***LONDON’S POV***
The loud horns of a car jolted me as I blinked rapidly, trying to figure out where I was. It took a few seconds to find out because the fog in my head had cleared out enough for me to see the reason.
New York, that’s where the sign over the shed said. The bus had stopped at the bus station and everyone was scurrying out of it. I had slept throughout the journey and right now, I was hungry and still very tired.
“Home!” I breathed out as I pushed out of the bus, I boarded a cab to a restaurant first.
Ordering my food, I take it home. It wouldn’t be a one-time meal, but that would do. I walked into my former apartment and the smell of musk hit my nostrils, I wrinkled them in an annoying fashion.
The door wasn’t broken at least, I am thankful, but it was locked. I missed my old house, I wonder if anyone had looked for me? The diner I worked for had probably found someone else to replace me.
If I am going to stay in town, I will have to look for another job, one that will provide me with enough money to cover my rent.
As I advanced into the kitchen, the small space just felt cold and familiar, I blink severally, washing the tears away from my eyes, I really was doing a shitty job at keeping my emotions at bay.
Sighing, I removed the food from the takeaway bag and placed it on a plate. I started digging into the meal. I was so hungry I didn’t want to wait to microwave it. I ate like a starved animal and when I was satisfied, the plate was empty.
I exhaled, pleased with myself. That was so good, I am not going to lie.
As I moved the plates to the sink, I washed it clean, threw the trash, and made a mental note to take it out later. I was tired, but not enough to clean my apartment. I didn’t care if it was late, I had nothing better to do, and if I was staying here for the duration of my time__ which I don’t know how long that was going to be, I had to be at least comfortable.
I grabbed one broom, a bucket, and some foot mats and started cleaning.
Two hours later, my little apartment was spotless and neat and I enjoyed it. I made sure the doors were locked and the windows were secured, I didn’t want to take any chances with my safety.
As I climbed on the bed, I drowned in a peaceful sleep. I didn’t want to think about how chaotic my life had been in the previous weeks, I can’t think of the man who had made my body scream for more under bus watch.
Zane.
The name couldn’t stay away from my head. I rolled on my back on the bed and closed my eyes, keeping them shut. It didn’t help the fact that I still thought about him.
I thought of his men, Reaper, Caleb, and Sinner. What had they done to me to betray them like this? It is not like they were loyal to me, they were just been super friendly to me because Zane would have their heads out of their shoulders for just looking at me in an improper fashion.
I almost smiled thinking about that, but my entire body hurt.
I am in New York now, I have to think about the positive things about being in town. I had my own house and the lease hadn’t ended yet, I plan on using it. But then, being in town was dangerous because…
I trailed my thoughts away because I didn’t want to think about him. Oliver. He was my nightmare, he wouldn’t let me go until he had broken every single bone in my body.
The last time we crossed part, he had almost blinded me with the way he slammed my head against my door.
I hate Oliver with everything I can summon within me. It makes me weak but I don’t care.
I had just fallen asleep when the constant vibration of my phone caused me to wake up. I had taken the burner phone with me because I wanted to make sure I stayed in contact with Micah. His number and Michael’s own were the only two registered numbers on the phone, so, when I picked it up from the nightstand, I looked at the caller ID.
Micah. The name on the screen read. I was too exhausted to answer, I knew he was probably with Zane, and the mother fucker was just looking for a way to get to me.
I laughed at the little analogy and deducted that might be true, that was why I turned off the phone and slept until morning.
*
The next day, my head was bright and I knew I was ready to face the day. I had two things on my list though. To look for food and to walk around town. I missed this place, I need more of this feeling of freedom.
I didn’t want anyone to take it from me.
I turn on my phone and gasp when I see thirty missed calls from my phone, twenty-eight of them were from Micah and two were from Michael.
My heart flushed to know that Mike had thought I was worth his time to call, especially after all the headache I had given him the other day.
I don’t call back, I don’t even listen to the voicemails they had left behind. I had a few messages from Micah, that was what I popped open, checking them out.
WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU, LONDON? UNLESS YOU WANT ME DEAD, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE… PLEASE
I received some similar messages to that one and I froze as I read it.
I bet Zane was responsible for these bullshit messages. I wonder what he had done to make Micah reach out to me. I should be scared of this, but now, I want to be selfish, I want to be able to have my own life, to be my own person, that is what is important to me, nothing else.
I sit calmly, hating the silence again. I don’t want to be in pain anymore. Returning to Zane would make it worse than it was before.
When the phone starts vibrating in my hands, I don’t look at the caller ID, I just pick it up and put it on my ear, talking immediately.
“What the fuck is wrong with you, Micah? Leave me alone, please, I know running away was dumb but I need this alone time. I need to be my own person and fend for myself. I’ll find the means to get back Zane’s money, even if it means selling my body…” I say.
The words break in my throat as I hear the voice I thought was going to be the last I was expecting this morning.
“You wouldn’t dare sell your body, little human,” the unmistakable sound of Zane’s voice cut through my ears and I pulled the phone out of my ear looking at the Caller ID.
It was a strange number. I crease my brows in confusion, I thought… Well, I thought it was Micah that was calling me. I hadn’t expected it to be Zane.
“I have to go,” I mutter as I try to end the call.
“I would advise you not to do so…” Zane warns but I ignore him, ending the call.
If he catches me, I will be in trouble. Right now, I have the least urge to throw myself in danger’s path, I don’t even want any of my former acquaintances to know that I am around. I know practically no one here, and the few familiar faces weren’t going to talk to me on a daily base, talk less of helping me out save my skin from a mafia lord.
The phone started ringing again, it was still the number, I totally ignored it. It insisted until a message popped on the square screen.
I was quick to open the message and read its content.
IF I FIND OUT THAT YOU AS MUCH AS LET ANOTHER MAN LOOK YOU, TALK LESS OF TOUCHING YOU, I WILL CUT THEIR HANDS OFF AND FOR YOU, LITTLE HUMAN, I WILL FUCK YOU RAW UNTIL YOU SEE BOTH OF OUR CUMS REEKING FROM EVERY HOLE OF YOUR BODY
The message read out.
My body twisted in a knot. That is it, I am going to die, and this man would be the one to kill me.
I still didn’t reply to the message and to my surprise, the phone stopped ringing. I know this man would do anything to get me to talk to him again, but I don’t want to.
I kind of miss the way he was persistent in making me talk to him, I don’t want it though, so, I slide out of bed, making it my duty to take a bath.
After bathing, I picked one of my clothes, they hadn’t gotten mold from not checking on them for a week or more, so, it made me grateful.
The cold water was what I needed to free my mind from the heavy stress I needed, it literally caused me to grab my small purse, put the money I had stolen from Zane, and leave the house. Some were kept in the cabinet beside my bed though.
I didn’t want to carry everything with me.
The money wouldn’t last me more than a few nights, the reason why I have to look for a job.
Selling my body was out of the fucking equation though. I don’t want Zane to think that I would do it, but it was better to punish him with the knowledge that I might be out here prostituting to raise the one hundred dollars my brother owes him.
It was my fault that Micah was in a crossfire between Zane and his will to survive. I was the cause of the whole saga, the reason why I was throwing caution to the wind and riding it out like it meant nothing to me.
*
After my meal at the coffee shop, I had two croissants and a mug of hot chocolate. It was fantastic. I was surviving on my meager income, the one that I stole from my captor.
This is shitty to even think about. I regretted why I didn’t take the entire money I had on the ground, that would have been my chance, my fucking cue to start afresh.
I would have even moved out of my house to reduce suspicion a little bit, that is what I always want, but I sure as hell would make a difference when it has to do with stuff like that.
Huffing a gentle sigh, I walk out of the coffee shop, taking the road down top, looking for a job vacancy.
I needed money, anything that would pay me cool cash, I was in for it.
After walking for an hour, I saw what I was looking for. A bartender at a club. I could do it if I knew the drinks that were to be served.
The simple thought of me as a mixologist made me burst out laughing in fits. It was ridiculous, but nothing beats a determined mind.
I bit my lower lips, crossed my fingers, and walked into the club, ready to look for a job.
The manager was a woman, a pretty dark-haired woman in her mid-thirties and she had a polite smile as she walked up to me.
“Hi, Ma’am, I saw the sign outside where your club is looking for a bartender, I am here to apply for the post… If it is still available,” I rumble annoyed that I was sputtering like a fool.
“Please call me Gianna. And I am looking for a male bartender, but I have a better proposition for you if you need a job urgently,” she said offering me one of her polite smiles.
Excitement spread through me and I was glad.