Copping an Attitude

by Morticia Knight

  His sergeant showed up along with the officers from the second unit that had lent a hand during their original call.

  “Did you see which way he went?”

  Parker’s face heated. He was reluctant to share with everyone that he’d been kneed in the groin by a suspect who had then got away.

  “No, sir, I didn’t.” Parker cleared his throat. “But he does have my cuffs on him.”

  Sergeant Lopez considered him before turning to the second unit cops. “Get a description from McLean, then I want both cruisers out looking for him. He shouldn’t be too hard to spot.” Lopez gave Parker a pointed stare before continuing. “A kid traipsing around with his hands cuffed might not be all that unusual for this town, but the lack of requisite bondage gear should give him away.” Lopez addressed the group again. “The manager wants him trespassed for hustling on casino property. He says he’s seen him around before.”

  Parker bowed his head, uncharacteristically emotional at hearing what he’d already suspected was the case. He didn’t understand why he felt such a surge of compassion for Slade. It had been something about his eyes, his tone. Underneath all of Slade’s tough exterior, Parker thought he could detect an emotional soul who was in dire need of someone to care about him.

  “Okay, let’s go, people. Time’s wasting.”

  As Darren and Parker jogged back to their vehicle, Parker fell behind. His balls ached like a son of a bitch. What he really needed was an ice pack, but he’d settle for the chance to sit down for a minute.

  After they’d pulled out of the parking lot and headed west on Flamingo Road, Darren spoke up.

  “Are you okay?”

  “My nuts appreciate your concern, but they’re fine.”

  “I didn’t mean that smart ass—although I’m glad to hear it. I meant is there something else bothering you? You’ve been frowning and…”

  Parker huffed out a breath, the whole evening beginning to seriously irritate him. “And what?”

  Darren sighed. “I don’t know. Like something’s really bothering you.”

  “I’m fine. Really.”

  The same way Slade had said he was fine.

  His gut clenched. He needed to be the one who got to Slade first—before anything really bad happened to him.

  * * * *

  “Valeena!” Slade knocked frantically on the motel room door. “Please, Valeena, let me in!”

  It was yanked open. An enraged, large black man with his pants undone towered over Slade.

  “What the fuck do you want? Huh? I’ll be done with her ass in five then you can have at it. In the meantime shut. The fuck. Up.”

  He slammed the door with brute force, the windows rattling. Slade glanced around nervously. The cops would be looking for him, they could be anywhere. He crouched down behind one of the bushes up against the seedy motel. It was just off the Strip and was the place they always used to take their dates. Julio rented five rooms by the week and number six was Valeena’s.

  After a short while, Valeena’s trick left and Slade waited until he drove away before coming out from behind the plants. He was just about to knock again when the door flung open. Valeena’s eyes went wide at the sight of Slade’s arms raised, the cuffs holding them together at the wrist.

  “Oh shit. Did a john do that to you?”

  He pushed past her, anxious to get inside to what suddenly seemed like sanctuary.

  “No. Cops. Close the door.” His voice was shaky, adrenaline still pumping through him.

  She did as he asked then shut the light off before peeking through the curtains.

  “Fuck, Slade. Do you think they followed you?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  She turned to him in the darkness, the glow from the lights outside seeping in underneath the ratty curtains.

  “Are you sure? Because if you’re not, I’m hauling my narrow ass out the bathroom window.”

  “Um, pretty sure. I kneed the cop who had me really good.”

  Valeena burst into musical peals of laughter. “Oh, man, why do I always miss the good stuff? I woulda loved to have seen that.”

  Slade allowed himself a lopsided smile. “Any chance we can get these things off me?” He held up his imprisoned hands, shaking them.

  She walked over to the nightstand then turned the lamp back on. “I can’t.” She scrunched her eyebrows together. “But I bet Samson can.”

  Samson was a client of Valeena’s, one of her regulars. He ran a questionable business that seemed to involve the need for opening a lot of locks that didn’t have keys. Slade had never questioned her much further than that. She fished around in the drawer of the nightstand that was filled with condoms, lube, lipstick, loose bills and other assorted and sundry items until she pulled out her burner phone.

  After plopping on the bed and yanking her short silky robe around her, she punched some buttons. Holding the cell to her ear, she winked at Slade.

  “Don’t worry. Now sit down. You’re making me nervous.”

  He perched on the only chair in the room, his stomach still twisting, his nerves still frayed. As soon as Samson picked up she babbled excitedly to him, obviously softening him up before she hit him with a favor. He’d never heard her talk with such enthusiasm to a client before—she was much better at acting with the tricks than he was.

  While he waited for her to get to the point with Samson, he ran through his mind all that had happened with the cop from whom he’d escaped. A new emotion surfaced from inside him—one he’d thought had been tamped down effectively. He felt bad. Guilty. He knew he shouldn’t, his survival had been at stake. But it really had seemed as if the cop cared. There’d been something about him that had come across as good and kind. Not like the asshole cops or almost every other person he’d met in the past few years—along with his own so-called family. Only Valeena had ever been there for him.

  He tuned back into her conversation, but her voice had dropped lower and she was angled away from him. It was like she was…cooing or something.

  Gross.

  Staring down at the silver bracelets locked on his wrists, he recalled how the cop had been so worried that he might have hurt Slade, how he’d cuffed him in the front so that he wouldn’t add to the pain. It had really only been Harold’s bruises that had bothered him, but he’d used it to his advantage. Once he’d been restrained from the front instead of the back, it had made it that much easier for him to get away.

  He squirmed in the chair. It wasn’t his fault, he’d had no choice but to strike out at the cop to get away, the man hadn’t listened to him. Slade didn’t want to let his thoughts go any further than that. One of the worst things he or any of the other sex workers could do was allow themselves to wish for something more, something real. It had to remain fake no matter what or else the pain of longing could destroy a person.

  But if I were ever to have someone to love…

  There it was again. Those damn stinging tears. There’d been far too many times recently where they’d threatened to take over. It was pointless to think that a hot guy who led a decent life would want anything to do with a throwaway like Slade. His bottom lip quivered even as he attempted to squash his feelings back down. He jumped as Valeena’s excited voice cut through his musings.

  “He’s on his way.” She was grinning, actually grinning. Her face fell. “Hey, what is it? You look really sad…or something.”

  Slade shrugged. It seemed as if the energy had been sucked out of him. He wished he could lie down and sleep for days, keep all the thoughts swirling around in his brain at bay for a while.

  “Don’t worry, Slade. Samson will take care of it.”

  Slade grunted. “Shit. He gonna take care of Julio too? I’ll never have enough to give him for tonight. I’m fucking screwed. I lost all my money when that cop got me.”

  “Fuck…” She’d barely whispered it. She chewed at her lip. “Maybe Samson can help with that too.”

  Slade burst out into nearly hysteri
cal laughter. “Excuse me? I don’t think I’m capable of that many hummers in one night—even if he could get it up that many times.” He snorted. “Or was gay.”

  Valeena had a pained expression on her face, her lip chewing increasing. She twirled the tie around her robe and couldn’t meet his eyes. Something was off.

  “What?”

  “Don’t be mad at me, Slade.”

  He wasn’t sure how much more he could handle. As hardened as he was, there’d just been too much all in a row lately.

  “Please. Just tell me. I don’t want any more surprises. I gotta know what I’m up against.”

  She still wouldn’t meet his eyes. “Samson and I are in love. He’s been figuring out how to get me away from Julio without causing a full-on war.”

  Valeena’s leaving?

  He wasn’t certain that any amount of will he had left would protect him from the tears that threatened to overtake him. He’d be lost without her. He really would be all alone in the world.

  I’m being selfish.

  If she had a chance, she should take it. He knew she’d want him to do the same.

  “I’m glad. Go. You deserve to get away from that twisted piece of shit.”

  “Oh, Slade.”

  She scrambled off the bed then ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck.

  “Um, Valeena.”

  She squeezed him tighter. “Thank you for understanding, for being such a good friend.”

  “Yeah. Sure. Valeena, you’re kinda falling out everywhere.”

  She straightened then yanked the belt to her robe tighter. “I don’t get you. How can you still be so shy? We’ve all seen each other naked, not to mention the dirty shit we do with complete strangers.”

  “That’s different.”

  She dropped back on the end of the bed. “Oh? How do you figure?”

  He wriggled in the chair. “First of all, I don’t look when you—or anyone else—is naked. No offense, but I’m not really interested. Plus, it’s not polite.”

  She let out a loud laugh. “Oh my God. You’re so cute.”

  He narrowed his eyes at her. “Shut up. I am not.”

  “Are too.” She stuck her tongue out at him.

  “And the other stuff… Well, I pretend that I don’t care. Then I have a couple Jack and Cokes afterwards and I’m fine.”

  He never drank when he was with a customer despite the strong temptation to numb himself to the ugliness of his encounters. It was vital that he keep his wits about him in case they tried to pull something on him. Unfortunately, a couple of Jacks and Coke had lately morphed into a few mostly Jacks without the Coke. He consoled himself with the fact that he’d never succumbed to drugs. When he’d first gotten into the life, several fellow workers had told him it was the only way to get through the humiliation of what they did, but Valeena had stepped in and prevented him from going down that road.

  Valeena appeared uncomfortable again. “Yeah. About that. There’s a couple nights recently where you drank until you passed out.” She locked her gaze on him. “I’ve never seen you do that before.”

  “Don’t stress. I’ll ease back.”

  She tilted her head as if challenging the truth of his words.

  He sighed. “Really. I’m fine.”

  A heavy knock on the door interrupted their conversation and scared the crap out of Slade.

  “Mllaya moya. It’s Samson.”

  The Russian accent of the man who’d always reminded Slade of a big bear was distinctive.

  Slade regarded her with a puzzled expression. “What did he call you?”

  “My sweet.” She batted her eyelashes. “He only speaks the truth.”

  When she opened the door then flung herself into Samson’s open arms, Slade averted his eyes and sank further into the cushioned chair, waiting for the two lovers to finish enthusiastically greeting one another. Samson closed the door behind them, his attention still completely focused on Valeena. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a thick roll of money. He peeled off several bills then pressed them into Valeena’s hands.

  “It’s been a week since we’ve done this. Give it to the pig fucker Julio then you’re done for the night.”

  Valeena had explained that they had to be careful that she wasn’t with Samson constantly or else it would be like it had turned out with Harold. Julio would start worrying that his merchandise was being lured away. They weren’t completely autonomous when they were out on the streets. Julio always had his goons on the lookout in case there was any funny business going on.

  “Thanks, baby, but this had better be the last time until—”

  “Shush.”

  Samson’s gaze flitted over to Slade. Slade was shocked that Samson was even aware of his presence the way he’d been so wrapped up in Valeena.

  “He knows, baby. Don’t worry, he’s like my brother. I told you before—we watch out for each other.”

  Samson dipped his chin once in acknowledgment as he regarded Slade. “And for that I am very grateful. Now let’s see what we can do about your recently acquired jewelry, shall we?”

  Within minutes, Samson had the cuffs off him and Slade rubbed his chafed wrists. “Thank you so much. I didn’t know what I was going to do.”

  “Baby?”

  Samson straightened and Slade saw how quickly his face lit up at the sound of Valeena’s voice, how he immediately gave her his complete attention.

  “Yes, angel, what is it?”

  She pulled him over, whispering to him but occasionally glancing Slade’s way. It was clear what was happening. She had to be asking him to do the same thing he’d done for her. Heat rose up his neck into his face. He knew that Samson would never want anything sexual, that he would do it because he was so obviously in love with Valeena, but it still made him uncomfortable. Acts of kindness confused him.

  He jumped at the sound of loud banging on the motel room door.

  “Open up, bitches!”

  Julio.

  Chapter Three

  An actual growl rose from Samson’s throat. Valeena laid a warning hand on his arm. If Samson made the wrong move—even in the name of protecting them—everything could go south very quickly. He patted her hand then opened the door. Slade wished he’d had a camera to record the shocked expression on Julio’s face at the sight of the beefy Russian who had to be at least six foot four. Samson’s size was amplified by the fact that Julio was likely no more than five foot seven.

  As soon as Julio’s jaw snapped shut he seemed to regain control of himself. “What the fuck is going on in here? Slade, why aren’t you out hustling?”

  Two of Julio’s minions pressed in the doorway behind Julio. They both had their hands hidden behind them and Slade felt the blood drain from his face. He hoped that Samson would be cool.

  “Ah, Mr. Julio. Greetings. However, I must say I’m somewhat surprised you would interrupt a client on a date. After all, aren’t I a good customer?”

  He jostled Julio with his elbow, winking. Julio looked supremely confused, his eyebrows bunching as his gaze darted between Slade and the two lovers.

  “The fuck is he doing here? And what’s he doing with those cuffs? Huh?” Julio turned to Slade. “You been fucking arrested, you dumb whore?”

  Julio pointed accusingly at him. If Slade could have disappeared right then it would have been glorious.

  Samson cleared his throat loudly. “Those are mine, Mr. Julio. They’re part of my…wishes for the evening.”

  Julio shook his head as if he needed to clear it out. “I don’t get it.”

  “There’s nothing to ‘get’. A man needs a little variety, a bit of spice once in a while, eh, Mr. Julio?” He chuckled deep in his chest, elbowing Julio once more. “I asked this sweet slut of yours who she might suggest, and this pretty thing showed up. I offered him the same rate as this one—” He waved his hand dismissively at Valeena. “And he accepted. Is there a problem? You don’t think he’s worth the extra grand for the night?
”

  That seemed to grab Julio’s attention. “Oh yeah, esé. Fuck yeah. Wait till you ram into that tight hot hole of his.” Julio moved closer to Samson. “You gonna cuff him to the bed while you give it to him from behind? Huh? Make him scream?”

  Slade noted the barely veiled look of disgust on Samson’s face and was terrified that Julio would catch on. Instead, he rubbed the heel of his palm into his crotch, licking his lips reflexively. The meth was making him sloppy, stupid. Unfortunately, it also made him more dangerous.

  “Sounds tempting. Do you mind, though, Mr. Julio? I’m getting a bit…anxious. If you know what I mean.”

  Julio seemingly switched gears, as if he’d morphed into the consummate business professional. “Of course, of course. Whatever you want, esé. Just let me know if I can help you out in any way. You have my card, yeah? Tell Rita I said you get the VIP treatment.”

  The two men continued to exchange bullshit pleasantries as Samson subtly edged Julio out of the door. Slade was relieved, hopeful, but he wouldn’t exhale fully until Julio was gone. At least he’d have a few hours of respite from the man.

  When they were finally alone again, Valeena fell on the bed with a loud groan. Samson sat next to her before gathering her on his lap. He ran his fingers through her hair, gently kissed the side of her neck. She closed her eyes, sighing. Slade felt more than a little awkward. There’d been a few times when he’d been paid to have sex with a group of people, but there hadn’t been the sweet affection that was currently being displayed before him. There hadn’t been love.

  With his gaze trained on the carpet, he unexpectedly found his thoughts wandering to the cop who’d almost arrested him earlier. He pictured in his mind what he’d just seen between Samson and Valeena. Only in his imagination it was him sitting on the cop’s lap as he touched Slade with care, with affection. Kissed his skin softly, his only desire to make Slade happy—make him feel good.

  He bit the inside of his cheek until he tasted the coppery flavor of his own blood. The fantasies had to stop. He was only torturing himself with dumb shit that would never happen.