Chapter 23
Evie
The Exposition Scene
“Come on in, Little Lita. Take off those disguises. Who you got there with you?” Dourif waved us in as the redhead lifted her head from his lap and wiped her mouth.
I cringed as he stood, flashing his spent cock before stuffing himself back into his pants.
“Sorry, friends. She’s sloppy.” He patted her head and pushed her away.
Urging me farther into the room with a hand on my back, Sebastian greeted him. “Jason, it’s been a while.”
“Ah, it’s you—Sebastian Shaw.” Dourif smiled wide. “Welcome to my humble abode. Valerie, get out of here. I’ll call and get you that audition tomorrow, first thing.”
The pretty redhead stood and turned to us. Her eyes widened when she saw Sebastian, but she quickly dipped her head and scurried out.
I grimaced. She had to be close to my age, if not younger.
Sadness dripped from me as I watched the desperate woman flee. I handed Sebastian my disguise, and he set it down.
“Come. Sit, you two. You do cocaine?” Dourif asked me, plopping back down onto the couch. A large white pile of powder sat on the coffee table in front of him. He pointed to Sebastian. “I know you do. Come get some of this before I go through it all myself.”
“We’re good,” Sebastian answered for both of us.
Something about his tone irritated me. He didn’t speak for me. Dourif caught the look I gave Sebastian and licked his lips.
“Come on, Little Lita. Do a line. It’s just a little coke.
Come sit with Uncle Jason.” He rubbed the spot beside him, and I was eternally grateful that I didn’t need his skills to advance my career.
I sat down and watched as he prepared three lines.
“You sure you don’t want in on this? It’s good stuff.
” He looked up at Sebastian, who simply shook his head.
“I think I’ll pass too. I just…wanted to catch up,” I said, looking at Sebastian.
“Catch up? Girl, I barely knew you. Unless you’re here to suck my cock, do my drugs, or hire me as your manager, you can leave.” As he spoke, he picked up a pre-rolled five-dollar bill and offered it to me.
I licked my lips. Would I get a second chance to be so close to this southern, leather-bag monster?
“Evie…” Sebastian warned. “Don’t.”
“Aw, is he your daddy now? He tell you what to do and where to go? I bet he picked those clothes too, didn’t he?” Dourif mocked, bending down to do a line.
“Shut the hell up, Jason.” Sebastian rolled his eyes.
Jason came back up, grinning. “I’m just calling it as I see it.” He put his hands up. “Feel free to prove me wrong. Does he own you, darlin’?” Once again, he offered me the bill.
This was a test, I just wasn’t sure what the question was. This had nothing to do with Sebastian ordering me around.
“I don’t do drugs alone,” Jason whined. “So one of you better take this bill from me or get the fuck out and don’t come back.”
Sebastian started to lean forward, but fear caused me to shove Jason’s hand away and dig into my own wallet.
I pulled out a twenty and rolled it up, leaning toward the drugs.
Sebastian’s hands turned into fists at his sides as he understood what was happening.
If one of us was going to keep our wits, it needed to be him.
“That’s right. Go on now. Plug one nostril and just snort.
” Jason put his hand on my back encouragingly.
Keeping eye contact with Sebastian, I did as instructed, hoping he’d read my mind.
My stomach tightened with nerves as I bent down and snorted.
I’d never done cocaine before. The powder stung.
I fell back, stunned. My heart sped up, and warmth spread through me—everywhere but my face, which had gone numb.
Then...
There was a beat where my mind was blank, and then—everything hit at once.
I looked around and inhaled deeply. Everything was so…
sharp! I could smell every note of the cigar on the table.
I could feel every beat of the music reverberating through my body.
My fingertips vibrated. I could think clearly!
And fast. I could do anything I wanted to.
I leaped up, and Dourif took his two lines and joined me.
“Atta girl. I knew you weren’t no cop. Come on.
Dance with me like your momma used to.” He turned the music up with a remote.
Club music bumped in my ears, making the euphoria that had taken over my blood even better.
I didn’t consider myself a dancer, but when he reached out and started swaying, I found myself joining in.
Sebastian, a few paces away, turned and went around a bar, where he ducked and came up holding a Red Bull. He popped the tab and strolled over.
“Those things are so bad for you!” I shouted over the music.
He froze, the can on his lips. “Bitch, you just did cocaine.”
The words sounded silly when he said them, causing me to burst into laughter.
I spun around and danced with Dourif. When my high wore off, I was a bit tired.
I plopped back down onto the couch, and when Dourif went for another bump, I forced myself not to partake.
I’d passed the test. I needed to get back on task.
There would be other opportunities for fun. This was Hollywood, after all.
Sebastian’s eyes were glued to the ceiling in annoyance.
Dourif snorted another line and sat back, turning his head to look at me.
“Now, why are you here, Little Lita?”
“Here? I—you invited me.”
“No, why are you back in Hollywood?” He snickered. “I’m not fucking stupid. We heard they shipped you off to some aunt in the Midwest. Why come back? This ain’t no place for a girl like you.”
“Like me?”
He reached out, running a long finger down my cheek. I shuddered and clenched my fists to keep from smacking him away.
“Innocent.”
I fought back a smirk. My gaze drifted to Sebastian, who was shaking his head and sipping his Red Bull. He caught my eye and tilted the can, encouraging me to go off. I turned back to the man on the couch.
“I know you killed my mom!” I blurted then widened my eyes, wondering if I was still feeling the effects of the cocaine. My eyes shot to the clock on the wall. It’d been close to an hour.
“Whoa now.” He threw his hands up in the air. “I didn’t take part in no killin’.”
For a second, guilt poured into me, but then he continued.
“I was just there for the rapin’.”
Without a second to think, I reached forward and grabbed him by his white hair and yanked him down, smashing him face first into the coffee table.
Cocaine flew everywhere, and when I let go, he lifted his face and gasped, looking very much like Mrs. Doubtfire.
He shook his head and sniffled loudly, inhaling what cocaine was near his nostrils.
“Now, Little Lita, if my face wasn’t so fucking numb, I’d be a lot angrier.” He stumbled up and shook the attack off, turning his back to me. I jumped onto the couch and then launched myself at his back.
“You raped her?” I screamed. From the corner of my eye, I saw Sebastian standing off to the side, drinking his Red Bull and watching me go crazy.
“I don’t know why you’re mad at me!” Dourif twisted, trying to get me off him. “It’s not like it was just me there. She took all our cocks that night.”
“And who exactly is all?” Sebastian stepped forward, shoving him.
Dourif stumbled back but stopped struggling and stared at him. “Like I’d tell you. You smug fuck. Just because you got a pretty face and know who to blow, you think you’ve got some weight to throw around. Nice try, you stupid, na?ve piece of shit.”
Dourif spun hard, causing me to lose my grip and fall to the ground. He glared down at me. “I think it’s time you left, Little Lita. Leave this town before something bad happens.”
My brain malfunctioned for a moment, going back to my bedroom with Glenn. He’d said the same things shortly before drinking his bleach cocktail.
The sound of a click made us turn. Sebastian had his knife open at his side. “Is that a threat?”
“It’s a promise. Maybe not by me, but you’re digging up shit that’s better buried. Lita Reyes...” He paused, looking up at the ceiling. “She was something, but she’s dead now. Let her soul rest. God knows she didn’t get to while alive.”
He started toward the door, but Sebastian blocked him, thrusting his arm out and keeping the door closed.
“Go sit back down and give us some answers, old man.”
“Old man?” When Sebastian raised his knife, Dourif lifted his hands again and started back my way. “All right, all right. I doubt I have the answers you want, but sure. Ask away.”
“Why? Why did you rape her?” I asked, my voice cracking.
“Oh, hell.” He sighed. “This was years ago. I can hardly remember two weeks ago—I’m fucking high.
” He groaned and looked down at the table riddled with cocaine.
He was quiet for a moment and then burst out in laughter, startling us.
“You’re just like your momma, you know that?
She always asked questions too.” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a cigarette case.
Plucking out a smoke, he lit it and smirked. “And that’s why they killed her.”
“What questions? Why would they need to kill her?” I pushed. “Why did she go to dinner alone with you all?”
That was the question that kept me up at night. Why did she go with them?
He took a long drag, and I watched as the cherry at the end burned bright red. Without warning, he pulled it from his lips and leaned forward, putting it out on my arm and pressing it deep into my skin.
I screamed and shot to my feet.
“You bastard!” I brushed the ash off and winced at the burn.
He stood and rolled his eyes. “You really think I’d tell you shit? I’m not trying to have ol’ Elliott Bradley on my ass. Girl, get out of here. And you.” He turned to Sebastian.
While he wasn’t facing me, I looked around and picked up the metal tray. Gripping it tightly, I raised it and pulled back.