JOLIE
“Get your shoes on,” Violet—or should Isay Emma—yelled over to Kiki, her six-year-old daughter, while throwing things into her oversized purse. During the day she worked in ahuge department store in town, at one of the makeup counters; by night she was ahigh-end stripper at Hazy Nights named Violet. All the girls that worked at Hazy Nights used alternate names while at work. It had been Jeff’sdream to have, in his words,‘the entire spectrum of girls working under him.’And there was born the idea that all the girls at the club were named after colors.
Kiki ran to the front door and began pushing her little feet into ratty sneakers. She was acute kid, but very quiet—nothing like the inquisitive kid Ihad been growing up. I’dexpected abunch of questions, but she’dbarely said ahandful of words to me since she’dfound me on their sofa that morning.
“There’ssome saltine crackers in the cabinet, and some…” Emma opened the cabinet door and looked inside. “Yeah, there’ssome saltine crackers and that’sabout it.” She laughed awkwardly. “I’ll bring some food back with me after Iget Kiki from school.”
I’dknown that Violet was poor—no one worked at Hazy Nights because it was agreat job prospect—but Ihadn’tknown just how poor she actually was. She shared asmall apartment with her mom, who was hardly ever there for one reason or another. The apartment consisted of two rooms: one for her mom and one that Vi and Kiki shared. Their sofa was clean but it was barely staying together. They had no carpets, no curtains, and aTV older than Iwas. It had seemed bad the previous night, but in the bright lights of anew day it was even worse, and she seemed embarrassed by it.
Istood up and walked to her. “Hey, it’sokay. I’mfine, and Ilove saltine crackers, so I’ll just eat them and watch some TV.” Iplaced ahand on her arm and she smiled. “Thanks for having me. Iknow space is tight, but Ipromise you won’teven know I’mhere and I’ll be gone before you know it. I’mashitty cleaner and an even worse cook, so Ican’thelp with that, but Ihave some savings, so as soon as Ican access them I’ll get some money out and buy some groceries and stuff.”
Emma smiled, looking grateful. “I’dappreciate that. For now, you can be my unofficial babysitter if Ineed to work at the club.” She winked and Igrimaced, both at the thought of babysitting and at the thought of her going to the club and finding out that Jeff had been killed. Ihadn’ttold her or anyone what had happened the night before—just that I’dneeded somewhere to lay low for acouple of days. She’dlet me in without fuss, probably happy for the company, if nothing else. “Oh, don’tlook so frightened. She’ll be sleeping anyway.”
“Well, if you come back and she’sgot atattoo and anose piercing, don’tblame me,” Ilaughed, and she joined in. Coming here had been alast resort, because going home wasn’tan option; Icouldn’tbring more trouble to my parents, not with what they were already going through. And it wasn’tlike Icould rely on Dom to keep me safe. No, as usual, Iwas better off looking out for myself.
“Okay, Ineed to get going so Kiki isn’tlate for school. I’ll see you later.” Violet kissed me on the cheek and headed to the door, waving bye as she opened it. “You sure you’re okay?”
Iscoffed. “It’sme, Vi.”
“True,” she laughed.
“But look, just don’ttell anyone that I’mhere, okay?”
“Not even that fine-ass brother of yours?” She winked.
“Ew, gross, no, not even him.Especiallynot him. He doesn’tget to be involved in my drama.”
Emma nodded and waved goodbye before she closed the door behind her. Igrabbed the box of saltines from the cupboard and sat down on the sagging sofa. The worn blanket I’dused as acover the night before was thrown over the back of the sofa, and Igrabbed it and lay back down, the box of saltines still in my hand.
Shoving acracker in my mouth, Ithought of Gauge. He might have been an asshole one-percenter, but the previous night he’dstuck by me when it had all gone to hell. He’dgotten me out of the club and to safety. He’dfound me despite me telling him Icould handle it. Ireached for his cut under my makeshift pillow and held it close, breathing in his scent of cigarettes and leather so it would steady me. Ihadn’thad someone in my life that Icould rely on for along time. Despite my twin Louie and Ibeing extremely close growing up, in recent years we had drifted. He’dstayed at school, working hard, hooking up with cheerleaders and getting himself ahalf-decent education with job and college prospects coming out of his ears. I, on the other hand, had gone down adifferent route entirely. And now the wedge between us—whether because of my jealousy and stubbornness, or his disappointment in me—was like afissure so deep that there was no bottom.
Iwasn’tsure what was going to happen now, but Iknew that somehow Ihad to get ahold of Gauge to find out my next move. Idrifted off to sleep with that singular thought running through my mind.
By mid-afternoon, Ihad napped, showered, and eaten an entire box of saltines. Ifelt better than Ihad that morning, my head much clearer, though Istill had no idea what Iwas going to do next.
Standing, Iwent to the small kitchen and poured myself aglass of water, since she was all out of coffee and the only other thing was some gross-looking herbal tea. Idrank the water in three large gulps before rinsing the glass and placing it upside down on the draining board. Ipicked up my phone, not for the first time that day, and wondered about calling the club and asking to speak to Gauge.
He said he would find me, but my mind was running in circles that something might have happened to him. Jeff liked to hire his door security the way he hired the dancers in the club—without checking resumes, asking questions. And Ihad personally witnessed what they did to men at the club that refused to pay or refused to leave. God only knew what they’ddo to aman like him. Imean, he wasn’tthe sort of man to go down easy. He’dgo down fighting and calling them out on their bullshit.
At the forefront of my mind was how Iwould explain any of it to Dom. If Gauge was seriously hurt, or worse, what would Dom say? Ishouldn’thave cared, but it was my mess and Ihated that Gauge had covered for me.
Before Icould change my mind, Idialed the club'snumber, waiting for what seemed like forever for someone to answer. When the phone was finally picked up, it was athroaty female that answered with an almost childlike giggle.
“Hello?”
Ihesitated briefly, regretting my decision, but plowing onward regardless. “Hey, um…is Gauge there?”
“Who’sasking?” she said, her tone hesitant.
“It’sum…” Ididn’twant to say it was Jolie because if Dom found out Iwas on the phone, he’dgive me shit and I’dnever get to talk to Gauge.
“Hello? Who’sasking?” the woman asked again, this time with abored sigh.
“All right, hold your fucking horses,” Isnapped. “I’mthinking.”
“Listen, if you can’tgive me aname…”
“Jesus, calm your tits, okay. It’sJade, okay. Tell him it’sJade, and tell him it’surgent,” Isnapped again.
