Peeking a look at Rex, I could see that he was totally gone, he was enraptured with Mercy, so I started testing the waters. I ran my hands lower, so they rested on his hip bones. I could feel the strain in his pants from his erection, and I held back the giggle that wanted to escape me.
It was time. I glanced over at Blane, who nodded his head at me, while thankfully distracting Leo, who had his back turned toward me. This was it, this was my moment. Wincing, I moved my hand down to his pockets and was about to pull out his phone when the front and back doors crashed in and a barrage of men holding guns came barreling into the club, making me fall back on my ass, tucked in like a turtle and screaming my ever living brain off.
“Freeze. Put your hands in the air,” men shouted all around, while moving further into the club.
Someone grabbed me from behind and made me stretch out my rigid body so they could push it against the floor and strap some cuffs around my wrists.
What the fuck was happening?
Words like prostitution, investigation, and solicitation filtered through the screams filing in and out of the main house. One by one, from the corner of my eye, I saw Mercy be pinned to the ground, as well as Blane, Rex, Bizzy and Eva, even Leo. Members were brought down as well, and one by one, we were escorted out of the club and into rows upon rows of cop cars that lined the street.
Tears fell from my eyes as I tried to figure out what was going to happen to me. Blue and red lights flashed, causing a scene outside. Jail time was in my near future, because even though I wasn’t doing anything, I was still guilty by association.
For the first time I could remember, I actually feared for my future. I’ve been through hell and back, fighting for a couple of dollars to stay afloat, but this was beyond my control. I was caught red-handed and there was nothing I could do.
I was fucked.
***
Getting my mugshot taken was a less than flattering moment for me, especially since I was in a German milkmaid outfit. My hair was plastered to my face, thanks to the tears, sweat, and smashing of my face against the floor at the club, thank you, police officers. My makeup was dripping off my face, so to say I would take world’s most hideous mugshot was an absolute guarantee. I looked like a poorly liquefied mega-beast. Not my finest hour.
The community cell I was placed in held a combination of New Orleans’ finest. Drunk Diane was sitting in the corner, trying to take her pants off, but luckily was too drunk to work the buttons of her jeans. Hobo Helga was sniffing her armpits while sitting with her legs spread wide enough to welcome a marching band. Sticky Fingers Stephanie was scratching her crotch and picking her teeth at the same time, portraying the whole multi-tasking hand thing, which was quite impressive and rather entertaining, because damn was she digging deep.
Mercy, Eva, and Bizzy were decorated in some oversized jumpsuits to cover up their nudity, and they were huddled in the corner together looking absolutely terrified. I didn’t blame them; I felt the same way.
Honestly, I’ve never been so frightened in my life. I didn’t know what to expect, what would happen to me. Was this going to be on my permanent record? Uh, yeah, duh Goldie. You had a mugshot taken.
Fuck.
A door outside of the cell opened and a few police officers came through, looking into the cell. I prayed they were here for me, but then again, I hadn’t even made a phone call yet. If anything, they would be here for Sticky Fingers Stephanie, since she already had her one phone call, plus she was just in the cell for shoplifting. I was in here for possible prostitution. Damn, I was so fucked.
The balding police officer walked over to the cell and nodded at me. “Milkmaid, your time is up.”
Opening the cell door, he escorted me out and held onto me as he weaved me through some hallways.
“Um, is everything going to be okay?” I asked, not really knowing what was going on.
“You posted bail,” the man said, as he went behind a desk and started filing some paperwork.
“Posted bail? By who?”
Who knew I was even here? There was no way it was Rex, because the man himself was locked up. I was pretty sure he was in more trouble than I was, and then it hit me. Rex was in jail, and so was Leo. They were busted, the one thing I wanted.
An overwhelming weight was lifted off my shoulders as I thought about the possibilities of what this meant. I could go back to Jett; I could finally be with the man. Rex and Leo’s names were tarnished. Even if they were able to post bail, they still had a black mark on their names.
“Miss, sign here,” the police officer said, growing annoyed.
“Sorry, I was daydreaming. I do that often. Usually it’s about something stupid like what would happen if you shook a bottle of soda up with a paint shaker and then poked it with a needle. I think it would explode in my face, which is why I haven’t tried it yet, because I’m too terrified. What do you think?”
Working his jaw, he pointed at the paper and said, “Sign.”
“Oh, yeah, sorry.” As I signed the paper, I asked, “Um, who posted bail for me?”
The officer pulled the sheet from under my hand and ripped off the bottom half. “That man over there,” he pointed, as he handed me my paperwork.
I glanced over and my heart stopped as I saw Jett putting something in his coat pocket. He glanced up in my direction, and for the briefest of moments, the world stopped, and everything around me faded as I made eye contact with the one and only man that owned my heart.
Like I was a complete stranger, he shifted his eyes away and walked out the door, not taking a moment to wait for me.
“Am I excused?” I asked, wanting to run after him.
“Yes,” the officer said, annoyed with my questions.
Not giving the officer a chance to lock me up for something asinine I might say, I took off toward the front to catch Jett. I thought he might possibly be waiting for me outside with an idling town car, but when I exited the police department, the street was clear of any cars except for a faint gleam of red taillights pulling away.
Why didn’t he wait for me?
18
“When I Was Your Man”
Jett
“With the recent findings against Rex and Leo, and Zane Black dropping out of the race, you are automatically awarded Lot 17,” George, my lawyer, said excitedly through the phone. “I couldn’t be happier for you.”
“Thank you, George,” I stated solemnly.
I should be excited, I should be celebrating a well-earned win, but there was not one bit of excitement running through my body. Instead, rage boiled in the pit of my stomach, waiting to erupt.
The picture Rex sent me was constantly on replay in my head.
She told me to my face there was nothing going on with her and Rex…that I was the one who held her heart, but she lied. She fucking lied.
“Are you there?” George asked, a little concerned.
“I am. I’m sorry George. I’m just a little tired. Do you mind if I call you tomorrow to finalize the details?”
“That’s perfectly fine. Get some sleep. I know how stressful this whole campaign for Lot 17 has been, but rest easy, you’re the owner now. You can finally make the park you wanted. You’re a good man, Jett.”
Swallowing hard, I nodded, even though he couldn’t see my acknowledgement, and then hung up the phone.
Lot 17 has been an entity that has inspired me, disappointed me, hurt me, dragged me through the mud, and given me hope. I’ve been waiting for this day, the day where I found out I was able to secure the property for the kids, but when it came down to it, without Goldie by my side, I just felt empty.
A part of me wanted to leave her to fend for herself after Masquerade was busted, but I couldn’t do that. I saw the frightened look on her face when she was escorted out of the club and into the cop cars. I couldn’t be the one responsible for keeping that look on her face, that was why I posted her bail, but that was it. I couldn’t let her talk to me after that.