Innocent Ride Page 8
“Oh, no, sweetheart. You might’ve dismissed me Saturday night, but I’m not that easy to get rid of. I know you have to get ready for work, and I just wanted you to know, if you need me, I’m there. One call, Lux, one fuckin’ call, and I’ll be all over it. Don’t let him push you around at work. Don’t you let that asshole run you away from a job you love. You stand firm.”
I laugh at him. He is being sincere, truly, but why does he care so much?
“Like you aren’t already all over it, Rex. He can push me around, and he will, but it’s my price to pay. Call it penance, if you will.”
He breathes deep, his voice coming out even deeper. “I’d rather be all over you, Lux.”
“Rex—”
“Go to work. I’ll see ya around, and that means sooner rather than later. Don’t let the fucker have power over you.” With a click, the call is disconnected, and I am left battling the same mixed emotions I have had for a lifetime.
How did he know just what I needed to hear?
Sure, Saturday night was crazy. I never expected to have Rex arrive at one of my company events, much less in a suit. For a short time, he fit into my world. My world that is falling apart around me. My world that is nothing except a joke. My world that I have fought so hard to make solid, strong, and real.
I was born to a high-priced whore, and I became a low-class whore. Apparently, I am destined to be a whore, regardless of trying to work my way out.
My intention in leaving home was to get an education and to become successful in my own right and by my own merit. I went to college with blinders on after I left home thinking all my problems were solved by leaving the governor’s home. I was wrong.
I lived in the dorms my freshmen year until Delilah and Savannah moved into an off campus apartment and brought me with them. Our rent was covered by their dads. Our utilities were paid for by their dads—by the Hellions MC. However, I still had to pay tuition, food, books, and on the few occasions I would get sick, medical bills. I didn’t even have a car until I started working for Alvin.
I started college in over my head financially, though I kept up the façade of my entire life. Nice clothes, good grades, and all that shows a good girl. Appearances can be deceiving because my mom had no money to pay for school and my partial scholarships didn’t cover living expenses.
First semester freshmen year, Sixty-seven-year-old Alvin Higgins, a man with more money than balls, presented me an opportunity to ease the burdens a bit by giving me a part time job as a dog walker. Innocent enough … or so I thought.
Only Alvin knew, in a college town, he would find some sucker to fulfill his sick needs. Insert me. For the right amount of money offered, you would be surprised how quickly you question your boundaries and what you are willing to do.
I didn’t start out bound to his cross of kink. No, I began my employment as his honest dog walker for his overly pampered poodles—two all-white, all curly haired, demons of dogs that had their own bedrooms in his over-done semi mansion. I proved myself dependable, reliable, and a dedicated employee. I remember him pointing out every attribute he had noticed in my first six months of employment.
My job as his dog walker quickly became a nightmare, though. All those times he said he understood about my schedule were just to reel me in, leading to the promise for more money if I would attend a few events on his arm as an escort. Bait the underprivileged child with accolades and attention … then boom! Switch it up with a proposition. Be his escort to a few events. Simple enough, too bad it wasn’t.
No sexual intercourse involved, he stressed that in my contract and my non-disclosure agreement. Oh, yes, he made sure to emphasize that to my eighteen-year-old brain. Too bad that brain wasn’t smart enough to read the contract. Too bad that brain wasn’t smart enough to realize, no matter what I signed, he would never challenge it, because the contract was a ridiculous agreement for him to use my body in any means necessary as long as he didn’t penetrate any of my orifices with his penis. However, that didn’t mean vibrators, dildos, and fingers weren’t off limits.
The more my bills piled up, the more he increased his end of the deal, and everyone has a price. At eighteen, mine was far too low, but it is another hard lesson learned in life.
The car. Score one for sugar daddy Higgins. He didn’t like me taking a cab or walking to his home. My schedule was unpredictable, so he bought me a car. Nothing overly fancy, but a brand new hybrid so I could save on gas. He also covered all the expenses until our arrangement was done.
My payoff was, oddly enough, to cover everything to finish my degree, and then he would allow me to keep the car. The contract we had didn’t promise me any severance benefits. No, when he was done with me, I was to walk away and never look back. Instead, I was paid well enough to finish my education and get settled in life.
What part did the Hellions MC play in that?
Chad’s words play over in my head. “The Hellions might have saved you from Alvin Higgins years ago…” What do the Hellions know about my past with Alvin Higgins?
True to his word, the man never had sexual intercourse with me, and as disgusting as I find it, I didn’t hate everything he did to me. My body reacted. My body released. The man was not attractive. He was old enough to be my grandfather. He appalled me. He also took care of me, though.
He gave me gifts. He gave me attention. He didn’t force me to participate in any of our activities. He paid me for my willingness, and he paid more for my eagerness. Like an actress, I learned to play a part until I couldn’t anymore. The night I hurt myself.
When I woke up at home with stitches in my chin, I knew my time with him was over. Truth be told, I was ashamed at my body reacting time and time again to his stimulation, even though he was far from a man that should be able to turn me on.
My phone pings with a text alert, bringing me away from my thoughts.
Don’t let him hold power over you, beautiful. One Call.
A simple reminder. A simple two sentence message of encouragement. A simple compliment. Beautiful.
I stand in my bathroom, studying my reflection in the mirror. Reflection: the act of reflecting … an image, representation; counterpart: a fixing of the thoughts on something, careful consideration.
I have worked hard to be an image. I have worked to represent a strong, independent, successful businesswoman. My past does not define me.
With that final thought, I finish getting ready for my day at the office. I may walk in and Chad may have found a way to terminate me. If so, I will face it and overcome it. I have not been defeated by my past, and I won’t be overpowered in my future.
~Rex~
I reach my hand up and feel my forehead. No fever. What the hell is wrong with me? I have never been so twisted up in a female before.
I don’t have magic pussy. Her words play in my head. Bullshit, sweetheart, bull-fucking-shit. Caroline’s pussy may not squirt glitter or produce rainbows, but the way it gripped my dick sure as shit made me see stars.
Best sex I have ever had, and she sent me packing. I glance at the calendar on Tripp’s desk. Damn it, he doesn’t have the right one.
“When’s the next full moon?” I mutter to myself.
“What the hell are you talkin’ about?” Tripp asks, raising an eyebrow at me as I fumble with my phone to look it up.
“Nothing.”
He laughs at me. “She’s got you all tied up in knots, doesn’t she? You have more questions than answers, don’t you? The planets aren’t out of alignment, shithead. You don’t need a full moon to get things back to ‘right.’ ” He uses air quotes around the word right. “Call it fate, call it gravity, call it fuckin’ cupid. Doesn’t matter, brother; nothin’ is wrong with you or the moon. It’s Caroline, and it’s you. It’s the time being right, the people being right, and now all you gotta ask is, what are you gonna do about it?”
“What I’m gonna do about it? She fuckin’ sent me packin’. Yes, she fucked me. I kid you not, she
wanted it and I let her have it, her way. And she fucked me and then sent me home.”
“Doll is gonna kick your ass. Protect Lux. Hang out with Lux. Be a friend. Doll didn’t tell you to fuck her best friend.” Tripp laughs more, causing him to sit down in his desk chair so he won’t fall over.
“It’s not fuckin’ funny, shithead.” I throw my phone at him.
“Oh, it’s more than funny; it’s hilarious. Doll is gonna beat the ever lovin’ shit outta you.”
As if she has a radar for her name, here comes my cousin’s wife into the office, and the room gets even smaller as she eyes me cautiously.
“And why exactly will I beat the ever lovin’ shit outta you, Rex?” Her fierce stare pierces me as Tripp stands and grabs his woman.
He cups her chin, turning her head to look at him, then crashes his lips to hers in a way that leaves me dropping my head to give them some sort of privacy. It is a loud, sloppy kiss as they devour each other before Tripp finally sits back down and pulls her onto his lap.
“Don’t get mad, babe, but Rex and Lux hooked up.”
Way to go, asshole. Distract her for two point five seconds then drop the bomb on her before I can man up myself.
I wait for the rage to hit her, yet it doesn’t. Instead, she starts giggling.
“It was the suit. Had to be,” she spits out between laughs.
“No fuckin’ way!” I roar, angry that maybe she is right. I certainly am not the usual type of guy Lux would bring home.
“I’m sorry, Rex. I didn’t mean to hurt you,” she apologizes while studying me closely. Are my feelings that transparent? “Tell me about the dinner. Did Chad bother her?”
I give a quick recap of the evening and every move that scumbag made.
“What did he mean Alvin Higgins would love to have her back, but the Hellions won’t allow it?” Doll questions.
“Fuck if I know. We’ve never had any business dealing with a Higgins. I didn’t hear all of that clearly, but he seems to think she’s a whore for the club. Why would anyone think Lux is a whore? He thinks we saved her from Higgins, but I swear on everything, Doll, Catawba Hellions don’t know him or have anything to do with him.”
Doll taps her manicured finger against her chin in thought. Tripp and I watch her as she leans into the desk phone, putting it on speaker and dialing.
“Haywood’s Landing Storage, this is Jenna, how may I help you?” Ruby’s ol’ lady’s thick Mexican accent is laced into every word as she answers.
“Vida, how goes it, cupcake?” Doll replies to her replacement at her old job.
Before Doll and Tripp got together, Doll ran the storage office for the Haywood’s Landing Hellions. When Tripp found the balls to face her dad and go after his woman, ‘Vida’ stepped in to take over the office.
She is a gorgeous Latina beauty: hair dark as night, golden skin, and an accent that gets my dick hard. She is off limits, though. Always has been. I fuck a lot of women—married women even—but I won’t fuck an ol’ lady.
She has been with Ruben ‘Ruby’ Natera since they were kids, after she left her family in Mexico behind to follow him to America. He worked the tobacco fields when they first came to the Carolina’s until Roundman picked him up, gave him a job, they got married, and three kids later, Ruby and Vida are solid as a rock. Both of them are hard-working, dedicated individuals.
“It goes, it goes,” Vida sighs as she replies. The liveliness is gone from her voice. Something is wrong, but now is not the time to take on her problems, too. If the Hellions at the coast need us, Roundman would have called.
“Vida, that doesn’t sound promising. You know I got your back, babe,” Doll encourages.
“Hakuna Matata, Doll.”
“Been watching too many movies with the kids, Vida,” she laughs at her friend.
“No worries. What brings you to call this day?” Her English is clear, but not always in the right form.
“Roundman around? I need to talk to him.”
Her voice automatically goes into secretary mode. “Yes, he’s in his office. Hold please.”
“Doll, do I need to bring the gun and the bullet?” Roundman questions as I laugh at my cousin.
“Dad, no, and stop threatening to shoot Tripp.”
“Not gonna happen. He needs to be reminded, if he fucks up, he fucks around, then he eats a bullet for dinner and skips dessert.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, save the macho bullshit for later. I have a question,” Doll cuts to the chase.
“Out with it.”
“Rather than a question, I have a name. Alvin Higgins.”
Roundman breathes deeply, and without seeing his face, it is hard to gauge his reaction through the phone.
“The Hellions were tied to him in a recent conversation, Roundman. Catawba doesn’t know him. Do you know him on the coast or in another charter?” Tripp adds.
“Conversation concerning what?” he questions while avoiding answering us.
“Caroline is having some problems with a guy at work,” Doll starts before Roundman interjects.
“Caroline is family. Handle it, Tripp,” He orders.
“We’re trying, Dad. That’s why I’m calling you. I don’t know this guy; the boys here don’t know him. Why is our club tied to him, and what does he have to do with Caroline?”
“Her story to tell,” Roundman clips out.
“Dad, give me something. You obviously know more than you’re willing to share.”
“Am I on speakerphone?”
“Yes.”
“Step out of that office, Doll. Tripp, get me off the speaker.”
Doll leaves the room, and then Tripp picks up the receiver.
“You got me,” he informs as he stands. With his finger, he points me over to the phone, and I get up and move beside him. He tips the receiver sideways between us so we both can hear.
“I’ll be there next week. Until then, keep her safe. You run into a problem, handle it like we would any threat to family,” Roundman instructs before the click of him hanging up is the only sound we hear.
“What do we do with that? We have no more information than we had before.” I blow out a frustrated breath.
Just like everything else with Lux, I am left with more questions than answers.
Chapter Nine
Blindsided
~Caroline~
Arriving at work, I make my way through the office and to my desk without incident. The door to Chad’s office is closed, so he either hasn’t come in yet, or he is busy. I find it a welcome reprieve as my anxiety builds for what today will bring. Is he going to stand true to his word and ruin me?
The male ego is a fragile thing, and Rex slamming him into the wall, me leaving with Rex, those were both blows to his. Will pride overtake common sense?
While my mind races in what ifs, I lose track of time as I aimlessly sort through emails. I am updating two payroll accounts when my phone pings, alerting me to a new text.
Lunch? I promise to eat u good. Rex
I smile without realizing it. I am sure he would eat me good, better than good; he would eat me the best of the best, as if there was a championship on the line. However, he doesn’t fit into my world, nor do I fit into his.
Thx, busy working. Lux
Yes, I did it. I signed the text with his stupid nickname. This is probably not my smartest move, as I need to discourage his antics of seducing me. If this were only about sex, that would be one thing. However, this is not. I am not sure what we are doing, but there is more than sex shared between us.
Dominating the corp accounting world? Rex
I almost laugh out loud at his question.
I wish. Lux
When I don’t get an immediate response, I go back to work and don’t give further thought to my phone.
After a bit, it dawns on me. Rex invited me to lunch.
I look at the clock to see it is after two in the business day. I haven’t seen or heard one sound from Chad today.
I don’t open his door; rather, I go back to my desk and push down the discomfort building in my belly. I have never known Chad to take a sick day.
My phone pings a little after four with a new text, just as I settle back into my client’s file.
U could dominate me. Rex
Somehow, I don’t think anyone could do that. Lux
I reply to him quickly as I finish up and ready my workstation to leave for the day. My desk phone rings at the same time my cell chimes with a new message.
It takes a deluxe model, but I can be overtaken. Anything 4 u. Rex
I don’t reply because my office phone has my attention.
Picking up the receiver, my gut twists in anticipation. Something feels wrong today.
“Caroline Milton,” I greet.
“Miss Milton, this is Charles Thorton. I need to see you in my office before you leave for the evening, please. My secretary will send you in. I’ll be waiting.”
“Yes, sir.”
What does the Vice President of Charlotte CPA, Incorporated, want with me? I feel like I am a child being summoned to the principal’s office. Only, now the consequences are much harsher than detention.
Personal phone and Rex forgotten, I make my way to Mr. Thorton’s office. His secretary greets me and instructs me to make my way inside the large executive office where behind the large desk sits a short, balding man with glasses. He is not in the least bit the intimidating shark at the top of the corporate ladder I had always envisioned.
Off to the side of the room are two men with badges clipped to their belts and guns. What the hell is going on?
“Miss Milton, take a seat please,” he instructs, looking at the chairs positioned in front of his desk.
As I make my way over and sit down, anxiety runs through me.
Did Chad tell him everything? Am I getting fired? Where has Chad been all day? Am I getting arrested? What did I do?