Chapter 3: Papi, make me yours.
Then the unpredictable happened. I heard the common sirens and skidding wheels of a police car.
I looked back at her, because I had to move to the side of the road and she was on it. What I saw in her face was fear like I had never seen before. I leaned in a flash and opened the door, she got in and I wheeled down the road and into the first street I saw. Her chest was heaving and the movement made the swell of her breast rise up and catch my gaze. I could imagine many other things that would make her heave that way.
"I'll have to record that sound." I was being a prick, I knew that.
"What sound?"
"Police sirens. They seem to bring reason to your mind."
She glared at me and I laughed.
"Why the fear? I'm sure they were after something much more dangerous than engaging the world's oldest profession." I laughed.
I had learnt to joke about this topic. You couldn't live in this world if you couldn't deal with it.
She gave me a tiny smile and my face broke into a wider one.
"So, which way?"
"To hell?" she smirked.
I laughed, "I know that one. I meant to your house."
She looked back and looked me in the eyes. After a moment she was still looking at me and I had to struggle to keep from reaching out and trailing my hands from her cheek, down to her chin, her neck, collar bone.
Ma gaze went lower and I gulped.
"So, um… which…. Which way?" I said clearing my throat.
She seemed to react to that and looked around. Apparently for the first time recognizing where we were.
"We... We should get back to the main road. I don't know where we are anymore."
I put the car in reverse and went back to the street she was. We continued down the road she was walking and then turned onto another street.
She pointed to a white house mid-block and I parked in front. There was an old beat up truck in front of it.
"So, what now?" I didn't know why but I didn't want her to leave the car just yet.
I had things to do today, though. And she had to come up with ten grand, still.
Asking her on a date was out of the question. I didn't even know what people did on dates these days. The last time I went on one, I was seventeen.
"Well… umm… goodbye." She said and started to leave the car.
I quickly got out and looked at her across the roof. "You're welcome." I teased her.
"Yes, thank you." She said stiffly but not as curt as before. She also blushed. That magnificent, and endearing pink blush that started on her cheeks and then spread over her face and neck.
Fuckable. The pimp complimented.
I imagined the skin there, how soft it would be. How warm and inviting. My fist tightened on the door.
She went around the car and stood at my side.
She took a deep breath and I stopped breathing altogether.
The car door was between us but that didn't stop her from touching me through the rolled-down windows.
Her eyes never left mine. Never, not once.
Her hands on my stomach were warm and barely put any pressure on me. And that was what I was lacking. Pressure. I needed strength on her touch.
At the same time I didn't want her touch. I didn't want to get close enough that she could hurt me. My brain told me to flinch back, but my body just leaned forward. Putting all my weight on the car door. This was recompensed by her touch. I could feel every finger of her hand as it spread across my abs. My muscles contracted and her eyes left mine for a second, only to look down at where her hands were.
Without thinking my hands moved to her hips. Again through the car window.
Her gaze went to them and then back to my lips, then my eyes.
Oh, no. Please, don't let her look at my mouth again. If she does I'll…
She just did. She looked at my mouth then back at my eyes.
Snap! I felt my body separate from my mind and its worthless orders.
I stepped around the door and in front of her. Now that we were closer she had to turn her face up a little more to look at my eyes. That didn't stop her.
On the contrary, the angle now reminded me of last night and how she kneeled in front of me ready to give her thanks. Like a good 'pet'.
Pet? What the fuck?
D/s was something I had tried—who hasn't?—but it wasn't something I did regularly. There was something about her, though, that made me want to relive every one of the fantasies of my teen years and the ones of years to come.
Danger! My mind screamed from the far distance where my body had tied it.
The pimp inside smirked back at it and traced one finger down Bella's cheek to her chin.
Watch me. It commanded.
My hand went to her neck. My thumbs caressing a path down her neck from the spot behind her ear to her collarbone.
In my mind, the path went lower and lower, until my hands were no longer on her neck and my thumbs were flicking her responsive nipples.
I saw her head lull back and my mouth attached itself to her neck. Suckling on every possible inch of skin. I could almost taste in my tongue the essence that I had only felt once before. Back in the small room. Latched onto her towel.
It wasn't enough. There was something from her essence that my brain was missing. I knew what it was. Reality. That's what it was.
I just gave a new definition to the term eye fucking. Because with one look into the mahogany oracles of her eyes, I could feel much more than I felt in the sexiest fantasy I could have ever imagined.
Damn her.
Damn me for living this life.
Her eyes were heavy and lustful. The pupil dilated until it left a thin rim around it. Her thick lashes fluttering against her skin, and that inviting flush spreading once again.
I took my hand away before I took her against the car.
Car. Street. Public space. Get a grip, Edward.
I cleared my throat. If there was something I was experienced with was how strongly some women can regret sex. And after the grief she had given me over insignificant shit, I wouldn't want to know how pissed she would be if I took advantage of her and fucked her silly.
Stupid feminine hormones.
She cleared her throat. Obviously uncomfortable with the way I was staring at her. "Do… do you want to come in?" she asked, and I had a flashback to the last date I had. Years ago… women weren't very happy with how little I could reveal about myself in a 'get to know' conversation. They were also searching for the gossip and the truth on whether I was a laid back millionaire or not. But that's beside the point.
I looked down at my clock and that made her nervous. "Just for breakfast. I know you haven't eaten anything." She said in a rush.
I wasn't going to make it to the first of the appointments I had for today. Might as well enjoy some company.
"Sure." I said smiling at her. "I have to make a call first."
"Ok. You can just walk in when you're done." She said and stepped around me, walking towards the house.
I looked down at my car and sighed. I would have to schedule another appointment at the shop… Fucking graffiti losers.
"Hey Alice," I said as she picked up.
"Where the fuck have you been?!" here we go, "we've spent the fucking night waiting for you to call or give a signal. I even called that guy you call on the police to see if they had got you and you spent your one phone call on phone sex."
Yep, that's Alice.
"I would have…" I joked.
"Where are you?" she sighed, "Do you need us to pick you up?"
"No, I'm good. I just helped someone last night and got into a bit of drama."
"You fucked up someone's face." She declared.
"Yes, but not for the reasons you think."
"No one stepped in our territo—," she cut off, "wait, did you say you met someone?" she asked.
"I said helped," I gritted.
"Ooh, you definitely met someone." She teased.
"Shut up, I was just calling to let you girls know I'm good. If the guy from the police calls, tell him I'm good and I'll call him later."
"Got it, chaito." She laughed.
"Say goodbye, your Spanish sucks." I growled into the phone and hung up before she had the chance to reply.
I walked towards the house and stood at the front door. I was pretty hungry, and none of the shit that people sold near by sounded like breakfast material.
As I walked in I heard the unmistakeable sound of frying bacon and, what must've been Bella, whipping pancakes.
She had changed into sweatpants and a loose shirt and was singing along with some rock song. I was too mesmerized by her ass to listen to the lyrics.
I saw her ass turn and then heard a gasp.
Shit, I was caught. I looked up.
"I didn't hear you come in," she said and I saw her blush. That fucking confusing blush. In real life, putas don't blush. That goes against, at least, 5 laws of the world.
"It's okay, people see each other dancing at clubs all the time." I said trying to wave it off.
"I guess... How many pancakes?"
"Umm… I don't know."
"I'll just give you the same number my dad has."
"Is he here?" I asked looking around.
"No, he left already."
"'kay," I replied exhaling.
We had breakfast and talked about what had happened. She seemed more at ease now. Apparently there was this guy that worked in a convenience store near by, who could lend her the money.
"I'll give you a ride there if you want." I offered as I stood up. I had given her one of my numbers just in case she needed some help, but she made it clear she wouldn't ask for it. I tried, though. Couldn't blame me.
She finally accepted my offer to give her a ride because she was clearly dead on her feet. The emotional and physical stress of the previous night, had clearly taken a toll on her.
I drove following her directions. Moving towards a far side of the neighbourhood, I saw the houses get dirtier, but the cars more expensive. Gangters. The only thing that I was missing. My fucked up car seemed much more out of place here.
'Mike's' was the very expressive name of the store. I parked in front and got out. She was out the car and walking into the store before I had a chance to get to open the door.
"Well, well, well… What do we have here?"
"Hey Mike!" she greeted him as she entered, "Can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure babe," a shaggy blond guy answered from behind the counter. They both disappeared into the back room and I lounged around the store, looking at the things that were on sale there.
"Get the fuck off me!" she screamed at him and I heard him chuckle.
"You came to me." I could hear the smirk in his voice, "Now, don't be a sore loser and tell me what's wrong?"
Their voices lowered then.
To anyone that had looked from the outside this would look like a regular convenience store. The Dollar Store items, were overpriced just as much as in any other shop, and there was a section for each thing.
"You knew!" Isabella's screech must've been heard to blocks away. "You knew James was gonna screw me over and you never said anything."
"My discretion was greatly appreciated…" the idiot replied calmly.
"Yeah, I bet it was…"
"So, what is it that you want? A new contact?"
"Actually, it's money what I need."
"I do, too. That shit is hard to find, huh?"
"That's not what I meant, and you know it."
"How much?" he asked after a moment.
There was a pause and then the door banged open.
"No fucking way!" I heard the guy's voice from the other side of the door. He came storming out and Isabella followed with her arms on her waist glaring at the back of his head.
"Why the fuck not?" she said.
"Because your little cunt isn't worth that much even if you sold your soul to me."
"C'mon, Mike!" she pleaded, "I've helped you out a bunch of times."
"And I've paid you back for each one of them." He said to her, "If there is something I've learned is that in this town nothing is free."
"What makes you think I won't pay you back?"
"I just don't wanna risk it, Linda." He crooned at her and I felt sick to my stomach seeing him touch her hair with a patronizing gesture.
"You know where I live…" she offered tentatively.
"No. I know where you papa lives. That's a whole different shit. You could fly from there with that same money and I'll never see your ass again, unless it's on America's Most Wanted."
"What if I give you something?" she followed him as he walked around the store rearranging things. "Something you could keep here until I finish paying you back."
"What have you got that it's worth that much?" he seemed more interested now.
"I have my grandmother's jewels."
"Why don't you pawn them?" he asked.
"'Cause if I take them to Chulo, I'm pretty sure I'll never see them again." she sighed, "the fucker will have them sold three times their worth before I'm out the door."
Mike nodded understanding, "Yeah, probably."
"So, will you lend me the money?" She asked a bit eager and hopeful.
"I've only got 3 grand here, Baby,"
"Mike, don't gve me that shit. I, better than anyone else, know when you make your deposits. And I know for a fact the date it's not there yet."
"Money is tight, Linda…"
"Money is never tight for your customers. I swear those junkies sniff it a mile away, despite their bleeding noses." She spat at him.
"Hey, hey! Don't insult the people," he replied with his hands on the air.
"Ugh! Just give me the money," she sighed.
"Where are the jewels?"
She sighed and pulled out a small plastic package wrapped around what I thought were the jewels. I saw the sadness that she looked at them with, and how hard it was to see them go into the grimy hands of Mike.
"Here," she told him, "Please, Mike, take good care of them."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." He said putting them in his pocket.
He dipped under the desk and pulled out a can of coins. "Here," he said and handed it to her.
"Please, Mike," she said, "tell me you don't have three grand in coins in here." She half laughed.
It was a musing how the interchange went right in front of me. Maybe she had told him he could trust me.
"No, you idiot. Look inside," he said pissed.
"Gosh, Mike. It was just a joke. What's your problem? It's been a long time since they last dumped you in a trashcan and the coins kept coming out of your pocket like there was no end…" she laughed now.
"You know? I was thinking that maybe you could have your dad as a pimp…" he started and she glared at him.
"What the fuck, Mike? Charlie is a cop!" She yelled at him.
"A not very good one…" he muttered and then said louder, "think about it, he wouldn't be the first… for example, what does he think you do for a living?"
"He thinks I work the nightshift at the movie theatres." She said sheepishly.
"You've got to be kidding me. You dad is not that stupid." He laughed.
"He believes what he wants to believe…" she said in a small voice.
"It's a 'don't ask, don't tell' deal. I get it."
"So, when can I get the rest of the money, Mike?"
"Baby, that's all I have. Trust me."
"I've learned not to do that…" she said, "c'mon, Mike! You've got to help me out here."
"Sorry, Bella Babe. That's all I have. And make sure to bring the extra five hundreds when you bring it back, or no deal."
Five hundred! She had to give that fucker that much extra for just three fucking grand? Inside me some alarm was going off. This was not wrong. I could help her so easily. And she could help me. If this is how she got the first three grand, it will take her forever to pay it back. The words were bubbling in my throat.
Tell her.
Don't tell her.
Help her.
Don't pull her down into this world of shit.
You need her.
She can do so much better that this shit of yours.
You don't really care.
Yes, I do.
Why? Are you suddenly man enough to care?
No, I'm still merely human…
I sighed. There was no winning this. I needed back up.
"Hey, Isabella?" I called to her. She turned around surprised.
"Hey… umm… what… why are you still here?" she was afraid of something? "Do you want me to give you something?" she did look scared now. She thought I was going to ask her for something for what I did? Wow, and I thought my world was messed up.
"No, no. I was just waiting in case you needed another ride." In my peripheral vision I saw Mike raise his eyebrows.
I looked at him and glared, "Not like that, you ass."
"Really? Could've fooled me." He said rolling his eyes.
"That would be great Edward. Thanks," she smiled at me and I couldn't stop from doing the same. She was that hot.
"Ok, do you mind if I step outside for a second?"
"No, that's ok." She said and I turned to leave.
Near the door I heard a slap and her reproaching voice, "He is a good person. Can you behave?"
"Yah, he seems alright. But what the fuck happened to his car?" after that, I closed the door.
Great, that must be what every single person we passed by would be thinking. There was no way that I was parking this car in front of my house. I had a part to look.
I dialled Alice and she picked up.
"Why aren't you here yet?" she asked annoyed, "and why the hell do you never pick up you stupid phone?"
"I have my reasons, for both of them."
"Ooh, so mysterious…" she mocked.
I laughed, cause in a way it was. And it drove her crazy not always knowing.
"Hey, Alli? Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, Eddie." She said in a singsong voice.
"Don't call me that. Have you ever been mad at me for… you know… bringing you into this?" I asked tentatively.
I knew this question would make her stop and think.
"Yes, I do. A few days, every month." She laughed.
"Be serious."
"Well, Edward, my life is a walk on the park right now compared to what it was before. And if you hadn't brought me here no one knows what would have happened to me," She paused, "it's true that I wish that the money I spend had been earned in a different way. But money is money all the same. I'm not mad. Rosalie might be a different story. But you know Rose."
"Yeah, thanks."
"Why are you asking me that?"
"Well, there is this girl that I think would be really good in this. But she is so young, I feel bad about doing it to her." I was ashamed.
"Ultimately it's her decision. People have the right to make their own mistakes, you know that."
"Yeah, I know." Did I ever?
"Ok, good luck. I'm looking forward to meeting her." With that she hung up.
Did that mean she wanted me to bring her into this? Or that she just wanted a friend? No one ever knew with Alice.
I walked back into the store and there were a couple of boys chatting up Isabella and that Mike guy. I had learned a long time a go not to judge from appearances, but they really didn't give me any sign of not being the junkies that they looked to be.
Their twitching hands, ragged breathing and the constant need to rub their noses alerted me. I felt bile creeping up my stomach and looked around trying to calm myself down.
"We can go whenever you want." Her voice came from in front of me but I hadn't really seen her coming.
"Can I talk to you outside? Just for a second." I promised. It was now or never. If I backed down she would come back into this store, with this kind of people, that I knew very well were capable of anything.
"Sure." She walked in front of me and turned to me once we were outside. "So… What's up?"
"I was just wondering how were you going to get the rest of the money?"
"I know other people, I can get to them by myself. You don't have to come. You've—…" I cut her off.
"It's not a problem driving you, but I think you're going to go into debt paying back that money."
"Well, I am going to get killed if I don't pay it back. So I don't see what are my options."
"I'll give you the money." I blurted out and mentally slapped myself. What the hell was wrong with me?
"In exchange of what?" she asked warily.
"Nothing, if you want. You can pay it back to me when you have it, no matter how long it takes." I needed to tape my mouth shut right now…
She laughed a sad laugh and looked at me. "You're so innocent," wait, what?! "I'll never have that money. The moment I save a cent I'll owe it again. It's a never ending cycle."
"Why did you ask for that much money?" I asked. I needed to know what was I getting myself into. Maybe I shouldn't be getting myself into all this. God knows what she was linked to.
"I don't see how is that any of your business…" here we go again, "but you've helped me a lot lately, so…" she paused and took a deep breath. "My dad, he likes to gamble. He is addicted to it, more like. He rarely wins, but he thrives for those few times. The rest of them he ends up being thrown out of the game and the thugs start to show up at home because they can't go to his job." If she tells me that she started out by sleeping with the people her dad owed money to, I'll kill a motherfucker. "So, I tried paying them off, helping him without telling him. But I'm sure he knows by now. I think he kind of expects it now."
"Look, I'll lend you the money, and I'll give you a job to pay me back. You can take your time."
She looked at me sceptically. "What kind of job?"
"The same one you're doing now." Call them as you see them…
"You want to be my new pimp?" she asked wide-eyed and still doubtful. I knew the last thing I looked like was a pimp. I was missing the gold chains and the 'proper' clothing.
"Yeah, we don't call it that…" I started.
"'We'?"
"Yeah, there are two other girls that I help."
"Help?" god, what happened to her speech? So far she had had no trouble talking back to me.
"We say that I'm their manager. We do a different clientele than you do."
"I don't do lesbians." She stated and took a step back.
"You don't have to 'do' them if you don't want to…" I think Alice had done it a couple of times. But women weren't really popular with the people that requested girls. "But you might be asked to do a scene."
"Is it porno what you do? Because I can't do anything that might fall on my father's hands. He has a gun and he is allowed to use it."
"Don't worry, he won't find out if you don't want him to."
"So basically, you'll send me the clients and you take the money?"
I sighed. How fucking weird was it, that I had no problem talking to her about what I did, but when I had to ask for the money, it felt wrong.
If you asked a shrink about any random person, they would tell you that they had unresolved issues and that they needed therapy. But I was sure that I needed it more than others.
"I won't take all of they money. It's more like a fee. And I have some requests…"
"Such as?" by the look on her face I was sure she thought I would ask to have sex with her. Which wasn't such a bad idea, 'cause she was hot as fuck. But I was talking about something else. It didn't surprise me she thought so. Most pimps did 'test' the merchandise before 'investing'. Although most times they didn't invest shit, and just exploited the girls.
"You have to move out of your house. You can tell your father you got a scholarship, or whatever the hell you please. And you have to get a degree. Or something that you actually can hold a conversation on." I knew this would bother her.
"I can hold a conversation that doesn't involve moans or rented orgasms, thank you very much."
"Yeah, you also will have to moderate your attitude. Can't be treating people as if you were doing them a favour. It's kind of a turn off…" she glared at me as I said that.
"Fine." She said in a clipped tone.
I looked at her.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "It doesn't sound half bad. Thank you for the offer."
"Much better," I complimented. I turned back to the door of the store and looked back at her. "Now go and return that money. We shouldn't be seen with these people."
"Minutes ago I was one of 'these' people." She retorted.
"But now you're not. So, go in there and get your jewels back." I'll just stay here and kick myself for damning another soul.
I felt better that I would help her, but my stomach turned at the thought of what she would have to do for me.
Then I remembered I had to tell her about Alice and Rose's stories and my face paled.
