Indebted(18)

“You’re to be on your best behavior tonight. Understand?’ He pulls the side of his suit over, showing me his gun. It is a warning: if I act out, he isn’t afraid to use it. The look in his eyes tells me he will.

“I will be…” I murmur.

“Good,” he replies, smiling as he leads me out the door and down the stairs. His men are dressed similarly to him, but they are wearing ties, blood red ties. I don’t find that as a mere coincidence as I’m sure blood will be spilled this evening.

We all assemble to the black SUVs. Zerro and I are ushered into the middle one while some of his men get in the other ones. Mack joins us, his eyes clinging to me, making me feel beyond uncomfortable.

Zerro seems cool and collected as he stretches his limbs and slides into the seat next to me. It is as if a mask slips onto his face. I am starting to understand there is a difference between business Zerro and pleasure Zerro.

“Mack, let the men know we are on our way.” His voice is firm and assertive.

“Yes, sir,” Mack simply responds, never questioning him. I sit in my seat fidgeting with my hands, unsure why I am going with them. Is there a reason? Is he going to whore me out to his friends? Kill me? Fear trickles into my stomach, eating away at all the warm fuzzy feelings he inspired this morning.

His phone rings in his pocket, and I look at him as he reaches into his pocket to pull it out. He swears under his breath before pushing a button on the screen.

“Why are you calling me, Luke?” Zerro’s voice is venomous, causing my heart to shake in my chest. I avert my eyes to stare out the window, not wanting to see the man I met this morning disappear.

“I don’t fucking care! You bring all of them with you. Every single last one. If they don’t have the money, I will put a bullet in their heads. Got it?”

Whatever Luke says calms him slightly, but when I look back over at him, one of his hands is sunk deeply into his dark locks. He is frustrated.

“No. If you don’t do as I say, I’ll have a bullet with your name on it too.” Luke isn’t given a chance to respond because the phone is thrown across the seat.

“Sir… I can try and figure out what’s wrong.” Mack is trying to be helpful or so it seem. Concerned is etched into his features, but it seems fake to me in a way. He is tall, dark, and incredibly handsome. His features are very similar to Zerro’s, and for a second I wonder if they are related.

“No.” he says firmly. Mack turns in his seat, his eyes catching mine in the rearview mirror. There is a warning, not the kind that says if you do something, I’ll hurt you, but one that says be careful, tread lightly.

No fucking way will I be shining a spotlight on myself. I want to get out of this alive. The ride couldn’t have been more than twenty minutes, but it seems like an eternity while I am in the car with Zerro. The tension comes off of him in waves, and I can tell he is fuming angry. I am terrified by this man.

Everyone pours from the vehicles, and when I get out, I look around. I think we are at some kind of night club. A long line of partiers stands before us - women and men of all shapes and sizes. I am wobbly on my feet as Zerro presses his hand firmly on the small of my back.

“You don’t have to be an asshole to me just because you’re mad at someone else…” I whisper for his ears only, feeling as if I am running to keep up with his pace.

He smiles, a tiny one. “I have to be an asshole at all times. Weakness is showing mercy to others. I can’t let these people see that.”

We pass the line of people, and we’re let through by a big, muscular guard dressed in all black. He looks like he fights for a living. He stamps something on my hand, and we are on our way.

Through the doors, I hear the music pounding and see lights swirling in different directions in various colors. Anticipation and excitement builds in me to be in there dancing and singing, but I am pulled away instead. Zerro pulls us to the right and down a long hall until we come to a door.

“We aren’t going dancing?” I ask bashfully. I am confused, to say the least.

“Business first.” His voice is emotionless, and because the hall is so dark, I can’t see his face. He presses firmly against my back, leading me down the stairs.

“Everyone against the wall!” I hear someone below us shout. My body locks up when my heels hit the bottom step and I take in the scene before me.

People of all ages, colors, and ethnicities stand against the wall of a cold, dank, dark room.

Giving me a soft push, Zerro leads us out onto the cement floor. All eyes are on us, and all I want to do is run to the nearest exit.

“Welcome. I hear many of you have failed to come up with the money that you owe to my family.” The devil has come out to play. I know it and so do all the other people in the room. Their faces morph into undeniable fear in front of me.