Stand Of Redemption(12)

She tried to figure out what to do. She knew Lacey would be asleep and would have called Chris, but she didn’t want to interrupt him. There was a gas station a couple of blocks away. She stopped there many times on her way home and knew the friendly, elderly man who worked there. She could ask him if he could jump her car.

She looked around and felt safe enough to get out. She hadn’t heard of much crime in the area and knew she didn’t have very far to walk.

She stepped out of the car and locked it. She then turned to walk to the gas station, keeping her phone in her hand, and enjoying the fresh air after being in the bar all night.

As she thought of the money she’d made, she saw a shadow come toward her. She tried to hit send on her phone to call Chris, but it was knocked from her hand. Then she was dragged into an alley between two buildings.

She felt herself thrown against the wall, and her head bounced off the concrete. She whimpered from the pain as she tried to see who was attacking her, but it was too dark and her vision was blurry from the blow to her head.

“You fucking thief. Did you think I wouldn’t notice the extra money you stole for yourself?” She heard a deep voice growl in her face.

“What are you talking about?” Ria was shaking with fear. She hadn’t stolen any money; she’d earned that eight hundred dollars.

The man shook her again and shoved her against the wall. He then wrapped his hand around her neck, slowly constricting her airway. “Don’t play dumb, bitch. I saw the copy of the receipt with the extra three hundred.”

In her haze, Ria’s mind jumped to the previous weekend. Oh, no, she thought to herself. Chris hadn’t credited the money back. She should have known tonight when her tips were excessively high that he must have slipped her the money back. She had thought the college students had left her the extra-large tip.

“I’m sorry! I’ll give it back. Please, please, let me give it back.” Ria strained to say the words as his grip tightened on her throat.

“Oh, I’ll get it back… and more.” His other hand slid under her skirt, grabbing her roughly. “You piece of trash, showing your tits and ass, but playing hard to get. Girls like you are meant to serve men like me. You think you can take what’s mine? I’ll get what you were promising me,” he said softly as he pushed her panties to the side.

Sickened at his touch, Ria kicked out. Oh God, she didn’t know what to do. She tried to claw at his face, but her head was killing her, and she couldn’t put much strength into fighting back.

He managed to pin her flailing body against the wall when she felt herself suddenly released.

Finally able to breathe, she saw another man punching her attacker. She scooted away, although she could see that whomever had saved her had her attacker under control. The out of shape man didn’t stand a chance against her savior.

Eventually, her attacker quit fighting back. She could hear him groaning, so at least he wasn’t dead.

The other man turned to her. “Are you okay?”

Ria could hear the concern in his voice as he checked on her. Now that the shock was wearing off, she felt like she was going to pass out. She touched the back of her head, feeling the large lump forming.

“I... I think so,” she mumbled. It was so hard to think, but her mind kept telling her to do something.

“I need to get you to a hospital.”

Ria shook her head no. There was something she had to do. As she felt herself start to slip away, she forced herself to stay conscious. The money!

She reached into her pocket and pulled out the cash.

“What the hell are you doing?” the man snapped at her.

“Give him three hundred dollars, please,” she panted.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” he snapped again. “He was going to rape you!”

“Three hundred dollars. Give it to him!” she said with as much strength as she could muster while she held the wad of money out.

“Fuck. Fine.”

Ria watched him count some money out and throw it at the man.

“Let’s go.” He pulled at her.

Ria tried to walk with him; however, the blackness took over.

The last thing she remembered coming from the man was, “Oh, shit!”

* * *

Ria opened her eyes and looked around at the strange surroundings. She was in a small room with nothing except a bed, nightstand, dresser, and desk with a backpack next to the desk. The sunlight shining through the window indicated it must be the next morning. She’d thought she would be at a hospital, but apparently, the man had decided to bring her here.

She sat up and felt the pain shoot through her head, forcing the memories from earlier to return. She looked over at the nightstand and saw a glass of water and a bottle of Ibuprofen. She put her feet on the ground as she reached for the bottle.