by Koko Brown
“Why?” Tam blurted out.
He didn’t answer at first and for several moments, she didn’t think he would until finally, he said so softly that she thought she imagined it, “I don’t know.”
Shortly after he pulled up in front of a run-down hut that had several people standing in front. “The place is too small for seating so most people just hang out on the benches. Let’s go.”
Tam looked around the area. This place didn’t seem to be in a great spot. “Are you sure you want to leave your car unattended. Aren’t you worried someone will touch it?”
Again he smirked. “That wouldn’t be wise of them.” He said it with so much confidence that she wondered what line of business he was in that he could stroll around a place like this without any worries. She decided to think about it later because the intoxicating scent of grilled meat had seduced all thought from her head. He ordered a cheeseburger for himself and two for her. Tam didn’t wait to get back to the car before she devoured the first one. It was heaven on a bun. They ate the rest of the food in his car.
“You must have been hungry.”
“How could you tell?” she asked facetiously licking her fingers and not caring how sloppy she must have looked. Tam froze when she realized that he’d been staring at her with that indiscernible gaze of his. It made her shiver. She licked her lips. “Uh… why are you staring at me like that?”
He continued to look at her with his unwavering regard.
Tam squirmed in her seat. Unable to hold his intense stare, she looked at her lap.
“I think you’d clean up quite nicely.”
That wasn’t at all what she’d been expecting. As compliments went, it was pretty backhanded. She didn’t consider herself unattractive, but maintaining a beauty regimen while fighting for her very survival hadn’t been the top of her priorities list. Self-consciously, she pushed a stray lock from her face. She hadn’t properly twisted her hair in forever and she was sure it looked a mess.
A soft chuckle met her ears, causing Tam to bring her head up sharply. She didn’t think a man like this was capable of laughing. “Cute,” he muttered more to himself than to her as he started the car.
Tam licked her lips that had once again gone dry. “Where are you taking me?”
“Wherever you want to go.”
He was probably fully aware that she didn’t have a particular destination in mind and all the good spots under the overpass were probably taken by now. She had no money for a cheap hotel.
When she didn’t answer immediately he said, “We’ll figure something out.”
She wasn’t sure what that meant and frankly, she was a bit scared to ask. There was something about this man that stirred something within Tam that made her question her sanity. She’d been on the streets long enough to know not to trust anyone but herself, yet here she was in this stranger’s car and for all she knew he could be a serial killer who preyed on homeless women.
They drove in silence before he pulled into a gas station. “I’ll be back. Out of smokes.”
“Those things will kill you.”
He smirked. “Trust me, I’ve face must more dangerous things in my life. These are the least of my worries.”
She was surprised he trusted her alone in his car. If she had any common sense she’d get out now and be on her way. Tam placed her hand on the door handle when she spotted something shiny by the compartment beneath the stereo. Allowing her curiosity to get the better of her, she picked up the item to discover it was a money clip with a thick wad of hundreds. Before she could talk herself out of it, she took a few. Someone like him wouldn’t even notice.
After securing the money in her bra, she grabbed her bag and slid out of the car before running as if the devil himself was on her heels. She didn’t stop moving until she reached the security of an alley. Ducking behind the dumpster, she patted the spot where she’d tucked the money. It was wrong to take something that didn’t belong to her but it probably meant so little to the blue-eyed stranger and so much to her. She could get another ID and have food for a few days. She might even have enough to stay at a cheap motel for a few days. She felt slightly guilty for repaying his kindness with deceit but it wasn’t as if she’d ever see him again.
“So you do recognize me,” he said breaking the silence.
“Look, I’m sorry, I’ll pay you back, every penny. I just—”
“You stole from me after I did something nice for you. But don’t worry. You’re going to pay me back. I’ll make sure of it.”
THREE
The deadly calm in which he made his declaration told Tam that she was in deep shit. She placed her hand on the door handle and contemplated jumping out of the vehicle even though it was going at full speed.
“I wouldn’t advise it unless you’re dumber than I think you are.” His eyes were focused on the road, but he seemed to know her every move.
“I’m sorry. I needed it and…” she’d stolen that money, mainly to get her ID back and to have a little something to get by on for a couple of weeks. Now she had nothing because when she’d been snatched up by Rico she’d lost her bag in the scuffle along with the little bit of money she had in her possession. She didn’t even have her birth certificate and social security card any longer. She was well and truly screwed. But that wasn’t his problem.
She’d done a bad thing and it had caught up to her. What was worse, she was certain nothing good was going to come from this reunion. She could handle the police, she’d been in jail for vagrancy once before. Tam had even reconciled herself to death. But she had a feeling he had something far worse in store for her. He didn’t seem like the type of man to be crossed.
Tam sunk into her seat, unsure of what her next move would be. She doubted getting away from this man would be as easy as the first time so she’d have to bide her time and figure out where to go from there.
The car ride seemed to go on forever and the stress of the day had caught up to her. Tam began to shake and she couldn’t stop.
“Scared?” he asked, breaking the silence.
“What do you think?” she snapped, seeing no point in holding her tongue. Tam figured that if he was going to do something bad to her then his mind was already made up and there was no amount of pleading she could do to change it.
“I think you have a huge set of balls for someone in your predicament. But I suppose it’s better than listening to you whine all the way to where we’re going. What’s your name?”
“Does it matter? I heard if you were going to kill someone it’s better not to know their name.”
He smirked. “Or maybe I have something in store for you much worse. Name!” he practically barked that last word making her nearly jump out of her seat.
“Tam.”
“Is that short for something?”
“Tamryn, but most people just call me Tam.”
“Hmm, Tamryn,” he said it more to himself than to her, as if he were testing the name on his tongue. The way he said it sent a shiver down her spine. She wasn’t supposed to feel this way toward a total stranger who was probably her potential murderer.
Taking a deep breath, she decided now was a good a time as any to figure out where they were going so she could formulate some plan of escape. “And exactly where are you taking me?”
“You’ll see when you get there.”
Tam moistened her lips which felt cracked and dry. “What’s your name?”
She didn’t think he would answer as he grabbed a pack of cigarettes off the divider and took one out before putting one between sensual lips. But then he muttered, “Seamus.”
It was a name she would have associated with an old Irish sea captain, but somehow it suited him. “Those are bad for you.” She pointed toward the cancer stick dangling from his mouth.
“I didn’t invite your opinion. Sit back and enjoy the ride.”
As Tam opened her mouth to protest he temporarily took his gaze off the road and shot her a look that would have
made the toughest of men shit themselves.
She clasped her hands together to stop the shaking and kept her head down, silently praying that she would figure a way out of her predicament.
Seamus couldn’t figure out what it was about this woman that intrigued him, but from the moment their eyes had met as he was dining with a companion of his, there was something about her that made him want to know more about her. Was it because she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen? Of course, it wasn’t because he’d been with women who were considered extraordinary beauties. Tamryn was only passably pretty, but she had that certain something that made a man look twice with dark brown skin that reminded him of smooth silk, large eyes framed with long thick lashes that gave her a look of innocence and bow-shaped lips that begged to be kissed.
When he’d first seen her it didn’t immediately dawn on him that she was homeless until he’d gotten close enough to take in the old, stained clothing that looked as if it had seen better days, and the burlap backpack with a sleeping bag attached. He should have walked away then, but he couldn’t. Seamus never considered himself a philanthropist but he wanted to help her, which made no sense to him considering his mistrust in women in general, but there he was offering to take her somewhere to eat. It had only been his intention to do just that but the more he remained in proximity to her, watching the way she moved, and the way that little pink tongue swiped her full lips every so often, had his dick rock hard.
He had to be insane to take in this woman who not only could have been riddled with disease if she earned extra money from the occasional john or two, but it was quite possible she was a junkie or mentally unstable. He knew enough about street life to understand that homelessness came with its own peril.
His family amassed a fortune in bootlegging and arms dealing. He had had a hand in it himself until he realized the real power was in going legit, or at least the appearance of it. So even though Tamryn lived on the streets, he didn’t consider himself any better than her. Some people would say he was much worse. But he had to see what kind of person she was so when he’d made that stop at the gas station, Seamus had deliberately left his money clip in the car in a place where she was sure to see it. He knew exactly how much was there so even if she took a little, he’d know and be done with her. But when he came back to find her gone, he was surprised that she’d left any money at all. She’d taken three hundred dollar bills and had left the rest.
It should have pissed him off but a part of him was relieved that she’d done it and had left so that he wouldn’t have to examine the effect she had on him and his libido. That night, he’d visited his club and chose his favorite hostess and fucked her until she begged for mercy. But unlike the other times, that experience hadn’t been as unsatisfying as it usually was because all he could think about was a certain brown-eyed thief.
When he’d gone to what was considered the bad side of town to deal with Darrius the last thing he expected to see was a blood-drenched version of the woman who’d haunted him since he’d met her. He should have left her and let Darrius do what he would to her, but again that unexplainable pull she had on him had gotten the better of Seamus and he found himself bringing her along.
He didn’t even ask how she’d got into that mess in the first place, but knowing the special kind of scumbag Darrius was, it wouldn’t be long before he’d have her selling ass on the street corner for a few bucks. At least where he was taking her she’d have a choice. After that, he could finally wash his hands of her.
Tam must have fallen asleep because the next thing she knew she was being nudged awake. “Get out.”
It took her a moment to take in her surroundings before she realized the car had stopped. There used to be a lot of abandoned industrial buildings in this part of town but now it was barely recognizable. The police had run out most of the homeless people who slept around this area a couple of years ago because of what they called a huge ‘urban renewal project’. Now it was the very picture of a booming industry.
Seamus stood by the passenger door waiting for her to get out and Tam contemplated whether it would be worth making a run for it. She was pretty quick, but where would she go looking the way she did? She was still sticky from the congealed blood that had dried up on her skin and clothing. That smell, combined with urine couldn’t be very pleasant. How Seamus had managed to be in the car with her without vomiting was a surprise.
As if he’d read her mind he gave her a narrowed eye stare. “Don’t even think about running because wherever you go, I’ll find you.”
Looking into that intense blue gaze, she believed him. Seamus didn’t wait around to see if she followed him. He stepped with the confidence of a man who was used to being obeyed when he was given a command.
They came to a structure that looked like it could have been an office building if not for the ornate double doors and a huge golden lion door knocker on the front. Seamus pressed the buzzer on the archway.
Tam began to tremble again. This seemed like an ordinary enough place so he couldn’t murder her here, could he? A few seconds later he was buzzed in. Tam followed Seamus inside, and she couldn’t help but be in awe of the opulence of the décor. Marble floors, crystal chandeliers and gold gilded trimmings, this place looked like something out of those shows where the wealthy showed off their glamorous lifestyles.
“Seamus, sweetheart. I didn’t realize you’d be back so soon. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” A tall woman with pale skin and long sable hair approached them. She wore a black sleeveless jumpsuit with a studded belt that made her waist look extremely tiny. There wasn’t a hair out of place and her make-up was expertly done.
Tam could tell this woman had probably never experienced a hard day’s work in her life. The coiffed beauty reminded Tam of the type of person who pretended homeless people were invisible when she passed them on the street. Someone like her who from the looks of it, had so much but couldn’t be bothered to spare a dime. Tam knew the type.
The woman put her arms around Seamus and pressed her lips against his jawline. Tam didn’t know why it bothered her so much to see that but the sight of it made her clenched her fists at her side.
A pair of green eyes strayed in her direction and the brunette noticed she and Seamus weren’t alone for the first time since she’d approached. She crinkled her nose in obvious disgust and pulled away from Seamus. “Who is this? And what happened to…her?”
Tam narrowed her eyes. This bitch.
“Natalia, this is Tamryn. You were telling me the last time I was here, that you needed some new girls of the ethnic variety because your clients have been asking for them.”
Natalia didn’t bother to look Tam’s way. Instead, she threw her head back and laughed. “You’ve got to be kidding me. This is a joke, right?”
“You’ve known me long enough to know that I don’t kid. Clean her up, get her tested, see how she does.”
Natalia turned to Tam with a deep scowl marring her otherwise perfect features. “Look at her, she’s disgusting. Her hair is matted and I can’t tell if that’s blood or shit she’s covered in. You certainly can’t tell by the smell. How did you ever find her in the first place? How could you bring this vagrant off the street into my establishment?”
Tam might have had no choice in coming to this place, but she certainly wasn’t going to stand here and be insulted. “Fuck you, you plastic bag of bones. I didn’t ask to be here either but if you say one more thing, I will kick you square in the face.” She took a step forward and Natalia took one back.
Tam was halted when Seamus gripped her by the forearm and squeezed until Tam whimpered in discomfort. “Behave.”
“But she’s the one who—”
The look Seamus gave her was enough for Tam to bite back her words. When he released her, he turned to the brunette. “Natalia, come with me while we have a little chat. Tamryn, you stay put.”
Tam watched as the two walked into another room. Now would be a
good time to escape. But then she remembered Seamus’s warning. She had a feeling that he meant every word he’d said.
Still, she looked longingly at the door. As much as she hated to agree with that hateful woman, Tam didn’t belong here, although she wasn’t sure what here was exactly. Seamus mentioned this place needing girls, but for what exactly?
Tam was surprised when Seamus and Natalia returned only a few minutes later. Seamus’s expression remained neutral while Natalia looked as if she’d just sucked several lemons.
Seamus turned to Tam. “Welcome to your new home, Tamryn.”
FOUR
The person staring back at Tam in the mirror was a complete stranger. Her locked hair that once fell to the middle of her back had been cut off, leaving short springy curls that fell just below her chin. Her eyebrows had been skillfully threaded and her skin glowed like it hadn’t before from expensive facials. Her makeup was expertly done and she wore a mauve bandeau bodycon dress that barely reached her thigh. It clung to her curves like a second skin and she might as well have been naked, but she wasn’t wearing any less than the other ‘hostesses’ surrounding her.
A hostess.
Three months ago Tam wouldn’t have believed that she’d be working at a club so exclusive that it was by invitation only and said invitee had to belong to a certain income bracket. It went without saying that these guests were given the best of everything from top shelf liquor to entertainment. At the Devil’s Den, as it was fondly named, one could indulge in their wildest fantasies knowing the staff and others who were members would remain discreet.
The hostesses were among the most beautiful woman in the world, who provided companionship for men or women in some cases. Sometimes a patron only required the hostess’s company for a drink or an ear to listen to. But other times, they requested more, and that meant the hostess had to earn their money on their backs, basically making them high-class call girls.