Page 12 of The Biker's Red Christmas

I turn so I'm facing her and lean down a bit so we are face to face. "You need to get one thing straight, Sienna. You are not some long-lost princess, and this isn't some fucking fairy tale. You're not supposed to be in here as it is. I'm showing you around as a courtesy, but you're pushing my patience."

She stares at me wide-eyed for a second, and part of me thinks I might have finally succeeded in scaring her, but moments later she shakes her head. "Can I at least knock on the door? Make sure I don't hear anything?"

I look over at Leo, who is watching this entire thing unfold in front of him. He nods his head, and I take Sienna to the door before I knock hard against the heavy wooden doors.

"Not like that. Who the hell would answer to someone who sounds like they're about to break the doors down?" She rolls her eyes again and knocks softer this time.

"Max, Lia, are you in there? It's me, Sienna. I just want to know you're okay."

I can hear the pain in this woman's voice. I don't know where her friends are, but I hate that they made her worry like this. She waits a second and knocks again. After a full minute of waiting, I pull her away from the door. "Satisfied?" I ask, and she nods her head.

"Good, now it's time for you to go." I pull her back to the front door and walk her outside into the crisp winter air.

"Can't say I enjoyed my visit." Sienna rubs the part of her arm that I was holding onto.

"Good, because the next time you come, things won't be so pleasant for you."

Her eyes lose a little bit of the fire I'm used to seeing in them as she stares at me.

"Not pleasant? You think I got any joy out of coming here and looking for those girls? Do you know what it means that I didn't find them here? It means they are either in a ditch somewhere dead or they are being hurt by someone else. I'm all these girls have, and you're standing here talking about making things pleasant for me." She steps forward and slaps the back of her hand against my chest. It's not hard enough to hurt, but it's enough to get her point across. "Please believe me, Lash, if I never see you again, it'll be too soon. Now go on back to your little club and play at keeping people safe, at least those that mean anything to you. I've got two young girls to find." She turns on her heels, leaving me reeling from her accusation and her truth.

I watch her get into her car and drive off, but even as I see her taillights turn the corner, I know one thing for sure: this most definitely won't be the last time I see Sienna. Not by a long shot.

6

SIENNA

I've been walking the streets for hours looking for Max and Lia, and just like I thought, no one has seen them. How the hell can two girls just up and vanish? I don't know where they could have gone, but I've checked their normal spots, and no one has seen them.

I stop on the corner just to get my bearings and look across the street at two little girls pulling their father in the direction of a toy store. With Christmas being just around the corner, I'm sure this isn't the first time his kids have done this. I pray it won't be the last either.

My eyes mist up at the wholesome sight. How many of these women on the street never got a chance to celebrate Christmas with their family, or even worse, how many of them had Christmases they would prefer to forget because of abuse or trauma?

Christmas to me is nothing more than a reminder of the normal life that I no longer get to live.

I shake off the deep emotions and turn the corner, wishing blindly that I see Lia and Max just there on the other corner. Somewhere in the distance, happy and working for their money.

Of course, my dreams don't come true.

"Hey, Sienna. How you doing, sweetheart?" I look down on the sidewalk and see an older woman with a cardboard sign and her cup out. I'm shocked when I realize I don't know her name. I've come across so many different down-on-their-luck people that they start to blend together for me.

"Hey, how you doing tonight?" I ask and lean down to look into her eyes. I never want any of the people on the streets to think I find myself better than them. I could be them; all it takes is one bad decision.

"Not too great. You don't have any food, do you?" she asks and smiles sheepishly. I pull off my backpack and dig through one of the side compartments. I started my day out looking for Max and Lia, but I picked up a few supplies along the way just for occasions such as this. I give the woman a ready-made lunchmeat and cheese pack along with a package of ready-to-eat tuna and crackers. She smiles wide and instantly starts to dig in. I wonder how much longer she'll last on the streets. Young women have it easier because they can sell their bodies, but the older women don't have the same options. They're used up, and now no one wants them. It's sad.

Now they have to rely on the kindness of others. More often than not, that kindness leaves a lot to be desired.

I don’t dawdle with the older woman. She got what she needed from me, and I’m not looking for anything in return, so I continue my stroll along the street.

Every once in a while, I stop to look into the storefronts and admire the Christmas decorations some of the stores have already put up.

Honestly, some of the decorations are incredibly creative. One storefront recreated the entire exterior of the Home Alone house, just using spray snow on their windows. I can’t imagine how many hours it must have taken them to do that.

I’m so used to walking these streets alone that I almost miss the sound of a motorcycle riding up behind me.

Before I turn around, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

There’s only one reason for someone to be driving this close to me: they think I’m a working girl. I’ve been mistaken for one before, but I never feel completely at ease.

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