Page 4 of The Hellcat Barbies: Saskia
She locked her phone, tossed it into the cup holder, and pressed the pedal to the metal. This car was fascinating. Had I been in a better headspace, I could appreciate it more. I’d only been in a Rolls Royce once, when my father rented one to chauffeur me to prom. That was nine years ago, which meant that one was a decade old. This one hinted at opulence and luxury, and she was driving it like it was worthless.
Who the hell is this girl?That was probably something I should have figured out before I followed her into the woods, but we were here now. At this point, I’d follow the little red wolf if it meant I could avoid marrying the evil person my father matched me with.
She was smoothly shifting her gaze from me to the road. I’d never driven this fast in my life. My little BMW was my baby, but I hadn’t gone over the speed limit. I stayed on the straight and narrow because I didn’t want anything going back to my father. My father, though? He had a need for speed. He left a lot behind, but among his most prized possessions was his burgundy 1970 Dodge Challenger. He’d poured a lot of money, sweat, and tears into it, and my favorite memories with him were when he’d take me to the countryside and floor it. I loved that car, even though I wasn’t even a muscle car girl. I’d always told myself I would buy one when I got my big girl job, and now, I didn’t even know if that would happen.
“Shit, my fucking sister is going to kill me. And my nigga? My nigga is gonna act a damn fool behind me assisting a whole ass runaway bride. Ima have to suck until my knees sore to make up for this shit. You sure you want to do this? I mean, from how much he spent with my sister, whoever he is, at least he’s rich,” She shrugged as she made another deadly turn.
“I...I’m sure.” I wasn’t really sure. I didn’t know if this was going to backfire on me or get me killed, but I knew I didn’t want to marry a stranger. I didn’t want to disappoint my father,but I also didn’t want to waste my life. My father had always let me decide what I wanted. He’d sacrifice his needs and wants for mine, yet in death, he was forcing my hand. No. That wasn’t happening. I should have said no from the beginning, but I was grieving, and with security trapping me in every day, what could I do? Now I had a chance to run, and I wasn’t looking back.
“I thought you said…fuck these niggas?” I tried making light of the situation.
She scrunched her nose.
“I said fuck THESE niggas not MY nigga. It’s a difference, boo. Wait you got a phone?”
Reaching into my pocket, I handed it to her. Rolling her window down, she tossed it into the lake we were passing.
“Just in case that nigga can track you. Any other electronics?”
I shook my head no. I hadn’t even considered being tracked by my phone. I was in way over my head, but I refused to be a bride to a stranger.
The green from the tops of the trees, the silver from the buildings, the black from the newly paved roads, and the additional array of colors that made up Sparkling City, add in the rush of fleeing, made me feel sick again. My stomach was churning, but I wouldn’t dare vomit in her car. One, I didn’t want to get my ass beat or worse, and two, I didn’t want to upset the only person who seemed to come along and rescue me. A job that was usually reserved for my father.
“Hey! You hear me?”
Blinking, I realized that the vehicle had now stopped, but the motor was still running.
“We’re here. Do you have an ID? Or do I need to come in and work my magic?”
The words that spewed from her mouth didn’t match the individual at all. Not only did this lady look and smell expensive, but she also carried a rich bitch aura about herself. However,the way she talked, I knew she hadn’t grown up in the private schools I attended, which was fine, but it was almost refreshing to meet someone who was the complete opposite of me.
I pat the pocket of my hoodie. I hadn’t brought a purse out with me this morning, but I did have my wallet chain and cell phone stuffed in my pocket. Since she’d tossed my phone in the lake, miles back, I was only checking for my wallet. Once I confirmed it was there, I nodded.
“Okay, once you get off the train, there should be taxis posted up at the Jagoda Bay station. Don’t use your credit or debit cards at all. Pay the taxi and have him take you to the J.W. Marriott downtown. I’ll have somebody there to help you.”
Jagoda Bay. Train. Taxi. Marriott. No, J.W. Marriott. I was mentally jotting down all of her instructions.
“O..okay. And what about after that?”
She scratched her head and shrugged.
“Shit, girl, I don’t fucking know. We gone figure the shit out, though. Look, I know you don’t know me, but you can trust me. Under the protection of my people, you gone be good. Now, you may not like the solution we come up with, but I can guarantee it’s better than whatever the fuck yo daddy had set up for you.”
If her goal was to make me feel confident with her statement, she had failed miserably. Still, I appreciated the ride and the money and would follow her instructions because, at this point, I didn’t really have anyone else or a plan.
“You’re helping me, and I don’t even know your name.”
She grinned, showing stark white, perfect teeth.
“I’m Dasani Rinaldi. Wife ofDonDemise Rinaldi. Now, run.”
She pressed a button that opened the door. As soon as my feet hit the pavement, I took off. Onlookers peered at me as if I were crazy, but I didn’t care. I had to get away.
“Wunnnn Wunnnn!”
Looking behind me as I reached the automated doors, I saw little Mafia hanging out in the back seat with her sippy cup in her hand, encouraging me. I didn’t know how I was going to pay her, but I didn’t have time to think about that. I had to get to my destination.
It was all a blur. I couldn’t remember how much the train ticket cost or where I sat on the train. I just knew that one moment I was at the ticket counter, and the next, I was standing outside the Jagoda Bay terminal.
