Babe! Got the job! Toot Toot! Gotta go outta town a bit. Will get in touch.
PS. If you finish my Rocky Road, you owe me, ‘kay?
PPS. Love ya! Sash
It was the kind of thing she’d expect from me, and I prayed she bought it. Because knowing Renée, she’d be calling the cops if she didn’t hear from me. God, I loved my friend.
I turned away abruptly as tears threatened again.
Fucking baby, pull yourself together!
Reaching for my bag, I pulled open the door and turned to take one last look at the life I was leaving behind. I would have lingered longer if my phone hadn’t buzzed at that moment. The number was unfamiliar.
Miss Sasha, I will be waiting downstairs with the limo when you are ready.
It was signed off by someone called Horatio. I didn’t know whether to groan or let my heart skip a beat. There was a freaking limo waiting for me downstairs!
And it was about to take me to a man who’d paid for my body for six months, who expected me to masturbate on demand. My mind reeled at what other twisted games he might have in store for me. I gritted my teeth and imagined my brother’s face. The boy he’d been years ago, as we were sent packing from the man who took my innocence. He’d been so unspoiled then. I’d clung to that moment, knowing he’d been spared the violations reserved for me. I’d do this for that child. I’d do anything for him.
I shut the door behind me and prayed Prince Walker would never add to my disgrace.
Chapter 4
Prince Walker
Iwalked through my apartment for the tenth time since I’d returned home, examining the place from every possible angle. I should have been satisfied.
The vast penthouse suite gave a sweeping vista of the Manhattan skyline through double-volume windows. Gleaming black tiles stretched across the open-plan living area where a pristine white leather corner sofa was flanked by two black and silver wingback chairs. It was a stark, monochromatic setting that would soon be brightened by the crimson of her hair and the ivory hues of her skin. I planned to fuck her on every available surface and probably the floor, too.
Horatio had just buzzed to say they were en route. Within an hour, Sasha Ramirez would be in my home. In my world.
Mine.
The thought of it made my cock tighten and thicken.Fuck.How long would I have to wait until I could be in her?
“Dude! Are you gonna sit down already? You’re making my brain ache,” Andy grumbled from his spot on my sofa. He was flicking through channels on the big screen TV that took up half of one wall. He stretched out sideways and for a moment I thought he’d have the bad judgement to put his feet up on the leather. He stopped on a news channel where a skinny blonde was interviewing some geek with thick-rimmed glasses. On a screen behind them were images of rampaging militia and vehicles on fire. Halfway through my next turn around the apartment, I paused and glanced over his shoulder for a closer look.
“See that?” he aimed a comment back at me. “Looks like more unrest in the DRC. Those Congolese warlords are at it again.”
I grunted and flopped down onto the sofa beside him. “Turn it up,” I said, eyes narrowing on the screen.
“So you’re saying there’s a stranglehold on the world’s tantalum supplies, Bob?” the blonde was asking the geek. He nodded seriously.
“It’s looking bad, Lydia,” he replied. “The mines have come to a complete standstill. No one’s getting in or out, and there’s no telling how long the standoff will last.”
“And what does that mean to consumers in general, Bob,” she pressed, as if the answer was exciting enough to make her cream her panties. Andy and I glanced at each other. She’d be right. It was enough to make us “cream our panties” too.
“Well, as you know, Lydia, tantalum is a vital component in electronic equipment. Cellphones, circuit boards, pretty much any type of tech you’d rely on every day…”
“Did you hear that?” Andy said excitedly.
“Shut up and listen to the geek,” I stopped him.
“Geek? You’re kidding, right? I’ve seen you in those exact same glasses…geek!” he laughed at me. I ignored him. The geek on the TV was still talking.
“Simply put, Lydia, it allows circuitry to work at high-speed without burning out. With Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo providing more than half the world’s supply of it, we’re in for a rocky ride until these bad boys settle their differences. Or until someone finds a better way to keep a circuit board functioning at that level.” He shook his head. “And we all know that’s not likely any time soon.”
Lydia was pursing her lips and shaking her head solemnly too. “Pretty bad news, Bob…” Her voice droned on as she changed subject, and I tuned her out.
