by Colt, Shyla
“I’m shocked you didn’t already know the story.”
“Nope, Lefty’s been buttoned up tighter than the shirt of a preacher’s daughter in a whore house.”
“What?” Symone snickered.
“Yeah, no one knows shit other than the fact that you’re off limits.”
“I’m shocked he didn’t declare open season,” Symone retorted. “Every time we’re in the same room, it’s all he can do not to take my head off.”
“Um, I noticed. It’s not like Lefty to hold a grudge.”
Symone took a long draw off her bottle of beer. “We knew each other from before in Jamaica. We grew up together in a tiny town with no prospects for the future, few ways to make money, and desperate people everywhere.” She could still smell the urine soaked alleys, see the malnourished women and children and the awful things they’d do to make money. “It was a rough area. No one came out unscathed. What our parents did, they saw as a necessary sacrifice. A way to give us both a better life.”
“What did they do to you?” Chase whispered.
“They offered us up to a high brow Madame.” Symone peered up and met her gaze straight-on. “See, you were right when you said whore house.”
Chase’s eyes widened.
“We were fed, well-kept, and taught all the ways to pleasure a man.”
“Oh my God.”
“It sounds horrible, looking back on things now. I know it’s disgusting. But back then, I was too young to remember anything different. It was a career, the same as any other. When I remembered the children on the streets withering away or caught up with the low-end prostitution, I felt lucky even…”
“I sense a huge but coming.”
“No buts.” Symone smiled sadly. “It’s an until. With time came wisdom and the understanding that I’d never escape the highly decorated prison I’d been sold to. That I would be used up until nothing but an empty husk remained and they moved on to the next pretty young thing. One of us got out. The client fell for her, bought her out-right while Gia and I began to plot. We’d talked about it in whispers. What if we ran away and left the island far behind? What would we do? Where would we go and how would we be? We vowed to live life on our terms, never let anyone control us again. It was idealistic. But it got us through the rough time and helped us grow our courage. After a while, it became all we talked about. It took us a year, but we roughed out a plan with a girl who’d been purchased permanently by one of our clients. We’d run and they’d be waiting to get us from the island and to the US. It went off without a hitch. We were out of the house and running for our lives. We almost made it to the shoreline and then they showed up. The men who keep the johns in line and us locked up nice and tight.” She played with the label on the bottle, unable to meet Chase’s gaze as she told the story.
Chase sat very still, and not a word left her lips.
“I figured, worst case, they’d snatch us up and bring us back. I was wrong, so wrong.” She shook her head. “We were to be made an example of. The minute they saw us, they started shooting. I was hit in the back twice. I went down. I think I might’ve been in shock. She hung back, but I didn’t want to be the reason she got caught. I—I begged her to leave me and live our dream before I fell into the blackness. I crossed the threshold to death. I was almost free from this life and then they brought me back.” She snickered. “And the real hell began.” She glanced up at a stunned Chase. “I don’t need to explain to you how I got the scars now, huh?”
Chase shook her head. “I—I don’t even know what to say.”
“I don’t expect you to say anything, Chase. I just wanted to be upfront. I’m trying to leave my past behind me, but it’s hard. So when I fall short, know it’s not you and don’t take it personally. This is the most interaction I’ve had in years.”
“Hey, I’m honored you decided to let me in,” Chase said. “It’s not easy to lay your cards out like that. So, I’m going to do the same. I grew up on the outskirts of the club. My brother Creeper was a patched member and even though my mom was around, she was absent as hell. Other than paying the rent and mostly keeping food in the fridge, she was insanely absent. So, Creeper picked up the slack. He raised me. Until I made a poor judgment call on men and ended up with a husband who liked to knock my head through walls.”
Symone’s jaw dropped. She couldn’t even reconcile the woman standing before her with the imagery running in her mind.
“Yeah, there’s a reason I am the way I am. It was a long journey through darkness and I’m never going back.” Chase shook her head. “I don’t talk about this ever. But your story deserves one in turn, out of respect.”
Symone nodded. They understood one another.
“Now, that we’re officially besties, ‘cause you know my deep dark secrets, you want to explain why that pisses Lefty off?”
“Because there’s no love lost between us. She escaped and I lived through something out of a war movie. Leaves behind some harsh feelings. I know it’s fucked up, but I can’t help the way I feel. Not when I see the empire she built and the happiness she found. I’m not a shallow bitch. But I had a long time to grow sour over the way the cards got cast.”
Chase turned the corners of her lips down. “Fair enough.” She cleared her throat. “So, now might not be the best time to tell you there’s a party tonight and you’re required to come.”
“What?”
“If you’re working with us you are family. If you’re family, you show your face at family events. Especially, when you’re new.”
Symone sighed. Great, another freak show display. The first time out of the gate was always the worst. There would be the shock, the whispers, the snickers and then the low life bottom feeders convinced she’d do anything to be the center of their attention for a moment. Truth was…she’d had enough male attention to last a lifetime.
“Come on, it’ll be fun. You, me, beers, and eye candy.” Chase wiggled her eyebrows.
“If they’re so yummy, why aren’t you with one of them?”
“Hmm, been there done that. I’m no saint. I get laid when I need to scratch an itch, but the boys know it's never anything serious. I’m not ready for that. Might never be. I like coming and going as I please. Relationships require a lot of giving. I’m in a taking period.”
Her simplification amazed and impressed Symone. “How can you joke about it?”
“Simple. I got sick to death of crying about it. When there are no more tears left, there’s nowhere to go but up.” She shrugged. “I figure we’re here, we've survived things most people couldn’t wrap their heads around. We owe it to ourselves to live the fuck out of what’s left of our lives.”
“The question is how?”
“However we want.” Chase’s features softened. She rested a hand on Symone’s shoulder. “I knew when I first met you, we were kindred spirits, but I didn’t get why until know. You and I are going to remember how to do this fun and living thing again…together.”
“I think you got it down, Chase.”
“Yeah, well, debauchery is always more fun with a partner in crime. I never had that before.”
Her lips curved upward at the corners. Solemn wasn’t a mood she could hold onto with Chase around. Chase was refreshing, a fresh rain after a drought. “You got yourself a partner.”
Chase grinned. “Good, now let’s get you into something less…” She looked at her capris sweat pants and tank top. “Comfortable.”
“Is that the nice way of telling me I look frumpy?”
“Maybe.” She wrapped an arm around Symone’s waist and pulled her toward her room.
I knew this woman was a storm I’d get sucked into one way, or another.
Two hours later, Symone stood in a knee-length black pencil skirt with a black V-neck shirt and ankle boots. She felt sexy without being completely exposed. What an amazing experience, dressing up simply to please herself. Getting ready with Chase at her side felt like a re-birth. This is the rite of pas
sage most women experienced in their teen years.
They parked in a spot outside the club.
“Don’t worry, this is tame. It’s a family affair, so it shouldn’t be too bad.”
“There’ll be kids here?” she asked, stunned.
Chase laughed. “Not that family friendly. It’s an adult get-together. The kids are at home for the night. I’m just saying there won’t be a lot of strange.”
“Strange?”
“I forget you’re a newbie. It means random girls looking to get tossed up by the boys. They usually keep that shit from the old ladies.”
“Does everyone cheat?” Symone asked.
“Depends on the brother. First rule you need to know, club business stays at the club. No matter what you see, you can’t go running your mouth. That’ll get you fucked up. These boys play rough. Gender doesn’t mean shit. It’s all about loyalty.”
Symone nodded. She’d learned the nature of men. No matter what they had, they always wanted more. Something different, exotic, and new. The number of clients she’d had with wives was mind-blowing.
They stepped from the mid-sized black sedan and she took a shaky breath. This would be her first introduction to Dueling Devils as one of them. As much as she wanted to make it on her own, she’d be a fool to reject their claim. They gave her protection, the peace of mind she needed to move forward. Her heels clicked along the blacktop as they entered the club.
A roar of greeting went up over the loud classic rock, deafening her. The smell of smoke, the heat from the crush of bodies and the noise disoriented her. She stepped closer to Chase, allowing her to be an anchor in this strange new world.
“Hey, fellas.” Chase grinned. She wrapped her arm around Symone. “Let’s make the rounds, pay our respect to Pres, and mingle a little bit.”
Hungry gazes swept over her, but no one said a thing.
They worked their way toward the back and inside a room fool of pool tables.
Demon stood by the pool table, watching as Lefty lined up a shot. Gia stood beside Demon talking.
Her stomach lurched.
“Hey, P.”
Demon glanced up and smiled. “Chase, you made it, and brought your friend.”
Gia met her gaze and the rest of the conversation between Chase and Demon turned into background noise. A wealth of unspoken words formed an invisible barrier between them. Her mouth went dry.
“We should talk,” Gia said.
Symone shook her head. “Nothing to say.”
“I disagree.”
“For once, I agree with, Taffy,” Lefty added.
“Symone,” she corrected him.
“Like the name change is going to change anything about you.”
His scowl struck a nerve. “And what would you know, or do you think you know about me, Lefty?”
“I know you’re an ungrateful bitch.”
“Oh, I am? Tell me, Lefty what should I be grateful for? ‘Cause if I remember correctly, I haven't asked for a damn thing and I’m supporting myself.”
“All the shit Gia’s done for you and this is how you repay her?” Lefty sneered.
“She’s done for me?” Symone sputtered. “She left me for dead, escaped here, and has been living the high life. You expect me to worship her for that?"
“It wasn’t her fault!”
“It doesn’t change the fact that she was here building her empire while I was surviving a hell I couldn't escape.” Symone’s chest heaved. Her face grew hot. She stared at Lefty in a silent refusal to back down.
“Hating ass bitch.” Lefty spat on the floor. “Gi— should’ve let you go back where you came from.”
“Lefty.” The shock and horror in Gia’s voice brought their standoff to an immediate end. “This is between me and her. You don’t understand how she feels. I do.”
“No, bullshit. You don’t take her side. That bitch is wrong.”
“You need to sit this one out, brother. Seems like sisters need to work out their family drama same way us brothers do,” Demon urged.
“Oh, come on, D.”
“You got a problem with what I’m telling you V.P.?”
“Fuck yeah, I do, when it comes to my old lady.”
“You had me take Symone on as one of my own. That makes it in an in-house problem, which means I get the final say. Now, you and I are going to take a walk and leave these ladies alone. That means you too, Chase. She’s a big girl. I’m pretty sure she can take care of herself in your absence.”
Chase frowned.
Something tightened in Symone’s chest. “We both know I’ve been through worse,” she urged.
“True enough. I’ll be around if you need me,” Chase replied. She walked off.
Lefty followed behind Demon reluctantly.
“Come on, let’s get you something to drink,” Demon prompted.
The room grew silent.
“Are you going to hate me forever?”
The pain dripping from every syllable cut Symone to the quick. “This has nothing to do with hate.”
“No? Then why can’t you look at me?”
“Because I’m jealous as hell of the chances you took and ran with. You did everything we dreamed about and as proud as I am? I’m jealous and bitter and so fucking angry.”
“I did what you asked me to. Everything I did was with you in mind.” Gia’s voice shook. “I can’t stand having you here like this hating me.” She shook her head.
Symone glanced up and refused to let the tears building in her eyes fall. “I can’t help the way I feel.”
“Try. Please. Jesus, I thought you were dead! All this time, I’ve been mourning you. I built the club as a monument to you. You have to know that.”
“I know,” she whispered.
“Then what? What do you need from me?”
Words exploded out of her mouth. “How can I tell you what I don’t know!” Symone screamed. The sound of her own raised voice made her jump. It’d been so long since she expressed the torment happening inside her mind.
“Just give me something. You were the reason I escaped. I’ve never forgotten that. Without your encouragement, I’d still be back there rotting. Seeing you filled with so much contempt for me rips my heart right out of my chest.”
“I’m sorry,” Symone whispered. “I just—I need time and space.”
Gia shook her head. “Yeah, I hear you.”
“Gia, this isn’t about hate. I love you and that never stopped. It’s about me. What’s in my head.” She tapped her left temple. “My fucked up issues I need to deal with before I can move forward.” Holding her breath, she took a few steps closer and paused in front of Gia. “One day, you and I will mend the broken bridge between us. But now is not that time.”
Gia swallowed. “One day though?”
“Absolutely. The good between us outweighs the bad, Gia. I know that logically, but right now, I need to do this on my own and for myself.”
“I remember that feeling. When I first got here, I didn’t want to owe a soul. I don’t want to steal any of that journey away from you. I just want you to know I’m here.”
“Believe me, I know.”
Gia sighed. “Okay then…we’re squared.”
“Yeah, I think we are.”
“Let me go get Lefty. I’m sure his stubborn ass is chomping at the bit.” Gia turned and walked away.
Symone exhaled…the first link broken in the chain of the past that held her tight.
* * * *
“Your girl’s here.”
Monster glanced up at Pan and sneered. “The fuck are you talking about, brother?”
“Like you don’t know.”
Monster narrowed his eyes.
“Symone, asshole.”
Monster sat up straighter on the stool. “Where? With who?”
“Chase, who else? Last, I heard she was talking to Gia in the poolroom. Lefty wouldn’t stop ranting about it at the bar.”
“What’s the story between
those two?” Monster asked.
“No one knows.” Pan shook his head. “They’re tight-lipped about it and Lefty is like a rabid dog. You look too hard at Gia and he’s in your face.”
Monster laughed. “It’s a one-sixty.”
“Weird as shit is what it is,” Pan mumbled. “That brother would be in here running through girls like a one man pollination program. Now, he’s glued to her side and making fucking cow eyes.”
“Not a bad thing to find something that makes you happy.” Monster shrugged.
“You on the hunt for an old lady?” Pan tilted his head.
“You worried about it?”
“Maybe I don’t want to be odd man out,” Pan answered.
“Come on, we’ve been walking down two separate streets when it comes to women for a long ass time.”
“That was your choice,” Pan retorted.
He heard the accusation in his brother’s voice. “How?”
“You pulled away and started changing things.”
“No, I admitted what you’re still in denial about.”
“What are you talking about?” Pan said. His eyes were wide and dilated.
“Everything changed after the fire. I couldn’t live the same life. You think those girls we shared wanted both of us? No, they wanted you.”
“Bullshit.” Pan growled.
Monster sighed. Being realistic wasn’t the same as admitting defeat. Pan didn’t get that.
“I don’t want to be responsible for this half-ass living you’re doing.”
“That’s what you’re worried about? No one is blaming you—”
“No.” Pan slammed his palm down on the bar. “We’re not doing this.” He stalked away.
Monster shook his head. And the elephant in the room remains. He turned to the bitch behind the bar eyeing him like he was Jason Voorhees. “Give me a whiskey straight up and leave the bottle.”
She nodded and scurried off like a rat when the lights come on.
Fucking biker bunnies.
“Why’d you piss him off? I thought we’d get to have some fun tonight?”
Her whiny voice made him cringe. “I’m sure you can turn his mood around, Holly.” He turned to look at one of their regular girls.