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“Did Charlie make you do it?” she asked quietly, looking up at me with pity in her eyes. I nodded my head, trying not to show how little it affected me. The hardest part was telling her. She deserved more. She needed to know there had been more to it than what I had offered, but I didn’t need her hating Charlie any more than she already did when we were about to be at his mercy. I opened my mouth to speak, but she beat me to it. “I hate that you have to live with that, but know that I hold nothing against you because of it. I couldn’t imagine having to endure what you have been through. I’m glad you told me, Dallas, but I really don’t want to hear anymore.” Maddie offered me a small smile, her eyes pleading for me to just drop the subject. She was so strong. That was a quality that we both shared and had inherited from our father. I smiled back and was relieved when Red took the conversation in a different turn.
“Okay, so this is the plan. We are going to get just what we need and get the hell out of there. Ask your questions, but don’t agree to shit. I mean it, Dallas. I don’t care what he is offering.” Red stood, grabbing her bag and slinging it over her shoulder as she pointed a long, orange, fingernail at me. Despite the cool weather, Red wore a sleeveless blouse that complemented her toned, muscular, arms. Good thing our conversation had not come to blows. She grabbed a leather jacket from the chair and pulled a cigarette from the pocket. “I’m going out to smoke. Y’all wrap this shit up. Don’t get all teary eyed and emotional before we leave. In the words of my favorite dance teacher, ‘Save your tears for the pillow.’” Maddie and I exchanged confused looks as Red left us, swinging her hips with enough exaggeration to break something.
“I’m sure she is quoting from some movie or T.V. show, she does that shit all the time. You ready?” Maddie asked, taking a deep breath, and gathering her stuff.
“Yeah, I guess,” I said goodbye to Joanna, ignoring her low-cut top, and left before Maddie could make some snide remark. When we joined Red on the sidewalk, a black Lincoln Town Car sat waiting for us across the street. Charlie Lott was one confident son of a bitch.
Chapter 9
Dallas
The car took us to the Hattiesburg/Laurel airport, which was so small that the only plane that sat on the airstrip was ours. When we boarded, there was no doubt that Charlie had sent us his personal plane. It didn’t even look like an airplane. It looked like the hotel lobby at the Roosevelt. Everything was lined in silver or gold, and the carpet that covered the floor was softer than any I had ever walked on. The chairs were not your traditional aircraft seats, but instead were wide, leather reclining chairs that swallowed you when you sat in them. I almost rolled my eyes at how ridiculous it was, but couldn’t help but wonder if this was something I might want for myself. Red was taking full advantage of the bar, ignoring the man who stood beside it and who offered his help.
“Nah, I got it. Have yourself a seat. I’m sure you deserve it.” The man straightened his back, looking perturbed at Red’s comment, although he didn’t say anything. Maddie was gushing over the lushness of the plane, while I sat completely at ease in one of the chairs. Luxury was not foreign to me, although this had to be the nicest plane I had been on. It was funny to watch the girls act like complete fools over it all, and attempt to play it cool when the pilot arrived to let us know we were preparing for take-off.
“Ladies, I hope you all are enjoying yourselves,” the older man said, eyeing Maddie, appreciatively. I’d rip his fucking eyes out. Not that Maddie was helping the situation by wearing a dress that barely covered her ass, along with four-inch heels. She did look pretty hot. Red looked ever the biker bitch in tight jeans, heeled riding boots and a black, leather jacket. It was more of a designer leather jacket, but there was still no mistaking that she wanted people to gain an impression of who she was. I looked down at my own clothes and frowned, acknowledging that I had worn a very conservative business suit, much like what Charlie had bought for me. “We are about to take off, so I ask that you please be seated and fasten your seatbelts. I will notify you when it is safe to walk around.” With one more full body glance at Maddie, he turned and left. I watched as the man behind the bar gently ushered Red toward her seat, although the look on his face let me know he wanted to push her. I laughed out loud at the thought.
