Inferno (18 page)

Chapter Twenty-Two

The last few weeks have been pure bliss.  Ethan took time off, spending it with me.  We were rebuilding our relationship, and there was no doubt about where we stood.  We formed an unbreakable bond that I knew no one would ever come close to defeating. 

I met with the therapist a few times.  He is helping me learn to deal with the whole ordeal.  The nightmares haven’t stopped, but they are less frequent, and I have Ethan to chase them away when I can’t. 

When I returned to work, my first objective was to track down Jerry, giving him a bone crushing hug of gratitude.  We now have a standing lunch date every week.  His notoriety for unlocking the identity leading to the apprehension of my stalker, and subsequently my rescue, spread throughout the company.  For better or worse, Jerry is no longer invisible.  He is, however, more social.  As a result, his stutter is not nearly as noticeable as before.

********************

Group Message

Lex – what’s up my peeps?  It’s a beautiful day! (singing and dancing, blue bird on finger)

Jack – stop being happy.  It’s annoying (foot stomp)

Bella – I second that (voting hand motion)

Lex – what’s wrong with you two?

Makayla – they went out last night.  Heard J come in around 4 (gasping in shocked horror)

Jack – Not sure what happened.  I woke up with my pants on inside out (completely puzzled)

Bella – you were telling everyone you needed a fella.  Maybe you found one

Jack – I wonder if I was any good

Makayla – Maybe it was that big dude from the hair place

Jack – Doubtful.  I have trouble finding my own junk.  I don’t need more of a challenge

Makayla – Should I study for my Series 6 exam or take a nap?

Lex – Study

Bella – Study

Jack – Study

Makayla – I don’t think I like your voice of reason

Lex – Study (said in a voice that doesn’t sound like me)

Makayla – smartass

********************

It’s Saturday night, and the whole gang is hanging out at
Inferno
.  Sophia’s here and so are Marissa and Tyler.  I invited Joel, hoping to spark up a little romance between him and Sophia.  It seems to be working too.  I got Ethan’s attention from across the VIP section, and grinning from ear to ear, I pointed to the new couple.  He met my giddy, matchmaker happiness with a severe frown.  He is still a little touchy where the detective is concerned.

The girls head out to the dance floor, and the guys ogle us from their private seats.  The music was thumping, and we were all breaking out our best moves.  Hips are swiveling, arms were waving, and Jack even busted out The Rabbit.  We were having a great time, and my cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling so much. 

Marissa was bumping and grinding her way in my direction.  When she got close, she shouted. “Who’s the skank fighting with Ethan?  He looks pissed.”

I looked over to see a woman wearing black, platform, hooker heels and a romper consisting of black, skinny pants with a white halter top that left her flawless back exposed. 
Lydia
.  Pushing through the crowd, I came up behind her.

“Ethan, please,” she begged.  “Don’t be like this.  We have too much history.  You know we always find our way back to each other.  It’s inevitable.  Save us both the trouble and stop this song and dance routine.”

“Listen carefully Lydia, because this is the absolute last time I’m going to say this.  You are not welcome anywhere near my family, my friends, or me.  You are banned from any establishment that I operate, either solely or in part.  If I see you again, I can guarantee, you will not like the consequences.”

“Ethan,” she began with an annoyed tone, “cut the act.  We both know you’re blowing smoke.  You couldn’t stand it if I was actually suffering in any way.”

“What about me?” My voice was a sickening sweet, condescending lilt, most people interpret as a warning that an ass kicking is brewing.  “Am I pulling your leg too?”

She turned to confront me, and a malicious smile took up residence on her face.  “Aw look, the little puppy’s still sniffing around Ethan’s feet.  Did you come back to get kicked some more?”

The girl posse fanned out behind me.  Sophia looked over to see Joel assessing the situation, and trying to decide whether he should wade in.   Sophia yelled out a warning.  “Tonight you are one of the guys out with his buddies and your girls.  You are NOT a cop; do you understand me?  If you can’t do that, walk away right now.”  “But make it quick,” she called as an afterthought.

“How pathetic, you need your friends to fight your battles.  I shouldn’t have expected anything less from rubbish like you.”

“Let’s see, I’m so successful in
my
chosen career, that people actually seek me out, not the other way around, and the man you want… is in
my
bed every night.  Green is not a good color on you princess.” I said sympathetically. 

“Please,” she scoffed.  “Like you could ever come close to fulfilling his…
needs
the way I do.”

“How’s the weather over there in fantasy land?  Make sure you tell the wizard I said hi,” I laughed out right at her attempted bluff, pissing her off. 

“You sniveling little brat, you are so far beneath my stature that you can’t even fantasize about reaching my level in society.  You will never be welcome in the circles Ethan and I run.”

“A good punch to the vagina can fix that,” Makayla chimed in.

“Charming, your companions are just as foul as you are,” was Lydia’s snotty comment.

“I know, it’s great isn’t it,” I said with a sassy smirk.

Joel, standing next to Sebastian in the spectators box, asked “shouldn’t someone stop this?”

“No.” Both Tate and Tyler said at the same time.

“Dude, I’ve seen Lex and Makayla get pissed.  You do not want to get caught in the middle of that eruption,” Sebastian explained.  “You might be a big guy, but I’d still put money on those two hellcats for the win.  You wade into that mess, no one is coming in after you, and I can guarantee… you will not come out of it the same, mentally or physically.  You’re better off staying out of the way with us.”

“Marissa’s one notch crazier than her sister,” Tyler confirmed.

“Bells may look delicate and prissy, but I’ve seen her make guys twice her weight tremble in fear.  It was both awe-inspiring and frightening,” Tate added.

“It’s five on one.  Clearly the bitch deserves to get her ass beat, but those aren’t fair odds.”

Standing close enough to overhear, Jack interjected, “no worries law man.  This fight is between Lexie and the skank.  The rest of us are here to make sure that snatch cracker doesn’t have any friends waiting for their chance to tip the scale.  When this goes down tonight, Lexie will beat the bitch back all on her own.”  

Joel looked to Ethan.  “You aren’t seriously going to stand here and let Alexis get into a fight?”

Ethan’s eyes slid to the detective.  “You’ve spent time with my girl, haven’t you?”  It was more of a statement than a question, but Joel nodded his agreement.  “How effective do you think telling her to back down would be?”  The look on Carlson’s face told him he knew exactly how that would go.  Ethan slid his eyes back to the women in front of him.  “Sophia’s stubborn streak could rival Lex’s.  Just thought you should know what you’re getting yourself into.”

“Why don’t you take your old, has been, tapped to many times ass and walk it out of here,” I advised.

Oooo that hit a nerve.  Someone doesn’t like to be insulted.  Wonder how many buttons I can push?

“Keep it up little girl, you don’t scare me.”

“You got two things right.  Compared to you, I am a
young
girl.  And from what a copious amount of guys disclosed at the STD clinic, you’re a triple threat, concealing not one, but
three
black holes that’ll suck in any cock within a two mile radius.”

Lydia’s face flushed with anger at the jab.  Our growing audience hooted their approval, egging me on further and pushing her one step closer to the edge.

“The way I hear it, there weren’t enough…
packages…
on the west coast to fill
your
box.  Aw,” I feigned concern to the growing assembly, “I think I’m upsetting the knob jockey.”  Addressing my enemy in a voice usually reserved for babies, I continued my taunt.  “I’m sorry, are your little feelings getting hurt?”

“I’ll admit, she’s good,” Joel acknowledged.  “She’s using insults even I haven’t heard before, impressive.”

“She’s just getting started.  Those girls study Urban Dictionary like a law student studying for the bar exam.” Tate notified the men.  “They have mastered the art of verbal sparring.  If you’re ever lucky enough to witness an oral match involving two or more of the girls, you’ll experience something truly extraordinary.”

“What about Jack?” Joel asked in that curious, offhand way guys discuss sport stats over a beer, never taking their eyes from the game.

Mimicking his casual tone, Tate shared his expertise on the subject.  “Whenever the group is referred to as a whole, it’s always girls, and you can safely assume Jack is included.   Before you ask, no, that does not offend him.  It wouldn’t matter if it did, these girls aren’t exactly PC, and they are equal opportunity insulters.”

“How long does one of these showdowns usually last?” Tyler shot out.

“Until they make their opponent cry or a fight breaks out.  The majority of the time, their rival runs away crying.  Makayla’s skirmishes are the most likely to end physically.  On rare occasions, they score a double hit, crying
and
a fight.”  Tate paused, deep in thought.  “Come to think of it, Lex is the only one with both an endless amount of ingenious slurs and the patience to ever pull that off. I think she enjoys the long game more than the others.”

“I’ve seen Lex fight with a chick before.  Honestly, she didn’t do much but fend her off,” Sebastian stated.

Tate let out a chuckle.  “That wasn’t this Lex.  This Lex only comes out when you mess with someone she loves.  This right here,” he said pointing to woman in question “is mama bear Lex defending her cubs.”   

“Tate buddy, didn’t you think that I should have been told about this little personality trait before tonight?” Ethan accused.

“Nope, more fun for me this way.”

“You guys are nuts,” Joel muttered.

Sebastian gave him a manly slap on the shoulder.  “Welcome to the club my friend.  Buckle up and enjoy the ride.” 

“Listen you little bitch.  All you’re doing is showing all of these people the real you.”

Oh yeah, she’s getting close now.  Just a few more pushes and she’ll have no choice but to tuck tail or attempt to save face.  Yee Haw!

“What’s that Jizzabelle?  How much more clever, articulate,” giving her a scathing once over, I finished, “non-surgically enhanced I am?  Sweetheart, you should probably shut your pie hole now before you embarrass yourself anymore.”

That did it.  Lydia lost the tiny thread of composure she was desperately clinging to, and pushed me on the shoulders with both hands, rocking me fractionally.

“That’s it?  That’s what you throw at me?  I expected more from a whoreslag, very disappointing.” I shook my head in disgust. 

She threw a sissified punch my way that I easily deflected with my left hand, simultaneously landed a punch to her stomach with my right, doubling her over.  I stepped back, in a show of sportsmanship, allowing her time to recovery.  I brazenly examined my nails, and asked the crowd if anyone had a file I could borrow.  Adding a bit more insult to an already bruised ego, I explained further that my nail had snagged on the lot lizard.  The horde’s raucous laughter aptly complemented my taunts.

Lydia
finally
stopped gasping for air and kicked off her heels. 
Ah, we’re getting serious now
, I thought, following suit.  She ran at me.  Using her momentum to my advantage, I accelerated Lydia’s reunion with the floor through a well placed foot and a tiny shove.  Planting my knee in her back, I grabbed a fistful of hair, yanking it up to whisper in her ear.

“I know you’re the vapid model type, getting by on her good looks and cock sucking abilities, so in case you missed it, I’m toying with you.”  She began to struggle, causing me to tighten my hold and deepen my knee until she cried out with a painful sob.  “You have two choices.  I can let you up; you leave and stay away from Ethan, from everyone we even occasionally associate with, and from me.  Or, you can choose door number two, where I pound the shit out of you, possibly marring that pretty face of yours, and then you can leave and stay away from Ethan, from everyone we even occasionally associate with, and from me.  The choice is yours.”

You may think I’m being a little harsh, but I’ve already had one crazy ass bitch try to take me out this year.  I’m making sure this one knows crazy can go both ways. Apparently, she got the message loud and clear, deciding that departing with the full use of her legs was in her best interest.  The crowd parted, and we watched Lydia skulked away as nameless faces mocked her steps to the exit.