Wench With Wings

by Cassidy, Rose D.

  “Are you out of your damn mind? I did not say that and it is not a good idea at all. If we stop it now people will be talking and a lot will be losing their future, guaranteed. Now that, my friend, was a stupid idea. Sorry. Don’t even think of it again.”

  “I’m glad you speak frank, Pay. It’s why I liked you from the start. So don’t apologize. You’re probably right, I just want out though.”

  “Probably? No Trey. I am right. And I’m also right when I say, you don’t want out. You’ve just been a little out of sorts lately and you have to pull it together, that’s all. I got faith in you, girl. Now come on, let’s get out and face the music with the rest of them.”

  Ayden was already there and Trey already wanted to leave and she hasn’t even walked through the door yet. When she did Jos came running and wrapped her in a hug practically screaming, “You stupid ass, you scared me, but that was damn smart, I’ll give you that. People will be talking about your greatness for like, ever.”

  “Yea, yeah, yea. Now let’s get this over with.” Her reaction to Jos only made Ayden love her a bit more, which he didn’t think was possible and he didn’t even want to, not anymore. How could he? She broke his heart by throwing him away and yet here he was opening his heart more. ‘Damn it,’ he cursed himself.

  Dane filled him in on what she did on the way over and he was impressed, but even more so when she makes her grand gesture out to be something simple. It shows everyone how selfless she is and how she doesn’t expect anything from it and the fact that it comes natural at no cost to her makes it even greater. She made a split second decision to protect the people and the fights more than protecting herself without more than a second of a thought. To her there was no question to ask what the right thing to do was and what it would cost her, she just did it like it was nonchalant; she was truly unconcerned for herself, like there was no other choice, but the right choice; protecting her kingdom. At that moment that was all that he saw as he gazed at his queen, she would always be just that; his queen and it broke his heart.

  “Damn it, Ayden. I asked you what happened. Snap out of it.” He was completely drowned out from all sound other than his thoughts and didn’t hear her ask until she took a step toward him and cursed him. He shook it off.

  “Sorry, long night.” She rolled her eyes and right then he knew that she had a good feeling what he was really thinking about and he didn’t like it one bit. He wanted her to think he couldn’t stand the sight of her anymore and he wanted her to know that it was her fault his life was a complete mess, so he changed his tone. “I told them we were fighting over some stupid girl then asked for a lawyer. I didn’t say no more, though I was defiantly tempted to sign that damn statement against you. I could go to jail for a pretty fucking long time for this, I have too many assault charges already and they were willing to lessen the charge if I did. But then again the jury hasn’t reached a verdict yet, I could still change my story, but who knows if that would even do me any good, my plans in life are fucked up anyway. And all for what?” He stared at Trey his entire rant and watched as the anger built in her. She knew that all of it was her fault just by breaking his heart. It infuriated her that he had the audacity to be a dick about it though. She was honest with him up front; told him she wasn’t capable of loving. It was his own fault he let himself fall in love.

  “Do whatever you need to fucking do, Ayden. No bodies fucking stopping you, only you can do that.” Trey spit back, trying to get the point across that it wasn’t her fault. Even taking a step closer to him to show him she didn’t give a shit, she wasn’t scared. He shook his head at her because he got what she was trying to do, prove that his anger toward her would make him screw everyone else over. He already knew she wasn’t scared of it, she didn’t have to step closer to make that point. She would protect her own, but would he; is really what she was asking him, he knew it, but did she? He turned to Dane, “You can tell them the rest, I’ll walk home.” He turned and shot Trey another look, one that pretty much said FU then walked out slamming the door behind him.

  “Fucking jerk.” Trey cursed him. Then threw herself down on a chair. “Alright, what’s the story?” She addressed Dane.

  “They let him out on his own recognizance because the other guy had about the same story. Just that it was over a girl and that neither wanted to press charges. Well, after they figured out that neither of them where going to admit that it was organized. He got some crap ticket, public dispute or some shit. It should get lowered or dropped when it gets to court, but it might not, he’s got a record. I won’t get into it, it aint my business to tell, but it might cause an issue.”

  “What did they ask him about the fights? The more we know that the cops know, the better.”

  “They didn’t ask much just who the leader was, I guess they thought it was a guy, which of course is great humor in so many ways. I laughed for a while from it until Ayden punched me in the arm and told me to shut up. I got a kick out of that and laughed again, but he blared the radio. He’s in quite a touchy mood.”

  “Wow, you go on just like Jos.”

  “Hey.” Jos piped in.

  “Sorry, you guys are good together it’s obvious, that’s all.” Trey shrugged after throwing up her hands in surrender.

  “Ha, you want to talk about two people being obvious for each other? Well…” Trey jumped up cutting her off. She saw the look in Joslyn’s eyes, she knew what she was about to suggest and there was no way Trey was going to listen to the bull shit.

  “No, I fucking don’t. I’m sure you guys can figure out the rest of it for tonight. If you need an answer, text me.” She turned to Dane. “Let the jerk know I’ll give a lawyer his name and number. I’m paying for it, everything.” Then she turned to Pay, “Get a hold of the other fighter I want to do the same for him, it’s my fights, my responsibility to take care of the messes and you need his story too.” Then she addressed Jos, Gwen and Pay together, “Lunch tomorrow to discuss it more, this aint over so don’t think it is. Keep your ears open. This mess is only just getting started, it will become much worse, don’t be blind to it because the cops didn’t figure it out tonight, the victory is not ours.” She stalked off, grabbing a bottle out of the freezer and a joint before heading to the hot tub; fight or no fight she needed to relax. She didn’t want to think about everything this new mess was going to create, all of it was more of a mess then anyone was thinking and she knew it, just didn’t want to think about any of it tonight.

  ***

  Chapter Sixteen:

  What's Truly The Reality?

  The sun streamed in from the window blinding out the darkness that Trey so desperately wanted. Groaning and throwing the blanket over her head, she cussed the damning light. She still didn’t want to think, didn’t want to believe that yesterday really happened. She screamed, “Fuuuccckkk,” throwing the blankets off her. She ready herself for just another day in hell; her hell. The one she created all on her own. Yea, she managed to get away from her father and the shit she had to go through, but she based her life around it, even now and that is what truly pissed her off. She based her life around fights, around her fucked up childhood. Her success was based from the failed past of her father. She wanted nothing from him, not even the strength he gave her to start a movement; to be successful. She didn’t realize she was doing it until he showed up on Christmas and now all she wants is to just be done with it; with him, her past. She didn’t want him to dictate any more of her life and if that meant giving up the fights, giving up the movement than that is what she has to do. First she has to fix her fuck up; she wouldn’t leave it open for more people to get hurt.

  She sat down at the kitchen table with a coffee and picked up her phone. “Hello, Mrs. Buell. It’s Trey.”

  “Hey, little lady. I heard an issue happened last night. I expected to hear from you sooner.”

  “Yea, well I played it to my advantage and got let loose with no issues, but a couple of my guys didn’t. I want to have
you represent them, I’m paying.”

  “That, sweetheart I was counting on. You always do what’s right. It is why I will always stick by your side.”

  “You just like the money.” Trey joked.

  “That I do, but Trey we need to talk about your finances too. Your running short, the bills for the house and the shop are barely getting paid by what you’ve been bringing in and your savings are still held up for at least another few weeks before I can get a check for you, my husband your accountant, you remember the one you've been avoiding, well he just informed me at breakfast. I’m not worried about my pay, I’m going to cut it in half for these two guys and just get it in a couple months when the one CD is available, but I’m worried about your bills and next semester’s tuition. You really have to start bringing in more money. I don’t know what you’re going to do about the fights, but I’m assuming you’ll have to put them on hold for a bit so you’re going to have to be open, you know what I mean?”

  “Yeah, I do. I just wasn’t really ready for that. Life’s been rocky and you just reminded me of more boulders dropped in my way.” They half laughed.

  “You are a creative one even with your words, you’ll be able to pull it off and be okay. I believe in you more than anyone I ever came across, Trey. You can do this.”

  “That’s the thing I just don’t know if I can anymore. I’m losing the battle.”

  “Oh honny, you might lose the battle from time to time, you can’t win them all, but I am confident that you will win the true fight, the one of yourself. That’s who you are.”

  “That’s the thing I don’t know if I want the fight anymore. I just want to forget about all of it, throw down my sword and become a hermit.”

  “That is defiantly not who you are, Trey. Your strong, you’ll pull through.”

  “Who knows, I sure don’t. Anyway enough about me. I’ll text you later with the guy’s names and numbers. Ayden is…well he needs…ah, just take care of him like you do me.”

  “I will for sure, don’t you worry. Do you want me to keep you updated with what’s going on with them?”

  “Of course, like you always do and with the rest too. Also if you can do some digging, apparently the cops got an anonymous phone call about the fights and have been looking into it. I knew something was up, there have been a lot of cops recently, but I need to know if their gonna back off or not.”

  “Yes, absolutely. I’m already working on it. I have been for a couple weeks, but even as the DA and working so close with them, I can’t do much without them looking into me, but now that these guys of yours did right by you I’ll be able to deflect much better. I’ll get them off your case as soon as possible just be careful for now and I’ll let you know when they settle down.”

  “Thank you. You are the best, I don’t know what I’d do without you. You should stop in with that hubby of yours, it’s about time you both finish those tats of yours.”

  “Anytime, Trey. I’m here no matter what and yeah we will be in soon. Take care and stay strong.”

  “K, Thanks again. Text ya later.”

  She hit end on her phone and dropped her head in her hands. She knew there was going to be money issues, but she didn’t think this soon. She pealed herself off of the stool and felt the weight of all of it crunch her as she walked to her spare room. She pulled the key off the bottom of the stand next to the door and unlocked it. Stepping in she stole a deep breath and raised her head sulking about what she knew she would have to let go too soon. She wasn’t ready, ‘maybe just a couple of you just to get by. I’ll fix this, I’ll work harder,’ she thought as if she was talking to them if they were alive. She shuffled through the paintings and pick the two she knew she could sell quick just not at a price she was willing to let them go for, it would be even less than half of what they were worth to her, but it needed to be done. Her Grams would be okay with it, she knew that, her grams told her to do it, but it wasn’t okay with her. To her; her Grams unsold painting were hers, no matter what.

  She was a famous painter and gave Trey the paperwork to each of them, they were never on the market and Trey never wanted them to be. She wanted them all to be the history of her art work and displayed as if in a museum at her own gallery one day. But it had to be done and for what; because she let her heart get in the way. She let the tears fall soundlessly as she wrapped them up and headed out to her car with them. Then headed to class a complete wreck.

  Ayden didn’t want to get up, didn’t want to go to campus. Midterm grades would be in and he knew they wouldn’t be good. He dragged himself out anyway. He knew he had to, he knew he also had to get a damn grip and get his head out of his ass and start working harder, but knowing that he might have screwed up his entire life already, didn’t push him very far. He looked like shit and didn’t care. His hair was a mess, his eyes were dark from lack of sleep and too many drinks, but he made his way to his first class. As the professor handed him the folder of his work and tests he gave him a wary look. He knew what the look meant; disappointment, concern and a bit of a loss in faith. He didn’t bother to shuffle threw all his work he only looked at the top page with the midterm grade on it. A 78 marked in red stared back at him, mocking him. He slammed the folder shut and headed to his next class that he knew would go the same. Which it did. Every plan he made, everything he worked for, just felt dead; he felt dead. He walked out pissed not even glancing to the tree he once sat at with Trey. He didn’t want to think about her, he wanted to push her as far away from his mind as he could. He hopped on his bike and headed off; he needed a good ride.

  Her grades were no better than his, a point more, a point less, but just as disturbing as his. She hung her head in shame as she headed to Tammy’s to meet the girls for more bad news she knew was coming. Prepared or not it was still going to affect her. She saw the looks of defeat in the girls as she slid into the booth. “Hit me,” she breathed out.

  “Well, you were right. The victory is not yet ours. It’s more fight than I thought, than any of us thought.” Pay relented.

  “Ah, yes. More, just like I knew. So, hit me.”

  “Quite a few new bloods dropped out. How’s that for a hit?”

  “How many?”

  “Eight new from this semester and five from last, thirteen in all.”

  “Shit. Are they gonna talk?” Yes, she was worried about them talking, but also about the money she’d be losing, but not just for her sake; for the girl’s sakes more. They depended on the money, the shop and they’d all be crushed if Trey lost it.

  “Na, they won’t talk, they just don’t want to get caught. Most of the ones have scholarships and can’t get in trouble without losing it. The three others are just scared and more scared you’ll do something if they talk so I think were good, but it’s going to screw with the list quite a bit. We’re going to have to figure all that out again, but that’s not the worst…” Pay trailed off waiting to see if Trey was ready to handle more. Asking the question in her eyes as she looked at Trey.

  “Go ahead, hit me again.”

  “We lost two locations. The frat we were at and their girl frat equal.”

  “Fuck. They were the best. Alright, what else.”

  “Everybody wants to know, what next?”

  “We lay low for a couple, maybe few weeks until I get the cops off our backs. I got someone on the inside that will let me know when they let this mess go. We train, get a meet with the guys and keep everyone settled and at least sparing, maybe some mock fights with like ten, twenty people at a time. We get a new list going that benefits everyone, we have to find some edge maybe upping the cash, but I’m afraid it will cause more trouble, show were willing to dish out. So maybe just benefits, an extra tap out something like that, we got space to fill with the ones leaving. Also, money is an issue. With the fights not going on right now we have to get more clients in the shop. I’ll pull the weight, I know I haven’t lately, but we need it so I’ll put in all I got. The fight money pay’s my port
ion of the house, but without it we won’t have the shop and that’s gonna be one hell of a hit on all of us. I know I’m asking a lot, but we all need to get the word out more so I can do more tats. I’m not asking for more hours from you guys just word of mouth. Maybe set up a few nights to go out to some bars and spread the word. I’m willing to give some discounts, maybe the past clients can get a break on their next tat if they get new ones for us. We’ll have to set up a plan for all that too. Brain storm some ideas, talk to people, then we’ll get together tomorrow night at the shop to set exact plans and get them in action. Sound good?”

  They all gave there yea’s and Trey got the info from Pay about the other guy that got busted with Ayden then sent the info to her lawyer and headed out to the auction house. She would have to sell them to the house instead of waiting for auction, hence the cut in pay. Leaving there she felt completely broken. She headed home wanting to drown out the day in a bottle of Jack and enjoy the darkness it brought, but she knew she would have to work on some tats because she didn’t get nearly enough than she wanted from the paintings.

  The ride wasn’t going the way he planned. He thought it would clear his head instead it only wrapped more shit around his heart. He couldn’t just ride out the issues like he wanted, he had to face them head on. He went to his place to find a lawyer, that issue needed to be taken care of first. Then he would worry about fixing his grades and then going into work to try and get more hours to pay for a lawyer he wasn’t sure he could afford even with extra hours.

  He sat down at the kitchen table, took out his IPad to search for lawyers and started calling. The first five were more than he could afford and by the eighth he was ready to give up. He was practically pounding his head on the table when his phone rang. He didn’t want to answer it, it was an unknown number which only pissed him off more, but he did anyway. “Yeah?” He answered sarcastically.