He took a step closer. “Yeah, who’s going to make sure Dave gets my drink right if you’re not there?”
Tina gave an unconvincing laugh then changed the subject. “Dave was here earlier. He went to get Tommy, my brother. Hopefully they’ll let me out of here soon. I’m fine.”
Meg took a good look at her friend. She didn’t look fine. “Why did Moreno do this? He usually has a reason even though the reason isn’t always a good one.”
Embarrassment crept over her features. “I uh…didn’t do something he…wanted me to do.”
“What did he want?” She could only guess and she didn’t like what she came up with.
More tears filled her friend’s eyes and several spilled over on to her cheeks. “One of his…business associates wanted me to…spend some time with him, you know.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“I didn’t want to. The guy kept coming on to me and I told him no. He didn’t want that answer. You know I’m not one of them. I don’t…do that. I serve drinks and let the lechers stare but I don’t…”
“I know. That’s why I like you so much. He came onto you last night?”
Tina shook her head. “It happened two nights ago, but apparently this guy was putting together a big deal with Mr. Moreno and called it off because I wouldn’t--Mr. Moreno was livid. He said it was a big deal and I’d blown it for him. It was all part of something bigger he was looking into. When I still refused last night, he blew a gasket and did this.”
Tears leaked from Meg’s eyes as Tina’s flowed freely. “I don’t get it. He knows you’re not like that. Why didn’t he get one of the others like Nina or Marietta? They’ll do anything to get in Moreno’s good graces.”
Tina’s face showed disgust. “Apparently this guy said he was tired of vanilla. He wanted something chocolate.”
Meg leaned forward and gave Tina a hug. She didn’t deserve this. None of them did. Moreno needed to be stopped. “You have to tell the cops what happened. Moreno can’t keep doing this. It isn’t right.”
“No. I can’t say anything to them and you can’t either. Please, Katie, please. Mr. Moreno will hurt my little brother, you know he will. He threatened that if I told anyone about this he’d make sure I regretted it. I can’t allow anything to happen to Tommy. He’s all I have left and he’s only eleven. Promise me you won’t say anything, please.”
Chris moved up behind Meg and touched her shoulder. “We understand. And maybe for now we can keep this quiet. But at some point the cops will bust this guy. They’ve got to know about him.” He made it sound reasonable without divulging his role in the investigation.
Tina narrowed her eyes. “Yeah, well good luck to them. If they ever get him cold and he can’t hurt anyone then I’ll rat him out, but until then.... I keep my mouth shut like he told me to.”
Chris squeezed Meg’s shoulder and she stood. “Tina, listen, if you need anything, tell me, okay? You know I’m staying with Chris at The Ocean Terrace Resort. You can call us there. Whatever I can do, I will.”
Tina nodded. She knew her friend was proud, like she was, and unlikely to call for help. She might accept some from Dave. They’d always been close. Almost like they had feelings for each other. Maybe when Moreno was put away both Tina and Dave could find better jobs and each other.
“Thanks, Katie, Mr. Martin.”
“You can call me Chris. I’ve told you that a million times. And I second what Katie said. If you need anything, call.”
He led Meg out of the room and sighed but said nothing. As they left the hospital, Dave and a young boy, probably Tina’s brother, walked up. They exchanged greetings and she said, “Take care of her, Dave. She’s being a little stubborn.”
He grinned. “And you would know about that, wouldn’t you, Katie?”
She made a face but stayed quiet the whole way back to the resort. She was still trying to wrap her head around how badly Moreno had hurt Tina. She was the best waitress the club had. No one would say anything to Moreno about it, not if he wanted to live.
* * * *
Chris closed the door behind them once they got to the suite. It could have been Meg lying in that hospital room. She could have been the one Moreno had beaten the crap out of. This was far too dangerous for her. He needed to make sure this didn’t happen to her.
Walking into the bedroom with Meg behind him, he ran his hands through his hair. “Why don’t you start packing your things? I can make arrangements for you to go home tomorrow.”
She tilted her head and her eyes narrowed in confusion. She had a right to be confused. He couldn’t do this anymore, put her in danger like this.
“What are you talking about? Why am I packing?”
“This is getting too dangerous. Tina could have been killed. You could be the next one Moreno decides to take his rage out on. I’m not going to allow that to happen.”
“You’re not going to allow it?” Her face tensed and her eyes glared at him. “Since when do you control my life? If you had never come along and offered me this deal I’d still be in the same position but without the option of bugging out. If I was a guy doing this, would you tell him to start packing? Is it because I’m a girl or too young or not trained enough? ‘Cause I don’t give a shit.”
