"Too damn long."He looks out the window.
"That's how I know Erik the Red, by the way.I entered the underground looking for a friend."
"Yeah?And he helped you?"
"Yeah.Of course, I paid him a big price to, but he did."
"Of course, "He looks over at me."How big a price?"
I laugh."3k."
"Must have been one helluva friend."
"Yeah.She is.We dance together."It's a little white lie.I went into the underground looking for Lei.I did pay Erik the Red $3,000 for information on her.He did point me in the right direction, but she wasn't an addict.Not to drugs anyway.She's addicted to sex.
When we turn into the Red Rock Country Club Community entrance, Quintus and his gang are nowhere in sight.Antonio, however, follows us in.I realize Angelo is with him.
At the gate, I have a small panic attack.I don't know the security code.But I lower the window, confident Aurei has already thought of that.
The dude asks me."Do you live here?"
"No.This is my master's house, but I have access."I lower the window, confident Aurei has taken care of this."Good afternoon, Alfred."
"Good afternoon, my lady."
"I've come to get a dress for a date tonight with my master."
"Yes.He said you would be coming."He says, and the gate swings open.I drive up and see the garage door is down, so I park out front.I turn to look at the addict.He is goggling the house."He keeps his heroin in our playroom," I tell him.
He looks at me, and sheer happiness is on his face.He looks like he just won the lottery."Ok.Let's get that fix first; then we'll talk about cashing out."
I open my car door, and we get out at the same time.He aims the gun at me and waves me to go ahead of him.I lead the way to the front door, and it opens automatically for me.Every hair on my body is on high alert.I have no idea where Aurei is or what he plans to do, but I know he is lying in wait.
When we enter, I behave as if he is my guest.I step aside and close the door behind us.Then I walk past the staircase and down the hallway that leads to the east wing.The house is silent, except for our footsteps, and the sound is ominous to me.I only hope I can find my way there, but there is nothing to worry about.Aurei has thought of that already.The lights come on in each room before we enter it, letting me know where to go without a miscue.They go off after we walk through like they usually do.The only sound I hear is my breath, heart, and shoes clicking on the tile.I turn to look behind me and see the gun is still aimed at me, but the dude's eyes are straying into the rooms as we pass.I smile at him."I told you he was filthy rich."
He grins."How much cash does he keep here?"
"Depends.The safe is upstairs in the master suite."
The double doors leading into the east wing are open, and the path of light illuminates the hallway.All the doors are closed, and I assumed locked.At the end, I stop in front of the heavy doors with the bear image on them and take a deep breath, then I push the handles down, and the sound of the click sends goosebumps down my spine.I shove the doors open, and they swing wide.I walk in and straight through the foyer without stopping.I place my hand on the door handle and turn to smile at my gun.
"The heroin is in here."I turn the doorknob, but it doesn't move.It's locked.Fuck!My heart leaps inside my throat.Is Aurei not ready?Am I not supposed to be here?
I smile at my armed escort."Oh, I forgot, I'm nervous.I need my phone to quick scan the lock."He hands it over to me without hesitation, and out of habit, I say, "thanks."Then turn my back on him.Pretending to search my apps for it, Aurei's smiling face appears.He mouths to me."Good girl."Then a text appears.
Walk quickly with purpose to the bed with the heavy headboard, then lay down flat on the floor behind it.
The lock clicks.I drop my phone in the red hoodie pouch, then turn the handle and open it, pushing the door wide."There we go," I say as I enter without looking back.With long, purposeful strides, I move quickly, as instructed to the bed.The sound of his boots follows me in.
"Crucial!"The dude says."Really rad!"
Feeling safe and high from my own adrenaline rush, I can't help showing off this magnificent room.I open my arms wide and spin around."Fucking awesome, isn't it?"
He stands gawking and taking everything in."It's dope!"
Then the lights flicker, and a song cues up.The opening music and single guitar strum are loud.Panic strikes us both.The lights go off, the music dies, and we are in silent darkness.Every fiber of my being is listening and realizing I'm out of position.The next sound makes the hair on my head stand straight up.It's the sound of the door shutting and the lock setting.It echoes across the room.The light over the bed flickers, and I know it's time for me to hide!In the darkness, I sprint the short distance to it.
Darkness descends.Blankness!
