The Club (11 page)

Roxanne

I make my way into the dressing room that I love pilfering in. One thing I can say for my husband is that he is on top of it concerning fashion and keeping his girls looking hot. It’s rumored that he has an eidetic memory and that both he and Ricardo are documented geniuses. Antonio knows every girl’s size and her preference for any beauty product she uses.

Most of the girls are on the floor working and I love to come back and dig through the clothing when no one is around. For some reason, it reminds me of the days I used to go into thrift stores and shop. I am wearing high-end designer clothing and Antonio will buy me anything I want, but I still love to dig through the costumes.

“Psst, Psst,” I hear someone.  

I turn from the rack of clothes I’m looking through to view Agent Turner standing in the doorway.

I make my way over to him, grabbing his arm and pulling him in as I lock the door.

“You really are trying to get me killed, aren’t you?” I hiss. Before he can answer, I continue, “I would be willing to bet that partner of yours, who doesn’t like you out of her sight, wouldn’t be happy about you being here. You don’t just have to worry about pissing off my crazy ass husband; you’re crazy ass girlfriend has a temper too.”

“I need to talk to you, Roxanne!”

“What?!” I answer him aggressively, more out of fear than anger.

“Roxanne, I know that you are not in this marriage by choice. I don’t know what you did to the Ramirez brothers but rumor has it you were a payoff for a theft that you pulled in Guatemala.”

“That is not true!” I lie.

“Look, Roxanne, I’m working a case right now, an abduction case. Somebody is stealing women in Mexico and bringing them back here for a prostitution ring. Now they have upped their game and stolen a whole fucking boatload of women at sea. I believe it was Antonio’s cargo and, I can assure you, there will be bloodshed. These brothers are not going to just let an offense like that go. They have a reputation to maintain aside from the fact that your husband enjoys torturing people. Fuck, he gets off on it. You are married to a very dangerous man!”

“My husband doesn’t have to steal women.”

“Yeah, I know… the whole
Magic Man
reputation he has with the ladies.”

I feel a wave of jealousy wash over me even though I know he hasn’t been fucking any of his women since he married me. With his bedroom skills, I don’t doubt for one second that they dubbed him the
Magic Man
. The shrill sound of Sabrina sets my heart racing. Shit, if I get caught in this closet with an FBI guy, I’m in so much trouble. There is nothing Sabrina would love more than tattling on me.

“Hey girl, open this door!” Sabrina yells out.

“Get out of here,” I harshly whisper as I pull him to the back door, allowing him access to the back alley. It’s the same back alley where Antonio almost beat a man to death. This is making me very fucking nervous.

“Call me if you ever need me,” he thrust a business card in my hand and I quickly stick it in my bra.

As soon as I lock the back door, I make my way over and open the closet door.

Sabrina scoffs, “Too shy to try on clothes in front of the rest of us, or too good to?”

“Hey Sabrina, I understand you don’t like the fact that I’m here, but don’t push me too far; I’m not scared of a fight.”

I exit, leaving her in a wake of
what the fuck just happened?    

I make my way out of the dressing room and all but run into Antonio Wayne.

Fuck! This is too close for comfort. I need a drink.

“Come here, girl,” Antonio growls. He pulls me around the corner as he pins me to the wall. “You want to play house, little girl?”

I giggle. “It’s better than playing dead.” Antonio rubs up against me, passionately kissing me as he runs his hand up my shirt. “Um, um, you are one sexy lady,” he moans.

I know that business card is in my bra and I pull away, making my way to the bar.

“You’re going to get it later, girl.”

“You promise?” I counter, laughing to try and play off the fact that my heart is beating out of my chest.

I make my way to the bar to get a glass of wine and Antonio comes up behind me blocking me in.

The bartender eyes Antonio and asks, “Is it okay, boss?” 

“Hey I’m a big girl,” I answer for him.

The bartender responds, “I don’t work for you.”

Antonio growls in my ear, “What do I get?”

I answer, “Nothing if you don’t get my wine.” Antonio nods his head at the bartender. He pulls me over to the booth, cornering me against the wall and says, “I like it when I dress you. There’s no pants so it’s easy access, girl.”

It is evident to everyone here that Antonio is crazy about me; everyone can see it. He was a player before marrying me but now, he is consumed with my every action. He is latching onto me as if I’m his lifeline and, in a sense, I guess I am. No matter how old we get, we carry our childhood with us and this guy was severely traumatized as a kid. I can’t help but feel compassion towards him. Even though his version of love is obsession, it’s all he knows. I know he will do anything to keep me and I also know this kind of love is dangerous. He is the kind of man that mothers warn their daughters not to fall in love with. I’m just as fucked up as he is because I feed off of his crazy obsession with me. We’re two damaged, fucked up people with issues who found each other in the most unorthodox of ways but regardless of how fucked up our emotions are, what we have is real. We have the kind of love that most people search a lifetime for and never find. Even though I’m scared of him, the fear only feeds the crazy ass love we have. Yeah, I’m fucked up; I just don’t care. I understand why my husband is the way he is. He lost his brother at a young age when Ricardo sent him to the states to stay with an uncle.

Columbia had been a war torn country with guerillas wreaking havoc on unsuspecting villagers. Ricardo simply could not, and would not, lose his little brother. They are still joined at the hip and as thick as thieves due to growing up with only each other to cling to. I’m certain it was as hard on Ricardo as it was on Antonio Wayne when he had to send him to the states. Antonio never wants to feel that kind of heartbreak again. He will guard me with his life, literally…

Rosalie

I see it when I look in the mirror. No longer do I look like the bright eyed, innocent girl who was brought into Eduardo’s stable. Now I have a hard and indifferent look and demeanor. My heart, which was once tender, is now a cold slab of nothing. I don’t feel mercy for all these other women. Even knowing that we all came here together, we all once had the same dream that’s now shattered, doesn’t soften my heart towards them. No one has shown me mercy, except for Eduardo, and he only has it because I made him think I care about him. I know the other women look at me with disdain. I see how they whisper to each other and sneer in disgust because I’m with Eduardo, but it doesn’t matter. I don’t care about anyone, not even myself. I care about one thing and that’s the drug that feeds my addiction.

I eye the abductees as they are herded through the tunnel. The tunnels are something that we Latinos can take pride in. We’re proud of the fact that for every tunnel discovered and shut down by the U.S. Marshalls, five more will replace it. This is the load of cargo that I was originally a part of before Eduardo made me his favorite. From what I’ve heard, we were stolen at sea from two brothers who have a very dangerous reputation. Eduardo may have crossed the wrong people this time. Maybe I will get rescued after all, though I honestly don’t think I can adjust to life with anyone else. My existence is fucked up but it is all I know. I can never go back to Mexico. There is just too much shame and then there is the drug addiction. This is my life and I’ve resigned myself to it.

Not only are these pimps wreaking havoc on the lives of their abductees, they are also affecting the economy of a law abiding community. I know all this and I still can’t bring myself to care about any of it. It’s sad because when I was taken captive, Eduardo not only took my freedom, he also took my ability to care about anything or anyone. I had to quit caring because it hurt too much.

This time, Eduardo may have crossed a line he will regret. He has gotten involved with a group called
The Refugees
, a Dominican gang. Apparently, there’s a group of Haitians who boarded one of the Ramirez brother’s boats at sea and kidnapped a load of their women who were being transported. From there, deals were made and the Dominicans took over once they docked. Whether I like it or not, Eduardo has pulled me into a very dangerous predicament against my will. Just like everything else in my life, I don’t have a choice but to go along with this little scam of his. I can’t help but wonder how long we can continue going on like this. Crossing two brothers with Colombian cartel connections is a stupid thing to do. Our little reign of terror may very well be getting ready to come to an end. I am sure Ricardo and Antonio will see to that.

Roxanne

I never considered the fact that my controlling husband, with his need to be privy to every aspect of my life, would have the club extensively wired with surveillance cameras—hidden surveillance cameras. I can understand why he has security in the club and I knew that there were cameras on the main floor. I just had no idea that he had hidden cameras in not only the closet, but every single place that any of his women could possibly hide. I should know by now that nothing gets past Antonio Wayne Ramirez. Somehow, he found that fucking business card I got from Agent Turner. For some reason, him thinking that I would snitch on him, or anyone else, bothers me. If and when I decide to escape him, I’ll be bold enough to do it on my own. I would never go to the police about the Ramirez brothers. That is just not how I operate… ever.

I am in the club’s upstairs apartment that we sometimes use, talking to Alexis as she helps me get ready. It comes in handy for when we aren’t at home in his castle.

“So how are you, Roxanne?”

“Right now, I am just going through the motions, Alexis.”

Alexis kisses my cheek and says, “I’m here if you need to talk. I’m certain being abducted and thrown into this lifestyle can’t be easy.”

“Is this what he does, Alexis, to break his women? Subject them to fear tactics and monitor their every move with surveillance?”

“Roxanne, every woman is different. I just wanted approval, which I never got from my real father, and Antonio, the father of my heart, gives me that. I’m here of my own free will because this is the only real family I have ever had. Any love I got from my father came at a cost. When I performed well, I was loved. When I didn’t meet his standards of perfection, he was cold and indifferent. Tony doesn’t usually go around abducting women and he didn’t get the nickname
Magic Man
for nothing; women flock to the guy.”

Once again, I feel a wave of jealousy course through me at the thought of him being with another woman. “Well, I hope he isn’t stupid enough to try and do something to an FBI agent.”

Alexis turns my chair to face her, “Then keep your mouth shut and don’t do anything to provoke him. He is in love with you, Roxanne, and it’s the crazy, insane kind of love. I have never seen him this way with any of his women and I have been with him for seven years.”

I, of all people, know how dangerous our kind of crazy love can get but he certainly doesn’t have anything to worry about as far as me being attracted to FBI guy. We make our way downstairs and I head over to the bar. My hackles rise as Antonio comes up behind me and growls, “The waitress can get it. Sit down.”

I know right away that Antonio has been drinking and I make a mental note not to anger him. I won’t be mouthing off tonight. I don’t trust myself if he pushes me but I’m damn sure going to make an effort to keep my big mouth shut.

He leans over and starts toying with my hair but it isn’t in a kind, endearing way. There is something extremely sinister about his touch. “Where did you get this business card?” he asks me, flicking it between two fingers repeatedly. I wish he would quit doing it; the sound is very unnerving right now.

“He gave it to me one day and I didn’t want to bother you with it, Antonio.”

“Liar,” he growls as he chews on my ear. Something about the way he is touching me so gently is scaring the shit out of me. I can’t get a read on him and I don’t like it. “I have already taken one away from you, my little, trouble making liar. You just seem to stay in trouble. I’m beginning to wonder if you enjoy my discipline. Do you? Well, don’t worry because tonight I’ll be subjecting you to the scene of a lifetime.”

I look down. He is making me very nervous. “Can I have a glass of wine,” I ask.

“Anything for my little liar,” he motions for the waitress to get it.

My hands are shaking as I take the glass.

“Are you nervous, Roxanne? Do you feel awkward with your own husband? I’m very pleased with your fear. We both know how hot you get when you’re afraid.”

“A little,” I mumble as I look down. I really don’t want to piss him off any more than he is now. This whole calm anger he is exuding right now is a little too sinister for me.

“Well, I bet that man, who threatened my brother’s wife, feels real awkward right about now. Boy, my big brother has got a bad temper. Yep, he sure is taken with that little friend of yours. My brother had that man beat so badly that he’s in the hospital and they’re not sure if he is ever going to be able to walk again.

“I don’t think that man, or any other, will be bothering her again. He really is smitten. Yeah, I told him I felt the same way about you. I just don’t know what I’d do if you ever left me.” He facetiously eyes me and raises a sardonic brow. “Should I be worried about anything? You girls really worked your magic on us. That is some kind of mojo you have going on, girl. Are you going to get mad at me again and sleep with Alexis tonight?”

“I don’t know,” I mumble.

“Is she your girlfriend? Is she still mad at me?”

“I don’t know,” I mumble again. He is purposely trying to antagonize me and I’m not reacting.

“You know,” he says as he slams his cognac back and reaches for another one. “I don’t think I have ever had a woman as hardheaded as you.”

I never can read my husband. He seems to be getting more possessive and dangerous when it comes to me. All I can figure is that he is worried about Agent Turner getting me away from him. If anyone can help me or rescue me it would be him. Do I need to be rescued? Why do I feel a hole in the depths of my heart at the thought of being without my abductor? Yes, we both know if anyone can rescue me, Agent Turner can. I have no intentions of using him for that reason. Even if it works for me, he has no jurisdiction in Guatemala and my best friend is still at the mercy of Ricardo. I’m not going to do anything that will put her in danger.

I don’t want anything to happen to the agent either and, as crazy as it sounds, I don’t want my husband to go to jail for killing an FBI agent. I have officially bonded with my captor.

Antonio’s mood only deteriorates as the night progresses. I can tell he is irritated because he isn’t getting any response from me and it is bugging him.

He is right in my face and interrogating me. “You know, Roxanne, if I ever thought you were playing me, I’m not quite sure how I would react.”

He throws a picture down on the table. “I do know one thing, though. The Ramirez brothers don’t cotton to being played. Are you playing me, bitch?”

I know not to say anything as I look at the picture of the man who has been nearly beaten to death for threatening his brother’s wife, Juanita. Nothing that I say right now is going to be right.

“You bitch! You bitch, you beautiful, fucking bitch!” He leans in, pulling my hair as he passionately kisses me. His mouth engulfs mine as his tongue explores me. There is more passion in his kiss than many people have in an entire session of lovemaking. He is so intense. I have never met a man who carries so much energy and charisma inside him. He is a walking time bomb that’s set to go off at my command and I can only hope he explodes in a productive, and not destructive, way.

He pulls his mouth away from mine and leers at me, studying each and every response he causes by his kiss. He smiles in a sinister manner as my breathing becomes heavier. He grabs the back of my hair with one hand as he pushes my panties to the side with the other and he shoves his finger inside me. He growls in my ear, “Are you playing me, bitch? I will take you down, Roxanne!”

He is scaring me… and it is turning me on. I feel like I am going to have to change my clothes, I am so wet. The fact that he has me cornered in a darkened area of a club full of people as he accosts my body is a total turn on. Everything about this man sends my body into hyper drive. I grab a handful of his hair and pull him to me as I gasp, barely able to breathe as I tell him, “I love you. I’m in love with you.”

His lip snarls as he shoves his finger in and out of my pussy while glaring into my eyes. The connection I feel with him is indescribable. When we’re in a room together, no one else exists.

He shoves the top of my dress over, roughly sucking my breast in the darkened corner of the club.  He then gets right in my face and hisses out, “Bitch!” He studies my face and I know that he knows I am getting ready to climax. He watches, intrigued and captivated as an orgasm racks my body with pleasure. He never removes his eyes from mine and I, in turn, do the same. The connection between us is undeniable and with each passing day, it only grows stronger.

“You sit your sweet ass in this booth with me tonight. I’m not playing with you, Roxanne.” He gets up and leaves me sitting here. The longer I sit, the more I realize that I need to change my clothes.

I exit the booth and I’m making my way upstairs to change as Antonio comes up behind me and hisses in my ear, “What did I tell you to do? Get your ass back over to that booth.”

“I’m scared that I’m dirty. I’m scared there is a spot on my dress. Can I please change?”

“Hell no, you can’t change! Maybe that spot on your dress will keep you from walking around the bar and having to be seen!”
      I glare at him before I obey and make my way back over to the booth.

He nods for drinks and the waitress makes her way over with them, unaware of my plight. Nobody in this club would help me anyway; they’re all too scared of him.

He glares in my face with a snarled lip and cold, black eyes. “You lie about everything else. Lie and tell me you belong to me. Tell me you will never leave me. Tell me I don’t have to hold you captive and that you will stay with me of your own volition. Lie to me again and tell me that you love me, that you’re in love with me.” His face searches mine as if he is looking for answers, some cure to free him from the demons that plague his soul.