32. Drugs and Booze
Drugs and Booze
Vandal
The DJ started up ten minutes before the party officially started, and I feel every one of those minutes throbbing in the back of my skull.
What did I ever see in this party lifestyle?
The booze is flowing, people are dancing—more like gyrating on my living room floor—and there is laughter and joy all around me, but all I can think is I wish I was with Lola.
Thankfully, all I need to do is look bored and uninterested to keep my persona going. I’m both of those now in spades.
A half-drunk girl starts dancing her way towards me. She thinks she’s seducing me with her eyes in a way that only a drunk person could believe to be sexy. I turn my head when she smiles at me, hoping that she chooses another target.
A few minutes later, a body plops into my lap. “Hello, sexy. Wannas buy me a dwink?”
“Drinks here are free. It’s a party, not a club. Now get off of me.”
“Wanna make owt.”
Gross. “No, get off me. This is your last warning.”
“Don’t you wike me?” She reaches up to thread her fingers through my hair and slaps me instead. “We awr in wove.”
I shove her off my lap. “Try anything again, and I’ll have you kicked out.”
That stuns her slightly sober. “You could have just said no.”
“No. Now go away.” I turn my head and lift my glass to my lips. If Chad doesn’t show up, I’m going to lose my mind soon. Would it be in character for me to leave my own party?
What is Lola doing? Probably sitting in the library surrounded by a dozen books and plates full of snacks. I should be there with her. Or out on a date with her. Where am I going to take her for our first date?
It needs to be epic.
But not too showy.
Lola won’t like me spending crazy money on her.
Maybe something silly and fun, like a fair or an amusement park. Or a Renaissance festival—don’t they only have those in the summer, though? Probably.
She’s going to expect me to have a plan the next time I see her. Or at least a date or time.
Why is this so hard? I’ve dated plenty of women in my life.
But none of them mattered. Dinner at a nice restaurant was good enough.
Dinner won’t cut it with her. She deserves more.
But what?
It would be so much easier if I could just buy her a diamond necklace and be done with it. Then you’d be your father.
“Van, my man. You’re thinking way too hard for a party.” Chad walks up, trailed by eight women. No, that’s wrong. None of them look old enough to be considered a woman. They’re children. Most of them appear to be around fifteen or sixteen.
I stand up. “This party is boring me. I should have gotten on a plane.”
“Don’t worry, the party has arrived. I brought friends and party gifts.” He raises his arms in a grand gesture, then lowers them, patting his pockets with the subtlety of a toddler. “Do you like my friends? Aren’t they pretty?”
“Beautiful.” I try not to throw up in my mouth and punch his face as I say the word. There’s nothing cute about having children at an adult party and bringing drugs along.
“Take a good, long look at them. They’re the things dreams are made of.” He leans in and whispers. “They’ll do ‘anything’ you want. All you have to do is ask. Your wish is their command.”
You can’t kill him.
You can’t kill him.
You need to get to his boss.
You can’t kill him. You need to save not just these girls but all the ones his boss is controlling. The Ghost has never used prostitutes before. But he has used teenagers to sell drugs. What if this is just the next step in the progression?
Or what if I stepped into another mess? Whatever this is, I need to find out more. “Anything?”
“Absolutely. Don’t worry, I tested the goods myself. They’re all prime.”
I’m going to kill you slowly and painfully, making you regret every single person you hurt. “Perfect.” I hold out a hand, and he shakes it, slipping me a baggie of pills. “Have fun tonight.”
“You too.” His sick grin turns my stomach. Thankfully, he walks away.
I swap the pills for an aspirin in my pocket just like Fly taught me and take it in clear view of the women.
This next part is going to be the most revolting thing I have ever done in my life…I need to play along with Carves’ little game.
Fly better pull a fire alarm or something, because there’s no way I’m going to touch one of these girls. “Shall we dance?” That should be safe enough.
***
I’m not an actor. Fly was wrong. I can’t handle this.
He hasn’t come.
No one has.
How do I set off the fire alarm? Or maybe get the party raided by the police?
I’ll take an alien invasion at this point.
It doesn’t matter what. I just need something to step in between me and these children with their roaming hands and dead eyes.
What was done to them?
Who is sick enough to hurt a single child, let alone a half dozen of them like this? My only defense right now is the nonstop music thumping. I’m going to dance until my legs fall off if that’s what it takes.
Fly, do something.
Maybe I can pretend to be sick. There’s a seafood tower. I could eat a few oysters, then head into the bathroom for the rest of the night.
That would work.
That’s totally doable.
But it won’t protect them. Carves is liable to pimp them out to someone else.
Focus.
Don’t throw up.
Don’t kill him.
When the time comes, Carves is mine to deal with. My brothers will just have to understand.
It’s late, but not so late. I can dance for hours still. That’s just what I’ll do. And appreciate the fact that I went gaudy with the seafood tower. They’re now a requirement for every party I throw.
The flashing lights and bodies everywhere help me pull my focus off my problems, even as I watch the door for Fly or one of my brothers to arrive and save the day. Which is a pipe dream since we agreed that they would stay away unless I was in life or death danger.
There’s a path out of this for you. You just have to wait it out and then run to the bathroom.
My eyes drift over to the door, and I blink.
Did I take the wrong pill?
My head feels clear.
But I’m definitely seeing things. Lola…
Lola just walked into my party.
Lola’s here.
Lola can’t be here. I told her I was busy.
She’s supposed to be at the library with a half dozen textbooks, snacks, and friends.
Why is she here?
This isn’t her scene.
Lola is too sweet to be at a party like this.
Maybe she won’t see me.
Maybe she’ll just turn around and walk out because she can tell this isn’t the place for her to be.
Turn around.
Walk out.
Leave.
Please go.
There’s no way I can explain what’s happening.
The second she sees me, she’s going to lose her mind and there’s not a single thing I can do to stop it. If I go for a drink, these children are liable to follow me. If I go to my bedroom…Nope, that’s not going to work.
There’s nothing to do but stand here and hope she turns away.
Go away.
Go home, Lola.
Parties like this aren’t your style.
My gut clenches.
LynnLeigh walks up and grabs Lola’s arm, excitedly gesturing at the party. Suzie takes her other arm, shouting something in her ear.
Then it happens. Our eyes meet.
A smile spreads across her face until realization dawns.
I’m not the man I said I was.
I lied to her.
I crushed her.
What is she going to do? If it were me, I’d confront her, then walk away.
A confrontation now wouldn’t be good. How do I spin this without giving anything away? What do I say? Whatever it is, it’s bound to crush her even more.
Someone should just take me out and shoot me.
She didn’t deserve this.
Fly warned you.
He told you to ditch her.
This will do it. She’ll never forgive me.
Will I ever forgive myself?
Losing her will crush me…