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“You good? Conversation sounded a little tense.”
“It was. I was talking to Crystal. She’s being difficult. Nothing new.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you got shit taste in friends.”
“Yeah, about that. I kind of need to get up with Jackson to give him back his keys when we get to Nashville. I sort of took off with them.”
“We can do that, but we aren’t sticking around long. Want to get you packed up and home with me where you belong ASAP.”
“Yeah?”
“Damn straight. Let’s get ready for bed.”
I lay my phone on the nightstand and he pulls me to my feet. We stand side by side at the bathroom sink and brush our teeth, unable to stop staring at each other and smiling like goofy idiots.
I spit and rinse. “Do you think we’ll always be this happy?”
“No, but I’ll damn sure try to give it to you. We got a lot of shit to do when we get back. Figured tomorrow we’ll get a car trailer from a rental place. Load down your car with whatever you want to take. We’ll pull it behind us. When we get back home, we’ll get your stuff situated and see what we need to replace after my shit was ruined. Fresh start.”
“Sounds like a plan.” I snatch my dirty panties and bra off the floor and wash them in the bathroom sink with dish liquid, hanging them over the edge of the tub to dry.
My hubby has stripped down and turned down the bed. I shed the robe and slide in next to him, assuming the position he prefers me in.
“Would you mind terribly if Crystal stops by to see me for a minute while we pack?”
“Not my idea of a good time but if it means I won’t have to see her again then that’s cool with me. Bitch better stay away from my pockets and my wallet though.”
“It’s okay I don’t have to call her.”
“Does it mean something to you to see her?”
“Kind of. She’s basically my only friend.”
“Then you should. But, babe, you’re getting new friends.” I roll my eyes at that.
“So bossy,” I mutter.
“Don’t act like you don’t enjoy it.”
He kisses my forehead, and I fall asleep snuggled in his arms.
**
After a quick breakfast and picking up a trailer we’ve made it to my apartment. I mainly only want to bring my clothes and toiletries. I don’t have much as far as personal effects. Growing up I traveled with a trash bag. I learned early on not to get attached to material possessions. In foster care people would steal anything worth much or take things away as a form of punishment.
Beni made me go to the office with him so he could pay off the remainder of my lease. I didn’t want him to pay, but he said since we’re married, he doesn’t want it to mess up his credit in the long run. It makes sense. I can’t believe I’m a married woman and worrying over things like a new couch and a credit score. Just a few days ago I was a stripper hoping I could afford to make it through the next month.
I sent Jackson a text on our way here. He should be arriving any minute now to grab his keys. I have no interest in seeing him, but it would be a dick move not to give them back. Despite his flaws he did come through for me when I needed a ride and was in a jam.
“Do you want these dishes, or you want to wait and pick out new?” Beni holds up the cheap floral pattern dishware I bought from a thrift shop.
“Leave it. It’ll be fun to shop together.” The idea of making a home together is exciting.
“All right. I’m gonna start putting some of these boxes in your trunk.”
“Thank you.” I kiss his cheek and hand him my keys.
He starts out the door when I hear, “Who the fuck are you?” Jackson. I may have forgotten to mention to him that I’m married, and my husband would be present.
Oops.
I glance toward the door to see Jackson shoving his way past my man. Oh shit. Not good.
“Hazel,” he shouts. “What the hell? Who is this dude?”
“Jackson, hi. I have your keys, but um, yeah. Meet my husband, Benicio.”
He glances back at my man. “You’re with a biker?”
“Yup.”
“Since when?”
“Listen, bud. Get that you’re hella confused but it doesn’t matter. My Ol’ Lady ain’t gotta explain herself to you, so get your keys and get the fuck out,” my bad ass biker hubby warns him.
“Your Ol’ Lady ain’t nothing but a stripper and a whore.”
At that Holy comes out and pops Jackson right in the mouth with his fist. “Don’t ever insult my wife.”
“The fuck, man?” Jackson rubs his mouth. “You hit me?”
“One more word about Hazel, and I’ll do a lot worse.”
“Fucking bullshit.” He snatches his keys from my outstretched hand and stomps out.
“That went well.”
“I’m gonna take this on out and make sure that stupid fuck leaves.”
“I’ll try Crystal one more time.” I sent her a text, but she never messaged me back whether or not she could make it. I put my phone down and finish sorting through the last of my clothes. More than a few minutes have passed. I have the last of my stuff ready to pack into the car. I’m about to go looking for Benicio when he walks in acting strange. He’s stiff.
“Hey.”
“Want to tell me why there’s two bundles of heroin in the trunk of your car?”
“What? Are you crazy?”
He shakes his head. “You sell it? For Crystal and ol’ boy? Be straight with me. You use?”
“No. You really think I’d be that stupid? You think I’d shoot my veins with poison?” I sit down to get a grip on my temper. “You need to think about the next words that come out of your mouth.”
“Tell me how it got there then.” He folds his arms over his chest.
“I don’t appreciate the tone you’re taking with me.”
“If you ain’t got shit to hide you’d answer me.”
“Crystal took my car the other day. I let her borrow it. That’s why I was there the other day. I was trying to get my car.”
“You talked to her today?”
“She’s not returned my messages since our conversation last night.”
“What were the two of you arguing about?”
“You and the fact that she bailed Bruno’s dumb ass out of jail.”
“You had no idea she left that poison in your car?”
“I really wish you had more faith in me.”
He licks his lips. “You and your bestie fuckin’ drugged Viking and me so forgive me for having questions.” He scrubs a palm over his face. “We need to go. Now.” He jerks me up by my wrist yanking me toward the door.
“What about my stuff?”
“Later. Your girl ain’t your girl. Was using you. Hard telling how many times they’ve used you and your car for making drops.”
“She’s my friend.”
“Your friend who had you rolling men. Drugging them and who the fuck knows what else. We don’t have time to fight about this. We need to go.”
“Fine. Whatever you say. But what about the drugs? I don’t want that shit in my car.”
“I’ll call the boys over on Royal Road once we get out of here.” He opens the front door and Bruno is waiting on the other side with a gun trained on my husband. I gulp and try not to shit my damn pants.
“Going somewhere?” Bruno forces us backwards. “Don’t try anything stupid, my man. Not so big and bad now that I’m not on the floor.”
“Your shit is in the car. Be smart. Take it and get out of here.”
“Naw. You and your bitch made this shit personal.”
“Let Hazel walk out of here and we can settle it man to man.”
My heart is in my throat. I can’t breathe. I clutch the back of my man’s jeans and feel a gun in his waistband.
“If you’re packing you can go ahead and hand it over. Don’t be stupid. I got a man on your girl.”
My sliding back patio door opens, and Bruno’s dip shit brother joins the party. As promised, he too has a gun. He looks exactly like Bruno but with more hair and less of a gut. Dumber and fucking dumber is what Crystal always called them.
Beni holds his hands up. “Don’t be stupid. You don’t want a beef with RBMC. Let Hazel go.”
“I’ll let her go once we finish what we started. Want that bitch on her knees.”
I wonder if I can get my hands on the gun before they kill us.
“I said on your knees, bitch.”
Tears prick in the backs of my eyes, but I don’t hesitate. Not with the threat their weapons pose. I go to my knees. Max, the dip shit comes up from behind and unarms my man.
Crystal. She set me up. Knew I was here so they could get their dope. My heart cracks.
“Making a big mistake,” is all he gets out as Max brings the butt of his handgun down on the back of his head knocking him out cold.
My husband lays on the floor unmoving, and I know they are going to kill me.
Oh god. This can’t be happening. It can’t. “Just take your drugs and go.”
“Gonna take whatever the fuck I want. Tie him up.”
“Don’t hurt him.”
“Shut up.” The back of Bruno’s hand flies toward my face, cracking me across the cheek with such force my head snaps back.
Max drags Benicio’s lifeless body to a nearby chair using zip ties to secure his arms and legs. His head lolls to the side but he appears to be breathing.
“Get whatever you think we can sell,” he barks the order at his brother and looms over me. “Now what am I to do with you? Not so big and bad now, are you? Your pussy biker and his club can’t protect you.”
“I’m sorry. Just take what you want and let us go.”
“Stop talking.” He grabs me up by my hair and licks the side of my face. The rotted stench of his breath permeates the air around me and I gag. “Yeah, gonna enjoy this.”
I spit at him and realize my mistake. He isn’t like Holy. He doesn’t respect women. “Bitch.” He back hands me again before head butting me. Stars flash in my line of sight, and I go lights out for minutes or seconds. I’m not sure which. My face throbs with pure pain like I’ve never felt before, but it doesn’t compare to the sheer terror when Bruno tears at my clothes.
First come my tears. I open my mouth to scream but there’s no sound other than a ringing in my ears. I scratch, punch, and kick sporadically hoping to inflict pain. Hoping that if he kills me there will be enough DNA to fry him, but if Holy is still alive, he won’t last long enough to ever see a trial.
My fingernails dig into his forearm, and I bite the side of his face, drawing blood. Bruno howls and rips me away by my hair. I spit and sputter knowing I inflicted damage.