by Deja Voss
“You wanna see your birthday surprise?” my Aunt Mary smiles.
I really thought she set me up, that this was supposed to be my surprise. We walk out to the garage and there’s this beautiful Harley Road King, off-white, parked in the garage. There are black roses painted all over the tank, and it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
It almost distracts me from the fact that later tonight, I’m not going to be a virgin anymore. Later tonight, I’m going to be a plaything for a guy named Tiny and his friends. But if my dad says it’s right, if Tanner, Brooks’s dad, said it was right, if my Aunt Mary thinks it’s right, and I’m going to be helping to defend the Misfits way of life, then by all means. I’ll just put on a happy face and go to a place where Brooks and I are riding our motorcycles through the mountains, side by side. A place I hope to get back to really soon.
23
Esther:
I pace down the hall of the hotel, thermos of coffee in one hand, my purse in the other. It’s time to get to work, and if Morgan did really spend last night in a pill-induced coma, she’s gonna need more than a little bit of paint on her barn.
I, on the other hand, slept pretty amazingly. I woke up early and enjoyed my coffee while I curled my hair. My make-up is dark, smoky, and totally inappropriate for this time of day. The little black dress that I can fold up and fit into my handbag clings tight to my body and accentuates my curves in the best possible ways. I know I look hot. I look like a high-end call girl, minus the fact that my stilettos are slung over my shoulder. Those can wait.
I’m sure everyone staying on this floor of the hotel is probably looking at me like I’m some sort of freak. It’s kind of how us Misfits operate, though. You can dress us up, but everywhere we go, we end up bringing the circus with us.
I knock loud on the door. I’m not sure if either of them are awake yet.
I hear someone fumbling with the lock on the other side, and I’m greeted by Morgan, wearing nothing but a red thong, rollers in her blonde hair.
“God, your tits are huge,” I sigh. “You ready for this?”
I look around the room cautiously for Brooks. He’s passed out on the floor next to the bed in his jeans and t-shirt, hugging a pillow.
“Wild night last night?” I ask her.
“Well, I don’t remember much of it, but I will tell you, that man is relentless, if you know what I’m saying. I told him we couldn’t screw around or Salazar would notice. That’s why he’s sleeping on the floor. It’s hard for guys like him to control themselves around girls like me. You probably wouldn’t understand, Esther.”
“What I don’t understand, hun,” I say dramatically, “is why the fuck you aren’t dressed yet. Why are you still wearing yesterday’s make-up? You’re not going to a Def Leopard tribute band concert. You might be doing some whore shit, but Salazar isn’t into hoes.”
I can tell by the way her lips are painted on that she actually is wearing fresh make-up, but I figured I’d add in my own jab just for dramatics. I pull a red dress out of my purse and toss it to her. “Go put this on, please. I’d hate for Brooks to wake up and be so hypnotized by your boobs that he passes back out again, being as he can’t control himself around girls like you.”
“I don’t know what the big fucking deal is, Esther. You act like such a martyr. Maybe it is harder for you because you’re not as young-looking as I am. One look at me, and this guy is going to hand over his wallet and his car keys.”
I can only hope so. Seriously. It would be the best-case scenario. Even though she wrapped it in an insult, I’ll take it. My nerves are kind of starting to creep in about how today is going to go. Maybe I’m letting my jealousy of her blind the fact that we are dealing with a very serious operation this afternoon.
“Listen, Morgan,” I say. “He is going to love you. I promise. And I’m very thankful for what you’re doing. But you’re going to have to follow my lead. Salazar is a really dangerous man. He’s a little off his rocker. Please, if you want to do right by the guys in the club, please please please just keep your mouth shut today and do as I tell you. It’s not about car keys and cash. This is about the reputation of the club. This is about the future of our lifestyle.”
For the first time ever, I feel like I’m getting through to her. I see in her eyes a kind of understanding, a spark. As rough as these dirty birdies are around the edges, they just want what everyone else wants. They want to love and be loved. They want to see the people they care about taken care of.
“You should’ve given me this dress a long time ago,” she says from the bathroom. “It looks a lot better on me than it does on you.”
I spoke to soon, I think. “The fuck did you just say?” I yell, resisting my urge to run in there and grab her by her hair extensions.
“I mean because of your hair color, Esther. Cuz it’s red, and your hair is red. That’s all I mean. You can’t help that.”
“Shut your mouth and get ready,” I say.
“Seriously,” Brooks growls sleepily from the floor. “The next thing that comes out of it better be Salazar’s dick.”
“Oh my God,” I laugh. “I hope she didn’t hear you.”
“Who cares?” he asks. He stands up from his makeshift bed of pillows and blankets on the floor with a groan. “I’m disgusting,” he says, kissing me on the lips. “I need a shower and toothbrush. You look superhot, by the way. You sure we can’t just dump Morgan off at the ranch and hole up here for the rest of the day?”
“That was sweet of you to sleep on the floor, Brooks,” I say. “You know you didn’t have to. I trust you.”
“I know,” he says, brushing his fingers off my cheek. “It’s cute.” He slides his hand up the back of my dress and slaps my ass. “I don’t trust me with you in that dress though. You care if I go use your shower?”
“Help yourself.” I toss him my key card for my room. “It’s gonna take me a little while to wrangle this one into shape. She’s looking a little more street corner than Bunny Ranch.”
24
Brooks:
I now see why Esther prefers to take the truck to these things. We’re standing in the driveway of the Salazar estate, and Esther is nervously fixing the curls in Morgan’s hair with a comb, while she blots her face with powder. Esther looks beautiful and stunning, but that’s the kind of woman she is. She doesn’t need cosmetic intervention. She’s just pretty. The way her hair is tucked high on her head shows off that perfect neck of hers, that little cluster of freckles on her shoulder I memorized all those years ago. My freckles. I almost want to tug her dress over to hide them. Hopefully it will be the last time this douchebag gets to see them.
We get patted down by a guy who’s burlier than I am in the doorway. He takes my pistol, and I feel like I’m in over my head. No wonder she usually brings Tank and Red. Those guys are big and mean as fuck, and even if I had a gun, I’d still wager they’d be able to kick my ass and take me down.
“What the fuck am I supposed to do without a gun?” I whisper to Esther as we clear the doorway of the estate, standing in the gigantic foyer with marble floors and the highest ceilings I’ve ever seen.
“I told you not to come. It’s going to be ok. Just don’t worry about it. Try and look scarier or something if it’ll make you feel better.”
I am way out of my league here, but I’m not going to let anything bad happen to these two girls. If Salazar or his men try anything dumb, I will go full-blown Hulk smash mode on these fuckers.
“You need to mind your temper, anyway,” she says, almost angrily. “Remember, you signed up for this. Keep your wits about you. This is my job, and I take it very seriously.”
“Esther!” a woman who looks like she was very attractive at one point in her life but has finally reached the point that no plastic surgery can hide her age calls to her as she walks into the foyer. She reaches out and puts her arms around her. “My husband is going to be so happy to see you.”
It’s a fucked-up world w
e live in, that’s for sure.
“Who’s your friend?” she asks.
“This is Morgan. She’s heard so much about Mr. Salazar and has been begging me to bring her forever. I hope you don’t mind.”
The woman eyes up Morgan skeptically, looking her whole body up and down.
“Is she clean?” she asks.
“Hey!” Morgan pouts. “That’s fucking rude.”
“Morgan!” Esther scolds, pinching her arm. “You don’t speak to Mrs. Salazar like that. I assure you, she’s clean. A little wet behind the ears, but I’m certain she’ll learn her place in no time.”
“Well she’s good-looking enough, I suppose,” she says, her voice deep. “Joe likes them a little feisty anyway. He says it helps keep him young.”
“I remember him saying that,” Esther laughs. This is all too strange to me. I just stand there with my hands in my pockets eyeing up the place, pretending like I’m not paying attention. There’s probably more money in one of these paintings on the walls then we have on the entire mountain. And that’s with a mansion and twenty or so motorcycles. These people are rich enough to have the luxury of being straight-up fucking weirdos.
“Can we go see him now?” Esther asks. “Or do you want us to swim for you for a little bit?”
“I do love watching you swim laps, Esther. It reminds me of a young version of myself. Very surrealistic. But Joe has a lunch meeting, so I’ll just take you to him.”
I don’t know how Esther does this with a straight face.
“Who’s the young man, by the way?” she asks. “He’s not Red or Tank. Are they ok?”
“They’re fine; don’t worry.”
“He’s your boyfriend, isn’t he?” she asks. “I can tell by the way his eyes haven’t left your body. It’s very romantic.”
Morgan starts laughing loudly, and Esther elbows her in the stomach.
“It’s not going to be a problem, I promise you, Mrs. Salazar.”
“I know, Esther,” she says, grabbing her by the hand as we walk through the giant mansion. “You’ve been so good to us over the years. I trust your judgement. You’re a very lucky man,” she says to me, looking over her shoulder. “You better treat her right.”
“He’s in the den, reading the newspaper,” the woman says, rolling open the big hardwood door. I don’t know if she’s here to have sex with him or if these people are going to make us milk and cookies and tell us stories about the Great Depression. It’s a mind fuck.
“Esther!” Joe Salazar says, looking up from his newspaper with a smile on his face. He has to be twenty years younger than his wife, a balding fat man wearing a Hawaiian shirt and sandals with socks. Nothing about him looks like a tough illegal weapons dealer, and that’s why he scares me. He looks like a nerd. These people don’t get their hands dirty. The kind of hurt these people can do is beyond my comprehension. I can see why Esther wanted me to tread lightly.
“Hi, Joe,” she says, standing in front of him. “It’s good to see you again.”
“You know I always love a visit from you, girl.” He winks, running his hand up the outside of her thigh. She brushes it away casually and I feel my stomach turn. I’m not gonna let this guy touch my woman, but she’s in charge here. What she says goes.
“I brought you something I think you’ll love,” she says.
“I see that,” he says with a deep chuckle. “Where’d you find this one?”
“She’s a new trainee. I figured you’d be the perfect guy to help me break her in.” She takes Morgan by the hand and presents her to Joe. “Turn around, love,” she says, like she’s showing her off for a pageant or something.
“Very nice,” he says. “You have good taste, Esther. What do they call you, woman?”
“Morgan,” she says, barely lifting her head. I don’t know what Esther did to get inside her, but it’s working. Usually Morgan is basically foaming at the mouth, dying to talk over anyone, desperate to be the center of attention. Now that she is the center of everyone’s attention, though, I think it’s knocked her down a couple pegs. The reality of what Esther really does is sinking in to both of us.
“Do you want to take off your dress for me, Morgan?” Salazar asks. Esther nods to her in encouragement.
“Sure,” she says, a tremble in her voice. At least the man had the decency to ask. Most of the guys Morgan usually runs around with just take what they want. She pulls off the red dress over her head, standing in front of him in nothing but a pair of high heels and a thong.
“And you, Esther?” Joe asks.
“I just want to watch for a little bit,” she says, walking behind him in the chair, putting her hands on his shoulders and massaging them. “It’s kind of a thing I have,” she says, winking at me.
“I don’t hate the sound of that,” he laughs.
She’s smiling at me, making faces like she’s going to throw up from behind his back. I just put my hands in my pocket and lean up against the bookshelf, my eyes glued to her. Watching her work is actually more of a turn on than I thought it would be, especially knowing that she’s playing these two people like puppets. She’s powerful. She’s a queen. And she is doing all of this for me.
25
Esther:
I have to admit, this is the most fun visit I’ve had to the Salazar estate. Watching Brooks squirm in the corner while he tries not to look at Morgan, kneeling on the floor between Salazar’s legs with his cock in her mouth. I’m massaging his shoulders, but hey, I packed enough hand sanitizer in my bag to take a bath in it once I get my job done and we get the hell out of here. I’ve got everyone in this room exactly where I want them, and now it’s time to get to work.
“What do you want, Esther?” he asks, trying to sound like he’s in control of the situation. He’s repulsive as usual to me, between those beady eyes of his and his weird wife, something about being around Salazar makes me feel like I’m just a play thing. It makes me uncomfortable. Not today though. Today, I know exactly who’s in charge. “I highly doubt you just dropped by to… oh, fuck,” he moans. Morgan must be doing a decent enough job, because he can barely keep his sentences together.
“You’re right. But you already know why I’m here. You don’t have to play dumb with me, Joe. You’re a very smart man. That’s why I like you so much. Do you think I’d let just anyone handle one of my girls like that?” I graze my fingers over his balding head and he squeals like a hog. “I need guns, Joe.”
“You know the deal, Esther. I’ll happily sell you and your club guns. You’re great customers.”
“I need guns on credit, Joe,” I say sternly. “I kinda got us in a bind. You don’t want the bad men to hurt me, do you?”
“I don’t care what the fuck anyone does to you when you’re not in my home,” he barks.
“Morgan,” I scold. “Get up off that floor, girl.”
“No, don’t do that,” he sighs. “I’m sorry. You know how it is. I just get carried away. You stay right there.” She looks up at me, ready for her next cue, and I just nod to her.
“I can get you paid next week. I promise. The deal is already done.”
“Fine, but the girl stays as collateral,” he says.
“Joe…” I say, my morals getting the best of me. “She’s not mine to give. She’s a human being.”
“Oh come on,” he whines. “Seven guns, and this beauty stays here for seven days. You know I’ll treat her like a princess. No expenses spared.”
“Seven guns?” I laugh. “I wouldn’t even lend you my father for seven guns. Girl, put your clothes on.”
“Hold on,” he says. Morgan is standing in front of him, not even breathing. He runs his fingers up her thighs, cresting her shaved mound.
“Seventy,” I hiss. “Otherwise, hands off the goods.”
“You wanna stay with Uncle Joe for a couple days?” he asks her.
“She gets her own room,” I say. “And if there’s so much as a mark on her body when I get her back, I’ll person
ally chop your dick off and feed it to my pet cat. She gets access to her cellphone any time she wants, and I expect a call morning and night from her. The minute I don’t hear from her right on time, me and the boys are gonna turn your fucking home upside down. Does that sound like a plan, Morgan?”
“Well…” she says, straddling his lap. “Will you buy me a Louis Vuitton bag, Uncle Joe?” I roll my eyes at her. Hard. So much for doing a good job. Shit, I’d buy her a whole luggage set if she kept her mouth shut. I guess it’s just another reason why this has always been my job. I don’t want anything from these men but to preserve my club. She wants a purse.
“You and my wife can go out shopping tomorrow if you want,” he says. “Whatever you want.” Her eyes light up with greed and she kisses him on the lips.
“I’m serious,” I say, digging my fingers into his back a little harder than before. “Don’t fucking hurt her. Gavin’s coming down with the truck tomorrow. I expect everything packed up and ready to go.”
“I know he won’t,” she says. “I think Uncle Joe and I are going to have a real good time.”
“You can go, Esther,” he says, waving me off. “Unless you wanna make this a ménage. In that case, there’s plenty to go around.” I choke back the vomit pooling in my throat. I grab Morgan’s face and give her a kiss on the lips for dramatics.
“You call me tonight before you go to bed,” I say. “You call me the second you want to leave. You promise?”
She just nods at me. Mission accomplished. Kind of. There are pangs of guilt welling up inside me, dragging her into this situation, no matter how oblivious she seems to be to the fact that she’s going to be bought and paid for for the next week.
“Get out of here, Esther,” she says. “I want to show Joe what he’s been missing out on all this time.”