Scenic Route

by D. D. Prince

  “There’s an ATM two blocks that way.” I gestured. “I’ll get you the money.”

  Toyota Tercel let out a breath, looking relieved.

  Bearded Jackal gave me a once over. I couldn’t get a read, but thought maybe he was disappointed.

  “Wait. Wasn’t it $600?” Bearded Jackal called out to Mean Jackal.

  Oh God. My heart dropped.

  “No, man. Don’t fuck around. $450. $500 with the vig. We’re bein’ generous with a small vig, babe.”

  Okay, evidence was suggesting Bearded Jackal was also Mean Jackal and Mean Jackal was just big and scary. And ugly.

  The bearded guy glared at the guy behind me like he was fucking up his plan to extort as much from me as possible.

  “All right. It’s a favor to you. From us.” He smiled in an oily way. “Pay up and we’re done for today.”

  Done for today?

  They wanted money and /or flesh, and maybe preferred both.

  I could do the $600, but it wasn’t about that. It was about them moving the goal posts because they didn’t want me out of this situation unless it meant me doing something I really was not prepared to do.

  Fuck, Joe. Fucking, fucking Joe.

  Maybe some would’ve sent them to his mother, I guess. But, no way would I do that. No way would I do that to Jan, Penny, and Grampa. They were dealing with the aftermath of Joe’s addiction already, as well as his attempted suicide and imminent criminal trial.

  I had to just hope that if I paid up that they’d actually go away.

  “Hop on the back of my bike and I’ll take you to the ATM,” Bearded Jackal offered.

  I shook my head. “I’ll drive there.”

  “No,” he said with condescension. “You’re not out of my sight until that money is in my pocket. Your man pulled a disappearin’ act, so I got no confidence you won’t do the same.”

  I rolled my eyes. “He’s no longer my man. I am not rolling in money, but if it costs me $500 for this to be the last of his shit, I’ll pay it.”

  “Hop in Justin’s car.” He gestured to the Tercel guy.

  “I’ll walk,” I corrected.

  “We don’t got all day, babe.”

  “Well, I’m not getting in anyone’s car or onto the back of either of your motorcycles. Sorry. It’s just two blocks.”

  “She’s got sass,” the bearded Jackal said to the other.

  “Yeah. Lil’ spitfire,” the other biker agreed.

  “And a rockin’ little body,” the junkie put in. “You work out?”

  Bleck. The junkie’s eyes on my butt made me want to hurl.

  “Uh… I’ll just dash to the ATM.”

  “Right behind ya. Lead the way,” Beard invited.

  And then they proceeded to walk behind me the two blocks. Two blocks that felt like two long blocks, because I felt the three sets of eyes on my rear. If I slowed, they slowed, to remain behind me. And I heard snickers and jibes as their eyes were most certainly on my ass.

  Thankfully, at least there was more traffic on the street.

  Also fortuitous, was the fact that my wallet phone case had my ATM card in it. No way I wanted to let them into the apartment and I knew they wouldn’t let me out of their sight without the money.

  The bearded one stood beside me at the ATM; the other two hung back. I leaned to try to hide my pin number and took out the $500 out of my savings account, then followed them back to the flower shop parking lot. When we got to the side of the building, I handed the money to Beard.

  He pocketed it and gave me a yellowed grin. “Thank you for takin’ care ‘o that. We’ll be on our way.” He gave me a nod and a once over. “Maybe see ya around.”

  I fought against physically cringing.

  Mean Ugly Biker gave me a pointed look. “Sorry your ole man took his hand to you, honey. Fuckin’ dick.”

  I gave him a tip of my head. “Well, hopefully this is the end of the bullshit,” I muttered.

  He looked ahead at the bearded guy and I didn’t like the look on his face, the look that stated I just bought myself attention, attention that I knew I didn’t want.

  The junkie waved. “See ya around.”

  God, I hoped not.

  He got into his car with a smile. He didn’t start it, just sat. They were taking their time and looked like they planned to converse rather than go, so I quickly unlocked my door and both locked and chained it behind me before I ran up the stairs.

  As soon as I got the upper door shut, I locked it shakily and slid Spencer’s chain across, sending gratitude to him in my head for that chain, that would maybe at least make enough noise to scare them away if they tried to come up here, then slid my back down slowly against the door until my butt was on the floor, my face buried in my knees.

  Relief. Sweet relief.

  Fuck, Joe.

  A zillion thoughts zinged through my head about this situation. Whether I should tell someone. Whether to ignore it and hope it didn’t rear its head again.

  I found my heart racing and broke out into a cold sweat. I got up and grabbed a water from the fridge and downed it.

  Heaving for breath, I peered out the curtains carefully and saw that the parking lot was empty. More relief…

  I got into the shower and as soon as I was in there, locking the door for extra peace of mind, even though the top door was locked as well as the bottom door, both with chains, I burst into tears.

  I didn’t feel safe. I didn’t feel safe because first Joe was here and then because those guys were down there.

  Maybe I should move in with my parents.

  I had to think on that. I didn’t know if I could do that, what that’d say about my state of mind to them, the amount of worrying they’d do.

  After shampooing and soaping up, I found myself huddled in the tub, water running over me, cradling my knees, lips against my knee. Blinking.

  How did this become my life?

  I blinked some more, shaking my head at myself, at my predicament. And then I got angry. At myself. Why was I so fucking pathetic? I was stronger than this.

  Wasn’t I?

  I rose to my feet, shutting the water off. I toweled off and got dressed for work. Angrily.

  ***

  I got there at 9:25, which was too early, but after what’d happened today so far, I needed the distraction, and to not be alone in that apartment.

  Jenna was busy with an extra-early client, so didn’t have time for chit-chat, not that I was interested in chit-chat about what’d just happened; it was more like hope that she’d distract me. Lulu wasn’t in for a few hours.

  I went into my procedure room and gave myself a pedicure. After I did my toes, I did my own fingernails. All ten fingers and toes: black. I’d never gone for black on my own nails. I usually preferred something fun, colorful, sunny… like my typical disposition.

  I decided that I really liked it. Maybe because it matched my mood today… and lately.

  My nails were dry, but I was still in foam pedicure flip flops when Sanjay arrived, ten minutes early, bringing me a Starbucks. He’d always done that. But today, he brought me the Trenta size instead of the Grande. And his eyes also landed on mine in a way that was flirty.

  Uh oh.

  “Oh. Thank you,” I greeted.

  He threw his jacket on the coat tree inside my door and yanked his t-shirt off, hanging it up. I started warming up the wax, which I usually would’ve done by now, other than the fact that I was completely distracted this morning. “You’re a few minutes early, so…” I was about to shut the door when Spencer was suddenly in the room with me.

  I spun to look at him and saw a murderous expression.

  “What---” I started to ask. He glared at me like he was furious.

  ”Come.” He grabbed my hand and tugged, making me follow him back out into the main salon.

  “Jenna!” Spence shouted.

  Jenna was leaned over, washing a client’s hair. She had another one under the dryer and two people in
the waiting area. She looked up at him with annoyance for a split second and then I guess the look on his face registered.

  “Yeah?” she inquired.

  “Take care of her customer. We’re usin’ your apartment for a minute. Gotta talk to Pippa.” He yanked on my hand.

  “Spence, wait.” I pulled back.

  He glared at me in an angry way that, for some reason, made me snap my mouth shut. My heart skipped a beat. He looked so so angry.

  Why?

  Wait. Did he know about what’d happened after he left? How?

  I had to jog to keep up with him. I was in foam slippers, for heaven’s sake.

  Suddenly Sanjay was blocking us, grabbing my other hand.

  “Let her go,” Sanjay snapped and tried to get his free arm around my hip to haul me away from Spencer.

  “Back the fuck off!” Spencer snarled in his face. They were matched in height, but Sanjay’s arms were probably bigger. Spence was muscled, but Sanjay looked like he might’ve been a steroid user.

  “She doesn’t seem like she wants you draggin’ her off somewhere, so let her go.”

  Spencer’s eyes snapped to me. “We need to talk, Pippa. You okay with that?”

  “Uh…” I didn’t get any more than that out, because Sanjay was grabbing Spencer by the jacket, by the Dominion Brotherhood leather jacket, and judging by Spencer’s reaction, I didn’t think that was a great idea.

  Spencer let go of my hand. “Step back, baby,” Spencer told me. I was dumbfounded, and therefore frozen. Spencer hauled an arm back and then his fist smashed Sanjay in the nose.

  I stepped back then. Blood was gushing.

  Sanjay’s reaction was quick, and a meaty fist came forward and swung at Spence. Spence deflected, but Sanjay immediately swung his left and caught Spencer’s jaw.

  “Stop it!” I called out, trying to get between them.

  “Only a fuckin’ lowlife tool treats a woman like that, you biker scumbag,” Sanjay snarled and swung with his other fist. “Pippa, dump this guy and go out with me. He’ll never touch you again.”

  Wait, what? No. He had it wrong.

  Spencer stepped back, lifted me with his hands on my hips and set me on top of the reception desk.

  “Swing your legs that way. Now,” he ordered.

  As I was turning to hop down behind the desk, Sanjay lunged, and Spencer’s boot came up high, fast, and he spun and kicked him, his boot catching Sanjay in the jaw. It was insane! A roundhouse kick like out of some Bruce Lee movie.

  “Stop!” I screamed. “Sanjay! This isn’t the guy that hit me! Spencer, fucking stop it!”

  Sanjay was mid-stumble.

  Spencer glared at Sanjay. “What the fuck, man?”

  Sanjay’s eyebrows furrowed.

  Jenna was directly behind me, but I was only vaguely aware of her presence. I was still on the desk, straddling it with one leg on either side.

  “You’re not the asshole that hits her that she keeps goin’ back to?”

  “What the…” I whispered.

  Is that what people thought?

  “I’m the asshole that’s in her life now, after that shit show,” Spencer barked, “and I’m the asshole that’s gonna rearrange your fuckin’ face if you ever put your hands on her or attempt to get between me and her again.”

  My eyes bulged. I became aware of the two customers who had been in the waiting area but who had evidently vacated at some point because they were also behind the counter with Jenna. A big plant, plus a stack of magazines, coloring books and the big bucket of crayons for kids were now all over the floor in front of the counter.

  Fuck this day. Fuck this fucking day.

  I looked at Jenna, whose face was pale, whose normally big blue eyes were now huge.

  “I c-can’t… I have to g-g---”

  “Go.”

  “I have a full day.” I thrust my hands into my hair. “Jam-packed.”

  “I’ll cancel your next two appointments. In your book?”

  I nodded.

  “Text me if you need me to cancel the others. Go,” she whispered and squeezed my hand.

  Spencer and Sanjay were almost nose to nose, both of them baring teeth.

  “Sanjay, he doesn’t hit me. The guy that hit me is in jail. And Spencer? Seriously? I can’t believe this shit.” I stormed out.

  Spencer was right behind me. So was Jenna.

  “Spence, give her space,” Jenna urged.

  I was rounding the corner, heading into the alley between the salon and the bakery. Spencer caught me with an arm around my waist.

  “Let go!” I snapped.

  “I don’t fuckin’ think so. Upstairs,” he demanded. “We’re talkin’.”

  “No. Screw that. I have nothing to say to you.” I was hollering.

  Rider was suddenly in the other end of the alley with us, looking tweaked. He must’ve come from upstairs.

  “Oy!” He was right up to us, reaching for Spencer.

  “Don’t fuckin’ touch me!” Spence snapped, filled with rage.

  Rider raised his hands in defense. “Tell me what’s goin’ on.”

  Spencer got right in Rider’s face.

  “Why the fuck do people keep thinkin’ they gotta protect her from me. I’m the one that’s tryin’ to fuckin’ protect her!”

  Oh God. My heart sank.

  Jenna was there with us, too. Shit. The salon was filled with customers, a broken plant, a mess, and zero employees.

  Sanjay was in the mouth of the alley now, too.

  “Pippa, I’m sorry,” he called out. “It was a misunderstanding.”

  I shook my head and waved my hand, as if to say, “Just go.”

  “I’ll re-book with you,” he said. He had his shirt on and his jacket in his hand. He had a wet and bloody piece of paper towel in his hand where he’d wiped his nose, I supposed.

  “You find somewhere else to get your shit waxed, you fuckin’---”

  “Spencer!” I hissed.

  Spencer stopped speaking and his eyes were on me, his mouth was contorted angrily, his chest rising and falling with big breaths.

  Now, Jojo was coming into the alley, too, obviously having heard the commotion. Andie popped her head around from the back, flour on her face and hands, frowning.

  Jenna tried to defuse things. “Spence, go talk to Rider and get calm. Pippa needs to cool off. Call her later. I’ll go take care of the salon. Jojo, can you help me a sec?”

  Jojo rushed to us, her eyes roving over me and then Spencer with concern.

  “I will not fuckin’ leave Pippa to cool off. She and I need to talk. Sunshine. Come here.”

  I looked at him with an astounded look on my face.

  “Are you kidding me right now? Who do you think you are, bossing me around?”

  “I’m the guy who wants to know why the fuck you were seen this morning at an ATM shadowed by two fuckin’ Jackals who looked like they were fleecin’ you.” He folded his arms across his chest. “Wasn’t gonna do this with a crowd, but baby, you haven’t given me much choice.”

  My mouth dropped open as I heard the sounds of Jenna and Jojo gasping. Rider straightened up.

  I took a big breath. “This day just keeps getting better and better.”

  “The fuck?” Rider snapped.

  Spencer pulled a phone out of his leather jacket and touched the screen a couple times and held it up for all to see.

  Me, at the bank, with the two Jackals, one junkie. The one Jackal right beside me at the machine. The picture was taken through the window, so it wasn’t great, but it was obviously me.

  He swiped the screen with his thumb and there was another of me coming out, them following.

  “Leanne sent me these. She snapped ‘em when she spotted you on her way to the Roadhouse this morning, knew who you were and knew there was no good reason for that shit, so she called.”

  “What the fuck?” Jenna asked. “You okay?” She pulled me into a hug. I didn’t want to be touched right no
w. I was feeling nauseous. Claustrophobic. I stiffened, so she let me go, concern in her eyes. She knew me well enough to know that when tweaked, I needed space.

  “C’mon, upstairs,” Rider said and waved us to follow him. “Jojo, go with Jenna.” Rider kissed Jenna on the lips quick and she went one way chewing her lip worriedly, Jojo trailing, while we went the back way, up to the apartment.

  Rider pulled out a chair for me in the kitchen and motioned for me to sit.

  Spencer stood there, eyes blazing, stretching his jaw. Obviously, Sanjay had punched him hard.

  “Start talkin’, baby,” Spencer ordered.

  “C’mon, Pip. Out with it. Leave nothin’ out,” Rider urged.

  “They were there when I came back from my run. Just there waiting for me, saying Joe apparently owed them $500 for drugs.”

  Spencer’s eyes went fiery mad.

  Rider bared his teeth in anger.

  “They wanted to be paid and they weren’t leaving unless I paid them either in cash or in some other way…”

  Spencer looked like he was about to lose it.

  “So, I paid them what Joe owed and got rid of them.”

  Rider grabbed another chair and spun it around backwards, and straddled it, in front of me. He was about to speak, looking at me gently, when Spencer roared.

  “And you didn’t fucking call me?”

  My eyes and Rider’s swung to him.

  I blinked.

  “I left you this morning, you went for a run, this happens, and you don’t call me to tell me?”

  I tilted my head at him.

  Rider put a hand on my shoulder. “You should’ve called one of us, Pip. Any Jackal comes near you again, and you call one of u---”

  “You call me!” Spencer hissed. “Me. Not one of us, unless you can’t get me. You call me, Pippa. Immediately. No, fuck that. You won’t have to call because I’m putting a prospect on you.”

  “Huh?”

  “Do these guys know she’s yours? They fuckin’ with us?” Rider asked.

  What?

  “His?” I asked.

  “What’d they say?” Spencer asked me.

  I was just staring bug-eyed at him.

  “What happened, exactly?” Rider snapped. “Don’t leave anything out.” He looked enraged.