Page 48 of Queenpin
Chapter 23
Lucian
My phone buzzed in my pocket breaking me from my lustful haze of watching Mason fuck Trina from behind. I like to watch from this angle because it gives me the opportunity to watch facial expressions.
I slide my phone out and wince when I see who it is.
This is the one phone call that I have been dreading since I got off the streets. I need to return a favor because that’s how things work.
I walk up the stairs and into my bedroom that I have here and quickly change out of these clothes. I’m not showing up there dressed like this. I need to be in control and wear my “monkey stompin’ boots.”
Once I’m changed, I run down the stairs past Mason who is getting dressed and Trina who is still naked as can be. I don’t say a word to them as I run out and don’t say anything until I’m in my car. I click the button to call Raul.
Things have been testy with Raul since our fight this morning. I’m not saying I don’t trust him, but I’m telling you I’m watching him better.
“Luca. What’s going on? Trina said you ran out when things were starting to get fun.”
I know damn fucking well that he doesn’t give a shit about what I have going on with Mason. He’s just as big of a gossiper as a group of teenage girls. “Don’t have time for that. Where is Big Heavy at right now? Do you have eyes on them?” I know that Big Heavy is doing this and it’s not going to fucking work.
He grunts and then I hear a feminine squeal. “Are you busy getting your jollies off while you are on my time clock?” I shout into the steering wheel as I drive towards the Renaissance Building down town. Everything that is bad always happens downtown Detroit and it pisses me off. This is a gorgeous city, but I wish people would take care of it.
As soon as I park my car in a handi-cap parking spot, I pull the keys out of the ignition and lock my vehicle. Driving an import on the side of town is asking to get mugged. I finger my gun that I have resting in my jeans pocket and walk through the front. I stop at the front desk and see a man there looking at me as if I’m a meal or something.
Sorry, fucker, but you wouldn’t know what to do with me even if I told you.
“What’s the quickest way to the suites on the concierge level?” I demand and throw a fifty-dollar bill on to the counter. I know all too well that these guys won’t do anything unless there is some type of incentive for them.
“Are you a… uh- shit.”
I reach over the three-foot-wide counter and wrap my hand in his tie. “I am not a hooker, but I can promise you that you will remember this face. Now tell me how to get there or I am going to knock on every one of these fucking doors until I find what I’m looking for. And I can tell you that I won’t be as nice as I am right now if I have to ask you twice.”
He points to the stairs and then holds up a couple of fingers. I can see him shaking and I throw down a twenty on the counter. Yeah, it’s not a lot of money, but it’s enough to show him to keep his mouth shut.
I stroll past him and fly up the stairs. When I reach the door to the room that I’m looking for, I knock lightly and wait. “Answer the door. It’s Lucian.” I call through the door.
It cracks and I see the broken face of my best friend. The woman that saved me from making mistakes as desperation set in while I was on the streets. She helped me get help. Now, it’s obvious that she stepped in it this time.
Her left eye is severely swollen shut and her other eye is cracked but just barely enough for her to see. The bottom lip of hers is cut right down the middle and there is blood that is dripping down her chin.
I drop to my knees in front of her, something I have only done in front of her, and hold out my hand. She takes it and then carefully lowers herself down as well. “What happened, Katie?”
Once she’s in front of me, she touches my face and then touches hers. It has been so long since someone has touched me nicely. Hell, ever since I became aQueenpin, no one touches me.
“I tried to save her from doing something that you can’t come back from. And- and… It did work out for her. She got out. But… I had to take her place.” Katie’s delicate hand rubs my tattoo on the inside of my wrist, and I shiver from the contact. “Do you still have it?”
I nodded and rolled up my sleeve. “I can’t get it removed because then it would raise too many suspicions. Plus, Big Heavy-”
“Luca, Big Heavy is always going to be here. They are always going to be in your business, and you know it. Look at me. Do you see what they have done to me? I saved you so you didn’t have to live in this constant world of fear. Don’t tell me you are still afraid of them.”
I have thought of removing my tattoo, but I’m weary about it. I can’t do it in Detroit because they own every single tattoo shop. Plus, there is no fucking way to know how far their reach goes. I became a marked woman when Katie saved me.
“Where did the girl go off to?”
She shrugged and then looked at the door. “You know I would have taken your place with Sean, right? I fucking would have stepped in no matter what. I love you, Luca. And now look at you… I can see you still carry that weight with you. When was the last time you let someone touch you?”
“Stop. I didn’t come all the way over here just to hear you talk to me like that.” I snap but try to ease my words a little but smirking gently. “Do you want to go to the hospital or anything to get that checked?” I point to her eyes, but she shakes her head. “Did they touch you-”
“Do you want to know the answer to that question? What difference does it make if they forced me to have sex with them? How many of the Big Heavy forced themselves on you?”
