by C. L. Quinn
“Yeah,” she said on a sigh. “If I go to court and claim rape, if that guy is as rich and influential as I think he is, if he’s your boss, I don’t have a chance of winning. Either way, though, I’ll never be able to work this town again. I can’t do that. I got a kid, and she’s got to eat and go to school so she can maybe be someone important someday, like a lawyer or doctor.”
“I’m sorry, but…”
“I said no.”
The woman stood. “But thanks for offering. That means something, that someone knows, that someone cares.”
“What’s your name?”
“Sally. That’s my real one. I go by Jasmine Night at work.”
“That’s nice. Sally, please think about it. We can’t let someone like Michael get away with this.”
“You’ll figure it out. People like you always do. You’re the kind of woman that people get in line to do things for.”
“Hardly. Look, will you take my card? Consider it? Call me if you change your mind?”
Sally didn’t say anything, but she took the card Margot held out. Turning to the bartender, she called to him.
“Lucky, can I catch you up next time I’m in? Can I go out the back?”
“Sure, darlin’.”
Sally nodded to Margot, slid off the barstool, and pushed the swinging door to the back room where moments ago the huge man had filled the opening.
Lucky came back to Margot. “You want anything else, ma’am?”
After blowing out her cheeks and running her fingers through her hair, Margot shook her head. “I’m finished here. I just need to…”
Glancing toward the door as she pulled her satchel up to get her wallet, she did a double take when she saw Michael Lipnicki enter. He stopped just inside and slowly scanned the room.
“Oh, hell!” she whispered and turned to Lucky.
“I need to get out of here, right now, but I can’t go out the front. Can I use the back room like Sally just did?”
“It’s for employees…”
“It’s a matter of life and death. Likely mine.”
Lucky could see that the beautiful woman who did not belong on this side of town was very serious.
“Sure, just go through there. It leads into the alley and you can get back out front by going to the left.”
“Thank you. I’m paying for hers, too.” Pitching down two 20 dollar bills, Margot kept her face turned away from Michael, a hand on the back of her head to hide her bright blonde hair, and pushed the loose-swinging door open. Once it swung closed, she glanced back out the small window to see Michael advancing toward the bar.
“Oh, fuck me to the moon,” she said, low, but out loud.
“It would be a right long fuck,” a deep voice said behind her, startling her so badly, she twirled, and kicked out with her right foot, the sharp heel of her shoe landing on a hard shin. Her eyes shot to her victim. It was the enormous man she’d seen lurking in the doorway earlier. He’d had no reaction at all to her unexpected assault.
“Oh, God, I’m sorry! You spooked me and I just reacted on instinct to defend myself.”
He leaned back, heavily muscled arms folded, pushing the huge muscles into fascinating bulges. She lifted her eyes from the ripped arms to one of the most masculine faces she’d ever seen. New York City was filled with handsome men, but that word just seemed inadequate, he was far more than handsome. She couldn’t take her eyes off his lips as he spoke.
She knew that, for most women, all those muscles, that long hair, the obvious strength, a deep Scottish brogue, promised great sexual prowess. Usually, men with overt sexuality, turned her off. He didn’t seem to do so, and that surprised her.
“Lass, are ya frightened of somethin’ particular or just anythin’ at all?”
What? No… He just assumed she was a weak-minded terrified little woman. Men…
“Hardly. It actually takes a lot to frighten me, buddy. But there is someone I need to avoid out there.”
Margot turned back to the little window to peer out. Why was Michael here? Was he looking for Sally? And if not, was he looking for his next victim? Or did he see her follow Sally? Or perhaps recognize her car in the alley next to this godawful dive. If he knew that she was here, what she was up to, was she in danger?
Her nose pressed against the glass, her attention on the waves of men moving around the light-challenged room, it took her a moment to notice the heat next to her neck, the scent that assaulted her. Stiffening, she looked behind her and saw the giant leaning against her body as he mirrored her search, warm fingers curled around her neck beneath her hair. He was well within her personal space!
“Who are we lookin’ for?” he asked, his breath warm and sensuous against her cheek.
This time she didn’t attack him, but she needed clearance immediately from the intimacy of his touch. She did not allow men to touch her unless she gave prior approval and guided them to exactly where and how they may do so. That this hulk of a man had so casually slipped his fingers around her neck almost froze her in place.
It took a few moments and that distance before she fed her own fingers over the skin that still tingled. “Don’t touch me like that again, please, I don’t like it.”
He bowed his head. “Pardon, my lady, I meant no disrespect. I dinna know that it would bother ya. Ya have my promise that I’ll nay do that again.”
Eyes locked on his face, Margot assessed him more closely now. God, had she ever seen a man that looked like Michelangelo had carved him from flesh? Standing before her, contrite, his manner calm, with a quiet strength rolling off him, she wondered what his story was. How did a man like him end up in a place like this? He was magnificent, he could be anywhere he wanted.
And what the fuck was that scent he wore? She wanted to jump on him and eat him up.
Other people wouldn’t know this about her, she kept her private life very private. But that urge to attack this man, to have him put his hands all over her, to let her put hers all over him, to feel his tongue against hers…that was the exact opposite of anything she would ever want or do.
And yet that is exactly how she felt.
Three
Xavier watched the gorgeous woman, breathing hard, freaked out about a light touch on her neck, even though he could see that she was a strong woman, and desperately wanted to know who she was and why she was here hiding in the back room of this bar. The woman should have had all the confidence in the world that she could handle any situation, but she buckled because he touched her.
It didn’t help that something about her scent was so erotic, he hadn’t even realized that he was touching her, he just needed to and did so without forethought. He’d needed to get in close, to smell her hair, her skin, her breath…her blood. The blood thing, he didn’t understand where that came from. It was odd and unsettling, but it was there nonetheless. She intrigued him, just on first sight.
This wasn’t going to end well for him, he knew it. It would be best to keep his distance and let her move through his life and back out of it quickly. It was obviously just a case of instant attraction, of biological needs rearing up. God knew he was horny!
This near to such an extraordinarily desirable woman that smelled like sex was almost too much to bear. There would be a lengthy cold shower at the end of his shift tonight.
It would be best if he precipitated her exit from here as quickly as possible.
“Do ya need safe escort away from this person ya seek to avoid?”
She just stared at him, her eyes moving back and forth between his, then dropping lower to linger on his mouth. All he could think of at that moment was that it would be wise of her to stop.
“Do ya need help, is what I’m askin’ ya.”
He watched her break her gaze and glance back toward the bar.
“Uh, no, I don’t, I’m fine. Like I said, I just need to stay hidden from that man until he leaves. I think I’ll take another look.”
“Why don’t ya let me?”
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It was a good idea, she had to admit it.
“Yes, please. If he’s still there, will you let me know what he’s doing?”
Since he had no need to hide, Xavier went through the door and looked for the whiter than white man with a strange bouffant hairdo and expensive clothes. He was still here, just as she suspected, and chatting with a regular who came in many weekday nights.
Once he returned to the kitchen, he nodded. “Aye, he’s still here, chattin’ up a regular patron.”
“Huh. What does that patron do, do you know?”
“I’ve seen him often, watched some of his doin’s. I think he arranges liaisons. I don’t think they’re good ones.”
“Shit. No, I don’t think they are. Look, that man raped the woman who came through here earlier. Do you know her?”
Sally. Lucky’s friend. Sort of.
“Aye, not well, but she’s a close acquaintance with my employer.”
“I’m trying to get her to let me tell her story to a judge and get this man off the street. You say that the guy he’s speaking with arranges liaisons? I wonder if he’s Sally’s pimp. Shit. What if Michael’s going to do it again to someone else? He’s sick, rich, and perverted.”
She paced away from Xavier, her hands running along the old laminate countertop that Xavier kept spot free. It was decades old, so he couldn’t do much with the stains that had been there long before he came and would be there long after he left.
He watched her pace, her fingers clenching into fists as she spoke to herself out loud.
“I have to stop him,” she whispered. “How? I don’t care how, I just have to do it. That man is not going to hurt another woman, not on my watch.”
“How is this man’s behavior on your watch?”
Her eyes shot up to Xavier. “How? Because I know what he is and what he’s done. That makes me responsible for stopping him.”
“Lassie, ye’re one woman and ya can’t be responsible for all the bad people, even the ones ya know about.”
“No? Watch me.”
After hesitating for a few moments, he watched her bullet out of the back room, and followed her. This little firebrand of a woman was going to get herself into trouble. Luckily, she had some backup, he wouldn’t let her take this on by herself.
Her decision inspired him. Conviction to right a wrong, and the action to do so was rare. How did he know that? Didn’t matter. He did.
If possible, the saturation of smoke was higher than ever tonight and even with Xavier’s superior vision, he didn’t see the guy she was looking for.
After several minutes of searching, he leaned down to speak to the woman he’d stayed beside.
“He’s gone. Let’s go back into the kitchen.”
She nodded and turned, Xavier on her six.
Once the door swung shut, she turned on him.
“Where do I find this guy that Lipnicki was speaking to?”
“I really don’t know. He comes in here, does some business, drinks, and goes.”
“Who would know? Would your boss?”
“It’s possible.”
“Would you get him in here?”
“Aye, but what will ya do even if ya find him? He’s a hard man, he’s not gonna tell ya anythin’.”
“My business, my decision. Please get your boss, or I will.”
“Ye’re pushy, little lady.”
“You bet your gigantic ass I am. That’s how I get what I want.”
“And do ya always get what ya want?”
He watched her eyes lift to his. “When it matters.”
He thought that right now he’d move heaven and earth to help this determined woman. And he thought she was going to need that help. He didn’t know where to find the man she was looking for, but he knew that the men who came into this bar were often dangerous. A small woman like this one, that guy might rip up and spit out. Whether she liked it or not, he would help her with her mission.
“Stay here. I’ll get Lucky.”
Margot looked around the small kitchen that served this piece-of-crap bar. It was spotless, everything in its place, the floor ancient but clean and free of debris. The big guy who took care of the place seemed incredibly conscientious for someone who probably got paid in bottles of booze.
She released a long sigh. What did she really think she was going to do if she found Michael? How could she stop him? By herself, she probably couldn’t. When she located him, she needed to call the authorities and let them stop him. But here she was with no evidence and no probable cause to do so, which would make her on the wrong end of the law.
For a night that had started out as just an annoyance, it had turned into a lame crime novel. And Margot Napier as the story’s heroine? God, was that bad casting!
Swinging open again, the door bumped the wall as the bartender preceded the big guy through it, confused.
Xavier stepped around him. “This is Lucky.”
Lucky folded his arms and stared at Margot. “Uh, yeah, what did you need?”
“Hi, my name is Margot. I was here with your friend Sally earlier. Listen, a man was in here after she left, one who’s hurt her and I think he’s going to hurt someone else.”
“O…kay…”
“So, I need to know where I can find one of your customers. I guess he’s a regular. He was here tonight and the big guy here says that he sets up companions for people.”
“The one ya call the ‘fixerman’,” Xavier supplied.
Lucky whistled low. “Oh. Honey, you don’t want to mess with him. He’s a bad one, and if I could keep him out of here, I would. If I told you how to find him, you’d get hurt or dead, you understand what I’m saying?”
“Yeah,” Margot barked as her stomach flip-flopped.
“I don’t think I have any choice. I can’t let Michael Lipnicki hurt another woman.”
“If you go near the fixerman, another woman might get hurt. You. He sells hookers, gals and guys, but I haven’t heard that he usually hurts them. Hell, that’s how he makes his money. But if you mess with his business, I hear he’s brutal.”
“The man who I think bought time with one of his women tonight, he’s the one who’ll hurt someone. He’s a deviant. I never realized how much until tonight. He gets off on rape, even if he’s legitimately paid for sex.”
“Fucking pigs in the world. I’m sorry for my language. I’m serious, though, you can’t go looking for the fixerman.”
“I’m goin’ to go with her, Lucky.”
Both Lucky and Margot shifted their gazes to the big Scot standing between them.
“Good idea,” Lucky said at the same moment that Margot said, “No, you’re not.”
Xavier smiled. “It’s a good thing that neither of ya can compel me to do yer biddin’. I’m goin’.”
Compel? Where did that idea come from?
Margot shook her head. “No. I appreciate it, but I can’t ask you to risk yourself for this. It isn’t going to go well, and I don’t want to add the possibility of your injury to my ever-increasing list of responsibilities. I’ll go alone, and if I get into trouble, I’ll dial 911.”
“Nay. If ya want the information about the fixerman, ye’ll agree to our terms, right, Lucky?”
“Right. I’m not letting a small woman go in there by herself. It would be like sending a kitten into a den of coyotes.”
“God, men are arrogant.” Pausing, she paced again for just a few seconds and turned on the two men abruptly, her eyes like lasers on the big Scottish man. “Fine, but you let me do the talking, buddy.”
“Scottie. Ya can call me Scottie.”
“Scottie? Original. Okay, Lucky, where are we going?”
“I’ve heard rumors that the fixerman runs his business out of an old warehouse at the end of this block. It’s trashed, you wouldn’t think anyone would be inside of it, but I understand that if you go around the back of the building, there are stairs that go down into the basement and that’s how you get in. It�
��s bound to be guarded.”
“I’m pretty good at talking my way into things. I’m an attorney, it’s all I do. Convince people to see my point. Let’s hope it works tonight.”
Margot looked up at the WWF-sized man beside her.
“I admit it’s not going to hurt to have you with me. Still, please be careful Scottie. Don’t get hurt, okay?”
“Ya dinna have to worry about me, I’ve found that I’m quite durable.”
Scanning from the hard jawline down a body that looked like it was made of steel to heavy legs that could easily kick a door in, Margot nodded at his comment. “I’ll say. Okay, Lucky, if we don’t come back…”
“Yeah, yeah…911, I send in the cavalry. Be careful. Really careful, though.”
“Don’t worry, my friend. Ya won’t lose yer best cook.”
Xavier followed Margot out the door, missing the look of real concern on Lucky’s face.
“Okay, you just remain quiet and let me do all the negotiating, okay? Let them think that you’re my muscle.”
Xavier smiled, finding this pushy woman amusing and charming and brave. “Aye, mistress.”
“That just sounds naughty. Ma’am will do.”
“Aye, ma’am.”
“Better. We’ll take my car.”
As they rounded the brick wall that led into the alley where she’d stowed her car, she was less than shocked by what she found.
Her car was trashed. The door on the driver’s side had been pried open. She could see debris all around the ground and recognized some of it as her belongings, spare clothes she’d kept in the trunk for emergencies, a water bottle she particularly liked, a small blanket she always left on the backseat.
“God…ahhh, damn it!”
“This is a bad neighborhood for nice cars,” Scottie offered.
“You think? Okay, we walk. Lucky said it’s at the end of this block.”
“I know where it is. The building he described isn’t far from my dwellin’.”
“You live in this cesspool?”
“Lass, that’s a bit harsh. A lot of good people do.”
Margot was immediately ashamed of her unacceptable judgment. “I apologize. You’re right. I really do appreciate you accompanying me. I know it’s a bad idea, but I can’t stand by and know that Lipnicki is hurting another woman.”