Naughty or Nice

A sob comes from my throat as I watch Mark get out of the car. He comes to my side jerking, the door open. I step out and look up at the bright red flashing sign of the strip club.

“In,” he orders, motioning towards a door on the side of the building.

“Where the fuck is Morty?” he says as I open the door and step into a dark hallway. “Dipshit can never keep his ass on the door.” Mark pushes my back to keep me moving down the hallway. “Second door on the right.”

I keep moving and do as he says. I wish I had another moment with Brian. I’ll never be the same after whatever it is that’s going to happen to me. I reach for the door handle and turn the knob.

“I love you, Brian,” I say, wanting to hear the words out loud as I open the door to meet my fate.

“Love you, too, beautiful.” A hand grabs my wrist and pulls me into the room. The sight of Brian has me wanting to sob again, but before I can try and grab at him, he’s gone. I whip around to watch him plow right into my brother. They both go down with a loud crash. I watch as Brian lays into my brother. All those hours of lifting weights is not helping my brother in the least right now.

I glance to my left to see Slate lying on the floor. He looks like he took a beating himself. His eyes are closed, but I see the rise and fall of his chest. He doesn’t look so put together anymore.

My eyes widen when I look to my right to see a man in all black. Scars litter his hands and he even has a few on his face, but what’s weirder is the small woman he’s holding close to him in a death grip. She barely has any clothes on and he’s easily double her size. If I had to guess she works here. Her eyes are filled with tears, but she’s leaning into the enormous man for comfort.

“Are you going to stop him?” I ask the giant, who looks unfazed by the fight happening right in front of us.

“I’m busy.” He shrugs, keeping his hold on the girl. “Besides, I’m guessing he’ll listen to you.”

I look back at Brian. Rage is clear on his face. I’m not sure he’ll listen to anyone at the moment, but I try.

“Brian,” I say, but he only lands another punch to my brother.

“Might want to yell,” the giant suggests in a lazy, deep voice.

“Brian!” I scream this time. His fist stops mid-air, his head jerking my way, and his eyes lock on me. “Please stop.” He drops his hand instantly and looks down at my brother.

“You stay the fuck away from her. You don’t even know her name. You got that.” It wasn’t a question. Mark does the best he can to nod.

Brian stands and comes towards me. “How’d you find me?” I ask as I throw myself at him, burying my face in his neck. I don’t know if my tears are happy, scared, or relieved. It really doesn’t matter. I’m where I want to be right now.

“You really love me, beautiful?” he asks. I notice he doesn’t answer my question.

I lean back to look at him. “I know it sounds crazy and fast. I—”

“You don’t have to make excuses to me. If anyone gets it, it’s me. Loved you that first night you gave me that smart mouth of yours.”

“I love you,” I say it again.

“Love you, too,” he says before his mouth is on mine, kissing me. I get lost in him, and I know everything is going to be okay. Brian will always make sure of that. I feel safe. All the walls I’d been holding up come tumbling down around us.

“That’s so sweet. My ma always said there wasn’t love like that,” the girl says, reminding me where we are and that we’re not alone. I pull back, licking my lips. My face turns red.

“Thanks, Lars. I owe you one.” I look over to the giant Brian is talking to. “What do we do about this?” Brian puts me on my feet but doesn’t let me go.

“At least we didn’t kill them,” is all Lars says. I think he’s joking at first, but his face doesn’t show any levity. “They aren’t calling the police.” He lifts a lock of the girl’s hair and starts playing with it before bringing it to his nose and smelling it. She doesn’t even notice.

“Going to buy this place and bulldoze it.” Brian looks around the room and I know he’s deadly serious.

“Guess you could do that.” The man shrugs again. “I was just going to burn it down.” The man’s eyes meet mine. “Cheaper.”