by Stacy-Deanne
“Please.” She held Dee’s hand to her chest. “You’re my only friend right now.”
“Okay, where is he?”
“This way.” Rena pulled her through the hall.
****
Rena led Dee to a closed door on the second floor.
“What room is this?” Dee got that chill that always told her when something wasn’t right.
“He’s in here.” Rena gave a reassuring smile, opening the door.
Dee stepped into the sparse room with a stone floor and no furniture. The lights were low with rows of candles lit on each side of the room.
The remaining women of The Circle, excluding Shauna, stood in a semicircle in lacy white gowns, translucent veils and gold medallions around their necks.
Their faces lacked expression, and they each held a white poppy flower in one hand.
“Welcome, Dee.” Rena pressed her hand to Dee’s back, guiding her into the room, smelling of the French vanilla candles.
“What is this?” Dee’s gaze switched to each woman.
The black woman with the braids, Asia, dipped her head in greeting. Emma and Ana stood beside each other stiff as soldiers.
Dee focused on Rena. “What’s going on?”
“Don’t be afraid.” Rena slipped on a veil, grabbed two poppies from a glass container, and handed one to Dee. “Do you know the history of the white poppy?”
Dee sighed. “It’s a symbol of peace.”
“That’s right.” Rena’s face lit. “In the early nineteen thirties, war swept Europe like the plague.”
The others remained motionless.
“The Women’s Co-operative Guild gave out white poppies.” Rena looked at hers. “To contrast the red poppies given out by the Royal British Legion to honor those who died in the First World War.”
“What does this have—”
“The Peace Pledge Union gave out the white poppies as a symbol of peace and to reject war.”
“That’s all fine and dandy.” Dee sweated. “But, what the hell does this have to do with me? You tricked me, Rena.”
“I’m sorry.” She forced the poppy in Dee’s hand. “It was for your own good.”
“Welcome to your initiation, Deidra,” Asia said in a mechanical tone. “Into The Circle.”
“Are you crazy?” She threw dropped the flower. “How many times do I have to tell you I’m not joining your fuckin’ cult?”
“It’s not a cult,” Emma said. “And, you’re already a part of us in your heart and your soul.”
“Fuck you.” Dee turned to leave.
“No.” Rena blocked the door.
“This ends now, do you understand me?” Dee screamed. “No one makes me do something I don’t want to.”
“You want to, Dee.” Jonathan emerged from behind the curtain in all-white, holding a medallion necklace like the ones the women wore. “We sensed that you were one of us when you first came.” Jonathan walked toward Dee while the women formed a line behind her. “You can’t run from this. Why would you want to?” He smiled. “When I could give you a life, you’ve only dreamed of. One you didn’t know could ever exist—”
“Don’t be scared, Dee,” Rena said. “It’ll be a wonderful life. It won’t take long before you forget your old one.”
“No.” Dee gripped her head. “Move.”
The women blocked her.
“From this point on your old life doesn’t exist,” Emma said. “Everyone you’ve known no longer matters.”
“We’re your family now, Dee.” Jonathan grabbed her arm. “Once you give in, you’ll see how wonderful it can be—”
“No!” She pushed him and tore through the women.
“Stop her!” Jonathan ordered.
The women grabbed Dee from the door.
“No.” She fought as they lowered her to her knees. “Let me go.”
“Sh.” Jonathan stood, grabbing a syringe from his pocket. “Hold her down.”
“Let me go.” Dee kicked as the women pressed her to the floor. “No. Stop!”
“It’s okay, Dee.” Rena held one of Dee’s legs while another woman grabbed the other.
“Get off me.” Dee tried to move, but the women had her trapped from all angles. “Jonathan, wait!”
He squirted liquid out the needle and lifted Dee’s blouse. “It’s not gonna hurt.”
“No!” She gyrated as someone put a hand over her mouth. “Mm!”
The door burst open and Shauna entered. “What’s going on here?”
The women turned Dee loose.
Dee pushed them away and ran to the doorway, stumbling and crying.
“Get her,” Jonathan roared. “She’s getting away!”
Dee ran out the room, raced downstairs and out the mansion.
CHAPTER TEN
“You stupid bitch.” Jonathan backhanded Shauna, knocking her to the floor. “Do you know what you’ve done?”
“How dare you, Jonathan?” She rubbed her throbbing cheek. “After all, I’ve done for you, you go behind my back to initiate Dee Quarter?” She stood, stumbling due to her long dress. “You’re acting like I’m not even a part of things anymore.”
“I don’t have to explain my actions to you.”
“What the hell did you make me Head Mistress for then?”
“You better hope with everything inside you that Deidra comes back or you’re gonna pay.” His eyes burned with anger. “You’ll pay like you never thought possible.” He marched out the room, white leather shoes squeaking.
“God.” Shauna touched her aching cheek as the others gathered around her.
“Are you all right, Mistress?” Ana reached for her, but Shauna swatted her away.
“Where is your loyalty to me?” she yelled at the women. “You let him treat me like this?”
“Jonathan’s our leader,” Emma said. “What were we supposed to—”
“I’m your leader too.” Shauna flung her hand in Emma’s face. “And, don’t you forget it. Hear this and hear it well.” She lowered her hand, panting. “Deidra Quarter isn’t taking my place. Not as long as I’m breathing.”
****
“Oh.” Dee cried in Winston’s arms as he lowered her to his couch.
“What happened, sweetie? I’ve never seen you like this before.”
She buried her head in his T-shirt. “I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
“What happened to you?” He raised her head, staring into her eyes. “Did someone hurt you? I’m freaking out here. Tell me something, please.”
“I’m so sorry, Winston.” She hopped in his lap and locked her arms around his shoulders. “I’ll never go over there again.”
“What are you talking about?” He took her hands, his face wilting. “Is this about Jonathan?”
“I can’t even look you in the face.” She stared at the plate of half-eaten enchiladas on his coffee table. “Please, don’t be mad at me.”
He stood, pointing to the floor. “What did he do to you? Because if he hurt you there won’t be any more Jonathan Wild.”
“First, tell me you forgive me.” She pulled on his shirt. “Please, Winston.”
“Okay.” The blue in his eyes dimmed as he clasped his waist. “Just tell me what he did.”
“Rena, one of the women at the compound told me to come by because she was upset.” Dee stroked her trembling hands. “We’ve become kinda friends at least I thought. She seemed to be the only one who’d listen to how I’ve been feeling.”
He sat beside her, surprising her that he hadn’t blown up yet. “Go on.”
“I went, and she led me to this room.” Dee’s heart pounded. “And, all of them were in there and they had these veils on and there were candles everywhere.” She sniffled. “It was the most bizarre thing I’d ever seen.”
He stroked her lap. “Then what?”
“It happened so fast.” She shut her eyes. “I tried to leave but they wouldn’t let me.” She dug her fingernails into the thigh of Win
ston’s jeans. “They grabbed me.” Her words lodged in her throat. “They held me to the floor and...” She dropped her head.
“And, what?” He balled a fist. “What happened next, Dee?”
“Jonathan tried to stick me with a needle.” She shook her head, finding the ordeal hard to believe despite experiencing it. “I fought but they wouldn’t let me leave.” She blubbered. “Oh, Winston.”
“Sh.” He held her face. “It’s okay.”
“I got free and ran as fast I could. I could’ve run all the way back to Baltimore I was so scared.”
“That son of a bitch.” He rubbed her hair, breathing exhilarating. “Jonathan’s never coming near you again.” He stood. “I’ll see to it right now.”
“Winston.” She stood, reaching for him. “Wait.”
“Wait nothing.” He snatched his keys off the table. “I’ll kill him.”
“Don’t.” She chased him to the front door. “Winston, this isn’t the answer.”
“That bastard’s gonna pay.” He opened the door, veins jutting from his neck. “He assaulted you and no way in hell is he getting away with it.”
“Don’t go over there, please.” She stood on the stoop as he flew to his car. “Winston, don’t do this. It’ll only make things worse!”
****
“Jonathan!” Winston leapt out his car at Jonathan’s gate. “Get out here right fuckin’ now!” He shot his gun into the air. “Open this gate,” he yelled into the speaker.
“What do you want?” A security guard rushed toward the gate. “Get out of here, Detective Lewis.”
“I’m not going any damn where until that sick motherfucker comes out here and faces me like a man.” He kicked the wrought iron gate. “Jonathan, get your ass out here.” He pointed the gun at the guard. “Open this gate.”
“No.”
“Get somebody to open this gate or I’ll...”
The gate opened and Tran walked out the mansion.
“Leave, Detective Lewis,” Tran said. “Or I’ll call the police.”
“I am the fuckin’ police.” Winston bumped into Tran as he stomped past.
“You can’t go in there with that gun.” Tran hurried behind Winston. “Detective?” He grabbed Winston’s T-shirt.
“Get off me.” Winston swerved around, aiming the gun at him. “Touch me again and see what happens.”
“You have no right to barge into our home.” Tran and the guard rushed inside behind Winston. “Leave right now.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Winston stomped his feet on the marble floor of the foyer. “Jonathan!”
“Stop it.” Tran hopped in front of Winston. “What’s going on?”
“It’s about that stunt you all pulled on Dee. Get his ass out here.”
Shauna flew from around the corner. “What’s going on here?” She gasped when she saw Winston. “Detective Lewis.”
“Where is Jonathan?” He took deep breaths.
“You have to leave.” She approached him, caution in her eyes. “You can’t have a gun in the compound. We don’t allow weapons.”
“I don’t give a shit what you allow, lady. I’m not leaving until Jonathan gets his ass out here. What’s wrong, huh?” He paced, spit flying from his mouth. “He can pick on a woman but can’t deal with a man? Get him out here!”
“Okay, okay.” Shauna waved her hands. “Please, can you put the gun away?”
“No.” His nostrils flared. “Where I go this gun goes.”
She panted. “What do you want?”
He stuck his face in hers. “I want Jonathan. Haven’t I made that clear?”
“Go get him,” Shauna ordered Tran. “Go.”
Tran ran off while the guard stayed put.
Winston gave Shauna a once over. “Thought you could assault Dee and get away with it?”
She squinted. “I wouldn’t call it an assault.”
“Then what is it when someone holds you down and won’t let you leave?” Winston pointed at himself with the gun. “Let’s see you guys try that shit on me. Try holding me down.”
The women flowed in, shrieking at the man with the gun.
“Ladies.” Winston held his arms out. “Welcome to the party.”
They clutched their bosoms and covered their mouths.
“Stay calm,” Shauna told them. “Detective Lewis won’t hurt us.”
“You sure make a lot of assumptions.” He scoffed. “I’m not in my right mind now, Shauna. So, don’t think you know what I’m gonna do.”
She swallowed, her bare toes spreading against the floor.
“Are we calling the police or not?” a redhead squealed.
“Just hold on,” Shauna told her.
Jonathan stomped into the foyer with a steel bat. “Get out of my house, Detective.”
Tran ran up.
“Go, Lewis,” Jonathan said.
“You might order these women around but you don’t tell me what to do.”
“I run this place.” Jonathan waved the bat. “Get off my property.”
“Answer my question and then I’ll go.” Winston stood back, blinking. “Did you assault Dee?”
“There was no assault.”
“Then what do you call it?”
Jonathan smirked, lowering the bat. “I call it claiming what’s now mine.”
“Motherfucker.” Winston kicked the bat out Jonathan’s hand and grabbed him by the throat.
The woman screamed and whimpered.
“Let him go,” Shauna shouted. “Please!”
“Get off me!” Jonathan fought as Winston pushed him against the wall and stuck his gun underneath Jonathan’s chin.
Tran shouted to the guard, “Do something.”
“Yeah do something.” Winston pushed Jonathan’s head into the wall. “Give me an excuse to shoot him.”
“What do you want?” Jonathan tussled. “You crazy?”
Winston pressed the trigger. “You know what I love about Dee the most?”
Jonathan squirmed, scowling.
“She’s tough.” Winston pushed the gun further into Jonathan’s chin.
“Ah.” He floundered, waving his arms. “Call the police!”
“You do and he’s dead,” Winston said. “I got a point to make and then I’ll leave.”
“Please don’t hurt him,” pleaded the full-figured, blonde woman.
“What I love about Dee more than anything is her strength. She’s been through so much and she’s stood strong every time. Now imagine how I feel when I see that strong woman who I love, sitting on my couch and shaking like a newborn baby because of you.” He gritted his teeth as Jonathan groaned. “Now what kind of man would I be to let that happen and not kick your ass from here until Wednesday?”
“No matter how upset you get...” Jonathan panted. “Or how loud you yell it doesn’t change that Deidra belongs here and she wants this.”
“I told you before if you didn’t stay away you’d pay.” Winston aimed the gun at Jonathan’s forehead. “I wasn’t joking then and I’m damn sure not joking now.”
“You expect me to cave to you?” Jonathan chuckled, breathless. “Then you know nothing about me at all.”
“Oh sure you’ll act tough until the end, right?” Winston looked at the women. “While your sheep are here.”
“I said, call the police,” Jonathan told Tran.
“Do it.” Winston held his finger on the trigger. “And, Jonathan’s blood will be all over these walls. But, since he likes color so much he might appreciate that.”
“I’ll have your badge, Detective.”
“I’ll gladly give it up if it means keeping you away from Dee. On second thought, call the cops, Tran. I’d love to see how Jonathan explains how he held Dee against her will and tried to drug her.”
“I did no such thing.” He displayed a lopsided smile. “Drugging? Where did you get that?”
“She told me.”
“It’s not true.”
“Liar
.” Winston banged Jonathan’s head on the wall. “Is that how you get women to conform to this bullshit? You drug them?”
“Nothing Deidra told you was true.” Jonathan cut his gaze to the others. “She only said that because she needed an excuse to why she keeps coming here.”
“Then why was she so afraid?”
“Do we call the police or not?” Shauna asked.
“We can both spend a night in jail,” Winston said. “As long as I get my point across.” He buried the gun in Jonathan’s forehead.
“Okay!” Jonathan groaned, flapping his arms. “Point taken, Detective. I want you out and never come back.”
“And, you’ll stay away from Dee?”
Jonathan nodded.
“I can’t hear you.”
“Yes.” Jonathan gritted his teeth.
Winston let him go and tapped Jonathan’s cheek. “Glad we got that straightened out.” He lowered the gun, glancing at the women. “It’s okay, ladies. That’s all I wanted.”
Jonathan stooped over, rubbing his face.
“Stay away from her, Jonathan.” Winston backed up toward the door. “Or history will have a way of repeating itself.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Four nights later, Connie and Dee entered the Dazzle 9 gentleman’s club in downtown Baltimore.
Perfect 10 women of different races with huge breasts and giant asses stood on individual platforms, shaking their moneymakers to Bruno Mars’ “24-7 Magic” under blue and green neon lights.
“A shame.” Dee observed the hooting men who threw twenty-dollar bills into the air. “Wasting all this money.”
“Girl, that’s a fifty.” Connie got the bill off the floor and stuffed it into her pants.
Dee gasped. “Connie.”
“What?” She wiggled her shoulders to the music. “I can shake what I got too.”
Dee grinned. “You’re stealing that bill.”
“I didn’t see anyone’s name on it.”
They approached the crowded bar.
“Hello.” The bald, black bartender smiled wide, showing off his diamond grill. “What can I do for you foxy ladies?” He ogled Dee. “You want a drink or a job, sweet thing?”
She flashed her badge.
“Oh.” He flinched. “What can I do for you, Officer?”