Page 5 of Saving Blood
The flashing lights, pounding bass and people—so many people—dancing, moving, crowded together everywhere made every nerve and muscle of her body feel alive. She loved it.
She’d been so wound up in her observation, she’d lost track of Tiffany. She scanned the club, but the flashing strobe lights made it impossible to see clearly. Her heart kicked up as she narrowed her eyes in an attempt to concentrate on her surroundings. She swiveled her head and looked deeper into the crowd—finally she saw Tiffany making her way back to her holding two green-tinted drinks.
“Here, try this.” Tiffany took a large gulp of hers, then licked her lips.
“What is it?”
“It’s an appletini, or apple martini. You’ll love it.”
Chastity sipped at hers, a blended mix of sour and sweet. “It is quite good.”
“Quite good. You crack me the fuck up.” Tiffany raised her glass. “Drink up, and with any luck, we won’t have to buy another.”
“Why?”
Tiffany rolled her eyes. “Because some guy or many guys will buy them for us.”
“Why?”
“Because we both look as hot as fuck.” Tiffany held the glass to her lips. “The guy against the wall is already checking you out.”
Chastity turned to look, and Tiffany grabbed her arm. “Don’t look. You have to play hard to get. Like this.” Tiffany pushed her hair over her shoulder and cocked her head. “You have to pretend you aren’t looking when you really are.”
“Sounds confusing.” Although Chastity was a rule follower, this seemed way too complicated.
“Ohhhhh, shit, shit, shit.” Tiffany leaned in and jerked her head to the side. “There’s the talent agent I met the other night. Isn’t he gorgeous?”
“Can I look, or do I have to do that pretend thing with my hair?”
Tiffany burst out laughing. “You are so fucking funny.”
Chastity shrugged, not getting the joke, but in the next few seconds, both guys approached them, then offered to buy them drinks, just as Tiffany predicted. The night raced forward in a blur of dancing, some soulful kissing on the dance floor and more appletinis. Rafael, Chastity’s guy, was movie-star handsome with jet-black hair, perfect tawny skin and straight white teeth. If he wasn’t an actor, he certainly could’ve been one.
He was the same height as Chastity, but she was used to that, and what did she expect with her sky-high heels? If she wore flats the next time, he’d be taller than her, but she was getting ahead of herself thinking she would see him after tonight. Although, he was funny and seemed to be into her. Maybe tonight she’d finally lose her virginity in one of those one-night things Tiffany was always going on about.
She and Rafael found a booth off to the side where they continued to kiss and laugh and order more drinks. Chastity had never had so much fun, and even though she’d just met Rafael, his attention thrilled her, making her feel important and special for the first time in her life—and she never wanted it to end.
Chastity never drank alcohol before, and she loved the freeing buzz in her brain. So free that when Tiffany suggested they go to the talent agent’s huge house in the Marina del Rey, she went along without a second thought. It turned out the two men were friends. How crazy was that?
They piled into a limo the men had waiting at the curb, complete with a uniformed driver. The outside lights spun in a swirling kaleidoscope as they sped toward the Pacific Ocean. This was the Hollywood Chastity had only read about in books, and it was happening to her. It seemed like life finally recognized Chastity’s arrival, and she liked her new persona.
She had no idea how long they drove because she and Rafael were engaged in a bliss of kissing, groping and everything just short of sex. Pumped up with her new look and on her way to a fancy mansion in an expensive neighborhood with a hotter-than-hell man, Tiffany’s promise seemed attainable.
Maybe tonight would be the night their lives changed forever.
3
BLOOD/Present Day
I saunter into the padded room, already pissed off about missing two hot babes mixing it up in the ring, but business always comes first.
“What the fuck is wrong with you, Juan?” I position myself in front of the metal chair where Bolt has Juan’s wrists duct-taped behind his back. “The last time you were in this position, I let it slide with a warning, and you promised me you wouldn’t let your deadbeat ass fall behind again.”
Juan licks his lips, then babbles something in Spanish.
“You know I don’t speak Spanish, and I know you speak English, so stop pissing me off.”
“This was just a misunderstanding.” Juan shifts in the chair. “I can get the money.”
