by C. A. Rene
“Yeah,” I watch his mouth twitch, “it was facing me, Em. Actually, I’m sure quite a few people got a bit of a show whenever you squirmed in your seat.”
“Uh…” Shit, fuck, shit! I didn’t even think about it, I thought I had the screen covered but clearly I did not.
“Threesomes?” His brow raises, “you want two dicks in you, Em?”
“I was...” I clear my throat, “um… thinking we could try with a dildo, not another person.”
“What?" His eyes begin to darken with lust and I know he’s already convinced.
“The whole double penetration thing looks hot, but I don’t want anyone else.”
“Shit.” His mouth crushes into mine and I moan so loud. I really did get worked up after watching those fucking videos. “Let’s get back.”
He practically throws me back into my seat and I barely have time to strap on my seatbelt before he’s peeling out onto the street.
The place is humming with dark energy tonight, I can feel it seeping into me and I force myself not to let it consume me. The crowd feels different, not so boisterous and not just here for a good time. I’m inside my fucking closet of a room waiting for my name to be announced, when Carm strolls in.
“Tonight, I have you fighting one of our enforcers. He’s a big guy and he’s fucking pissed.” He begins, “I don’t want him dead but I want him regretting what he did.”
“What did he do?” I ask, “give me something here.”
“He dipped into the package I needed him to distribute.” Ahh, drugs. Of course.
“You want me to rough him up a bit or rearrange his face and knock him out?”
“Knock him the fuck out.” He grits through his teeth.
“Got it.” I nod, “can we get this the fuck over with? I have a sweet thing waiting for me back at my place.”
“Yeah.” He laughs and leaves the room.
After about ten minutes of stretching and warming up my muscles, I hear ‘Bodies’ on the speaker system and my name being called to come into the ring. The usual roar of the crowd has dimmed considerably and I get a weird feeling this shit isn’t right. The door opens in front of me and I follow two guards out through the hallway. When we reach the ring, I can immediately see what the difference is. There are no actual spectators, they are all gang bangers or men in business suits and I also see a few Heads in the crowd. I see, I really am here to teach someone a lesson and it’s to be a lesson for everyone else as well.
I look to the ring and see a large man, he’s shirtless and has on a loose pair of sweats. That’s his first mistake, always have on as much clothing as you can while you can still move, also anything loose will be used against you. He has some ink on his chest and arms and he’s sweating profusely. I would guess he’s coming down off of whatever he was distributing recently. His eyes are doing the typical tweaking motion and his jaw looks like it could crack concrete. Definitely strung out and I need to be careful because this is when a person is the most unpredictable. His arms are bulging with muscles but his legs look like he has skipped a few leg days at the gym. Based on that I would assume he’s more of a puncher and not a kicker.
I climb the few steps into the caged ring and remove my hoodie. I have my hair braided back into two Dutch braids and I’m wearing black leggings with a tight tank top. My black taped hands flex as I take in the guy across from me. He doesn’t sneer and he’s not taunting me about my size therefore he must know who I am and what I can do.
“Blur.” He nods his head in respect. I don’t reply. “I was one of the men that disposed of your father.”
That’s when I see a bit of fear in his eyes and finally that warm sensation in my gut begins to swirl. I’m a predator and as soon as someone shows me fear or starts to run, I’m ready to hunt. The feeling grows hotter as it spreads out along my limbs and seeps deep into my chest. I feel bad for the guy, if he was banking on working me over with this scared nice guy routine, then he fucked up because I am not normal and that shit doesn’t affect me. I rotate my neck and watch his eyes slowly narrow at me. There you go, get mad.
“You think you can actually fight me?” He sneers, “I’m twice the size of your father. I will snap you in half.”
I look him in the eye and grin as the red starts to saturate my vision. The familiar lust for blood courses through me and I lick my lips in anticipation. I barely hear the MC announce the rules and I don’t care because I rarely follow them. I bend at my knees and bring my taped hands up in front of my face. The bell rings and the guy charges me, his feet sounding like claps of thunder each time they hit the mat. His right fist swings out and it’s a standard fighting technique for anyone who has no fighting technique. I decide to play a little game of cat and mouse to provide a little entertainment. I turn away from his fist and bend down quickly to swing my leg out and trip him. He lands face down on the mat with a resounding thud but he jumps back up quickly. I start doing quick boxing jumps moving backward into the center of the ring. His face is red and full of embarrassment. Based on that I can assume his moves will become more erratic as he lets his emotions dictate his movements.
He doesn’t let me down as he comes back swinging with his right fist-which I dodge-and then coming in strong with a left uppercut. Again, I pull the same twist out of the way move and drop to swing my leg out causing him to face plant… again. His embarrassment should come to a boiling point soon and we can really get to having fun. I hear a few murmurs in the crowd but that’s it, the only other sounds are this guy’s panting and my fancy tapping footwork. He pops back up quickly again and growls at me, his teeth looking a little decayed and yellow. Don’t do crack, kids.
“I’m going to break your little fucking neck.” He pants, his sweat running down his face. This is looking like the boiling point and I grin. I never engage with words because I refuse to be distracted.
He runs at me and as soon as his arm is in hitting range I drop my back to the mat with my legs tucked up under me. He stumbles as he tries to dodge and figure out my movements. I flip around onto all fours and jump up behind him. I swing hard and hit his right kidney and then the left. His hands automatically come to lay against those areas and I grab his wrists, yanking hard until I hear the pop of his left shoulder. I drop his arms and listen to his sweet holler of pain. He turns around and looks at me with a bit of surprise as his dislocated left shoulder hangs useless at his side.
I know his right arm is the most dominate but I’m okay with taking this a bit slow, it’s turning out to be a good game of cat and mouse. He comes at me again, this time slower and more wary, that’s good because it means he can learn and that’s what I’m supposed to be doing, teaching him a lesson. My body is ready for this to be done as the red begins to thrum with my heartbeat. He lifts his right arm to swing a punch but as I side step, he fakes me out and grabs me by a braid instead. The stinging sensation in my scalp has me gasping and instantly my blood boils like lava. He whips me down onto my back on the mat and I watch as he prepares to stomp on me. I bring my right leg up and kick his left knee as he raises his right. I hear a snap and he rolls onto the mat gripping his leg with a yell. I get up and stroll over to him as I whistle the theme song for the Dwarfs from Snow White. I kick him swiftly, twice in the ribs and once in the side of his head. His brow splits and blood begins running down onto the mat.
I kneel down beside him and punch him twice in the temple and he is instantly knocked out. I stand up and brush my hands off in an arrogant move and grin. I spot Emmett sitting in the front row and my grin turns into a genuine smile. He winks at me and sprints up to the cage door to let me out. I snatch up my hoodie and drop it back down over my head.
“That was petty as fuck.” Emmett says with a chuckle, “nice game you were playing.”
“I gave him a fighting chance.” I shrug.
“All the Heads are here, too.” I just nod and follow him towards the back.
“That’s some sport
smanship.” I hear a man say as he looks at me with curiosity.
“She’s up for hire,” Emmett stops to talk to him, “talk to your Head if you need her services.”
We continue towards my little closet and Carm steps in line behind me. He pats my shoulder a little awkwardly. “Thanks for that,” he says. “Come to my office after for payment.”
“Will do.” I nod.
Emmett follows his brother in the opposite direction and I go inside my room to pull off the tape and to towel off my sweat. I don’t want to stay here any longer than necessary, so I decide to shower when I get home.
I enter the office to what looks to be a heated conversation between Carm and Emmett. I push down the feeling I’m interrupting and sit at a chair across from them, they are family after all.
“Problem?” I look between them.
“Emmett has filled me in recently on him moving to Whitsborough.” Carm says, his brow crinkled.
“Yeah.” I nod.
“I can’t protect him if he’s that far.” He exhales and his shoulders dip forward.
“Carm,” I lean forward, “Emmett can protect himself.”
He looks up at me and I see a brief flash of anger before he schools his features. Interesting, looks like maybe Carm is holding some resentment towards me. That’s something I tuck away to discuss when we are alone.
“Here’s your money.” He throws an envelope on the desk, “I’ll be in touch tomorrow with the intel I gather on Jennifer.”
“Cool.” I grab the envelope and stand up. I nod to Carm and step forward to hug Emmett.
“I’ll walk you out.” He says and I let my arms drop.
We silently walk back down the hallway, not wanting to talk out loud because we know there are listening ears everywhere here. We step out into the cool night and I spot Vin’s Hummer idling nearby.
“He’ll get over it.” Emmett says, shuffling his foot along the gravel.
“Maybe,” I shrug, “but your life is your own. Make your own decisions.” He nods and I lean in to give him a hug. He looks so much younger when his face is clouded with indecision.
“Call me.” I tell him and he nods again. I make my way to the Hummer and turn around to watch Emmett’s retreating back. I feel a twinge of something in my stomach and I’m all of a sudden wanting to run back and drag him out. I stop myself because I have to stand by my previous statement to Carm.
Emmett can protect himself.
30
Sharla Germaine is a force to be reckoned with. Since I was a child, she’s always been my number one and I have kept her there until very recently. She always told me I would replace her one day with the woman I marry but I never understood what she meant until I fell in love with Ember. Obviously, my mother is important and I love her but Ember has wormed her way into that number one slot and my mother knows it. I can see her sometimes looking at Ember, trying to figure it out and I know she doubts the intensity of our feelings based on our age. She’s never really questioned me about Ember and the feelings I have for her, it’s like she’s written it off to some sort of puppy love. I’ve been adamant that I don’t need to explain myself or my feelings for years, but I may have to make an exception now because I don’t particularly like the slight attitude I’m detecting from her towards Ember.
We decided to have dinner with her tonight at the restaurant because she’s been complaining about not seeing me. When I told her about going to New York again with Ember, she lost it on me and told me I needed to give my relationship some space. Not happening. I promised her a dinner and I told her I was bringing Ember and she would make the effort to see what I do. And so, here we are.
“Why do you go to New York so often?” My mother questions Em.
“I want to check out some universities there. I was born there after all. I am entitled to their education.” She shrugs.
“Really?” My mother finally perks up, seeing an expiration date on our relationship no doubt. “That’s great.”
“What’s your exact problem with me?” Em asks dropping her fork to her plate, straight to the point. Fuck, here we go. I look to my mother with a raised eyebrow as if to say, well?
“I don’t have a problem with you at all.” Ma exhales and puts down her fork, “I have a problem with how absorbed my teenage son is with his first relationship.”
Ember snorts and shakes her head, “teenage son? Is that your way of saying at his age he can’t have a relationship?”
“Of course not, but you’re both too young to be making life decisions and your mother would be happy I said that to you.”
“Don’t talk about my mother.” Em snaps, “and were you not pregnant at our age? I think Vin’s life is already an improvement from yours, no?”
I swallow the food in my mouth and watch as my mother sputters and flushes red. Em can be a bit too honest sometimes but I see what she’s saying and I feel what she is as well, someone is threatening our relationship bubble and she’s protecting it like a mama bear. I hold my hand up and watch as they both slowly look at me. I can’t have her disrespecting my mother and vice versa. They are both important and I don’t want to ever have to choose.
“You both need to get it all out, and now. Both of you are extremely important to me and I don’t want to choose.” I wipe my mouth with my napkin and push my chair back from the table. “I’m heading out, Em has her car here and she will take you home, Ma.” I stand up and pull my keys from my pocket.
“Vincent!” My mother seethes, “sit down, we need to have this conversation.”
I lay my hands flat on the table and lean in towards her, “Ember isn’t going anywhere. One day she will be my wife and I need you two to work out your issues. I don’t have any with either of you so I don’t see why I have to stay.”
“I’ll make sure she gets home.” Em nods at me with a slight smile on her face, she knows how important my mother is and I know she will do everything she can to work it out for me.
“Thank you.” I lean over and kiss my mother’s cheek and then I give Em a quick kiss to her mouth.
I get into my Hummer and sit. I don’t know where to go right now, there’s always Danny’s house and it was always my go to before. His parents are rarely home and they have little to no time for their teenage son who is letting his future flush down the drain. Danny and I have been best friends since eighth grade and for as long as I can remember he’s been a privileged piece of shit that knew his daddy would pay his way out of any trouble. I decide to go pay him a visit because I’ve barely spoken to him this summer.
I pull out of the parking lot and drive towards his house. Last summer, Danny had a party practically every other day and I was so fucked up on a regular basis I can barely remember those few months. I do know I used the fuck out of Marlana and I know last summer was when she really fell for me. When I finally sobered up a few weeks before school, I could see her change and start to expect more from me. The hopeful look in her eye followed me everywhere and I didn’t bother to correct her until Em showed up. Not my finest point but I’d like to think that all things happen the way they do for a reason.
I drive up to Danny’s street and hear the music before I see his house. I don’t even want to know how much he pays his neighbours to turn the other cheek. I used to resent that about him, all of this I resented. Sure, my house is nice and it’s big enough for Ma and me but the houses here on this street? They are a ridiculous show of wealth. I stop outside his house and I immediately spot Shay and Marlana on the front porch smoking a joint. The yard is littered with a few Precious Blood students and beer cans. I really don’t want to go in there, so instead of stopping I continue by and find myself turning down Travis’ street.
Him and Danny live just a street apart, and the houses over here are even more ostentatious. Huge, looming three levels structures with wrap around balconies, immaculate lawns and majestic statues that sit at the front gates. Travis’ house has two
exact replicas of the Sphinx at the beginning of the driveway and it makes me snort as I imagine Robert probably thought himself a Pharaoh at one time. Arrogant fucker.
I surprise myself as I turn into his driveway and drive through the opened gates. I tell myself it’s just to let him know they’re open and then leave right away. Even though I despise this place and the man that once lived in it, I don’t want anything bad to happen to Travis or his mother. As I pull in further I stop when I notice a huge pile of what looks to be expensive tailored suits and fucking croc skinned shoes. I throw the Hummer into park and get out to inspect it further. These suits are Armani and Dolce, fucking silk robes with initials stitched on the front. R.G.
“Christina is having a rough day.” I hear from the front door. Christina is Travis’ mother. I look up to see a woman in a maid’s outfit and she looks to be about my mother’s age. She’s beautiful with a very European look about her, white blonde hair and bright blue eyes set on porcelain white skin. “Once she tires herself out, I will put it back.”
“This happens often?” I ask her.
“Once a week. You’re his other son, correct?”
“Yeah.” I mumble. Why the fuck am I here? I look back at my vehicle and contemplate just leaving.
“He could use a visit.” She says softly.
“Is he okay?” I don’t know why I ask that instead of just fucking leaving.
“Not really, he doesn’t talk to anyone.” She looks behind her into the house, “I raised that boy because his parents were rarely around, he used to talk to me but… he could use a visit.” She repeats and walks in the house on a huff.
I stand on the spot unmoving and try to will my brain to turn around and get the fuck out of this circus show. I don’t need the extra worry about Travis or his mother, they aren’t my fucking responsibility. I look once more at the Hummer and look down at my feet. Move motherfuckers!
“You should go,” I hear from above me. I raise my head and spot Travis leaning on the railing of the balcony smoking a cigarette. Since when did he smoke? “I can see you’re trying to convince yourself to go. Why are you here?” He exhales his drag.