"This is why you were late!You had to drag this hot mess in here with you. She is the reason why you could not fly here with me. This is why I have been dealing with all of this without your help. There is so much to do and you know I'm not 100 percent," Tabby shreaked! "I don't even know why you brought here. The rest of these girls here have been with you for at least a year. They have paid their dues!"

"Did I ask you for your opinion Tabby," Radolpho thundered?

"I don't know what it is about her that has you so crazy?"

"Well for one, she knows her place. Do I have to remind you of yours," Escobar threatened? Fear flashed across her face, tears pooled in Tabby's eyes as hurried from the room.

"Blanca!" Pixie cheered as she ran into the room and hugged me. The teen was wearing a one-piece swimsuit that did little to hide her curves. Her hair was sleek and straightened. The four-inch heel and flawless makeup made her appear much older.

" Rad had someone bring your clothes for you. You can get changed in here," Pixie said as she dragged me toward a bedroom.

"What do you two want," Tabby hissed as she struggled to open a bottle of Tylenol?

"Blanca has to get changed," Pixie chimed!

"Could you be any louder Pixie? You know my head has been killing me. Better yet just give her the clothes and get out," Tabby complained.

Pixie handed me a swimsuit and a sarong wrap, then left the room. I Took the bottle of pills from Tabby. " What happened to you," I asked looking at figure eight clavicle bandage she was wearing?

"You happened to me, Blanca. Thanks to you and your tattling, I got a broken collarbone and a concussion."

"What are you talking about?"

"That's right, play dumb while you keep making a play for my man!"

I handed the open pill bottle back to Tabby. "If you need any help with Emily just let me know."

"Do I look like I can handle a baby right now? That brat is at home with the Nanny."

I finished changing just in time for inspection. I noticed that most of the girls were wearing next to nothing in contrast my one piece with the cutouts and low back.

"Guess he likes to keep you covered up," Marcus laughed.

"You again," I sighed.

"Girl, you need to stop fronting. I know you want me," he teased.

I could not help but laugh when he said that.

"You're pretty when you smile," Marcus said causally before walking away.

"Listen up ladies. Let me remind you of the rules," Radolpho announced. Drinking is alright, but if you get drunk you go home. There are going to be all kinds of drugs floating around at this party.

They are all off limits to you. I find out you been smoking snorting or shooting up anything you are out of job. Now, remember this is a different kind of party so these me are allowed to touch. But keep it classy. Anyone have any questions? Good, everyone out to the dock. We are going to take the small boat to the private island.

I inhaled the smell of salt water as I was helped out of the boat an onto a beautiful white sandy private island. There were a dozen bungalows located on the tropical oasis.

The party was already in session before were stepped on the island. As I looked around recognized the criminal element from my days in Trenton. This place looked like summer camp for illegal criminal enterprise. If you paid attention to the conversations in play you could hear deals being made for counterfeit goods, drugs, and weapons. Radolpho was right about the drugs. Within the first five minutes of being at this party, I saw cocaine, ecstasy, and you could catch a contact high from the cloud of marijuana that hung in the air. As I strolled past a Colombian drug Tsar my sarong was pulled from my waist and another man slapped my bottom. A group of Middle Eastern weapons dealers cheered.

"Alright show time ladies," a man with a heavy Eastern European accent announced.

Then the music started to play and as if on cue all the girls lined up started to dance. I followed their lead. The whole thing became even stranger when the men joined in rubbing their bodies against to women. This was even worse than a lap dance. But everyone acted it like it was all perfectly normal. I noticed several women being led away by the men they were dancing with. This went on for about an hour. Then the men went back to their hot tubs dominoes and card games. Only now they had pretty women to keep them company.

"Over here Hottie. I need a good luck charm," A tattooed Japanese man said pulling me into his lap. I sat there smiled and laughed while the men play poker and made crude remarks about my I felt hand snake under the top of my swimsuit I fault to stay out of rhino mode. It was all I could do to keep from dropping this man right that minute.

"Watch it, man, you don't have enough money in the bank to pay for her," Escobar warned as he removed me from the man's lap.

"That was not classy Blanca. You don't have to put up with that. Don't be afraid to slap a troll. They know we have armed security that won't hesitate to shoot anyone who gets out of line," Radolpho assured me.

I strolled down the stairs and sat in a lounge chair overlooking the beach.

"Hey, Mami we could use another player," one of the men playing volleyball called.

"I'm not very good," I said hesitantly as I joined the group.

An hour into the game I was doing great. My team had won. Then someone decided it would be fun to yank down the top of my suit. I stood there in awkward shock for of all of five seconds. Then I spun around and popped the dude one, right in the face. I heard the satisfying crunch as I made contact with his nose.

"Ma nothse, Ma Nothse. She broke my noosthe," the man lisped and sputtered through the blood pouring from his nose. Everyone broke out into laughter. It was not long before I joined in too. Then I looked down and realized that I still needed to pull up my top. Red faced and embarrassed I ran into the crystal blue water to pull up and retie my swimsuit.

The water was amazing. I watched as small fish swam through the wave. The beaches back in Jersey were nice but not one of them could compare to the warm clear waves or clean white sand here. It was time to go back to the shore when the others crowed the water. Since I did not have a towel I slouched in a lounge chair to take in some sun and let the warm breeze dry my suit.

"So now you are assaulting the clients," Tabby said as she sat in the chair next to me.

"It wasn't my fault," I whined.

"Something tells me it never is with you, Blanca," she laughed.

"Wait, you're not mad?"

"Naw, it was all really funny."

"Funny?" I was confused

"Funny, especially the way he pulled your top down like that and you stood around like an air heard not know what to do. Then when you hit him and still did not pull up your top. That was too funny. But the best part was when everyone was laughing at you for standing there exposed and you were to dumb to realize they were laughing at you," Tabby laughed.

I narrowed my eye at her.

"Awe no need to get mad, Blanca. The night is sure to be filled with more laughs for you. I have been fielding offers for you all day. Not just offers to rent. Some of these men would like to make you their woman long term. Escobar has been telling them all they don't have enough money in the bank. The funny thing is these men have money to burn and they are not used to taking no for an answer," Tabby explained.

"He wouldn't," I growled.

"No, but you know with my head hurting like this and the buzz I've got going on, it would be easy to forget or make a mistake." Tabby said with a wink.

"That's when I looked into her eyes and realized she was on some substance. " Are you high," I asked stunned?

"Sure am, but not too high to see the game you are playing with my man. You are holding out to keep him hanging on. Blanca ,you know that once he gets what he wants, Radolpho will get bored."

"How do know he already hasn't," I shrugged?

Tabby stood and yelled for everyone to get changed for dinner ignoring my last statement.

We all trenched up the beach and into one of the bungalows to get dressed. Once inside we were directed to the showers. Then we were all fitted with formal gowns before being sent to hair and makeup.

"All right ladies Dinner is being set up on the beach. We will have cocktail hour on the deck. Smile, mingle and sip, remember what I said about getting drunk," Escobar warned.

The women all filed out to the deck. Radolpho looped an arm around my waist and pulled me close. His lips brushed my ear and then found their way to my lips for a heated kiss. "I heard your breaking heart and noses," he teased before releasing me.

When I got out to the deck Marcus handed me a glass.

"It's water he whispered. How you holding up with all this" he asked sympathetically?

"This has been a long day," I sighed.

"Well tonight could be even worse. These men are liquored up and looking for more than just a dance partner or companion. So be careful, "he warned.

"Hey, do me a favor, keep an eye on Pixie,"I pleaded.

He gave a nod before walking away.

A tall muscular man stepped into his place. He had olive colored skin and a shaved head. His hazel eyes traveled down my body.

"You are exquisite. A woman like you should have jewels. If you were mine you would be dripping with diamond. I have only the best. There is a sample case in my room. We can go see them before dinner," he suggested.

"No, I can't go to your room," I blushed.

"Sure, you can he insisted," pulling me along.

"NO,"I shouted.

"NO,' people don't tell me no," he demanded! "I said let's go," he insisted as he continued to drag me.

" Hey man ,you bout to get a one-way trip off this island the hard way," Marcus told the man calmly.

The man eyed the weapon holstered on the security staff and walked away.

At dinner, the men worked overtime bragging about their criminal adventures and the size of their bank accounts. Ever story became more elaborate with enhanced details of outsmarting their local authorities as well the FBI, Scotland yard, and M16. The tells went on and on of skirting danger and shootouts and explosions. I watched the other women oohed and ahhed. They were all clearly impressive by the stories these men told. But I had been in shootout and explosions. Dangerous men were nothing new to me. I stretched and yawned before getting up to find a restroom.

Pain exploded through my entire head. My body was stiff and ached all over. I was disoriented and confused as I opened my eyes to total darkness. I tried to move but my limbs were folded over on themselves. My face was pressed against plastic. A current of panic ignited through every cell of my body as I fought to stop my erratic breathing. Then everything went back again.

~XOXO~XOXO~XOXO~XOXO~

I awoke again to the antiseptic smell you could only find in a hospital. The annoying sounds of the monitors were making my headache that much worse. Opening my eyes seemed to require an exhausting amount of effort.I was shocked by what I saw when I was able to focus. Ranger was sleeping in a chair next to my bed.

The sun was pouring in through the window. It had to be late afternoon.

"Ranger?"

His eyes shot open as he rushed to my side. A smile spread across Rangers' face as he looked at me.

"What are you doing in Jamaica," I asked drowsily?

"You're back in Atlanta, Babe."