise.

  Dominic eventually nodded but it was directed into nothing in particular 'cause he was still silent. So instead of arguing the matter he did the next best thing: he reached into the breast pocket of his suit coat and pulled out a stack of hundreds and counted them off to Justin; Justin who eagerly took the crisp Benjamin's - all sixteen of them.

  "It still isn't enough." he then shamelessly complained while pocketing the money.

  Dominic, still keeping to his silence, reached down into the front pocket of his trousers and pulled out a few bank cards. "Pull a grand from each account," he said handing Justin two of the cards. "That should cover it, and then some." Justin said nothing and merely smirked leaving Dominic feeling contemptuous particularly over Justin's gambling debts. Dominic grabbed my hand. And instead of us heading back to the ballroom we instead head toward the direction of the hotel. My stomach tightened with fear. I had come to despise hotels. But I dared not tell Dominic that.