She’d escaped that life and put the past behind her. At least she prayed for that to be true. If Carlotto or Kevin ever found her, they would force her back into their criminal world or put her in a grave.
She established some guidelines and rules for her future and for men in general. Staying clear of them entirely was ridiculous, especially with men like Lure and Charlie constantly around. But she didn’t feel the deep attraction she fantasized about with any of the men she’d met so far. She wanted more. She didn’t want lust, infatuation, or just sex. She wanted to be loved, and in wanting something so perfect, she pretty much knew she was destined for loneliness. How could she ever trust a man? How could she put an innocent man in jeopardy of getting hurt or, worse, killed? That was a realistic outcome if Kevin or Carlotto ever found her. They would kill any man she was with. There was no lying to herself about that. Maybe a quick fling would be the best option for her? That thought had her shaking her head. She wasn’t like that. Kevin had been her first and only lover.
She didn’t think she wanted to get that close to another person again. To be bound that intimately and always fear getting hurt and used. No, it wasn’t for her. Not now anyway.
Francesca had a new life now, with no more fears that one of Kevin’s thug friends could find her and keep tabs. Or at least she hoped none of them knew where she was. She wasn’t planning on staying in Bayline anyway or even saving enough money to live in Treasure Town a few towns up and on the water. Rent wasn’t cheap in resort areas, even on the outer limits. She loved the area, but Carlotto’s reach went far. If she stayed in one place too long, he might find her. She didn’t want to be owned. She just wanted to be left alone to live her life the way she wanted to and not be controlled and directed by a man.
She turned on the shower and prepared to maneuver under the hot water. That should ease her hip, an injury that was getting better and better every day. An injury that showed the scars from the knife wound the night Carlotto’s men had tried to take out Kevin. At least Kevin had cared enough to shove her out of the way and take a hit from Carlotto. But that didn’t mean she forgave Kevin for all he had done to her.
Carlotto got her out of there. Carlotto had saved her from being questioned by police and even interrogated for information on Kevin and Carlotto. He helped her get the medical attention she needed, and then she took off as Kevin went down for a minor crime.
She read that a special team of investigators was looking into Oscar’s death. But then she left town and didn’t look back. Carlotto set up Kevin to take the fall for drug possession while he tried to get Frankie in bed.
The illegal drugs landed Kevin in jail for a year. But she knew how these things worked. Kevin had friends all over the place, and he wouldn’t serve his full time. Her hope that Carlotto would kill Kevin and then the police would bust Carlotto never happened. She had to run. She took off the moment she had the chance and never looked back. She needed out of Chicago and fast.
She withdrew her savings and took off. She didn’t even pay the rent she owed on her apartment, and she felt bad about that, but she couldn’t waste any time. She didn’t trust a soul, and she planned on keeping it that way.
Frankie shivered as she stepped under the spray of water, hip throbbing, which was more psychological than anything else. Late at night, while she lay in bed listening to every small sound, fearing Kevin’s men or even Carlotto’s might have found her, the pain increased. But then the sounds of fighting, men and women in drunken stupors in the older, beat-up apartment complex replaced those fearful thoughts.
She would grip the handgun. The one she slept with every night.
I can’t go back to him. I can’t let him manipulate me like he did before. He cheated on me. He’s a criminal, and everything he told me was a lie. Lies to manipulate my mind. To make me fall in love with an imaginary man who was evil and a killer. So why does it still hurt so much? Why do I feel so weak, so foolish and worthless? Because that’s what he told me I would be without him. Nothing. No one. And all alone.
Francesca closed her eyes as the tears emerged. Her chest tightened, her breathing grew rapid, and she pressed her forehead against the tiled wall. Twenty-three and broken. That’s all I am.
Thirty minutes, two cups of coffee, and a meal replacement shake later, and Francesca was off to Prestige. She entered the club through the back door after walking the four blocks to work. The town was alive with music, a nearby amusement park that stayed open until midnight and a strip of bars and restaurants along the way. As the sun began to set, the beachgoers went home to rest, shower, and change in anticipation of the nightlife and all Bayline had to offer in the evening hours.
“Hey, gorgeous, how’s it going?” Lure asked as she entered the back door where he prepared the guest list for the private back rooms for the night.
“Good. How about you? Is it going to be a busy night?”
Lure assisted with bouncing as security. He was in his thirties but had this mysterious look in his eyes like he was analyzing everything or suspecting everyone of being guilty before innocent. From what she’d heard, he used to work for the government and was some sort of agent or something. No one really knew. He had nervous energy though. That was why he worked all the time and barely rested. Plus, he had loads of money from what she heard. It added to the mystery of the man, who was tall, had wavy, slicked-back black hair, and a chiseled jaw and cheekbones, making him appear stronger and capable. His deep, dark eyes always looked so serious. A lot of the workers thought he was mean, but he had never been mean to her and always gave her a welcoming smile.
He glanced down at the clipboard he held in his hand.
“Looks like we have a few parties tonight on top of the regulars. I’ll need you to handle the big one if you’re up to it?” he asked and eyed her over.
His gaze landed on her hip, and she turned slightly, as if that would stop him from singling out her weak spot. After she’d worked at the place only a few days, Lure had noticed her favor that hip and rub it late in the evening. He asked her about it, and she told him it was an old injury that acted up when she was on her feet a lot. From there on out, he tried to get her to rest in between performing her tasks, but of course, she refused. She tried hard not to show weakness even in the eyes of compassionate strangers.
“Sure thing. How many are expected for this party?” She hung up her hoodie and bag then reached for her black apron. It was short and held only her two pens, a notepad she hardly ever used, and her lip gloss. She smoothed out her short black skirt then began to adjust the T-shirt she wore with the Prestige insignia on it. Her breasts were too large for the tank top and the T-shirt, but she had to wear one of them, so she chose the T-shirt. It was annoying, but the truth of the matter was that showing off her deep cleavage really brought in the big tips. If there were a lot of males at this party, she should make a killing tonight. Still, she missed her office job and the professional dress code and using her brain and business instincts to get the work done.
She glanced over her shoulder to find Lure watching her with his arms crossed.
“What kind of party is this tonight?” she asked.
“Bachelor.”
Her heart raced a little. The fear that some wild, drunk guys could get a bit rowdy made her nervous.
He seemed to read her mind.
“Don’t worry. I personally know the men who are hosting this party. They’ll be sure to keep the guys under control. There are only about twenty-five of them. You’ll handle the appetizers and drink orders while Gloria does cleanup, if she ever gets here. Her attitude sucks lately. I’m sure they’ll move on to the bar area within a couple of hours.”
“Okay. If you say so.” She pulled out her lip gloss and ran the small tube along her lips.
“Anyone gives you a hard time, you tell me or Charlie. You hear?”
“Yes, sir.” She smiled. He held his serious expression and turned and walked away.
She gulped. Lure was very stern all the time, but she trusted him with doing his job and watching over his staff. He would ensure her safety. Now all she needed to do was prepare herself mentally for this bachelor party. She glanced into the mirror by the lockers.
I really don’t like showing off my body like this. Maybe I can find another job where the uniform is less revealing?
She took a deep breath, stared at her blue eyes and platinum-blonde hair, and got ready to start her night at Prestige. She placed her purse into the locker and used her hoodie to cover it. She brought her gun with her everywhere, but she didn’t need to advertise that. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could stay in Bayline, but wherever she moved to next so Kevin and Carlotto wouldn’t find her, she hoped for a better job, one that didn’t make her feel like the easy, gullible tramp that Kevin made her feel like. All she could do was hope for a better life now that she’d gotten away from him.
* * * *
Deputy Turbo Hawkins stood next to his brothers, Mike, Nate, and Rye as they got out of Nate’s truck. They were all together tonight, an unusual event they were usually too busy to enjoy lately. Turbo had been looking forward to this bachelor party all week, anticipating a good time with his brothers and some of the friends they’d all grown up with. Jessy Parker and his brothers, Larry and Dudley, were getting married to Priscilla.