Indecent Pawn: What price is too high to pay for another person’s debt? (11 page)

From the corner of her eye she saw the red head passing him a fresh drink. Allison doesn’t know what came over her as she slapped the drink out of her hand sending the contents all over the front of her sleazy outfit. Some of the remnants even spilled on Antonio’s suit. The shock of the cold liquid had them both jumping out of their seats. The glass crashing to the ground got everyone else’s attention. Gio stepped up next to her but with his back to the group.

“What the hell Allison?” Antonio barked.

“Why would you do that?” Both women shouted.

“There is something you need to know Antonio.” Allison boldly stated looking from one woman to the next. The anger in her eyes was real.

“What is it and it better be good?” Antonio snapped. His angry expression was smoldering the flame of boldness she held and was causing her to retreat quickly.

“While I was in the restroom… I overheard their plans.” Both women looked to each other before cursing. The red-head looked afraid while the green-eyed demon gave her a look that would surly turn her to stone.

“Plans?” Antonio coerced.

“That drink was laced with poison.”

“LIAR!” The Emily woman shouted.

“GOT HIM!” Gio chanted. “Detain these two.” He gestured two other men over.

“No please, wait.” The red-head protested.

“What is going on?” Carmello who had been quiet throughout the entire ruckus asked. Antonio wasn’t saying anything, he was silently seething.

“Take them away.” Gio sneered. “If you continue to make a spectacle I won’t hesitate to shoot you now. Understand?” He stated revealing his silenced pistol. Allison was terrified of guns, so she froze immediately.

“The windows are still fairly closed so no one would hear a thing.” Carmello stated.

“You didn’t hear shit, bitch.”

“I heard enough, bitch.”

“Can someone now tell me what is going on?” Antonio asked not so calmly. Allison, although scared, recited everything she’d heard while in the restroom. Both Antonio and Carmello stood still listening to the details that was laid out. She could see their features morph from anger to beyond pissed.

“We apprehended the shooter from the rafters. The three have been relocated to separate locations. We should leave to ensure there are no others we are unaware of.”

“Let’s take the back way.” Carmello motioned. Antonio only nodded his head before grabbing Allison’s hand and strolling away with Gio bringing up the rear. This had been an eventful night. However being in his presence gave her a sense of security. Her heart was softening towards the dangerous crime boss inevitably putting her in more danger than anything in the world. The danger of actually caring for someone and having her heart broken. 

The car ride was silent but it wasn’t nearly as long as it was to get to the club. From the scenery from outside the window, they weren’t traveling in the same direction as she remembered. She was wondering where they were going and what was to come next. Before long they pulled into the driveway of a lavish hotel. The vehicle stopped at the glass paned wall of doors and the doorman rushed to the car. Antonio was the first to get out before reaching down to assist Allison out.

Without rush, Antonio ushered Allison into the building. All the while speaking to the staff that greeted them. Not so much as a cursory glance was directed to them as they boarded the elevator. To be so late at night, Allison was shocked to see so many people working. Besides the one time in Las Vegas with Derek she had never been in such a nice structure before anyway. Obviously that’s what the nice places required, round the clock workers.

“Can I offer you something to drink?” Antonio had led the way into the huge hotel suite. She was sure it was nice and luxurious but she only had eyes on him at the moment. The way he gracefully moved in his suit, especially how large he was, made her skin moist. She has seen a few fine men in her time but never had she been attracted to a white man before. Well that is until now. “Allison?”

“Sorry, what?” Antonio only chuckled and looked down as if he read her mind. If he did she was truly ashamed. She was a married woman no matter how miserable the said marriage was.

“I asked if you
needed
anything.” Antonio repeated.

“Anything? Uh…” She was trying to remember a time that she actually desired another person. The answer was an astonishing, zero others. Allison had never had a desire to be with her husband. Sure he was attractive but he destroyed any other emotions with his violence.

“Allison. Allison…” Antonio commenced to pouring two drinks. “Have a drink with me?”

“Oh, I don’t really drink.”

“Just to take the edge off from tonight. I know you must have been a little frightened. I saw your fear displayed when guns were drawn.”

“Why… I mean. How are you so calm?”

“Is that what you see? Calm?” Antonio chuckled void of humor. The laugh alone made Allison’s hair stand up on her neck and arms. “Are you afraid?”

“Y-yes…” Allison didn’t hesitate on her answer. “But I know you’re not aiming any retribution towards me. Well not now at least.” She added and he smirked.

“Why did you do it?” Antonio asked smoothly, fixing another drink. He was taking his drinks to the head fast or she was just too slow to react.

“Do what?” Allison was really confused as to what he was referring to. She was now sitting at the bar while he stood behind it.

“Knock the drink out of my hand. Report to Gio. Any of it.”

“They were trying to kill you.”

“They wouldn’t be the first, I’m sure.” Hearing that one statement caused a sharp intake of breath from Allison. She took the drink to the head to kill the spinning. It didn’t help but the warm tingly feeling did feel better. “I guess my question is, why would you save your captor?” The serious glare he pinned her with was frightening but with a small hint of sensuality. At least to her. Then it occurred to her it could be the drink playing tricks on her sanity. Causing her to see things.

“Although the circumstances to our meeting were not traditional, I had hoped I would gain your gratitude for being loyal to you thus far. I admit I have my selfish reasons but in my defense, where would I go? What would I do if something happened to you? It’s not like you have harmed me in any way. The way I see it, I am safer with you than anywhere else.”

“You think so?”

“You haven’t given me any reason to doubt you thus far.”

“As for, where you would go? You could have called your
dear
husband to send for you. You would be free technically.”

“Depending on what your definition of free is? There is no such thing as free when you are married to a monster like Derek. I want nothing to do with my husband. If I could divorce him I would. And I highly doubt he would send for me.”

“Most people would consider me as a monster.”

“Honestly I could see that.” Allison’s honesty made Antonio chuckle again. She was glad she could take his mind off of the trouble of the night.

“I can appreciate your honesty.”

“It’s all I have to my name.”

“To answer your previous question, I am far from calm but you are helping to keep the beast inside me at bay. It’s very brave of you to entertain me in this state.”

“It’s not like I had much choice.”

“True.”

“How do you normally sate your anger? Obviously the alcohol isn’t helping for you’ve drank five to my two.”

“You are right about that, it’s not helping. Furthermore you don’t want to know how I normally
sate
my anger, as you so kindly put it.” He chuckled before resting against the counter. Allison’s treacherous eyes were moving on their own accord as they looked over his body. Antonio had taken off his jacket as they spoke. He was now in his button down shirt with the first two buttons undone. His hands were braced on the counter he was leaning on making his already big biceps stretch the shirt further.

“Humor me.” She breathed out.

“Allison?”

“Yes?”

“Do you find me attractive?”

“…” Allison was in shock that he asked that question. Heat rushed up her neck to her head and her palms instantly started to sweat. How do you answer something like that?

“You just said all you have to your name is honesty. So?”

“Yes.”

“That’s good to know because I find you attractive as well.”

“Really?”

“Why do you sound surprised?”

“Let’s just say I have no reason to feel desirable after years of hearing differently.” Allison put her head down just thinking about how her life has been in the past years. “Plus, if I recall those words came from your mouth not too long ago. At least something similar.”

“Touché.” Antonio nodded his head with what she has noticed is his signature smirk. “In order to humor you, I would have to show you. Telling you doesn’t do it justice.” Antonio stated with a serious look on his face. Allison really wanted to know but was afraid to request for him to show her.

“Show me.”

“I don’t think that’s a wise idea, Miss Allison.”

“Why not, Mr. Antonio?”

“Hmph…” Antonio grunted. From the look on his face he was visualizing something and in deep contemplation over it. “Showing you would satisfy my curiosity but I’m not sure you will be able to handle what I am capable of showing you.”

“You never know until you try.”

“This battle of the wits is a dangerous game you’re playing sweetheart.” Allison noticed Antonio was swaggering her way. Unconsciously she bit her bottom lip as her stomach did mega flips. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Come with me.” Allison followed Antonio into the oversized bedroom not sure what was going to come next but she was determined not to regret it. She’d asked for it now it was time to take it like a woman.

*****

Emily and Susan were awaken from their brief slumber strapped to huge chairs that resembled the ones found in a nail salon. Having met several times at another nail shop to discuss business, it was ironic that they found themselves in a similar position. The bottoms of their feet seemed to be glued down or something else sinister. Glancing at one another and then around the room they were trying to decide if they should speak aloud.

“Where are we?” Susan asked lowly.

“I don’t fucking know.” Emily snapped.

“Why are you angry with me? I didn’t get us into this mess.”

“Just shut up. I am trying to think.”

“My god, my family? They are going to die because I got caught up with the likes of you people.”

“Would you please shut the fuck up? Someone else is here.”

“HELP!”

“You are truly an idiot. You know that.”

“Ladies.” They recognized one of the men that was seen with Antonio Mucciono but he wasn’t alone. Neither Antonio nor his right hand were present thankfully. There was a small Chinese woman in attendance dressed in all black leather that could be mistaken as rubber. It was skin tight like a second skin. Her skin was blemish free and her long jet black hair was pulled into a tight ponytail. A perfect Chinese bang graced her forehead giving her a girly look.

“You know why we’re all gathered here. The first question is, are we going to do this the hard way or easy way? You can decide.”

“Fuck you. We’re not saying shit.” Emily literally spat on the floor.

“Hard way it is.”

“NO WAIT! Please wait.” Susan started to hyperventilate. The small Chinese woman approached Emily since her mouth was the most active. Someone behind the seat snatched her head back and inserted a gag ball into her mouth, fastening the harness to the seat. Susan watched in horror as the woman removed a long wide nose set of pliers. She couldn’t fathom what on earth she was going to do with the tool until she witnessed it first-hand.

Emily’s scream rang out loud and clear behind the gag ball. Starting at her thumb, the pliers gripped the tip of her acrylic nail before it was pulled away so forcibly it made Susan literally dizzy from the blood rising from the missing skin. One after the other, every nail was plucked from her right hand. The hand that she pledged her allegiance to the person she called boss. Tears were rushing out of Emily’s tightly shut eyes. All the thrashing in the world couldn’t lessen the pain.

“Who hired you?”

“Oh God! Emily did?” Susan answered truthfully.

“Is that a trick answer?” The man asked with a crease in his brow.

“No! There was only one other man that I met. He never said his name. That’s all I know. I was told they have my family. If I didn’t do what they wanted me to do then I would have to bury each of my family members until I was the last one. Then I would suffer the same fate as those I love in the end.” Susan sobbed so much. Mucus was all over her face but she could care less. “I swear to you that is all I know.”

“What did this man look like?”

“He is of Chinese decent.”

“What was your job exactly?”

“I was to get hired at the club. It was as if they knew Mr. Mucciono would come to the club opening being that Mr. Carmello is his cousin. Besides letting the guy that was in the rafters in through the back door, I was to pour a vile of poison into Mr. Mucciono’s drink. It was supposed to cause a diversion while the shooter fired a single deadly shot. Everyone would be so consumed in finding out what was wrong with your boss they wouldn’t see which way the shot was fired.”

“I appreciate your cooperation. Your death will be the easiest.” The man said before Susan felt a pinch in her neck. Every muscle in her body became heavy and useless. All this before she could beg for her life. She could only hear from that point on.

“You have something to add to your buddy’s confession.”

“…”

“Suit yourself. Continue with Ms. Green’s mani/pedi.” Emily’s left foot was being mutilated one nail at a time. The pain was so bad. Everyone has broken a nail to the skin underneath and that alone would near about bring them to tears. To have the nails ripped with such force from the nail bed was extreme torture.

“Chon. CHON!” Emily shouted.

“Sorry didn’t get that.”

“Chon. I work for Chon.”

“Chon has no reason to have issues with our organization.”

“He was hired. That’s all I know.” Emily sobbed. “He’s going to kill me for betraying him.”

“He will have to wait in line.” The man stated. “Any last details I need to be aware of?”

“Just this.” Emily tried to regain some of her hard front for she knew her life was over. “This won’t end well for your Don. If I don’t report soon, the cavalry will come.”

“We’re counting on it.” Before Emily could respond she was pricked in the neck with the muscle relaxing agent. Her tongue and rest of her body was heavy. Unmoving even.

“Enjoy the rest of your spa day ladies.” The man winked before motioning for them to wrap it up. “A nice long
dip
in the mineral bath was requested by the boss.”

~

The two cunning women were unstrapped from the chairs and thrown carelessly into a wheel barrel. They couldn’t stop their minds from wondering just what else was planned for them. If the so called mani/pedi wasn’t enough torture, what could they possibly have in store for them? What did he mean by mineral bath? The sound of running could be heard nearby. The fear of the unknown was almost enough to cause Emily to have a heart attack while Susan was busy repenting her sins. When she died she at least wanting it on the record  that she had prayed for forgiveness for her part?

The stone faced woman and huge man lifted Emily’s body to place her into the tub of water. The same was done to Susan as they hit the button for each tub to start the jets to rolling. As if on cue, the petite silent woman tossed two royal blue disks the size of hockey pucks into each tub. Like a piece of battered fish being dropped into hot grease, the liquid began to sizzle.