Page 4 of Moose

All three of us walked in silence until we got to my apartment. When I opened the door, Mama Crawford smiled, then frowned when she saw Charlie and the other guy behind me.

“Charlie.. What’s going on?”

“Nothing, sweetheart. Go wait in the car.”

She kissed him on the cheek before walking out the door. Charlie turned to me, then pointed at the other man who had made himself comfortable on my couch.

“This is Bear. Don’t disrespect him and just listen. I’m doing you a favor, son.”

Bear stood up and grabbed one of my beers from the fridge.

“You will not sell pills anymore. Charlie here says you’re a good kid who just lost this way. So I’m gonna make you a deal, and this is only because Charlie and I go way back. Prospect for my club. I saw your bike out back and Charlie says you’re a hard worker. We need an IT guy and you’re it.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “No. I have a job and can’t afford to lose it. I need the money to take care of my kids.”

Charlie smiled. “The club will take care of you and my Old Lady will still help watch the kids. You can cut back on your hours and we’ll find you something more permanent. Plus Silas and Sawyer will be there.”

All I could do was shake my head. “Why me?”

Charlie shrugged. “I have faith in you. So what do you say?”

I sat and thought about the proposition before turning to the men.

“I guess I have nothing else to lose. I’m in.”

Lily

Tiedup.Bound.Beaten.Raped. An entire week of this. All because of him. All because of who I was.

Blood dripped down my face as I struggled to stay awake. I couldn’t pass out. They would come back and I needed to be on my game. I winced as I tried to take a breath, my broken ribs stabbing into my lungs. Everything ached as I sat up against the wall.

They were supposed to protect me. They promised I would never get hurt. First my Papa and now him. I could trust no man ever again.

The large metal door flew open and one of my kidnappers came strolling in.

“The pretty girl is finally awake. Ready to play some more?”

I glared at him and refused to say a word. He stormed over to me, ripping my head back by my hair.

“I asked you a fucking question, bitch.”

Looking into his eyes, I growled. “Fuck. You.”

He slammed my face into the wall. Blood sprayed across the moldy concrete.

“Try again. I want to know everything. He’s not gonna come for you. You’re fucking worthless. YourPapicouldn’t save you all those years ago, and now your man is dropping your ass. Nobody wants you.”

I held the tears back, remembering how my Papa told me never to cry. Never show them weakness.

“I’m not telling you fucking shit.”

He dragged me across the floor by my hair, throwing me onto the small mattress in the corner. It was covered in stains; blood, urine, semen.

“We’ll see about that. I’ll fucking break you, bitch. Now tell me everything I want to know aboutChicos del Lado Sur.”

He slapped me across the face as he lit up a cigarette. The man turned to me and blew the smoke in my face. I held my breath, so I didn't cough.

Do everything possible to not let them see weakness, my flower.

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