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TANA KNEW SHE’D GO to hell for bashing in the agent’s head—even though the violador deserved it. She couldn’t go home, not when her torn dress and bloody underwear shouted what had happened. She’d lied to her parents, gone willingly to this stranger. She knew what they’d think. She might as well have invited his assault.
She wandered the streets for hours, ruined her beautiful white satin shoes and dragged the lacy dress in the oil-stained streets. She’d lost the blue sash. Exhausted, Tana finally took refuge in an alley behind a row of restaurants and fell asleep between two dumpsters that smelled of burned fish and rotten cabbage.
A rhinestone-covered shoe, worn by an exotic sloe-eyed beauty, nudged her awake the next morning. The woman, not much older than Tana herself, called her nasty names and threatened to call the cops. She only relented when Tana’s story spilled out between sobs. The hysterical confession made the woman’s eyes gleam.
The venomous tone turned silken, offering comfort and hope Tana welcomed. Kali had connections. Kali had solutions. Kali had ideas, perfect for a beautiful and obviously talented girl like Tana. Kali had no fear of the police, and her protection extended to her girls. She employed a handful of young women in similar circumstances in the many businesses Kali managed for mysterious Mr. Wong.
Tana knew Kali’s help came with strings. When pressed for details, Kali scowled and threatened to withdraw the offer and call the cops after all. Tana had no choice. Her life was in ruins already and she didn’t want to go to jail. Even more, she didn’t want her parents to know.
She fought, at first. So Kali gave her drugs to make her compliant, and wielded the threat of a murder conviction like a club. The threat kept Tana in line better than the drugs.
After two months, on the eve of what would have been Tana’s quinceañera, she won a victory of sorts. She couldn’t risk taking the drugs anymore. Instead, she became what she’d yearned to be—a brilliant actress, performing to satisfy each client’s fantasy. She earned most favorable status among the girls. Kali remained suspicious, but began to reserve Tana’s talents for the high-dollar clientele who desired a pretense of class.
Meanwhile, Tana squirreled away cash favors, names, and faces. The day would come when she needed them to escape, to build a new life, with a new name. Because soon, she wouldn’t be able to hide her pregnancy. Kali would not be pleased. Despite the baby’s paternity, Tana loved it with a fervor beyond understanding. The child gave her back a reason to live.
