He ran his hands on my shoulders. “Cass, it’s a couple of months. We’re not going to die. Let’s do what we need to and stick to our plan. It’s for our future. Don’t you want that?”
I shrugged. “Honestly, right now I don’t know what I want.”
He leaned forward, placing his lips against my forehead. “I need you to trust me. Then I need you to get changed. We’re going out to scope a new target tonight. Wear a dress. I hear it’s a party.”
“I’m not going out tonight, especially with them.” Was he crazy? I didn’t want to be anywhere near either of them.
“You’re coming. They’ll know something is up if you don’t. I’ve already had to jump through hoops to calm them down. Can’t you pretend to be grateful?”
“Grateful? Do you hear yourself?” Every second I was getting more furious. “I can’t believe you got us into this shit, Brant. I should have known.”
“Cass, please. Don’t you love me?”
“This has nothing to do with love, you idiot! These people are fucking crazy. I’m afraid for my safety. You expect me to live under the same roof as them, and go out in public as if nothing is wrong? Are you delusional?”
It took a lot for Brant to get angry, but when he did, he was out of control. I watched his phone fly across the room and hit the wall. It smashed into several pieces on the floor. He screamed at the top of his lungs. “FUCK! You’re ruining everything. Why don’t you just call your daddy and go home. It’s obvious you don’t want to be with me, Cass.”
Figuring it was best to calm him down, I rushed behind him and held my arms around the front of his body. “Don’t say that. It’s not true. I’m here with you now. I’m just scared.”
He turned and forced me to look into his bloodshot eyes. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I swear. Please trust me. I’ll keep you safe, or I’ll die trying.”
I smiled, well at least tried to. “Ok. I’ll do what you want, but when this is over, we’re out of here. I mean it, Brant.”
Later, when I finally got into the shower, I let the water fall over me. To be honest, I wasn’t in any shape to party. I felt horrible for stealing, guilty for playing that man a fool, and angry I’d been able to pull it off so easily. Before I got in over my head I needed to find a way out. The problem was figuring out how to do it.
Chapter 6
Cassie
The party – that’s what they were calling it. I would have used another term. Half naked people were scattered around the first dark lit room we stepped foot in.
Even before going inside, I knew it wasn’t going to be that enticing. The building, and old warehouse looking structure, hadn’t been kept up. Parts of the exterior were cracking, and the paint had mostly chipped off. We could hear the music as we pulled into the crowded parking lot, and before entering got our hands stamped like it was a secret club. I think I had high hopes that’s what it was. A rave would have been fun at least. Maybe, in some ways it was private, per se. According to Tammy only few people knew it existed. She’d insisted I wear a tight black dress and high heels, and now I understood why. The few people fully clothed left nothing to the imagination. This was indeed a swingers club.
She was greeted by someone who was apparently a friend. The woman, dressed in a sheer see-through fabric bodysuit, which covered only her nipples and pussy, kissed her passionately on the lips. It was so shocking I couldn’t take my eyes from it, not even to see if Brant was doing the same thing. Just to be safe, I wrapped my arm underneath his and held him closer. If this was some kind of underground sex club we weren’t participating. While waiting out the uncomfortable scene, I tried to focus on other things going on around us. In the far distance I could see naked dancers on high platforms. Strobe lights were moving around, giving me only flashes of the environment. The music, a sexy techno, vibrated off my body, so loud I knew I wouldn’t be able to hear anyone talking.
Thankfully, Rocky waved us over towards a bar. He ordered us four shots and waited for his girlfriend to join us before toasting his in the air. “To Winning.”
I didn’t know what it entailed, but I saluted anyway. We were away from my family, and on our way to better things. Today had taught me to follow directions. I suppose they’d been looking out for me. I’m sure I was the only one of them without a criminal record, though I couldn’t be sure about Tammy.
For a little while we watched the crowd, while doing several more shots. Some people were dancing while others mingled casually. It wasn’t until I needed to use the restroom that things got a bit weird, making me question whether I wanted to stay or go. It was obvious the alcohol was going straight to my head. I’d never been very tolerable, no matter how much practice I’d had. I’d gotten directions from Rocky before Brant took my hand and led me in the location he’d pointed us in. A sign displaying a female figure was on a large wooden door. “Hurry back, baby,” he said loud enough for me to hear.
I threw my boyfriend a smile before walking inside, assuming it was a regular lavatory.
There were stalls, and some people were actually using the facilities, but that’s not all of what was going on. There were couches filling the whole right side of the room. I couldn’t be sure, but they all looked like a crushed red velvet fabric. On several were women, some half dressed. They were groping over each other, kissing, and even acting out other things. The worst part about it was how they didn’t seem to mind being on display. On the counter, was a long strand of white powder. As I walked by, I watched someone bend down and snort it through a straw.
I’d dabbled in enough to know it was cocaine, and feared there would be consequences for me walking in on such an act taking place.
Once in a locked stall, I contemplated remaining there until I knew they’d all gone. I’d always considered myself a brave girl. Sure, I’d been protected from a lot of things, but I certainly wasn’t used to seeing such actions happening as if they were acceptable. It wasn’t like I cared about other people’s sexuality. To each his own. Just because I was only interested in men didn’t mean everyone had the same taste.
While inside the small stall, I could hear the women making noises. It was obvious they were high on each other, if not then the drugs they’d brought in with them. I wondered if they were drunk, not knowing what they were doing.
I’d been that drunk before, though I never ended up naked in bed with another woman. Once I’d awaken in a bed of my own vomit, and another time I woke up to an extremely sore ass. Yep, you heard it right. Apparently I’d gotten drunk off my butt and begged my boyfriend to fuck me in it. I couldn’t walk right for days after that, and I sure as shit wasn’t going to ask him to do it again.
After a few minutes, I remembered Brant was outside waiting for me. I wanted nothing more than to get out there and go home, where we could be alone. Then something happened.
I heard her voice first, but not soon enough to make it to the exit. Tammy had come into the bathroom, and she wasn’t alone. At her side Brant was there watching me. He reached out his hand for me to take. Since he was my only serenity, I gladly accepted his suggestion and placed my palm against his. He pulled me close, saying nothing until I was close enough to hear. “It’s time to party, baby.”
I didn’t know what he was talking about, and still wanted to leave the establishment, so I pulled away enough to give him a dirty look. He began to smile and nod, as if I was supposed to understand what was going through his head. “I don’t think so,” I announced loud enough Tammy could hear.
She approached, placing her hand on Brant’s shoulder and running it down his back. “Maybe you should let me.”