“My girls aren’t for sale.” His answer doesn’t surprise me, and I’m ready for it.
“This one is.”
“Alina is a good whore,” Teto continues, “and she’s worth a lot to me. I couldn’t just let her go.”
“Let’s be clear on this,” I say, sighing. “I’m not making a request. I’m just extending you the courtesy of setting the price. Now let’s try again. How much do you want for her?”
“Does Rinaldo know about this?” Teto asks.
I can almost hear the hint of a threat in his voice, and my fingers tighten reflexively on the phone. I take in a breath through my nose and try to let it out slowly.
“I realize you haven’t been with us long,” I say, “and for that reason alone, I’m not on my way to see you personally right now.” I pause and let him think about exactly what I mean. “I do not confirm my actions with Rinaldo when it comes to topics he cares nothing about. He trusts my judgment on all things. I wouldn’t dream of wasting a busy man’s time with a personal matter. I suggest you don’t, either. Capisce?”
“Yeah,” he says quietly, “I get it.”
He’s quiet for a moment and then quotes me an outrageous number.
“Try again,” I suggest.
He must finally understand who he’s dealing with and gives me a much more reasonable price.
“I’ll have it delivered to your residence.” I actually have no idea where the man lives, but I’m sure Jonathan can figure it out in a couple of minutes.
I hang up the phone and hand it back to Alina.
“Did you just…did you just buy me?”
“I did.”
“Evan! What the hell are you thinking?” She sits up and moves a little away from me.
“I’m thinking I’m tired of waiting on you to be done with some other asshole before you get around to me.”
“So what am I supposed to do? Hang out in my apartment and wait for you to call me? Evan, that’s not going to happen!”
“Of course not,” I say. “You can move in here.”
“Move in with you?”
“Right. Keeps it all simple. It doesn’t change anything.”
“Well, yes it does, actually.” Her tone is biting, but I really don’t know why.
“You’re still a whore, and I’m still your john,” I say simply. “The only thing that changes is that I don’t have to go looking for you now. You’ll already be here. You’ll still sleep with me, and I’ll still fuck you when I feel like it.”
I give her a smile, but she doesn’t return it. Instead, she rolls her eyes.
“Evan, you can’t just buy me!”
“Seriously?” I laugh. “I’ve been paying for you for weeks. This just makes it easier. I’m telling you, nothing changes except I’m your only client now. Oh, and you don’t have to give that asshole a cut.”
Alina wraps her arms around herself and stares at the blanket over her legs. Her mouth is open slightly, and she’s breathing hard. I reach out and touch her arm.
“It’s all good,” I tell her. She’s obviously getting the wrong impression again, but I don’t know exactly what she’s assuming. “It’s not like I’m going to keep you chained up or anything. You are free to come and go as you like. Just be here in the evenings and at night when I need to sleep.”
I watch as Alina gulps audibly. She takes in a long breath.
“Evan, I’m not sure what’s going through your head, but this isn’t going to work. You’re upset right now, and you aren’t thinking clearly.”