The hair on the back of my neck stands up and I nod at her. I already felt like this guy was a creep anyway. She pats my shoulder, gives me a sad smile, and heads to the other side of the room.
Randy comes over and tugs me back over to the crowd he was talking to. I stand there, but now I’m ready to leave.
My thoughts wander back to Valo. I think about the first night I spent the night at his house. When was the last time I felt safe like that?
Never.
My memories of Valo’s arms around me are cut short as Randy almost pushes me to the table for the dinner.
If this fucker touches me one more time, I’m going to break his nose.
I sit at the table and pick at the food. I’m hungry, but I can’t eat with Mr. Can’t-chew-with-his-mouth-closed as he sits next to me, talking about his next business venture. I keep praying this will end soon because I want to get out of this room. Earlier, I moved my bags into the house Rick has for the girls, but I’m sleeping on a couch. My important items are in my purse because I don’t trust any one of those bitches.
Time seems to keep going and I sit in the chair, listening to the old crooks talking shop and wishing I was anywhere but here.
Big Mike’s words keep spinning in my head. He told me Valo loves me, but there’s no way for him to love me. Mom said I was his pet and I felt that way.
Did you really? The question screams at me in my head.
Valo never really treated me like that. Even though the only time he ever really made me feel that way was at the club when he made the comment about me being a stripper. However, he was right in that situation. He did mean it as a joke, and I had constantly been putting myself down about it, too.
Living with regret is the other thing Big Mike said.
Do I have regret?
Duh, of course you do. You left Valo because you listened to your dumbass mom.
I hang my head. I’m a fucking idiot.
“Hey, it’s time to go.” Randy’s alcohol breath is like a fog around me.
“Go where?”
He doesn’t answer me, but takes my hand and practically drags me
out of the hall. This fucker and I are going to have it out. I can feel it. I’m not a rag doll and I don’t care how much he paid Rick. Randy takes me into the hotel next door and continues to drag me until I’m in the elevator.
“You better let go of me,” I warn him.
“You better shut your mouth, little girl. I paid for you and that makes you mine.” His face is pure evil.
“The fuck I am,” I growl at him. He doesn’t know who he is messing with. I’m not taking this shit from anyone. I’m about to lunge away from him, but the elevator opens and he grabs me around the waist, picking me up.
“Let me go!” I scream loudly, but there’s no one around to hear me.
Randy easily opens his door and throws me inside. I fall to my knees and I feel the burn of the carpet. I try to quickly think of how I’m going to get out of this situation. I jump to my feet, ready to fight.
“Is that the way you want it? I don’t mind playing games.”
Bile rises from my stomach. No fucking way am I going to let this guy do anything to me. I watch him jerk his tie off and make sure my purse is where I dropped it. It has Valo’s money in it and it’s heavy on the bottom if I need it to hit him.
Without a second of hesitation, I swiftly kick my foot up and connect with his balls. Randy yelps and as he drops to his knees, I punch his nose and hear the crack. I leap over him and grab my purse and bolt for the door. I run down the hallway toward the exit sign and run down the stairs faster than I’ve ever ran. I blow through the lobby and out the door to the winter air.
I can’t stop running and it’s when I’m about five blocks away that I stop and try to catch my breath. I see an alleyway and I hide in it, trying not to pass out from the adrenaline rush pulsing through me.
Valo would never do something like that to a girl. He wouldn’t do that to me because he’s a nice guy and he loves me.
He loves me.