Two weeks later
FLANKED BYtwo security men on either side, Lynx walked confidently through the courtyard wearing a bright red halter dress and a hot-pink-and-red-striped shawl tossed over her shoulders. The sun reflected off the bald bodyguard’s head, and the sound of running water floated from the fountain in the center of the palatial expanse. She couldn’t see them but felt the eyes burning into her from above, the ever-present security cameras that protected the compound and watched each and every one of her steps. The sound of her gold-studded sandals echoed off the stone tile as she contemplated making a run for it.
Zayid had been feeling magnanimous two weeks ago and had granted her a few days with the other women at the townhouse—but only while he traveled abroad.
Lord only knows what he’s doing in whatever country he gallivanted off to with God only knows who.
Following a long evening in his private quarters, he’d broken the news of the upcoming trip. Lynx had seized the moment with a schooled pout on her face.
“I’ll be lonely while you’re gone. Can I go stay with the girls? I want to lay by the pool and sun myself for when you get back.”
“Would you like that, my beauty?” He ran a finger down her cheek, letting it trail down her side, making its way to the lacy edge of her panties before finally dipping in and tracing her sensitive spot. “No parties. You’ll behave because you’re all mine,” he said on a growl while shoving his finger inside her.
Lynx had nodded, afraid to open her mouth, fearing what might come out. With his thumb on her clitoris and now two fingers deep inside her, she’d hated herself for being on the precipice of an orgasm. Begging herself not to moan, she’d remained quiet as Zayid skillfully worked her up. He might not be much to look at but he was a dangerously skilled lover, and no matter how many times Lynx scolded herself for feeling anything where he was involved, she couldn’t stop the effect he had on her.
But now he was gone and her plan was back in play. What he did while abroad had no bearing on the moment because Lynx got what she’d been driving for—time with the girls.
Nearing the door, she bowed her head in thanks to the security detail before one of them punched in the code for the door and pushed it open, allowing a rush of cold air to smack her in the face. Her hair, loose and curly, caught in the breeze and swirled all around her face, masking her features covered in equal parts fear and excitement.
Dane, the enormous bald bodyguard who had protected Lynx from the fat man, caught her eye. “You’re to stay in the townhouse, Lincoln. There’ll be someone posted at this door at all times. Zayid’s orders. I’ll be on the first shift.” He moved next to the door and stood at attention at his post.
Although Dane was somewhat new, he’d recently risen to the top of the ranks. Zayid liked him, supposedly because Dane took Lynx’s care very seriously. Obviously, he had been tasked with her protection while Zayid was out of the country.
“I know the rules. Thank you,” Lynx offered quietly and entered the townhouse without looking back.
She found the other girls lounging by the pool. Feeling at ease, she quickly shimmied out of her dress and scarf and collapsed onto the bright yellow cushions of a lounge chair. Soft music floated from hidden speakers, the scent of coconut oil filled the air, and pitchers of water and sangria lined the side tables.
Lauryn was on her right, completely nude other than black-and-white polka-dot bikini bottoms, and Kimberlie was on her left, wearing a red G-string bikini. They both turned at the same time and said, “Hey, Lincoln. What’s up, girl?”
“I’m out, that’s what’s up.” Lynx poured herself a water and sat back in her iridescent purple one-piece suit. It might have been a one piece, but its deep V in the front left little to the imagination.
“You didn’t go with the master this time?” Kimberlie turned her attention to Lynx, eyeing her from head to toe.
“No, I’m just happy to be with you ladies. It gets lonely in the apartment. Obviously, Zayid went to the States, so he’ll probably be bringing back a new girl or two.”
“You’re out, but no parties,” Lauryn said.
Lynx, unsure if the girl was being matter-of-fact or bitchy, simply nodded.
“Let her be, Lauryn. She’s lucky she got out to be with us and isn’t MIA like the other black girl,” Ginger said, her words dropping to a whisper at the end.
Lynx sat up, slipped her sandals back on, and walked toward Ginger. Sitting on the end of the redhead’s lounge chair, she asked quietly, “What happened to her? The other black girl.”
“No clue. She was here and then she was gone. Then you arrived. That’s it,” Lauryn said.
“Hush.” Ginger nodded toward the roof where the tiny eyes-in-the sky monitored all their movements.
“Bull-fucking-shit, Ginge,” Lauryn said with a scowl. “I’m sick of tiptoeing around Lincoln. She shows up on the scene and in a matter of months, she’s the number-one girl and moved into her own place. We should’ve had a chance when that other bitch went missing.” She stalked toward the already crowded lounger. “It’s just so fucking convenient that you’re half black or whatever the hell you are, because we all know Zayid likes dark meat,” she said, leaning over to whisper in her prey’s ear.
“Enough.” Ginger ran her soft hand up and down Lynx’s arm, settling on her shoulder. “We don’t know what happened to Sammy. She was here for about a year before she was promoted to the private apartment. She was Zayid’s definite favorite, dripping in jewelry and always running off somewhere shopping. Then one day, she was gone.”
The freckled redhead sighed before continuing. “I liked her a lot. She was sweet and nice, despite growing up rough, in the ghetto or something like that. Anyway, she was half black like you and caught Zayid’s eye almost immediately, although he shared her with us, unlike you. Every once in a while, one of us would get asked to join them in a threesome. Mostly fingering, eating-out kind of stuff. Oh, and using a dildo on Sammy while Zayid watched. He rarely screwed us when she was in the room,” she said and threw another quick glance at the cameras.
“She wasn’t in my apartment,” Lynx said quietly. “Mine is new. Maybe she’s still here tucked away?”
Ginger sucked on her straw, the ruby-red sangria coloring its way to her mouth, and shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. She was allowed to have a cell phone, and we’d call her from time to time to check in and stuff. She’d tell us about her trips, make plans to come over after she was gone. The line is dead now. Disconnected.”
“She wouldn’t have just left,” Kimberlie said, sliding in beside Lynx on the lounge chair. “Sammy would have made contact somehow, unless something bad happened to her.”
