Catherina tensed up then. Her target was getting away from her! She ignored how her legs and pelvis screamed at her for moving this much, and blanked her excited blonde friend. She pushed her way through the crowd of applauding people to the back door. He literally stepped out of it a minute before her, and he was already down the other end of the alley.
"Señor! Wait a moment! Señor!" he stopped at the end of the alley and turned to look over his shoulder at her. She smiled gently and walked towards him.
Only to find herself shoved suddenly against the back alley wall. "What?!"
"You looked pretty sexy tonight miss lady in red."
Oh god...it was Denny... "Sing that for me did you?"
"No!" Catherina banged against his chest hard, trying to push him away from her. But he was bigger and stronger than her. "I-I sang it for Señor Croc!" She yelled, wishing she'd brought her handbag and that gun with her has he back handed her face, hard. She screamed and fell to the floor on her side. The floor was unforgiving as she collided with it, and her whole body shook with foreboding dread. It was going to happen again. He was going to rape her. Adrenaline coursed through her veins and she fisted down the front of her dress, flipping out the switch knife and holding it at arm's length from her. Denny looked down at it with his dark eyes and ran a hand through his messy black hair. He just smirked at her.
"OOo, looks like there's some fight in this bitch. You think that little prick is going to help you? Here, let me show you a real weapon."
"No!" She screamed, lashing out with the knife. He just laughed and kicked it out of her hand. Catherina fell with the force of it to her side on the floor, looking up at him in horror.
It was going to happen again.
Denny laughed down at her trembling form and started undoing his belt and fly before her. "I've got just the thing to shut you up."
"Oh Denny." The scruffy man bolted stiff and Catherina dared to look up from her curled up position on the floor. Stood behind Denny was the tall man in the rain coat. Looking up at him like this she could make out the gleam of his amber eyes...there were black slits for pupils in them...and they were looking down at her. "You wouldn't be about to do that disgusting thing in front of me, would you?"
"N-no." Denny pulled his fly back up and backed away from the tall spectre nervously.
"After all, I might get confused and think it's an horderve and whip it off."
"I didn't realise you were there." Denny chuckled nervously with his arms open, clearly trying to look none threatening to the big guy. "Listen, I'll wait until you've gone."
"Oh? To do what I wonder?" Croc glanced over the whimpering woman. Catherina sat up against the wall, knees against her chest and arms clinging to them tightly. She looked a far cry from that sensual woman he watched sing only moments before.
"Well you know how the boss works. He lets us have alone time with the girls." Denny looked down at the lady in red, and saw her gazing up at the tall maneater with desperate brown eyes. it made him nervous. "And it's my turn."
"No." Catherina clawed at the wall behind her to get to her feet. "Señor Croc, y-you just did a job, Si?" She gulped, and immediately felt in his gaze that she was not to talk about his work. "I-I saw you being paid just now. S-so you were successful in your work, Si?"
"Yes." He released a warning growl under his breath. "Is there a point here?"
"I'm a fan, Señor." She side stepped towards him, and away from Denny. His head tilted to one side again, regarding her.
"A...fan...?"
"Si. And I sang for you earlier to show my appreciation Señor Croc."
"What?" Denny screeched and glared at her. "Nice try, but Mr Corc is far too busy to give you a damn autograph." He yanked her arm hard, pulling her against his side. "Let the nice gentleman leave so you and I can have a little chat." He was clearly getting impatient, and Catherina was about to lose her nerve.
"I do not want to ever 'have a little chat' with you." She hissed and raised her free arm to beat him.
I thought if I could get a hit in whilst he wasn't expecting it, I could make a run for my apartment. only, my hand never connected with his face.
When her wrist halted in the air, she turned to look at her disobedient fist. Croc had his large gloved hand around her wrist and his gleaming golden eyes on her face. "You fucking bitch! I'll make you sorry you..."
Croc pulled slowly on her wrist, pulling her into his body. Cathy went with the silent command and pressed her front against his. Only one arm hung back now, still in Denny the fist's grasp. One hiss from Croc, and it was soon free to join her other hand on his vast chest. "...Mr Croc?"
"You heard her Penny the pussy." Croc leaned over her shoulder and gave Denny a front row seat to the expanse of his fang filled grin. "She's a fan of mine. And I deserve a reward for doing that piece of crap in there another favour. Again. Of which, I wouldn't be doing if he wasn't 7th cousin to the head of the family." he pointed down at her with his gloved hand and chuckled at the very white skinned man. He looked about ready to wet himself. "Problem?"
"No Mr Croc sir. The bitch never said-"
"Now." He lifted his massive gloved hands and dropped them menacingly on her dainty little shoulders. "What do you really want?" She dusted herself off and couldn't stop herself from pressing harder against his front for safety. He was oddly warm...for a giant lizard man in a raincoat.
"...want?"
"That bullshit about singing for me. That was to get my attention and step in, right? Well I did. Now, give me a damn good reason for doing that before I take a limb as payment." He hissed deeply and lifted his hat up to sit properly on his head. What she saw made her question her sanity at that moment.
Then I thought of Denny and all the other frequent Falcone thugs in the club, and the night before, and found my nerve.
"I did sing for you Señor Croc. And I am very grateful you stepped in to save me just now. I..." she gulped, and shakily lifted a hand from his chest to point at her face cutely. "My name is Catherina Mendez." He narrowed his eyes at her and regarded her in a calculating way. It unnerved her thoroughly. She was clearly afraid, which was good. But...still she stayed in his presence. Why?
"You know who I am...and I don't like repeating myself. What-do-you-want?"
"I'm not very good with politics. Or lying. Or playing games." She gulped deeply and stepped backwards. Catherina stayed within his personal space though, to help make her point. She put her shaking hands together over her front. "So I think I'd look like an idiot if I did anything other than be honest with you Señor Croc."
"...can we be quicker about it?" he growled, looking down the alley way and up to the roofs, as if looking out for someone. "I don't like being above ground like this."
"Do you have a woman Señor Croc?" he jerked, then turned to look at her.
"A what?"
"A woman." She closed her eyes, released a breath and then opened her eyes open with determination. "Do you Señor Croc?"
"My women usually come with a side of salad, if you know what I mean." He chuckled darkly at her, all his sharp teeth gleaming at her through his peeled back green lips. "But that's not what you meant, right?"
"No." She gulped again, hands fussing in front of her. "I mean a woman with which to have carnal pleasures with."
That seemed like the longest sentence in her life. She didn't think she'd manage to finish it without falling over or fainting. But she managed, and she stared into his amber eyes nervously, but with focus. "Because I need a man to protect me from other men wanting to...force their passions on me."
"Yes." He flashed a look at the club door. "I can see that." he shoved his hands into his pockets and leered over her. "I can see where this is going too."
"I would be loyal, a-and I would give you what you want in return for my protection." She put her hands in front of her in prayer. "Please let me be your woman Señor Croc. I would be obedient."
"You would?" he held his chin in thought and scratched it. that must appeal to him. "Totally obedient?"
"Si." She felt her belly flop. He was considering it. He was actually considering it.
"Does obedient mean willing?"
"Si Señor." She stepped closer to him, almost against his front again, looking up at him with big brown eyes. "Totally willing."
"Totally willing...hmm." Croc cocked his head to one side and narrowed his eyes on her. "And does willing translate as willing to participate?"
"Si Señor."
"Because I've never been one for rape or controlling a woman enough to fuck her whilst she laid there and took it. If I wanted to torture women I'd just torture them. Or rip them to shreds." She couldn't restrain her body from trembling then, but she carried on regardless.
"Si Señor. I would be a good woman to you." She nodded at him and slowly tired to put her hands on his chest. He backed off and hissed at her, freezing her in place. She whimpered and held her hands up submissively. "Forgive me, I didn't mean to be bad Señor Croc."
He seemed to glare at her for a moment, before looking off to one side.
As he seemed to be lost in thought Catherina stood there patiently and obediently.
"You know what I look like?"
"You are reptilian, Si?" Catherina ran her fingers through her hair and tucked it behind her ears. Instead of using words Croc responded by opening his coat to her.
Oh boy was he reptilian.
He had thick scales like a crocodile, dark green all over except his torso and chest, neck and face. She couldn't speak for the rest of him, as he was wearing large black suit trousers and the baggy raincoat. He was rippling muscles and scales all over. He then lifted his hat off his head to show her his face. He looked almost human, except for the green crocodile scales, big amber eyes with black slits, and slightly protruding mouth. His jaw was very defined as it held an arsenal of sharp teeth. On top of his head he had a line of what looked like crocodile spikes like a Mohawk. It looked like they ran down the back of his neck and his spine too.
She remembered thinking he'd be hard to kiss with that mouth. She could definitely believe the rumours that he ate his victims with those teeth...
"You still wanna fuck me now princess?" He snickered at her, replacing his disguise.
"Si Señor Croc." A shaking Catherina stepped towards him again and bowed her head. "If you will have me, and protect me as we discussed. I will always obey you, be willing and be good to you. I will be a good woman, Señor Croc."
"Interesting." He chuckled and started heading for the club door. "You're survival instincts are greater than your feelings of disgust for my body. If you're that willing, then who am I to turn down free sex?"
"Then it is a deal?" she clasped her hands together and beamed up at him, following him back into the club.
"Yeah, deal. No bragging though."
"No Señor."
"I'll tell your boss now. Go home and wait for my orders."
"Si Señor. Thank you." She bobbed her head in respect and hurried away from him.
Her dress was covered in dirt so she had to avoid any of the paying clients and slip into the dressing room. She managed to shower and change without being harassed, and the Falcone men seemed to stare at her in disgust as she left the club.
Was it really that simple? Had she done it? Was she finally protected against the Falcone men raping her?
But what had she agreed to to secure her freedom? And would it be worth it...
Killer Croc was a super villain, a murderer and potentially worse than any of the other men in the club. But he said he wanted her participation and he wasn't interested in rape. Surely that was a good sign?
A good sign, for the lesser of two evils, that is.
I ran home and jumped in the shower, again. I still didn't feel clean. But at least I had some sort of hope now. Some sort of protection. I just had to make sure I kept Señor Croc happy.
The next few days were hell. During the day I waited for the phone to ring, other than my mother at 9. I waited for someone to knock at the door. I waited for a letter, anything. When I went to work I was on edge, waiting to see if any of the men there would make a move on me. Denny glared at me at all times. The other men looked at me with such disgust. Like they thought they were a much better option than Killer Croc.
By the fifth day it was obvious that Eric had told everyone that they would be in big trouble with him and more importantly with Killer Croc if they tried anything with me. I was glad. But I was also scared. Señor Croc hadn't contacted me since we struck the deal.
By day 7 I could tell the men were getting on edge. Denny seemed to appear near me and try to enquire about my 'budding relationship' with 'the big guy'. I brushed him off saying it was private and I was told not to talk about it.
On the 8th day Denny blew me a kiss before the show. I was started to get very skittish, and started wearing my switch knife again.
After she finished singing her act she lowered from the stage, wearing a sexy little chiffon cocktail dress. It had no sleeves and the corset design of the top half pushed her breasts together. Her nails were an elegant length and ruby red, like the rest of the outfit. Her heels were very high and made her honey tanned legs look longer. She had her usual red lipstick on and smoky eyes. Catherina sat next to Lucy and saw her looking very worried.
"What is wrong Lucy?"
"Listen Cathy, my Finny heard Denny talking with his boys. He thinks this Killer Croc thing is a joke or something. Like you gave him one in the alley way in exchange for him coming in and telling the gang to keep their hands off you." Lucy grabbed her Latino friend's hand and patted it. The way Lucy spoke, it was like she spoke with butter in her mouth. She just didn't realise that she melted it with how crude she was at times. It certainly threw Catherina off her stride in their conversations some times. But not this time.
"I made a deal with him. like you said, I got a man who could protect me." Lucy smiled sadly at her.
"Listen, this is Killer Croc we're talking about. He would rather eat a woman than fuck her, and everyone knows it. Besides, it's been over a week since he's been here to see you. I'm just saying it was a good plan but it's worn off now."
"You don't believe me?!" Catherina looked around the club, seeing that the leering looks from her 'fans' were back. They didn't believe her either. "I didn't make it up. I am Señor Croc's woman now!"
"Geez Cathy, no one believes you." Lucy shook her head, her look concerned for her friend. "I just saying you might want to sneak off now whilst there are more acts to distract the guys. And avoid Denny if you can. Or...make a deal with him?"
"I will die first." She hissed, her Spanish rage bubbling over.
"What's this talk of dying?"
A chill ran down her spine.
Denny the fist, clad in his usual scruffy black track suit, stubbly beard and messy black curtains, appeared behind her...again... "Sweet things like you should talk about things like that. You have so much to live for." he chuckled, and blew her a kiss, making waves of nausea tear through her.
"What do you want Denny? You know I belong to-"
"Killer Croc? Don't make me laugh tuts." He snickered at her, and suavely offered her his arm. "Shall we have that little chat now?" he smirked, and his intense gaze made her know she didn't actually have a choice in that.
Catherina was frozen to her seat. She didn't realise it but her hands were digging into the chair to keep her there. "I'm prepared to talk about making an...arrangement?"
"Maybe that would be a good idea?" Lucy tried to help. Hell, she thought she was helping.
"I belong to Señor Croc."
I had felt many things since that first night of picking myself up from the dirty alley way. I had felt disgusted in myself. Ashamed. Worthless and powerless. I blamed myself to start with, for not being able to stop them. Now I felt something else. I felt rage. I jumped to my feet and glared down that vile man with all the fire I had in my belly. I was determined I really would die first.
"That she does."
Everyone jerked their mental trains to a stop at the sibilant sound of a tall man behind Denny. "You wouldn't be bothering my woman again, would you Denny?" The trembling gangster turned to look between the high collar of the rain coat and the hat. Right into blazing amber eyes with tight black slits aimed at him.
"He was going to rape me with his friends." Catherina had never been so glad to see a serial killer in her life. Not that that was a common occurrence for her. She clicked her heels against the floor rapidly as she ran against his front and pressed her hands and face into his chest. "He said that you owning me was a joke." She felt his deep laughter through his chest before she heard it.
"Did he now?"
He moved faster than anything she'd ever seen.
Denny was on his back in the middle of the table quicker than she could turn in her ruby heels. He collided with it so fast, so hard, he spluttered through bloody teeth for air, and for mercy. Catherina watched him trembling there, holding onto the mighty fist that pressed him against the table. "Are you laughing now Denny?" the man whimpered and shook his head. "Oh? I thought jokes were funny?" Croc turned to look at the stunned woman. "No one's laughing. Must not be a joke after all. I'm damn serious." He growled with glee, leaving the man to be fussed over by his underlings. "You understand?" Catherina looked up at the colossal man.
Now she understood. That demonstration wasn't just to teach Denny not to touch his woman. It was to show Catherina what kind of man she was getting into bed with. There were no take backs.
But I knew that already.
"I know this is serious. But I love the sight of him bloody like that." She hissed at him and cussed in Spanish. "Anda que te coja un burro!" She also didn't miss the chuckle coming from her new 'bo'. "You speak Spanish?"
"Na, but I get the gist of it." He snickered and bared an arm over her shoulders. "But I remember from a Spanish animal book that burro means donkey, right?"
Catherina burned and allowed the massive man to hold her to his side and walk her over to Eric Falcone's table. Immediately everyone with him left. "You stay." He pointed at Anya, who looked to her husband first. He nodded, and moved her to sit at his right. Croc left two seats between them in the circular table, and sat on his left. Just as Catherina was about to obediently sit next to him, his massive arm hooked her round her middle and swept her onto his lap. She stiffened to start with, not emotionally ready to be near a man's groin yet, but told herself she had to suck it up.
"Can I get comfortable?" She whispered to him, and he silently nodded to her. Gently putting her hands on his large shoulders, swivelled her pelvis round to sit across his lap, facing Eric and Anya. She forced herself to relax, and leaned against his front. He then placed his hand on her hip possessively.
As much as I didn't ever want another man to touch me again, I needed this one to do just that. Showing his ownership of me in public like this would dispel any doubt of be belong to him. This way, the likes of Denny and the three that raped me would never dare try to rape me again.
Catherina slowly put her arm around his shoulders, and rested the other hand on his chest. "Is this comfortable for you Señor Croc?"
"Yeah. Now sit pretty and don't listen to what we're talking about."
"Si Señor Croc."
That was impossible.
It's the don't talk about the elephant in the room principle. When you're told not to do something, you do it even more.
They discussed how lot's of their 'deals' were being interrupted by batman swooping in and seizing men and shipments. They also discussed Falcone business regarding their recent addition to the family. Someone called the Joker. He sounded like a child's entertainer to her, from the way they discussed his tactics. Using blow up balloons, laughing gas and painting clown faces everywhere? Who could take this guy seriously?
Catherina caught Anya's gaze as she lifted from the table gracefully. She wore a long black evening dress with long sleeves and a diamante cluster between her breasts in the fabric. Her long raven hair was taken up high in a pony tail, and then her waterfall of ebony locks curled so her hair ripples down her back.
This woman was elegance on legs.
She politely enquired if anyone wanted a drink.
"I'll have another single malt dear." Eric handed her his glass and turned to Croc.
"I'll have a water." He turned and looked down at his property. She was nuzzled to his front calmly. It looked odd, having a woman on his lap like she belonged there. Just plain weird. "You?" she blinked a few times before she realised she was being addressed.
"Oh, a water for me to please. Thank you."
"You look like you could use something stronger." He chuckled at her, loving how she tensed on his lap, then relaxed again through her sheer will to do so.
"I don't drink alcohol Señor. My father was a drunk so I don't like it."
"Interesting." He chuckled and nodded to Anya, letting her know that two waters would be fine. "You say was a drunk. He reformed or dead?" she stiffened again, and he smirked down at her. "Dead then?"
"Si."
"Interesting."
It seemed that they were taking a break from business whilst they waited for their drinks. Eric was checking his texts and emails on his mobile, and Croc was checking on me.
Croc slowly, loving how she flinched with the movement, lowered his covered face to her ear. His hot breath beat down on her cheek and hair. Just as slowly she turned to face him, not knowing what to expect. Her big brown eyes were wide and she visibly gulped. "You are very interesting." Their faces were very close, and she couldn't stop herself from staring at his mouth. He chuckled deeply and grinned to give her a better look at his teeth. "I'm going to fuck you tonight."
Her whole body tensed. But she didn't move. She didn't speak. She didn't look away from his smirking mouth. All those teeth... "And you're going to participate. Yes?"
"Si Señor." She nodded at him.
"Good girl." He widened his grin even wider. "I've brought some tools with me to help."
"Tools?!" she yelped before she could stop herself. He barked a laugh at her, eerily rubbing her back with the hand he had on her hip. The other lifted her chin to look at him in the face better.
"Si, Señorita." He mocked her, and held her gaze with his big golden eyes. "Nothing kinky of course. Just...useful things." Croc started to turn his head to end the conversation. As his hand left her chin Catherina acted on impulse. She grabbed it with her free hand and pressed it to her cheek. She shifted on his lap to cross one leg elegantly over the other and pulled herself closer to him with the arm around his neck.
I had his full attention then.
"Such as?"
"Like I said, useful things."
"Like condoms?" he blinked at her, and chuckled quietly. He didn't want to broadcast this conversation. Secretly he was quite excited about the prospect of giving this hot woman a damn good screwing, but he wouldn't tell her or anyone else that. he had a reputation as a nasty bastard to keep up. And women used things like your desires against you if you let them. If he wanted to keep her under his thumb, he had to make sure she knew who was boss at all times. "Because I bought some large ones. After the night I became-"
"Mine?" He narrowed his eyes on her, seeing if she would try to question him.
"Yes. I thought I'd be seeing you soon. But 8 days...i was worried you changed your mind." She released his hand, but he kept it against her cheek. With her free hand she tugged playfully at his closed raincoat.
"I was busy." He ground out. "Also needed to make sure I had a place."
"A place?"
"Si." He mocked her again, chuckling at his own joke. "Unless you want me to fuck you stinking of the shit in the sewers?"
"Oh, a place to shower and such." She smiled her ruby lips softly at him. "You could have showered at my place. I wouldn't have minded."
"I do."
And that was the end of that line of questioning. But she wanted to keep him talking. Talking to him made him seem...more human. Less scary.
Not much less mind you, with those fangs looking at her. Catherina brushed a stray lock of her bangs from her face and looked at that mouth again.
"Were you at 'your place' before you came here tonight Señor Croc?"
"Yes." He smirked at her. From the look in his gleaming eyes, he was very entertained by her. Maybe that would work to her advantage. He seemed to like it when she tried to flirt with him. Out of amusement or actual arousal she couldn't tell. Either way, it would be better than making him mad.
"So right now...you're...clean?" she gulped, shifting on his lap against her will. "I mean showered...and such...?"
"Are you?" He flashed a look around them, seeing that Anya and Eric had opted to hush talk with each other at the other side of the round table, rather than interrupt them.
"Si. I showered right before the show. The last thing I did before I got dressed and onto the stage." Her voice was wavering in an innocently embarrassed sort of way. She hoped she didn't sound too nervous or weak to him. she needed him to be interested.
What she didn't know as he absolutely loved the curious choir girl routine she was working. it just made him want to eat her up...so to speak...
"Then after I've conducted business here, we'll leave."
"For your place or mine?"
"Yours." He licked his lips, and almost regretted the movement as soon as he did it. that is, he would have, had he not seen her look at his mouth again.
At first he thought she was freaked out and scared of his armoury of a mouth, like everyone else. But there was a certain look he wasn't expecting in her deep brown eyes. And her ruby lips parted in that soft 'oh' sort of way.
"Is your mouth clean?" he narrowed his eyes at her, still partially grinning. She trapped her bottom lip between her glossy white teeth, and she was leaning in.
He stared at her.
Was she really about to try and kiss him?
I was so scared of this man. He was terrifying in his size, his presence, and his appearance. But he was so powerful. There was something primal about him. and he was so strong. And he was so feared. Something about having that man look at me with such...hunger did something to me.
Catherina shifted on his lap again subconsciously, but consciously felt his response stirring beneath her.
"Do it. I dare you." She flashed her eyes up to his, trying to see if that was a come on, or a threat. She started weighing him up, seeing how brave she could be, and questioning why she wanted to kiss him. Catherina tested the water by lifting her hand from his chest to caress the side of his face with the back of her fingers. He growled, and she flinched, thinking she'd crossed the line. But after the initial shock, she realised it wasn't an angry growl.
She totally forgot they were in The Blue Moon club, with her boss at the other side of the table trying not to look at them.
At that moment they were alone in the dark, with white hot urges vibrating between them.
This was different. She'd never felt this way about anyone before. The mixture of fear and excitement forced her hand.
The hand that traced his face moments before smoothed around his neck to join the other hand. She didn't have to make the last move herself. His hand was still cupping her cheek. His gloved fingers slipped back into her thick black hair, round the back of her head and pulled her mouth against his.
Catherina's cheeks burned as they kissed. She fisted the coat at the back of his neck. His lips were very smooth. Something she hadn't expected. She felt his teeth, and yes they were larger than a normal mans', but they didn't cut her as she kissed him. His tongue was larger than she'd been expecting. Not wider, but longer. It quickly slipped into her mouth and dominated hers. His other hand pulled at her back, pressing her body hard against his. She could feel his erection pressing against her, and in that short red cocktail dress, and all the times she'd readjusted over his lap, her panties and his trousers were the only barriers between his stiffening cock and exactly where he wanted to put it.
And for the first time in over a week, the prospect of that action didn't terrify her.
He pulled away first, putting his hands on her shoulders and forcefully holding her at arm's length. He cackled at her tousled expression, and turned to look at the nauseous looking Eric Falcone and his wife. "The sooner we finish our business, the sooner we can continue that thought." He chuckled at her again, then pulled her back against his front. He handed her her water, downed his own glass, then turned smugly to the lesser Falcone general. "The next shipment?"
"oh, right." He chuckled nervously and pulled an envelope from his expensive suit jacket. He handed it to Croc and nodded at him conclusively. "Here is the location of the next drop. Payment on the successful changing of hands, as usual."
"Of course." Catherina blinked as he took the glass off her suddenly. "And that would be our business concluded." He put her glass down on the table and grinned down at her. "Go get your things."
"Si Señor Croc." She slipped off his lap and brushed her dress down. She hesitated, feeling colder now she wasn't against his front, burning in passion. Catherina nodded when he raised a brow at her, and walked off to the dressing room. Lucy was pacing back and forth in there and positively jumped out of her skin when she saw her friend walking calmly up to her.
"The hell did you do?!"
"Hmm?" Catherina decided not to change. She wanted to look sexy for some reason, and the sweats she turned up in tonight wouldn't send the right message. Soccer mom versus red hot mistress? She stayed in the heels and dress. There was also the consequences of making Croc wait around for her, that didn't bare thinking about. She packed her day clothes into her handbag and saw Lucy was still staring at her. "What?"
"You were serious!? You made a protection deal with Killer Croc?!"
"Si."
"You're not even going to turn up in pieces with that guy. I mean, I thought he was going to bite your face off earlier!" She screeched, grabbing the younger woman's shoulders and shaking her. "I have $50 on me. Take it, get a bus or something out of Gotham. Just run girl!"
"No." Catherina said calmly, removed her friend's hands and put her handbag over her shoulder. "I am Señor Croc's woman. I am going to go home with him and make him as happy as I possibly can."
"But-"
"You saw how he reacted when he saw how Denny tried to put his hands on me." She hissed, anger ebbing from her in waves, making Lucy close her bubblegum pink lips. "That Bastardo will never put his hands on me again. Do you know how good that feels?"
At the time I couldn't understand why Lucy was yelling at me. Killer Croc was like any other man when it came to what he wanted from a pretty girl. He wanted sex. But he at least had rules. And he was fiercely protective. For the first time since I was gang raped, I felt safe. I wouldn't admit it, but he stirred feelings inside of me. Despite his reptilian appearance, I found the raw power of the man, his muscles and his penetrating eyes very...attractive.
"...but Cathy, at what cost? You've traded one monster for another." She begged her. "And this monster just might eat you!"
"No. Not if I am a good woman to him." her mother accent became heavier when she was angry. She even started gesturing with her hands like her mother did on a rant. "He may look monstrous, but all men are equally monstrous to me. He just wears his fangs and scales on the outside." She tried to make a move for the door, but Lucy side stepped her.
"But how can you willingly let him touch you?!" The blonde stared at her with watery baby blues, waving her manicured hands at her friend. "He's so-he's so-"
"He's so my man. He is big, strong, and seems genuinely attracted to me. Sure he teases me for speaking Spanish, but that is simply verbal banter. And think what you want. He is more attractive to me than any of the other men in this place. Especially Denny the pussy fist." She hissed, grabbed her friend's shoulder and pushed her aside as gentle as she could. "I was weak enough for those men to overpower me. But that did not make them strong. That made them pathetic, not me." She walked up to the door and grabbed the handle. "Like my Mama always said. A true man does not need to force a woman. She will come to him. And Killer Croc is the most powerful man I have ever seen. I look forward to having a powerful man between my legs for once!"
I was angry. I over reacted and screamed at the one friend I had. But I meant every word. She had tried to set me up with Denny, knowing how much of a pig he was. She thought she was helping. But I didn't care.
Catherina yanked the door open, fully intending to power storm out of the dressing room having had the last word.
Only to find Killer Croc stood there.
"You were taking too long." She blanched, wondering if she was in trouble. Then she noticed his shoulders shaking. She peered under his hat and saw he was smirking down at her. "I told you to get your things, not have a bitch fight."
"Perdóname Señor Croc. I didn't mean to keep you waiting, I just-"
"Yes, you were just coming with me. To have a powerful man between your legs. Correct?" He smirked at her, seeing her cheeks burn with embarrassment. "You were yelling."
"Si, I lost my temper. I am very sorry for keeping you waiting. Shall we?"
Croc turned his insanely gleeful grin to gleam at the blonde. The message was clear. And it involved her silence.
"Let's." He lifted his arm up, and she obediently walked under it. As soon as she was in position his arm lowered around her shoulders (not a difficult feat from his height). He walked her out of the club, and they both noticed the way everyone stared at them. Most with curiosity, disgust and anger. Some with worry. But everyone looked away when it looked like they were going to get caught staring.
As they left the club Catherina found herself facing a black van. Croc opened the passenger door for her. She whispered her thanks and got into the van. He drove her down familiar roads until they were outside her building. Her apartment was on the top floor, and she started to worry about how they were going to get up there without Killer Croc being seen. Surely he wasn't going to just walk through the main reception and into the elevator?
Yes he was.
They did just that.