Collide

by Melanie Stanford

  He shrugged. “It’s a good skill to have.”

  “Yeah, around here…”

  “Not just here, anywhere.”

  A weird sound came out of my throat. “Where I’m from, a girl doesn’t worry about knowing how to punch a guy’s lights out, or accidentally wandering into a scene from Fight Club.”

  “Sounds boring.”

  My lips tightened. “Try safe. Or do you prefer a world where you’re always looking over your shoulder?”

  Jay looked at his students. His shoulder brushed mine, a dark heat, and I inched away. “You haven’t lived here long, have you?”

  “No.”

  “If you’re so worried about your safety, why did you move to Vegas in the first place?”

  I’d asked myself that more times than I could count. But I would never admit that Vegas wasn’t everything I’d imagined it would be, especially not to Jay Thornton. He’d just laugh. It was mostly because of him I was worried about my safety, anyway. Him and his boss. It wasn’t that he’d hurt me, necessarily, more that the people here weren’t what I was used to.

  I looked at him. He looked at me. Chills and heat erupted over my body, like the beginnings of the flu.

  His head tilted. “What are you doing here, Maggie?”

  I swallowed. “Leaving,” I said. “That’s what I’m doing.” And I did just that.

  Chapter 14

  MAGGIE

  Bronwyn was watching Simpsons reruns; two empty bowls lay beside her and small popcorn bits dusted her black shirt. She didn’t laugh at the jokes, just stared blankly at the TV like a hospital patient.

  I moved one of the bowls, nothing left inside but the greasy kernel duds, and sat beside her. For a while, we did nothing but watch. Episode after episode of Bart getting into trouble and Homer doing stupid things. Midway through the fourth, Bronwyn finally grabbed the remote and turned off the TV.

  I waited. Asking her if she was okay was not only a dumb question, but probably a bad idea. If Bronwyn wanted to talk to me, she would.

  She wiped the crumbs off her shirt and sighed. “Sorry I didn’t save you any.”

  It took me a second to realize she meant the popcorn.

  “I don’t like popcorn much anyway.” I shifted on the couch so I could look at her.

  “What planet are you from? I couldn’t live without popcorn.”

  I shrugged. “It’s the butter—grosses me out. And without it, popcorn is tasteless.”

  “Weirdo,” she muttered.

  I waited, my foot swinging up and down.

  “I know what you’re doing,” Bronwyn said after a few minutes.

  “What’s that?”

  “The whole patience thing.”

  “Do you want me to bug you?”

  Her eyes lowered. I uncrossed my legs and recrossed them.

  “He’s had it rough,” she finally said without looking at me. “When we first met, he wasn’t like this. I mean, he’s not like anything. He drinks more than he used to.”

  I’d thought the drink conversation had to do with another girl, but it was the drink itself that was the problem.

  “I’m so sick of it,” Bronwyn said. “I don’t want to deal with this, you know?”

  Then why would she keep going back to him? I didn’t ask. She didn’t say.

  She ran a hand over her short hair. “But every time, I wonder, why? Why does he get passed out drunk? I know his life sucks right now, but can’t he deal without forgetting his own name? Forgetting me?”

  I didn’t know what to say, didn’t have any experience with this kind of problem. I wasn’t qualified to give advice. “What will you do?”

  “What I always do. Go back to him. He needs me. And I love him.” Her eyes met mine. “What else is there?”

  I looked away. What else? Everything. Or maybe nothing. I didn’t know.

  We were at a little Italian restaurant called La-something-Italia. It had checked tablecloths and painted walls and it smelled like carb heaven. Brownyn had scarfed down almost the whole plate of garlic bread, the grease making her fingertips shiny.

  “This is so good,” she said, grinning at Nico. He grabbed one of her fingers and stuck it in his mouth, licking off the flavor. I looked away. Clearly, Bronwyn had forgiven Nico and taken him back, just like she’d said she would. I mean, the finger sucking was a dead giveaway.

  “Did you want some?”

  I realized Bronwyn was talking to me when she waved the empty bread bowl in front of my face.

  “No, that’s okay.” Even though I loved garlic bread, I had to treat carbs like the eighth deadly sin. I couldn’t let one ounce of fat chunk up my body. If I put on weight, Essence wouldn’t even look at me come spring.

  In fact, the entire menu of La-something-Italia wasn’t good for my figure. But Bronwyn had practically dragged me out of the apartment by my hair, demanding I do something other than dance classes and diner shifts. I was starting to regret it as Nico and Bronwyn began to make out in front of me.

  So they were that couple. The kind who break up and make up as regularly as a full moon. Misty/Melissa had been like that during high school with her boyfriend, Paco, all through junior year. They’d fight. Break up. Then be going at it in the janitor’s closet the next day. Then fight. Then break up. And on and on.

  Not that I could compare Bronwyn and Nico to that. Their problems were way more serious than any petty high school drama.

  “I’m gonna go,” I said, sliding my chair back.

  Bronwyn came up for air. “Can’t handle our sexy?”

  “I don’t want to see your sexy,” I replied. “It’s ruining my appetite.”

  She laughed.

  “We’ll save it for later then,” Nico said. His lips were covered in Bronwyn’s red lipstick.

  “Thanks for making such a huge sacrifice.”

  He cupped the back of Bronwyn’s neck. “You have no idea.”

  “Ew.” I looked down at the menu. Even though I was seriously craving some arrabiatta, I’d have to go with soup and salad.

  The waitress came, topping off our drinks and refilling the bread bowl. After we ordered, Bronwyn attacked the garlic bread again.

  “What?” she asked, her mouth full. “I burned a lot of calories today. Besides, if you’re not having any…”

  “Don’t like garlic bread?” Nico asked.

  “Love it. Can’t eat it.”

  “Why not?”

  “She’s starving herself for her art,” Bronwyn answered.

  “I am not.” I’d never starved myself before but there was nothing wrong with being careful.

  “If you start puking in the bathroom, this friendship is over,” she said.

  “Nice to know you’re supportive.”

  Nico leaned toward me and lowered his voice. “You’re not puking up your food, are you?”

  “No!” I swatted at him, but he was too far away to reach. “I’m limiting my carb intake. It’s the eleventh commandment: thou shalt not carb.”

  “I can’t imagine Reverend Hale preaching that from the pulpit.” Bronwyn pushed the bread away.

  Even though she had a funny way of showing it, Bronwyn did have my back. It was nice to know that someone here in Vegas cared. Two someones, since she and Nico were a package deal.

  “How are your classes coming, anyway?” she asked. “Any more mean girl incidents?”

  I shook my head. “No, I…” My voice trailed off.

  Jay Thornton had entered the restaurant with two men. One was either Tweedledee or Tweedledum, I wasn’t sure which. The other was Officer Ting, only without the uniform. Instead, he wore an expensive suit, a flashy red tie, and a dangerous expression. At the diner, I’d seen one side of this man, the police officer side. Now, I was afraid I was about to see the other. The ugly one.

  Jay’s eyes went from Nico, to Bronwyn, to me, in a matter of seconds. When he saw me, his jaw clenched.

  Ting didn’t waste any time. He came toward us.

/>   Chapter 15

  JAY

  Simon knew I didn’t want to press Nico for the money but he ordered me to anyway. He was disappointed with everything I’d done lately. He made either Alonso or Alfonso tail me wherever I went, as if he didn’t trust me anymore. It wasn’t a good time to ask him to quit. Or maybe it was exactly the right time. Either way, I hadn’t much choice but to follow him to the restaurant where he knew Nico would be that night, Alfonso in tow.

  Alonso had wanted to come, but Alfonso was better for this job. Alfonso spoke less, but his gargantuan size was enough to intimidate anyone. Alonso—which wasn’t his real name but it had stuck the first time Simon had screwed it up—was more about the physical show, and intimidation with weapons. But we were in a restaurant, not the best place for Alonso’s brand of coercion.

  When we walked in, I immediately tensed. Maggie was there, all done up for a night out and hot as hell. Why did she have to be there? She was going to mess up my whole night.

  Simon snapped his fingers and a waitress came scurrying up. “Chair,” he said. She jumped to his bidding, pulling an empty chair from a nearby table and dragging it over. She probably sensed danger.

  The girlfriend, Bronwyn, glared daggers at me, her hand absently stroking Nico’s arm. She might wear the pants in their relationship, but her glare was wasted on me.

  Simon put the chair between Nico and Maggie and sat down. He didn’t even glance at Maggie. Hopefully he didn’t recognize her from the diner. Better she stayed off his radar. I would’ve asked her to leave if it wouldn’t have drawn attention.

  I stood behind Simon, close to Maggie. Alfonso stood on his right. Bodyguards, not like he needed them in a place like this, but you could never be too careful. Plus, it added to the presence, and the pressure.

  Simon pulled a small leather journal from his suit pocket. He flipped through it. “Nico Higgins.” He looked up from the book at Nico. “Your contract is overdue.”

  Nico blanched. Bronwyn squeezed his hand.

  “You owe me thirteen. You’ve had more than enough time to pay your debt.”

  Maggie twitched. Her mouth had opened a little. Was she surprised at the amount? Thirteen grand was pretty low compared to most. Not something that usually warranted a face-to-face with Simon.

  “I paid you a grand a couple of days ago,” Nico said.

  “It’s not that grand I’m worried about. It’s the rest. You’re proving to be a bad risk for me, Nico. You pay a bit here and there, build up more interest, but never honor your commitment.”

  The restaurant moved around us while I tried to focus. I saw Maggie cross her legs, the hem of her dress rising on her thigh. The waitress sidled in with the food, setting plates and bowls on the table. No one touched them.

  “I waste more time on you than anyone else on the Strip,” Simon continued. “And that’s bad for business. It’s got others thinking they can slack off as long as they don’t mind taking a few punches. I want them to learn the value of honoring one’s debts, or what happens if you don’t, and play me for a chump. That starts with you, one way or the other.”

  “I can’t pay you the whole amount,” Nico said. “I don’t have the money.”

  Simon tensed. Nico was pushing it, he didn’t realize. He could talk to me like that, but not Simon. “But you can enjoy a fancy night out, is that it? You signed a contract. Do you need a reminder of the terms?”

  Maggie’s eyes were on me, but I stared at the far wall. I was angry at myself for being here, still involved in this crap, but even angrier at Maggie for judging me. I knew she was, I could practically smell it on her.

  “You don’t honor our contract, I call in the full amount.” Simon stretched his arms across the back of Maggie’s chair, and Nico’s. Maggie moved slightly so that he wasn’t touching her.

  Simon’s eyes raked over her, then Bronwyn. “Two very pretty girls.”

  I stiffened.

  “Not hard to tell which one is yours.”

  Alfonso moved behind Bronwyn. He rested his hands on her shoulders. Lightly, but the threat was clear.

  “I doubt you need this kind of motivation,” Simon said. “Do you?”

  “Don’t touch her,” Nico said. His voice shook. He gripped the edge of the table.

  Simon rubbed the back of Nico’s head like he was scratching a dog. “Pain is a useful tool. People don’t like to get hurt, but survival instinct kicks in and people can live through amazing things. They think they’ve become invincible.”

  Nico was visibly trembling now, crumbling like a day-old doughnut.

  “Are you invincible, Nico?” Simon let go of Nico’s head. “How about her?”

  Bronwyn bristled but said nothing. Didn’t even move. She hadn’t let go of Nico’s hand.

  “I don’t have the money,” Nico said. “I need more time. Please.”

  And there it was. I wanted to close my eyes and pretend I was anywhere else but there, because I knew what was coming next.

  Simon leaned back in the chair and crossed his legs. “Your time is up.” He was the picture of a businessman slogging through a boring meeting. He wasn’t there for Nico, he was there for me—testing me.

  “Jason,” he said. Using the name I hated, it was an order.

  I didn’t want to do this, not here, not anywhere, not anymore. But I couldn’t say no. It wasn’t that I was spineless, or afraid of what might happen to me. The loyalty I felt to Simon couldn’t be shrugged off like some dirty shirt.

  Bronwyn’s face was set. Nico was biting his lip. But Maggie… She watched me as if daring me to be better than all this. Daring me to prove her right. Tension thickened the air in the room, as if one breath would set off an explosion.

  “I’m waiting,” Simon said, drumming his fingers on his knee.

  I took a step forward. “Simon—” I started.

  “I’ll get you the money.”

  I froze. My eyes went to Maggie. Everyone’s did.

  She’d just screwed everything.

  “Maggie,” Nico said then snapped his mouth shut.

  I willed her to look at me, so she would know what a gigantic mistake she had made. She had to take it back somehow. She had to look at me. She couldn’t be involved in this.

  “You’ll get your money,” she repeated. “All of it.”

  Simon’s eyebrows twitched with surprise. He stared at Maggie, noticing her, remembering her, assessing her. Seeing her in a way that I didn’t want her to be seen.

  “Are you going to write me a check?” Amusement laced his words, but he wasn’t smiling.

  “Not today.” She swallowed. “I need a month.”

  “A week.”

  “Two weeks.”

  “Done.”

  I blinked. I’d seen grown men try to negotiate with Simon before, and they’d wilt under his stare. And there was Maggie, not backing down, bartering like it was second nature.

  “And here I thought you were just a waitress.” Simon put his hand on the back of Maggie’s chair and leaned in close. My hand clenched into a fist. “You won’t let me down, will you, Maggie?”

  She didn’t back away, she stared him down like she was the one in charge.

  Simon slid from his chair and stood. “I’ll see you in a week, to check in.”

  “I’ll take care of it,” I said to Simon, too quickly. I composed my face to avoid giving anything else away.

  Simon smiled, and it was genuine. “We’ll see. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out.” He turned and walked away, Alfonso on his heel.

  I glanced one last time at Maggie, wishing I could turn back time and warn her not to get mixed up in all this. But it was too late.

  Maggie had ruined any chance I might’ve had to walk away. She was my next mark.

  Chapter 16

  MAGGIE

  “You shouldn’t have done that,” Bronwyn said, once the air in the room returned and we could all breathe again. She didn’t call me an idiot or make a crack about w
hat I’d done. If anything, that only emphasized how serious the situation was.

  Nico was looking at me like I had landed here from another planet. They both were. I shook my head. My throat felt clogged and sticky. Bronwyn was right. What had I been thinking? I couldn’t pay Officer Ting thirteen thousand or thirteen hundred or thirteen anything! But I’d promised him. I had two weeks to come up with this money and no clue how.

  “Maggie,” Nico said. “I’m not asking for it, but do you even have thirteen thousand dollars?”

  “No,” I replied. Nico drooped like a popped balloon. “But we’ll figure something out.”

  “Don’t be so naïve,” Bronwyn snapped. “How are you going to get that kind of cash?”

  I had no idea.

  “You could’ve stayed out of it, but no. Now you’re mixed up in our problems.”

  “What was I supposed to do, let Jay take you out back and beat the crap out of you, or worse? I mean, it didn’t sound like it was going to stop with a beating this time.” It’s not like Nico had defended his girlfriend. Even Bronwyn hadn’t stood up for herself—argued or begged or…or something.

  “Jay wouldn’t have hurt Bron,” Nico said.

  I tossed my head. “Now who’s being naïve?”

  Bronwyn put her hand over Nico’s but she looked at me. “I could’ve taken it. Then we would’ve gotten more time and figured something out.”

  “I got you more time, without anyone getting hurt.”

  “But Maggie,” Bronwyn said, her eyes hard. “Next time, it won’t be Nico or me with the target on our backs. It’ll be you.”

  I pushed my chair back. “I’m going home.”

  “Maggie—” Nico began but he didn’t say anything else. What could he say? I’d saved his bacon, and Bronwyn’s, and he cared more about that than he did about me.

  “It’s fine.” I slung my purse over my shoulder. “Maybe some time alone will help me figure out how to come up with thirteen grand.”

  The corner of Nico’s mouth quirked but Bronwyn didn’t smile. “Let us know as soon as you do.”