Chapter Eleven
Bobby’s face became rigid, jaw clamped tight, teeth grinding. Where the fuck is she? Looking at her phone on the dresser and her clothes hanging in the closet, he figured she couldn’t have gone very far. “The fuckin’ bitch!” He kicked the chair over, then threw the trash can at the wall. Bits of plaster rained down.
Opening the door between the connecting rooms, he looked at his two whores’ sleeping forms. “Crystal, Amber Jade, get your lazy asses in here now!”
Crystal jumped up. “What’s the matter?” She came into his room.
Amber Jade walked in slowly, rubbing her eyes. “What time is it?”
“Did you see Misty last night or this morning?” Both women shook their heads. “Fuck! Do you know where she is? And you fuckin’ better tell me the truth or I’ll kill you.”
“I don’t know anything about her. Last time I saw her, she was going into the room with you. That was about two thirty or so this morning,” Crystal said.
“Same here,” Amber Jade added.
“You bitches better not be lying to me.” Bobby took out his gun and the women cried out.
“We’re not BSing you. We’d tell you where the skank was if we knew.” Crystal cringed in the corner.
“Even if she gave you some money? Did she do that? Did she pay you to lie to me?” He rushed over and pulled Crystal’s hair. “Tell me, bitch. Where the fuck is she?”
Holding her hands up as if trying to shield herself from a possible bullet, tears spilled down her cheeks. “I don’t know where the slut is. I’d tell you, Bobby. You know I love you.”
Raising his arm, he slammed the gun down on her head, and blood started flowing down the side of her face.
“I swear, Bobby. I don’t know nothin’. I’d tell you. I hate the fuckin’ bitch. I wouldn’t protect her. She’s nothing but a fuckin’ slave. Please don’t hit me again. I didn’t do nothin’.”
Her nasally voice grated on his already taut nerves. “Shut the fuck up or I’ll put a bullet through your stupid head!”
Bobbing her head over and over like a broken jack-in-the-box, she sank to the ground. “Okay, Bobby. I’m shutting up. I won’t say another word.” She put her hand in front of her mouth.
Whirling around, he glared at Amber Jade, who stood in the doorway, her face whiter than the sheets on the bed. “You know anything?”
“No. I swear. I love you too, Bobby. If I saw her leaving, I never would’ve let her.”
“Get your worthless asses back to your room. I gotta think.” He pointed the gun at them and they ran out.
The fuckin’ cunt stole the money. I can’t believe I didn’t cuff her before I took the pills. I screwed this up bad. Fuck!
Anger weaved around him, choking him. He’d been too confident in his control over her and was sure she’d never run. A few times in the past, he’d done the same and she was always there in the morning, waiting for instructions. It used to make him feel smug as hell when he’d see her each morning. “I broke that fuckin’ bitch,” he muttered. But something had changed to make her take the chance and escape.
In the beginning she’d tried a few times, but after he punished her good, she stopped and life had been fine. Her ass gave him a good life, and he’d just struck a deal with Victor, but the bitch had gone and fucked it all up. Victor had paid him a load of money for her, and now she was gone. “Fuck!”
While he tapped numbers into his phone, he walked over to the window and looked down at the parking lot. Some johns were leaving from different rooms, each of them rushing down the stairs with hands in pockets and heads down. A couple of drug sales were going down in the corner of the lot near the dumpster.
“This is Bobby. Is she back home?”
“She’s not with you?” the voice replied.
“If she were, I wouldn’t be calling you. You made a deal with Erik and me eight years ago, and it still stands. Did the bitch call home?”
“No. How did she get away after all these years?”
“This cunt cost me a shitload of money, and I’m either gonna get it from her or from you. You call me the minute you hear from her. If you try and double-cross me, I’ll kill everyone in your family before I get to you.”
“I’ll let you know. She’s bound to come home.”
A beep signaled an incoming call. “I gotta go. Don’t fuck me over.” Bobby clicked off and stiffened when he saw Victor’s number. What the fuck am I gonna tell him?
“Yo,” he said as smoothly as he could muster.
“Where’s my fucktoy?” Victor asked.
“She’s sick with the chills and a really bad sore throat. She woke me up around five this morning complaining about it. It may be strep. She’s had it before.”
“Why isn’t she here as agreed?” Victor’s voice was cold and detached.
“I just told you. She’s really sick. She can hardly get out of bed. I’m gonna take her to the doctor and get her some antibiotics. You want her healthy and full of energy, don’t you?”
“I want her. I fucking paid for her. Bring her to me now.”
Sweat ran down the back of his neck and sides of his face, and it felt like his mouth was stuffed with a hundred cotton balls. He went over to the sink and poured a glass of water, drinking several large gulps.
Gripping the edge of the bathroom counter, he breathed heavily. “I just wanna make sure your merchandise is in first-class shape.”
“I’ll deal with her.”
“It’s not that. I’ve got a reputation to uphold. I can’t be delivering a sick slave. She’ll be ready to go in a day or two.” He wiped his brow with a washcloth, then ran it over the back of his neck. “I’ll send Crystal and Amber Jade over to your place to show you a good time. It’s on the house. I’ll bring Misty when she’s better.”
A long, strained pause. Bobby’s heart pounded against his rib cage as he waited for Victor to say something. He wanted to keep talking, but he knew that was a sure sign of a nervous person, and he couldn’t let Victor know his nerves were a tangled mess.
“I want my fucktoy by tomorrow morning no matter what shape she’s in. It’ll cost you ten thousand dollars for the delay. Make sure you bring it and her. I’ll play with the other two sluts. Bring them to me.”
Relief spread over him like a tidal wave. “That’s fair. I’ll have her to you in the morning with the money. I’ll send the other bitches to you now.”
Victor clicked off. Bobby had bought some time.
After sending Crystal and Amber Jade to Victor’s mansion, he drove around the small town searching for Misty. Where the hell is she? As he played the events of the last twenty-four hours in his mind, he homed in on the asshole who’d broken his nose. He’d planned on going to the doctor that morning, but the bitch had fucked that up for him as well.
As he thought about the night before, he’d remembered that the jerk and Misty were talking when he’d gone out on the patio. Maybe she knew him and they’re in on this together. But where would she have met him? Bobby always kept her on a tight leash.
A trucker? Maybe.
He turned into the driveway for Satin Dolls. He’d casually ask around to see if anyone knew who the fucker was.
It took a few minutes for his eyes to adjust to the dimness of the place. Two women danced on stage, and others were escorting men to the private lap dance rooms. One of the West Avenue Bandits, Chubby, came over to him and bumped fists. They chatted for a few minutes before Bobby asked if he remembered the guy from the night before. Chubby told him he didn’t. Bobby knew it was a long shot that anyone would remember the jerk since the place had been packed, but he figured the women may since the guy had the looks females went crazy for.
Going behind the curtain, several dancers waved at him as they adjusted their costumes or put finishing touches on their faces and hair. He went over to a blonde who was dusting shimmering powder over her shoulders and cleavage.
“Hiya, Della.”
“Bobby. I didn’t think you’d be here today. How’s your nose?”
“Okay. I wanted to ask you about a dude who was here last night. A tall guy with brown hair a little past his collar. Had some earrings on and a bunch of tats. He was back here.”
“I remember him. He was gorgeous. I promised him a good time, but he was looking for your girlfriend, Misty.”
His chest tightened. “Did he ask for her by name?”
“Yeah. He seemed to only want her. I told him I didn’t know where she was but to stick around after my dance and I’d give him a better time, but he just left.”
“Do you know who he was?”
“No. I’ve never seen him before.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I’d definitely remember seeing someone that good-looking. Why all the questions?”
“He shortchanged me.”
“That’s not good. Tell Chubby or Gizmo.”
“I’ll take care of it myself. Don’t tell anyone, okay?”
Darting her eyes around, she shook her head. “I won’t.”
But the way she said it told Bobby she’d be telling Chubby about their conversation before he even made it to his car. It was only a matter of time before Victor found out about it, and he’d know something was up. Bobby was sure that Misty and the asshole had planned all this, and chances were high she wasn’t in Silverado anymore. Spending any more time looking for her would be futile and dangerous. He was a sitting duck waiting for Victor’s thugs to shoot at him. He had to get out of town.
He rushed back to the motel.