Page 31 of Deliverance
I didn't drive to the fundraiser. Instead, Saffron had Marcus drive us so that I could walk her inside. Bobby and Ethan were back at the penthouse. Both had been working for Madam for a few years, and she trusted them. I wished one of them would let the girls escape and run off themselves, but I knew that wouldn't happen. If they were going to do so, they would have already.
Saffron hooked her arm through mine, and we walked into the ballroom at the hotel. There were banners and signs stating that the benefit was for children with congenital heart defects. One of the signs said that 40,000 infants in the U.S. were born each year with CHD. Was that why Zell wasn't allowed to go anywhere? I didn't know anything about congenital heart defects, but maybe Saffron was protecting her daughter after all.
"Was Zell one of the 40,000?" I asked as I pointed to the sign.
"Oh God, no." Saffron snorted. I blinked. That wasn't the response I was expecting. "Frank makes me go to these things and donate money to keep face around town. My father-in-law was a huge benefactor, and that was how everything came about."
"What do you mean?" I started to lead her to the table where we were supposed to sit for dinner.
Before she could respond, a man approached. "Saffron," he greeted with open arms.
She glared at him. "I told you I didn't want to see you anymore."
He smirked. "You can't be serious."
"I am." She clung tighter to my arm. "If you'll excuse us."
The man reached out and grabbed her arm. I moved fast, grabbing his forearm and squeezing. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
He looked down at where I held him and then to Saffron. "Going to sic your new boyfriend on me?"
It was instinct to respond that I wasn't her boyfriend, but before I could, Saffron said, "He was a Navy SEAL. I'd do as he says if I were you."
I let go of his arm, and he took a step back. He straightened his black tuxedo jacket. "You really are a bitch."
I took a step toward him, but Saffron grabbed my arm. "We can't cause a scene."
"Who was that?" I asked.
We started for our table again. "Just an old lover."
"Is that why I'm here?" I pulled Saffron's chair out for her. No one else was at the round table yet.
"Yes and no. I can't show up to these things without a date."
I snorted slightly. It wasn't a date, but Erin would get a kick out of hearing Saffron say that it was.
* * *
After the benefit was over, I helped Saffron to the limo. She was drunk off of champagne, and if I didn't already know she was a horrible person, I would say that Ienjoyeddrunk Saffron Russo. She wasn't as bitchy or snooty as she was sober. She was flirty and nice.
Marcus opened the back door, and Saffron stopped before entering. She turned and fingered the lapel of my black jacket. "Thank you for coming tonight, Ric. These things are boring, especially alone."
During dinner, I found out the old lover wasn't as old as Saffron had led me to believe. He was a doctor for one of the children's hospitals, and Saffron had dated him for a year. They had only broken up two months prior. I wondered if he knew about the penthouse. It wasn't as though she could take a man back to her place because she would have to explain the guards and the women if the man saw them.
"Let's get you home," I replied, urging her to get into the black car. I followed Saffron into the backseat, and Marcus smirked at me as he shut the door. Saffron moved and straddled my lap. My eyes widened, and I held her back as she sat on me. She ran a red-painted fingernail down my cheek. "I've always wanted to be with a younger man."
"Ma'am," was all I could say before her mouth crashed against mine. I pushed her back. "Ma'am."
"Don'tma'amme, Ric. Fuck me."
I looked over her shoulder to see Marcus's stare through the rearview mirror. "You're my boss," I stated. The car pulled away from the curb.
"And your point?" She went for my neck, kissing and licking below my right ear.
"We shouldn't do this," I pleaded.
She pulled back on her own and stared into my eyes. "If you don't fuck me, I'll tell Frank."
