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Gio drops a couple ice cubes into his glass and then pauses. “She ever tell you more about that situation? Are you sure it’s going to her family and not someone else? Some sort of…?”
Pimp.
The mere thought makes me growl like a beast. Tasha had told me about the man who had managed her career when she first started escorting. She said he tricked her by pretending to be a boyfriend figure, and though he’d always had other girls working for him, she believed him when he told her she was special.
A lot of what went on between them is responsible for how she views relationships even now.
Big D was what she called him.
“I’m gonna call her,” I say, getting up off the sofa. “Let her know I’m thinking about her.”
“Good idea. Falynn will be pleased.”
I step out into the hall with my phone pressed to my ear.
The call goes straight to voice mail.
“Kitty cat, hey, just checking on you. Give me a call when you’re free. No pressure. Just to talk, okay?”
I hang up with an even worse gut punch feeling in my stomach.
Something’s wrong.
I don’t know how I know it. But I do. The more I think about it, the more it makes sense.
Tasha’s money is still being taken by this Big D. It’s the only thing that makes sense; it explains everything—why she refused to speak on it, why she never seems able to keep any for herself no matter how much she makes, and why it seems like she’s unable to ever quit escorting for long.
I’ve seen how guys like Big D operate before. When Ma was a working girl, she was trapped under the thumb of one. She barely made it out alive.
Another growl rumbles from my chest. If this is the kinda situation Tasha’s been involved in, then it stops right now. This Big D character might think he’s tough shit, but he’s never met me. I’ll crush his fucking skull for messing with my girl.
SIXTEEN
Louis
PLAYLIST: ? SONG HERE - ARTIST HERE ?
Twenty years earlier…
“Louie,”squeaks Nikki. “I’m scared.”
She’s not supposed to be awake. Her bedtime was twenty minutes ago.
Ma wrapped her up tightly in her blankets, zipped her up in the sleeping bag, put the earmuffs over her head, slipped Mr. Bunny in her arms, and kissed her cheek.
Keep your eyes closed ’til you see the sun.
Ma’s version of good night.
I’m on guard. While Nikki sleeps in the backseat, I’m supposed to sit dutifully up front and keep a lookout. I’m armed—pepper spray and Ma’s beloved taser. Anybody so much as comes within ten feet of our car, I’ve got permission to blast ‘em.
Nobody ever comes.
But I watch just as fiercely anyway.
It’s late out. And cold. Ice frosts up the car and our heat barely works.
We stay dressed and bundled up at all times. Right now, I’m wearing two sweaters, a jacket, a beanie, sweatpants, three pairs of socks, boots,andgloves. Pretty sure my face is frozen pink, and my teeth chatter even with heat kicking out the vents.
