Chapter 2
I drop to my butt and slide forward at the first man, kicking him in the groin. He goes down and I immediately snap him up as the second bullet hits him in the chest.
That's the problem with using a human as a bullet shield.
They become heavy when hit.
I'm practically dragging him as I lunge forward. I lift my gun and aim for the other man's face and fire. Once he falls down like a log of wood, I let go of the second man who's like dead weight, watching as he spasms, once, twice, then stops moving.
Satisfied, I walk away from him and towards the girl who recoils in fear as I approach. I follow the line of her eyes, realizing she's staring at the gun still in my hand. "You're scared of this?"
She nods and I put the safety on and put it back in the waistband of my jeans. Her hopeful eyes latch onto mine and she smiles tremulously. "Thank you."
"Uh huh!" I nod, then pick up the gag from the ground and push it right back into her mouth. Her eyes go big and round, right before I foist her onto my shoulders. She's light weight, barely weighs anything.
I feel her struggling but I don't break my stride as I begin walking away from the harbor. I get to my car and tap the boot. Walter, my driver, hops out immediately. He doesn't break his stride, neither does he look surprised when he sees me carrying a girl that's bound hand and foot, across my shoulder. He's paid to keep quiet, plus he knows if he squeals, he's a goner.
He opens the boot and I dump the girl unceremoniously inside. Her eyes can't get any larger as she stares up at me. Fear shines, like a beacon, in her big blue eyes. That's right, little girl, you should be very scared of me. "Enjoy the ride, kid." I wink at her and tap the bonnet, watching as it slides close.
Once I get into the car, I press a button and the divider slides down. "Walter, take me to Stardust.
"Right away, sir." He replies immediately.
I sink back into the leather seat and close my eyes. It feels like sand is trapped inside them.
You're just tired, you son of a bitch.
I hear a thud come from the boot and smile grimly. As Walter drives, the thuds increase, coupled with muffled sounds. I close my eyes, needing something to distract me. Once I open them again, my eyes fall on the red wine still idling inside the ice bucket.
Wasting no time, I open it and take a glass. By the time we pull up in front of my club, I'm nicely buzzed. My chest swells when I take in Stardust's lit up sign on the two -story building. An investment that has turned out quite nicely. The car doesn't slow down, but passes a long line of people waiting to enter inside the club. Walter drives into an underground car park set aside for only me. I open the door and come down, same time as he does.
"Bring out the girl and follow me." He says nothing except to nod.
I walk to my private lift and press the button and it slides open immediately. Walter steps inside with the still-struggling girl and I ignore them both. I'm feeling the beginnings of a headache. All I want is some shut eye but I need to take care of business first. Unwarranted business. My eyes slide to the girl once more. She's deathly still now. So still, she looks deceptively dead with her hands hanging limply off Walter's shoulder.
The doors slide open and I vault out. I step into my office which is situated directly opposite the lift and beckon on Walter to come in. He does so and has the sense to close the door behind him. My office is closed off from prying eyes but one can never be too careful. "Put her in there." I point to the wardrobe in the corner.
He says nothing except to do my bidding. Once she's been situated nicely inside and the doors are closed, he leaves. Once he does, I yank the wardrobe open and watch as the girl scuttles away. It's a big wardrobe so it amuses me when she retreats to the very back that is swathed in shadows. I switch the light on inside and lean against it.
"If I remove the gag now, are you going to scream?"
Her eyes shoot fire at me, although they're rounded to almost saucers. If they go any bigger, they'd probably burst into fragments at this rate. She shakes her head and that's enough for me. I reach out and she recoils, but there's nowhere else for her to go. Her back is against the wall. Tentatively, I reach out and remove the gag from her mouth. She coughs and spurts before getting right down to it in a hoarse voice. "What do you want with me?"
I fold my legs at my ankles and cock a brow. "That depends on you. What were you doing tied and gagged by the seashore?"
"I told you I was -"
"Kidnapped, yes, but what I don't understand is how?" I shrug. "Not unless you were moving amongst the wrong crowd."
I don't feel pity for her, I feel disgust.
Hell, yes, I'm a crime lord and have committed murders, but some girls like this one I'm looking at, seek the good things of life and end up in terrible situations. Sometimes, they end up dead as a result of their greed. Judging from her silence, I'm right about my assertion.
"You can judge me from here till tomorrow, but that doesn't change the facts. Now, are you going to untie me or are you going to keep looking at me in disgust?" Her voice is stronger. She juts her chin as she stares defiantly up at me.
Wordlessly, I untie her. She winces as the ropes fall off her wrist and legs. I can see the angry welts on her skin from where the ropes ate into them. She climbs out of my wardrobe and goes to stand at the large window. I know what she sees - a clear view of the club from all angles and everyone inside it. I hear her sharp intake of breath, right before she turns to me. "You own all this?"
"Yes, I do."
She turns away and moves to my desk, her fingers skimming the surface and it's contents. I turn my back but still watch her from the corner of my eyes. It's a trick I always use to see how the other person reacts when they think I'm not looking. Her eyes remain on my back, but one of her hands is doing something else. Her right hand palms my wallet and wristwatch and she quickly tucks them inside her back jeans pocket.
Ah! A thief.
I watch as she straightens and juts her chin. "Can I leave now?"
"You were never a prisoner." I shrug, still feigning indifference.
I let her leave but as soon as she closes the door, I call one of the bouncers and tell him to intercept her. While they're gone, I busy myself with my laptop. The door opens a minute later and one of the bouncers comes in holding her. She's struggling a lot, but as soon as she sees my face, she stops and goes deathly still.
She knows I know and she fears what I would do to her. I nod to the bouncer and he leaves. "Tanya Jackson, petty thief, a runaway and a delinquent. Turned eighteen last month."
Her mouth falls open. "How did you-"
"You're not the only one with light fingers." I lift her ID card in the air and look at her pointedly. "Question I've been asking myself is, what am I going to to do with you now?"
It starts out with her bottom lip. It begins to tremble and then her hands follow. They're shaking so bad, I almost feel pity for her. Almost. "I. . . I. . I'll do anything, just please don't report me to the police." She shakes her head as a look of fear creeps into her eyes. "I don't want to go back to juvie."
Bingo!
"Anything?" I ask, removing my legs from my desk and standing up. She nods but doesn't speak. The fear in her eyes has turned to pure terror. "I want you to work for me. That will take you off the streets and. . ." I shrug. "Put daily food on your table." The gears in my head have begun to turn and a plan is forming.
I don't miss the relief in her eyes as she exhales.
Crap!
Did she think I wanted her to give me a blow job or even- I shake my head, the thought leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. She's only a kid, for crying out loud, I like my women older and experienced in that department.
I press a button on my intercom but I see the initial terror returning to her eyes. "Relax, I'm just calling my manager. I won't hurt you, I promise."
She nods and closes her eyes.
"Leonard, please come to my office immediately." A few seconds later and a knock sounds off at the door.
"Sir, you are here." My manager appears before me smartly dressed in a black suit. It's one of the reasons I like him. My former manager dressed like a bum and got high on my supplies as well.
Looks like I lucked out with this one.
I inform him to take Tanya to the kitchen where she'll start from the basics. I don't miss the unmistakable disappointment in her eyes as I say so.
Patience, kid, I'm not ready to let on yet what I really have in mind for you.
Leonard inclines his head to Tanya for her to follow him but she doesn't budge. The brat needs some coercion. I put on a bored look as I study my fingernails. "It's either that or jail."
After a short beat, she replies. "Alright . . . I'll take it." Her voice is tight with repressed anger.
She's about to follow him when I speak up. "You're forgetting something, kid." I open my palm and flap my hand. "Give them to me or no deal."
She does nothing for a few seconds, and then her shoulders droop. She reaches inside the legs of her pants and pulls out my wallet. I sigh and turn to Leonard. "Call the police."
"Alright, alright, hold your horses." She reaches inside the other leg of her pants once again and brings out my wristwatch. "Here it is, boss."
I smirk. "You'd do well to remember that."
Chapter 3"Stop! This is the place." I pay the cab guy and tell him to keep the change as I vault out. I stare at my phone and notice the red dot on the map has stopped as well.I look up at the building and see a sign that reads Stardust, and I shudder. "Good lord, what is Tanya up to this time? What could she be doing in a place like this?"I want to, I really want to turn around and head back home, but I've lost my sister once before and I know the number of sleepless nights I got. It's not something I want to readily go through again. "Dear lord, please give me some courage."I close my eyes and channel some inner courage. After some seconds, I feel a burst of adrenaline rush and I open my eyes, chin up and walk towards the door. The closer I get to the entrance where two heavyweight-looking bouncers stand, the more my courage fades. By the time I'm close to them, I'm completely wiped out.There's a long l
Chapter 4I know without a doubt if I don't act now, it will be too late. So I open my mouth and belt out Tanya's name."Tanya! Tanya Jackson, I know you're in here, come out this minute."You guessed right. I'm just wasting my time because the din of the music completely drowns out my voice. The bouncer begins to drag me, eliciting stares from people, but I dig my heels in the ground and make it difficult for him.The second bouncer joins him, leaving the entrance unmanned. Stupid move, but okay. Well, not for me anyway, seeing as I'd soon be thrown out, most probably on my face. He coils his hand around mine and twists.Pain lances up my hand and I stifle the cry that jumps to my lips. Tears spring to my eyes but I blink them away. The first bouncer is still dragging me. I know he's taking it easy on me. He could easily force me onto his shoulder and carry me out of here, or worse still, manhandle me and han
Chapter 5I glance at the man and almost feel pity for him. His breathing is labored, his breaths coming out in shallowed gasps. He sounds like a train whistling and rattling. I'm guessing a punctured lung would cause that. It comes from all the beatings which we've been giving him.He put himself in this mess. No one steals for me and goes scott free. No one. Precious stones and jewels I harvested with time, effort and hard-earned money. Something tells me things run deeper than that.A set up, maybe, or he was sent by someone?His mouth opens, drawing my attention to his face which is all bloodied and unrecognizable. It looks like someone has rearranged his features. It's a fucking bloody mass of pulp. I glance down at my curled fist which is coated slick with blood. His blood. I should finish him once and for all, snuff the life out of him with one more punch. Just one more punch and it would be all over for
Chapter 6Once I get off the phone, I feel a shade better. I call Leonard next and within seconds, he's in my office, wearing another suit.This guy.. . . it's a Saturday, yet he acts like he's got a business meeting to attend. Suits me just fine, actually."Bring me the accounts book, Leonard." I need to get it over and done with and head over to the mines."Can I get you anything in the meantime? Some drinks? Food? Women?"I shake my head. "Just bring me the accounts book.""Right away, sir." He bows and leaves.That's another thing. The man knows what respect means.Instead of waiting for him, I leave my office and walk through Stardust. I go down memory lane as I remember how it all started five years ago. I was making millions while dealing in drugs, but buisness suddenly took a different turn when I discovered precious gems and stones on the mine I bought.In a bid to funnel the extra funds and go un
Chapter 7"School is such a bitch, I'm telling you." Clarissa pouts as she squints at her books.Ever since she stepped through the doors of Harry's cargo, she's been this way. Tense and bitch-mouthed. I'd offer to help her with her calculations but this girl is pretty much like me. Stubborn."I'd offer to help, but you'd just turn me down, so. . ." I shrug. From the corner of my eyes, I see her head turn towards me, so fast, I think she'll have a crick in it later."Would you really. . . help me?" She whimpers. I take back my words. It must be pretty bad if she needs my help. That means only one thing- something else has her upset, blocking out her lack of concentration."Yeah, sure." I shrug once again, already moving towards her.I pick up the huge binder in front of her and check out what has her so frazzled. My eyes widen as I take in the figures before me. Calculus has never looked so complicated than
Chapter 8When we get to the canteen, it's packed full with other workers. The canteen is a moderate-sized room with tables scattered around. I search for an empty table while Clarissa goes to take our order. There's no unoccupied one except at the back and it has two females I recognize, already sitting at it.One of the cashiers and the HR officer, both females. One of the things I like about Harry's cargo is it's an all-female company, there are no males working here. I make my way over to them and slide into one of the seats, sending hi's their way. They chorus their greeting in between mouthfuls of food. Not long after, Clarissa comes back with our orders. A sandwich and a soda for me, and a lame-looking burger with chips on the side and a soda for her.I lean close to her and whisper. "At least you got a burger."She rolls her eyes at me and sticks out her tongue. I'm going to cut it off one of these da
Chapter 9"Hey, slow down, kitten, what's the rush?" He turns me round to meet his gaze.Kitten? Is this man bipolar?He see's the confusion in my eyes and that damn smirk appears on his lips once again."I didn't want to call you that in the presence of your boss. Respect and all that jazz."I nod, not understanding what he means, and continue to walk, but this man wants to chat while all I want to do is give him the damn price list and stay far away from him."So. . . did you see your sister?" His question sounds innocent enough. There's no mockery to it, unlike the last time we met.I don't stop walking, I only reply. "Yes, she came home that same night.""That's good."Anger wells up inside me and I turn round, almost running smack into him. "That's good?" I stare at him as if he just sprouted a second head. "There's nothing good about my sister getting missing and popping up whenever she likes."His b
Chapter 10Anger surges through me, hot and fast. I'm back to holding the table. If not, I might lunge at him, claw his eyes out. That would probably get me sacked though, and a harassment lawsuit as well. Instead, I try to be dignified about it. "How-""Dare me?" That what you were going to say,?" The smirk has returned on his face as he backs away from me. "I dare because I can."This cannot be happening to me right now. "I'm not for-""Sale?" He lifts a brow as he comes close to me once more. "Come, now, kitten, everyone's got a price, and that includes you. Name yours. Any amount, and it's yours." He shrugs. I'm trying. I'm really trying to keep my anger at bay but it doesn't seem to be working. Curse words dance on the tip of my tongue, waiting to be unleashed, words I've heard Clarissa use many times as well as from passerby's. "You're insane." I finally choke out."He shakes his head, that damn smirk si