“I’m going home,” I stated.
Dick’s eyes hardened on me. “The fuck you are.”
Frank ignored Dick, “I’ll walk you out, Char.”
Marjorie walked back from her set, “Oh, my girl! What was that? Your ass was perched my entire routine.”
“Just some ass who gets off on calling women whores and trying to humiliate them.”
This was the first time Dick heard me talk about what happened out there. He might be a dick, but he was also human and he did have some compassion.
“First a harlot, then a whore. Ordered me not to move, and I swear to Christ the only reason I did it was because I thought he was going to kill the man next to him. I’m done for the night.”
“Oh, honey.” Marjorie ran her hand down my hair. She was the touchy feely type and normally I would move away from someone’s touch, but Marjorie grew on you.
“I’m alright, a little shaken up, but I’m calling it a night.”
I got a look from Dick that said he wasn't pleased as he walked out of the dressing room.
“You ready?” Frank asked grabbing my bag off my shoulder.
We went out the employee exit. Frank stood beside me as I fished out my keys, and then got in my car. It was nice to know he had my back and even if Dick was an ass, at least he employed good people who looked out for you.
***
“Mrs. Warner, I’m here.” I shook her shoulder and watched as her eyes peeked open. She mumbled in her sleepy haze, “Gun’s in my bed.”
I slipped a few twenties under her coffee cup with a shiny gold tea bag tag hanging off the side. Then, I opened her bedroom door and stood stock still. Gun was asleep. For a moment, he took my breath away with how much he looked like his daddy. The older he got, the more the uncanny resemblance unsettled me. His hair that started off so blonde was already getting darker, and as his face changed from a baby boy to a kid, he looked more and more like the Gunner from my memories. Lord knows, I had his face burned into my brain.
I watched him for a minute. It’s something I always did. He’d catch me sometimes and get a goofy grin on his face, but I didn’t care. He was the single most important thing to me. We had some incredibly hard years. When I first left Mitchell and Claire’s care, Mrs. Jackson had to bring me to a temporary foster home until a spot opened up at a group home although, I never made it there.
The foster home I was placed in didn’t just have two insanely Christian parents who were so over the top they believed they would beat the devil out of their twin seventeen-year-old sons with a “switch”. These parents were more or less creating twin devils in their hope to crucify one. I was there only two nights when the boys came to my room. It only happened once. Once was one too many times. Those parents knew what happened, and they had the audacity to say I was a temptress sent from the devil himself. I hated them. All of them.
They underestimated me. Years of being quiet had given me an edge. When everyone was sleeping, I got a hold of one of their pistols, that they left right out in the open, along with a handful of bullets. Money was the next easiest thing. Shelby, the evil twins’ mom, had a huge vase over her mantel, right next to the two three foot statues of Jesus, that she filled with change and any spare dollars. No one was around when I reached in and grabbed every bill I could find.
The next time the boys came to my room, I was prepared. Gabriel, the meaner of the two, clicked on the light hoping to take me off guard. I barely knew what I was doing with a gun, but I didn’t wait to pull the trigger. I shot him, hitting him in the thigh. He screamed and cried as Abel tried to come to his aide.
“You bitch, I’ll kill you,” he roared just as Shelby and her husband entered the room. No one was prepared for me to aim a gun at them. I pulled the trigger and shot Abel too. This was also in the leg. I didn’t want to kill them, but I wouldn't let them touch me. I had Gunner’s baby inside of me and these two violated me. I was helpless, but wouldn't fall victim to them twice. Shelby screamed and I aimed the gun at her. “Get me your keys, now.” Her husband was a weak man, who seemed to bend at Shelby’s will. “Don’t shoot her,” he begged.
I took the rest of their money in their wallets, their cell phones, and high-tailed it out of there as fast as I could. I thanked the heavens Gunner taught me how to drive. It was a ten-minute drive to the nearest house and a twenty-five minute drive to the nearest Walmart. They were truly in the middle of nowhere.
I drove their car to a truck stop and waited until I found the only female truck driver I could find, then paid her twenty dollars to ride with her south to West Virginia.
I bounced around several homeless shelters, and eventually stole an ID from a woman who looked similar enough to me. I went to a free clinic that helped me fill out paperwork to start receiving services. It was easy to become someone else, they thought I was a few years older than I was, and eventually I moved into a low-income apartment building. I slept on an air mattress for the first year, with little Gunner tucked close to me. A part of me was always afraid that the cops would come after me for shooting the twins, so I lived in fear and did the best I could to stay under the radar. I didn’t know the first thing about taking care of a baby, but I did the best I could. I was incredibly grateful for the Medicaid. It helped me feed Gun. Organizations like Catholic Charities, which helped clothe me as a child, also helped me clothe him. Talk about the past repeating itself. I don’t know what I would’ve done without the help.
Eventually, I met Mrs. Warner, who was nice enough. She didn’t ask questions, and she needed the extra cash as much as I needed help with Gun.
I sighed and looked at my boy again. I hated waking him. I lifted him and held him close. God, this boy was heavy. I knew I shouldn't be lifting him any more, he was much too big. Even though I worked out, I knew carrying a seven-year old was not something I should be doing. “Mom,” he mumbled sleepily.
“Yeah, baby it’s me. Go to sleep.” I cooed, and made my way across the hall, fishing my key out of my bag, while balancing him on my hip and shoulder.
Just a little while longer, I thought. I’d been saving for years now. I almost had enough saved to move. My plan was to move into a house, stop “entertaining” and have enough bank that I could be comfortable while I opened a studio. I had one skill and that was dancing. I loved that pole dancing had become the new workout craze. I was going to teach suburban women how to pole dance and from everything I’ve read, I’d make a killing.
I smiled thinking about my dream as I laid Gun down in his bed. I kissed him on his head and was about to walk out of his room when I heard, “Momma,” in a sleepy voice.
“Gun.”
“Missed you,” he yawned.
I climbed into bed beside him and wrapped him close to me. “Missed you too, Gun,” I whispered as my eyes fluttered closed.
***
“Mom, I just have to get one more power up.” Gun hit the controls fast and furiously. This kid’s addiction to video games was out of this world.
“Alright, five more minutes, and we have to go.” I got a grunt in response and finished doing the dishes leftover from dinner while I waited.
“Gun. Time’s up.”
“Mom,” he whined.
“Sorry, bud.” He reluctantly put the remote control down and I clicked off the TV.
“I wasn't done saving it yet.”
I gave my son a look that said enough and he reluctantly followed me across the hall. Mrs. Warner’s apartment was a one bedroom, where mine was a two. Her worn couch and recliner had towels over the armrest to hide where the material had frayed. She had a small coffee table in the living room in front of her old box style TV.
She was a black woman with gray hair and a round belly. There was a softness to her eyes that instantly made me trust her, and the easy way Gun took to her made it an easy choice to have her watch him.
“Hey, sugar. I made cookies,” Mrs. Warner called as soon as we walked in.
“You’re goi
ng to spoil him too much!” I joked.
“There is no such thing with this boy. Gun, get over here and kiss your Momma goodbye.”
A few minutes and a nice long hug later, I was on my way to work. After last night, I wasn’t looking forward to going in. Not that I usually looked forward to it, but tonight, I wanted nothing to do with it.
The night was going okay. I went on to do my set. Tonight, I wore a black frayed top with black star pasties under it and lace cheeky panties. The music cued and the lights dimmed. I thumped my five-inch stiletto on the stage and waited until the perfect beat when the spotlight shone brightly on me.
I moved my hips fast as Shakira's voice echoed in the room. I had a few songs tonight and I usually started off with something sexy and fast, then finished the night off with an intense number.
My ass was to the crowd and my hips were shaking, when I turned around and my eyes landed on Enrico Santos. He was sitting in the chairs that surrounded the stage. One of his business associates was seated next to him trying to get his attention, but his eyes were trained directly on me. I tried not to look in his direction, but I could feel his steely gaze. It wasn’t a warm touch either, no this felt like a vice grip.
I did my best to get through my song, even though his presence had shaken me. By the end of the song, I was wearing only my pasties and panties. I shook my hips and my full tits for the crowd, and then the lights dimmed.
I rushed to collect my money. Frank was nearby, but the darkness, with this monster so near, made me nervous. The lights flicked back on and the DJ announced that Sky would be on in ten minutes and to give it up for me one more time. The crowd was hooting and cheering as I was about to round the corner to the dressing room. Enrico’s hand caught my wrist in a firm grip.
“You tease me,” his thick-accented voice snarled.
My eyes darted and I saw Frank in my peripheral talking to one of Enrico’s goons. I steadied my shaky voice, “I’m sorry, it’s my job to dance. Please let me go. I don’t want any trouble.”
“I want you to do your job and dance for me.”
“I don’t do private dances. I’m on the stage, that’s all.”
“You’ll dance for me, and when I get you alone, I’ll sink my fingers into that tight pussy and you’ll gag on my cock until I let you up for air.”
“Hands off the dancer,” Frank ordered.
Enrico wasn’t the type of guy to be ordered around. He released my wrist, and in the same movement, grabbed my long dark locks in a tight fist.
“Certainly, you can tell I’m a man who gets what I want. You resist me, I might just keep you.” He let me go, turned, then walked away as if he didn’t just scare the shit out of me.
“You alright, Char?” Frank asked handing me a robe as we walked into the dressing area.
“No. That guy gives me the creeps.”
“I talked to Dick when I saw him come in. Dick’s scared shitless of him. Said he’s one powerful motherfucker and if we all knew what was good for us, we’d do whatever the fuck the guy wanted and try to keep our heads down and our mouths closed.
“I can’t go in that room with that guy.”
“I know, Char. Why don’t you leave for the night? I’ll tell Dick you weren’t feeling good.”
“Thanks, Frank.” I quickly shimmied on some sweats and threw a sweatshirt on top. I always dressed in sweats. After being on stage I would do whatever it took to stay out of the limelight.
In a hurry, as if not to be caught by Dick, Frank ushered me out.
Mrs. Warner was still up when I arrived. “You’re here early? Bad night?” she asked.
“You could say that.”
“Everything okay, darling?” Concern laced her voice.
“Just some creep,” I shook my head, willing away any thoughts of Enrico. “How was Gun tonight?”
“Oh you know that boy, he’s no trouble.” I smiled at Mrs. Warner. She took good care of my boy. “I’m going to grab him, okay?”
“Yeah, honey. You sure you’re okay, though?”
I nodded and opened Mrs. Warner’s bedroom door.” Gunner’s face didn’t look quite right. There were small creases by the sides of his eyes and when I stepped even closer I could see that there was a slight grin he was holding back. “Busted little dude. I know you’re totally faking.”
“How’d you know?” He sat up laughing.
“Can’t fool me, bugger.” I walked over and kissed his head. “Let’s go.” He hopped out of bed and raced towards the door.
“Jesus, he’s wide awake. How many cookies did he have?” I asked Mrs. Warner and was met with a smirk before walking across the hall.
The hallway looked like it always did, but for some reason, I felt protective of Gunner. While I unlocked my door, I held him close to my body. I looked over my shoulder before closing the door behind me and I could’ve sworn I saw a shadow move. I looked again and saw nothing. As I locked the door and tucked Gunner to my side, I felt fear. I laid with Gunner while he fell asleep but couldn't help the sick feeling deep in the pit of my belly that I hadn’t seen the last of Enrico.
I was able to get Marjorie to cover my shift the next night and I seriously considered just leaving the club. I had money saved. I wanted more, and I was so close to my dream I could taste it. I wondered at what cost, though?
I had just dropped Gunner off at school, when my car started to act up. It wasn’t a new car, but so far I hadn’t had any issues with it. I wasn't in a great neighborhood, considering I lived in a not so great neighborhood, when it started to overheat.
“Fuck,” I hit the steering wheel as I pulled to the side of the road. This couldn’t be happening. White steam billowed from under the hood. I shut the car off, stepped out, saw more steam and let off another string of expletives.
An hour and a half later, I was at Junior’s Garage where Junior, who wasn't so Junior, told me, I needed a new water pump and a whole list of other things. It was going to cost me just under eight hundred dollars.
That was a hit I really couldn't take. I walked home from the garage. It took me an hour and twenty minutes. I wished like hell I didn't give up my shift the other night to Marjorie. With this hit, I was going to have to dance my ass off to make up for it.
***
“Is he out there?” I asked Sky who had just returned backstage.
“Relax, I haven’t seen that fine piece of ass since the weekend. I don’t know why you’re all strung up. That man is fine. If he wanted me in a room, I would drop to my knees. I bet he’s hung like a fucking rocket ship.”
“It’s not like that. He’s scary. And you know I don’t do rooms.”
“That’s right! Miss, I’m too good to go behind closed doors.”
Jesus, I knew I shouldn't have asked Sky. She was a total bitch. Usually, Marjorie had my back, but Marjorie was in a room of her own and I really wanted to know before I went out there if he was watching.
“Char. You’re on.” Frank saved me from Sky’s tirade.
The lights were dimmed. I counted the beats. I danced and was relieved when I didn't see Enrico. My set finished and I actually was feeling pretty good about tonight.
I did a table dance for a bunch of suits. It wasn’t half bad either. They tipped generously and for the most part kept their hands and crude comments to themselves.
I finished two more dances on the stage and was getting ready to call it a night when Dick walked in. “This is for you,” he said and handed me a note.
I changed into my sweats and waited for Frank to finish up. He was going to give me a ride home since my car was in the shop.
While I waited, I poured a drink from Marjorie’s stash. I sat in a black folding chair and stared at the note. It reminded me of a birthday invitation that I would receive in Gunner’s backpack. The small white envelope had my name scrawled on the front and not just Char or Charlie, but Charlotte.
I opened it and the chilling words made me want to vomit.
I’m
sorry I couldn’t be there tonight, my pet. I’ll see you soon, and when I do you’ll give me what I want. You’ll beg like the good little pet you are. -E
Behind the letter, was a picture. It was from this morning outside of my apartment. I was handing Gunner his backpack as he was getting in the backseat of my car.
Shit.
Fucking hell.
If that wasn’t a threat, I didn’t know what was.
Chapter Five Charlie
I was scared out of my damn mind when my next shift started. Part of me wanted to run away, but my car was still in the shop. That same part of me didn't care. I thought, maybe I should just pack a bag with Gunner, get on a bus and disappear. It was an appealing thought, but then the idea of an enraged Enrico finding me and hurting Gunner made me stay.
It also didn’t help matters that Frank did not answer his phone tonight to give me a lift. Which was odd all by itself since he always answered and even odder since he offered last night when he dropped me off to come and get me. I was stuck taking the bus to work and that always sucked.
I was resigned to giving Enrico a night and prayed that he would let me be. I’d been used before. This wouldn’t be new to me. I just had to suck it up and figure a way out of this mess.
I was applying thick black liner with a trembling hand when I made a mistake smearing black onto my lid. “Shit,” I cursed.
“What’s gotten into you?” Marjorie asked pressing her lips together to even out her plum lips and then smacking them together. I watched her reflection in the mirror and wondered how much I could tell her.
“You know that guy that’s been messing with me?”
Her eyes flashed sympathy and she nodded. I knew the gossip-mill had been going haywire. I’d heard a few snickers from girls, wondering what made me special. Why would he want me? I wondered the same thing. Sure I had looks and could dance, but so what. All the girls here were hot. I wouldn’t even say I was in the top three.
Cut Wide Open (A Bleeding Scars MC Book 1) Page 5