Quill
As I got ready for work at Joker’s Sin, I kept the removable cast on. My wrist was sore and I couldn’t take a lot of the pain killers since I had to be sharp to work. I would remove the cast when I got to work and stick it in my locker. With make-up, I’d try to cover as much of the bruising as I could.
Each night, Atlas, my boss at the club, had something different going on. With so many clubs popping up around the city, he had to constantly compete with them to stay new and fresh. Tonight was leather night. Normally, I’d fuss that I had nothing to wear or that I couldn’t afford it. Atlas was good about that stuff and always had something on hand for his ideas and for his guys to wear. I happened to own a red leather outfit. I say outfit lightly. It consisted of red leather pants, a red vest, and bitching boots with a reasonable heel. I was allowed to wear my black bracelets, and tattoos weren’t a problem if anyone had any. I put all my piercings back in that the hospital had made me remove. I didn’t always wear them all, but having them on felt like a special layer of protection. I’d had them all for so many years, they didn’t close up on me and if they started to, pushing through the weak skin was no big deal for me. Atlas never cared how we represented ourselves as long as we weren’t adorned in Nazi tattoos or anything racist.
I went with my red contacts, and my black hair was working for me right now. I was thinking of coloring it teal tomorrow. I shrugged at my internal debate.
It was winter, so there was no way I was walking to the bus stop dressed like this. All I owned was a black puff jacket Melissa had bought me when she saw me walking home in a hoodie last year… in February. I grabbed the coat and wrapped myself snug inside. The hood protected my ears from the winter air and would simply have to do.
I hadn’t disengaged the security in my apartment and knew it wasn’t hostile toward me, so I left my apartment with it engaged, feeling slightly better that no one would be waiting for me inside my place when I stumbled in at around three in the morning.
As I walked to the bus stop, I checked my voicemail. I’d decided to ignore my phone for the day in favor of sleeping and playing video games. There was one from Mel saying she loved me and that there were visitors at the coffee shop today and to call her later and she’d tell me all about it. Another was from Lana, Black’s secretary, telling me he expected me in his office tomorrow morning at around nine. Awesome, sleeping in wasn’t going to happen now.
I just stepped on the bus as my call to Mel went through.
“Hey,” she said, sounding exhausted. “How you feeling?”
“I’m fine. On the bus.”
I heard her release a sigh and knew she wanted to fight with me on not taking a few days off. But I had bills to pay, another hospital one too, and I always needed some cushion in case my brother came back.
“So, tell me about these visitors you had today. Sounds exciting.” I had fifteen minutes or so before my stop and Mel didn’t babble, so I knew I’d get the full story by the time I arrived.
“Your Thor was here with two of his guys for like an hour. I couldn’t figure out why, because Black doesn’t come in often. He usually has someone get coffee for him or he is in and out fast. But when Ronnie arrived, it became clear why he was there.”
Why was Black doing all this? Why the hell did he care? “What happened, Mel?”
“The three sat there and when Ronnie came in, I was trying to kick him out but he was all, I’m me and you’re you, blah blah blah—”
“Mel, why would you do that? Just let him buy his coffee and go. He’s a Sterling!” My voice rose, causing a couple of people to turn toward me.
“I’m not afraid of him or them, Quill.”
I knew that wasn’t true, but I didn’t want to fight with her. “Then what happened?”
“Oh my god,” she chuckled. “You should have seen it. They took Ronnie into a booth. One guy kept hitting him in the back of the head. When it was over, they all left and Ronnie practically ran to his car.”
Fucking Christ. “Shit. Doesn’t Black realize all he’s managed to do is make my life worse by getting involved?”
“Quill.” She whispered, “Maybe your life was hard because no one ever did step in. Ever think of that?”
The bus was pulling up to my stop, so I had to end the call with Mel. I promised I’d call her tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow, no wonder Black wanted to see me in his office.
Even though I was able to get make-up on my face and put kohl around my eyes, Atlas saw all. One look at me and he knew I wasn’t at my best.
“Damn, Kid, why you here if you’re still recovering?” he asked as he pulled me into his office.
“I need the money. Please don’t send me home. I can work.”
He shook his head, but told me to get behind the bar with Max. I was to help him out, but no heavy lifting. Whatever, I was just glad to be getting paid.
The place was filled with leather-clad hotties. Some were creative with their outfits, hoping to win the grand prize of a lap dance from Atlas and a free night of drinks.
About two hours into work, Max said he had to take a break for ten to use the bathroom. I had about five other bartenders working the circular bar that surrounded the stage. I told him I could do it on my own for ten minutes, and he left.
I loved how even though my body ached, my head pounded, and I wasn’t looking my best, I was able to still get a few numbers tossed my way. Made a person feel good.
“Excuse me,” someone shouted. I turned with a smile to help the patron.
“Hey, how can I—” I stopped midsentence as Ronnie stood on the other side of the bar. Even though I knew I wasn’t in any danger with the bar between us, the fear was permanent.
“How can you help me?” he sneered. “You have your boss come and embarrass me in public? Threaten me? You can help by taking a break, meeting me in the back, and begging me to forgive you.”
That wasn’t going to happen. “I’m not doing that, Ronnie. Even if I wanted to, and I don’t, Max just took a break. I can’t leave.”
“You are nothing but a lowlife whore, Quill. Fucking your way to the top. It’s all you’ll ever be,” he yelled over the loud music. A few people were paying attention to the obvious argument. “Maybe I should drop a line to your brother and let him know where he can find you. Heard he’s been looking for you for a few months now. Bet you’d get down on your knees and beg me to forgive you if I kept your whereabouts quiet, huh?”
Dylan Almeida was a nightmare. Made Ronnie look like a Care Bear. The second I was able to get away from him and my shit family, I did. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get far enough. I went back to Haven Hart where I was born, hoping I’d be safe. Dylan found me a year ago, and by the time he left, he made sure I knew that if he ever saw me again and I had nothing to offer, he’d kill me. Whenever Dylan found me, I always packed up and moved on. In this case, I hadn’t. I loved Haven Hart, and I hoped Dylan would assume I’d moved on and wouldn’t think of returning here.
“Ronnie, if I’m all those things, why would you want to be with me in the first place?”
I saw Max return, but he just went to the waiting patrons, never snapping at me to get back to work.
“It’s the principal of it all, Quill. Your boss said you’re pressing charges against me. I really think you should reconsider that. With all I know about you and about why you’re running from your brother, it would be wise for you to let those charges drop. Got me?” He threw some cash in my face and walked away. I couldn’t see where as the crowd swallowed him up.
What the fuck has Black done to me?