Sasha Ramirez
Home is Where Our Story Begins
Ipushed open the door to the small room I’d called home these past months. The stuffy space was crammed with all my earthly possessions, which was pretty pathetic when I looked at it all now. An unmade bed was pushed into one corner beside a battered bedside table holding the coffee mug that I knew would still contain the tepid brew I’d abandoned this morning. There was a threadbare carpet and a cluttered dressing table up against the wall.
Pride of place was taken up by the railings and shelves I’d turned into my wardrobe. Clothes were my greatest indulgence – and even those were made up of whatever I could find in second-hand boutiques. I had a good eye for couture, but it didn’t hide the fact that it was invariably faded or down at heel. It’s not like I could spare the cash. Nearly every penny I earned went back to Mami and probably Emilio, if I knew my mother. My baby brother always had a way of siphoning off every available cent she had. This new development with the gangster filled me with a seething fury as I thought about it again.
“What the fuck, Milio?” I said out loud to the silent room. After all we’d been through together. Those early days of survival…it still surprised me when he did something this stupid and selfish. I never could figure that out – not his stupidity, but my persistent faith in him. I always hoped he’d prove me right someday. Redeem himself somehow with an act that showed me he was still the charming baby brother I’d adored all my life. My life-raft through it all…
But he wasn’t. He was a self-centered little fuck. And now he’d dragged me into his shitshow.
I glanced around at the room again. It wasn’t much, but it had been mine. I paid for it fair and square. Being an escort may not seem like a fast-track career path, but I earned my cash honestly; nobody could take that from me.
No, scrap that.Emiliohad taken that away from me. Emilio and this animal who would carve away his life if I didn’t give him a million bucks. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be forced into this predicament right now. The sex-toy of some rich playboy whose plans for me were something only he and God knew. Naked? Masturbation? What kind of sicko was I now tied to?
I stifled a sob and angrily brushed away a tear that had managed to escape.
Don’t cry, dammit! You. Don’t. Cry!
I gnawed at the inside of my cheek; an old habit I’d learned years back. There’d been times I’d bitten till it bled, but at least the marks were undetectable. Always keep the scars on the inside, that’s what I’d learned. People don’t like to see ugliness or pain. Even in the worst possible moments, it’s better to be pretty.
A noise in the hall caught my attention, and I turned quickly.
Shit!
“Renée?” I called out. It hadn’t occurred to me that I might bump into my friend.Stupid! Why wouldn’t she be around?I hadn’t rehearsed what I might have to say to her. The contract for my new “employer” – Alec or Mr. Walker or Prince, whatever the heck his name was – the contract forbade me from discussing what was going on. And Renée would be bound to want details.
“Renée?” I repeated, heading out to the source of the sound. Down the hall, the elderly woman from the apartment near the landing disappeared into the elevator and I heaved a sigh. I went back into our apartment and tapped on Renée’s door. After a moment with no answer, I pushed it open and glanced around. The little table where she normally set her phone to charge was bare – a sure sign she was out.
What was I going to tell her? She’d been such a blessing through so much difficult stuff. I couldn’t just disappear without an explanation.
The pages of the contract swam before my eyes again. Nope. There was no way I could share any of it with her. Even calling her to explain would open the door to dangerous questions. If I screwed this up, the money would be gone. And so would Emilio.
A million dollars.
It seemed unreal. Had I imagined it? A sudden crushing sensation gripped my chest. Maybe I’d misheard him. Maybe he’d said a million…pesos?
“Oh, come on, Sash! Why would he say that?” I asked myself.
The guy was clearly loaded. And he’d had the resources to check me out thoroughly. It didn’t seem likely he’d get that right unless he was some sort of serious high roller.
I heaved yet another sigh. “I’m so sorry, Renée…” She’d been my one true friend. Packing and leaving like this felt like such a betrayal. I headed back to my room and tugged my battered suitcase from under the bed. It had seen more than its share of miles in its lifetime. I began emptying my shelves, deliberating over what I’d be able to fit into my bag. A dark cloud seemed to be hanging over my head.
Oh, for Pete’s sake, get a grip!
Six months. He only asked for six months. I didn’t have to leave for good. I could just tell her my job interview had turned out to be an assignment out of town and I’d be out of reach for a bit. Renée had never been one to pry too deeply if she knew things were…delicate. Heck, she’d been the one to get me the escort job – discretion was something she understood. And I’d need to send a note to Leo and tell him I was taking a break. He’d have a shit, but if he got tricky, I’d ask Mr. Walker…Prince… Fuck, I just couldn’t get my head around the name. I’d gethimto sort it out. He owed me that much, at least. He couldn’t just expect me to drop my entire life for six months and not tell anyone without making some sort of arrangements. Definitely. He’d have to see the reasoning.
With my bag packed, I headed to the whiteboard we’d hung up beside the door to leave notes for each other.
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.
