“I want to go home to my dad.”
“Not going to happen, kid. The sooner you realise you’ve said your last goodbye to that motherfucker, the better. I’ve got a fuckin’ bullet with your dear daddy’s name on it. It’s a fuckin’ shame he didn’t come stay with you and your aunt this weekend. Else he’d already be dead.”
I might not like her, but I cover my head with my hands when I hear Toni scream again.
In a voice that’s barely recognisable and sounds like she’s struggling for breath, she pleads, “Please, Ace, just give him something.”
“I can’t,” Ace states, his voice breaking. “I’m not going to betray the Kings.”
“Fuck, this isn’t working. Your daddy ever give you a beating, kid? Cause I’m going to let you feel my belt. Take him, Oscar. Pull his fuckin’ pants down and bend him over the desk.”
It’s Ace’s cries that get to me, sending me out of my mind. I reach for the earpiece, take it away from the window, and place it in my ear. Then, without a thought for myself or what the fuck I’m doing, I launch myself at the door and into the room. Candyman’s poised, his belt held ready to swing, and Ace, poor fucking Ace, is forcibly held over a desk with his naked ass in the air.
Throwing myself at Candyman, I take him by surprise, snatching his belt away from him. “You let him go.” I stand menacingly, waving the belt like a weapon.
The two men start to laugh. Ace gasps out, “Trixie?”
With Toni’s eyes fixed on me, it might be wishful thinking, but I believe she’s mouthing the words,thank you.
But what can I do? There’s no way I can save myself and Ace, let alone her. I do get the satisfaction of whipping that belt around Candyman’s face, but that’s the limit of any physical protest I can make, as I’m quickly overpowered.
Trapped in Candyman’s arms, held tight against his body, my back to his front, he snarls, “Who the fuck is she?”
I expect Toni to betray me, but she stays silent. And this time, I’m certain it’s hope that’s in her eyes. Candyman seems to accept that she doesn’t know me, so he throws me at Oscar, who catches me and imprisons me just as easily as his VP had. He then advances on Ace, pulls him upright, places both hands on his shoulders, and shakes him hard.
Then he asks again, “Who the fuck is she?”
“She’s my mom,” Ace states, taking all the wind out of me. “Or the closest thing I ever had to one.” Oh, dear God. I had no idea he thought that of me.It’s a ruse he’s made up, trying to get us free.
Candyman gives an evil grin. “Yeah? Thought she was dead. But that just gives me another option. How would you like to watch your mom being raped, kid?”
I try to signal with my eyes to Ace that it’s nothing he hasn’t seen before. While we’re supposed to keep it child-appropriate when he’s around, how do you stop a kid from coming down for a glass of water late into the evening? He’s seen me being taken by men before.I could try to pretend to enjoy it.That would make it less traumatic for him.
“Hold on, we’re coming. You fuckin’ hear me, Trixie? Trix, you’ve got to be hearing this. Just hang on. Keep him away from my son.”
It takes a moment for me to realise that it’s Freak speaking into my ear.
I stop fighting immediately. “You want me, Candy?” I deliberately use the pet name Toni had adopted. I lick my lips. “Seems like I’m in for a treat being taken by a real man.”
I know men can be led by their dicks, though I’m uncertain whether my delaying tactic will work. It depends on whether getting off is more important than getting the information he needs out of Ace. I’m astonished he hasn’t asked how I got here…
Candyman suddenly comes to his senses and roars, “How the fuck did you know where to find him?”
Oh, yeah, there it is. I go for complete honesty. “I’m his mom.” I shrug, playing on Ace’s claimed relationship. “I sewed a tracker into his jacket.”
Candyman backhands Ace. “You little asshole. You knew it was there the whole time.” He then narrows his eyes at me. “You got the Kings as backup? Is Freak your ol’ man?”
“Freak doesn’t have an ol’ lady,” Toni butts in. But still, she doesn’t disclose who I really am.Am I really starting to like this bitch?
Knowing I’ve got to buy time, I slip the strap of my crop top off one shoulder slowly, licking my lips as I do. Then, I tease with the other.
Candyman licks his lips.I’ve got him.
Wishing I didn’t have to be so forward in front of Ace, and hoping he’ll understand and forgive me, I slide the other strap down, pulling my crop top with it, exposing my tits.
“Fuck, man. We haven’t got time for this,” the man he called Oscar butts in. “If she’s in league with the Kings, they’ll know where he is. They’ll be coming for him. We need to find out what the boy knows first.”
I’ve underestimated Candyman. He snarls, launches himself at me, and throws me down. I hit the floor hard and try toscramble backward, but the wall halts my progress. “You’re not in fuckin’ control. That’s mine, bitch. And I’m going to fuck you until you bleed…”
