Page 30 of Paco
The man instantly let go of her. “I didn’t mean any disrespect. I didn’t know she was yours.” He stalked back to the bar.
“I always take care of what’s mine.” The way Victor looked at her set off a thousand five-alarm bells inside her.
“Crystal, Amber Jade, get your asses over here. We’re heading out,” Bobby said, walking into the room.
“They want to party with us,” Amber Jade pouted.
“Not without paying.” Bobby motioned for Misty to come over.
“How much you want for the three girls to party with us?” a short burly man asked.
Bobby hooked his arm around Misty. “This one’s not available. For the other two, give me two grand.”
“That’s too much,” the man said.
“That’s the price.” Bending down, he whispered in her ear, “You want a drink?”
A single shiver ran up her spine.Why’s he being nice to me?“Sure.” She really didn’t want anything but to get out of the club. Some strange tension and energy was going around, making her nerves snap.
“Give my favorite girl a rum and Coke.” Guiding her to the bar, she trembled as her smooth skin prickled to goose bumps. “You cold? Lemme give you my jacket.” He draped it around her, then helped her onto the bar stool.
Her stomach churned.He’s up to something.Light-headedness overcame her and she clutched the side of the bar, fearful she would topple over or faint.
“Here you go,” Bobby said, handing her a tall glass.
She curled her fingers around it and brought it to her forehead, the coolness of the glass soothing her. Across the bar, Victor sat at a table, his dark eyes boring into her. The neon lights picked up glints of cruelty in that cold gaze.
She took a sip and thought she’d upchuck right there. “Bobby, I’m so tired. Can we just go back to the motel?” Holding her breath, she braced herself for his reaction.
“No problem.” He threw a ten-dollar bill on the counter. “Keep the change.” He helped her down and snapped his fingers. Crystal and Amber Jade rushed over.
“What about a thousand?” the short man asked.
“Two grand is the amount. Take it or leave it.”
The man grumbled something inaudible under his breath, and a few other gang members threw dirty looks at Bobby.
“Come on, girls. We’re outta here.” With his arm curled around Misty, they walked out, the other two women shuffling behind them.
When they arrived at the motel room, Bobby took out a bottle of scotch and several bottles of prescription pain pills. “Why don’t you take a warm shower before you go to bed? I know you like your showers.”
What are you hiding from me, Bobby?“Okay.” Sitting on the edge of the bed, she kicked off her stilettos and rubbed her feet. “Is your nose feeling better?”
“It will after I take a few of these.” He poured out several white pills in the palm of his hand. “You want some?” She shook her head. “It’ll make you sleep real good.” Another shake of her head. Lifting his shoulders up and down, he poured scotch into a plastic cup. “Suit yourself.” He popped the pills in his mouth and washed them down, then went over to the bed, turned on the television, and settled back on the pillows.
After her long shower, she came back into the room and saw Bobby conked out on the bed, the TV still on and the plastic cup on the floor. She padded over to the window and looked out. There weren’t any lights on, and the parking lot was quiet. A dull ache pulled at her, and she wondered if Paco was still in Silverado.
Pressing her forehead against the cool windowpane, she closed her eyes. It’d been a long time since she’d felt the pull toward a man—eight years, to be exact. She’d been fifteen years old when she’d had a massive crush on Tyler Tarleton. He’d been the quarterback for the Roosevelt Raiders, and all the girls wanted to get his attention. Priscilla Mitchum had been head cheerleader and the most popular girl in the sophomore class. It hadn’t been a secret that she had her sights on Tyler. According to her, since she was head cheerleader, popular, pretty, and rich, it made sense that she and Tyler should be a couple. Whenever she’d laugh and flirt with Tyler, Misty—no, Chelsea. I was Chelsea back then, and I never thought I stood a chance with Tyler, not with Priscilla in the picture.
But Tyler had started coming over to her during lunch and between classes, and when she’d bumped into him at a party and he’d asked her to dance, she’d been over the moon. He’d made her feel special and pretty.
How fucking naïve I was.
A loud grunt yanked her back from memory lane to the present. She looked over her shoulder and saw Bobby sleeping on his back, his mouth open; he looked like a fish gasping for air.I wonder if he’d wake up if I put a pillow over his face.Another loud grunt and then he turned on his side. For several minutes, she watched him sleep, and when she was convinced that he wasn’t waking up, she tiptoed over to his jacket and slipped her hand inside the inner pocket. Her fingers curled around a fat envelope and she pulled it out, going into the bathroom and locking the door behind her. As she sat on the toilet, she opened the manila envelope to find stacks of bills. Ice ran through her veins, her ears pounded, and she couldn’t move. Sitting there, just staring at the money, sourness filled her mouth and she thought she was going to lose it. Then, with shaky fingers, she pulled out the bundles of money and counted. When she reached $65,000, she knew.
There was no doubt.
Bobby had sold her to Victor.
