Chapter 8
Sailor got up quickly, grabbed her clothes, then hesitated. Had it locked? Grabbing the towel and going to the door, she opened it, then looked up at Mig. He said nothing as he looked her up and down, and Sailor didn’t explain as she hurried down the hall to where the shower was.
He was still outside the door when she came out in twenty minutes, clean and with her clothes on. She returned without comment, wondering how much freedom she was allowed.
Probably just the bathroom, but she would test that later.
Back in the bedroom, she paced as she tried to compose herself. She needed to plan to get out of here and away from Geo. Getting caught would mean being tied down until she gave birth and then killed once the baby was born, but she couldn’t stand the alternative. Geo was a psychopath, and even though the baby was half his, she couldn’t subject a child to him.
She was still pacing three hours later when the door opened, and Mig stepped in to hand her a tray.
“Thanks,” she told him as she took it, looking over his face. Could she convince him to help her? No… he was just as gone as Geo was. He was his dog, and he was utterly loyal to Geo.
“He said eat it all and drink all that water, too,” Mig told her, motioning to the tray.
Sailor said nothing as he closed the door.
Two minutes later, as she sat on the bed eating, Mig returned with a chair. Another man was behind him with a small table, and they set them in the corner.
“Up,” Mig demanded, coming closer.
Sailor jumped up, and as soon as she did, the other man started pulling the bedding off the bed, leaving only the mattress.
Mig took her tray from her and set it on the little table, then motioned her to sit down.
Sailor sat down gingerly, grimacing at how sore she was and how uncomfortable the hard wood of the seat was.
Mig stood waiting after the other man left, staying quiet. The man returned with new sheets, re-made the bed, and brought another comforter.
When he left, Mig went with him.
Sailor ate quickly, then fled back to the bed to curl up in the blankets as she shivered. Had they turned on the AC? Turned it down? Why was it getting so cold?
Mig opened the door an hour later, and Geo returned, looking her over with a sneer as Davon followed him in. Davon had one of her bags and a large make-up case, and he hovered there momentarily, looking at Geo guardedly. “Is there like, a stool I can use or somethin’?”
Geo jerked his chin at Mig, and Mig stepped out to yell down the hall.
“You got 15 minutes ‘n I wanna see ’r,” Geo told Davon as Mig returned with a tall stool.
“I don't think I can do it that quick,” Davon shook his head. “I got a crash course real quick, but it’s my first time doin’ it, and it’s gonna take a minute. I’ll hurry though, ‘n bring ‘r in as fast as I can.”
Geo snorted, looking Davon over. “Aight,” he finally shrugged, then turned and left with Mig.
As soon as the door closed, Sailor stalked up to Davon, climbed up on the stool, then slapped him as hard as she could. “You’re a DRUG dealer?” she demanded in a whispering hiss.
He turned back to her, looking down at her with a dark expression. “No, Say, I ain’t a fuckin’ dealer,” he told her angrily. “Don’t fuckin’ lay hands on me if you don't want me layin’ hands right back. I don't fuck with drugs, and neither does your boy. That ain’t his game.”
“I SAW him out there with those dealers in front of Grams!”
“They ain’t his, if he was with ‘m, it was for somethin’ else. Prolly tryna deal on his turf. Sit down, Say, I gotta get this done,” he demanded, taking her by the arms and making her sit on the tall stool.
Sailor glared up at him. “If not drugs, then what? He RAPED me, Day! He raped me and left me for dead! I thought I was going to die that night!”
“Lift your chin,” he grumped, tilting her face up and opening the box he’d set up on the side table.
“How can you work for him, Day?!?” she asked again, her heart hurting. “I thought you were a nice guy!”
“Who I work for don't change who I am, and you don't know me, Say. You know the kid you saw at school, not the man who works with his crew. You know who I let you see. Be still, Say, let me do this!”
“I don't want all this shit on my face!”
“It’s not your choice! He told me to do it, and I will!”
“Day… can you get me out of here?” she asked quietly, pleadingly.
“I can’t,” he whispered, shaking his head as he started applying make-up. “I’ve thought about it a lot and don't see any way to do it.”
“I need to get away! I’m all my mom has! My Gramma too! I can call her neighbor to heat up food for her, but only if it’s already there! Please, Day, I…”
“Sailor, I can’t,” he interrupted angrily. “Please stop! I… saw your mom. She was afraid at first, thought I was there to rob he r. I think your mom is racist,” he half chuckled. “Convinced her I was your friend, and I came to help. Made her some eggs? There wasn’t much there to give her.”
“There’s money in my bag? Could you get her some groceries and…”
He shook his head quickly. “I called Social Services. Sorry, I can’t go there every day, multiple times a day, Say.”
“What about my Gramma?” Sailor asked, her eyes filling with tears.
“Gimme her info, and I’ll do the same for her,” he shrugged. “I got my own family, Say. I did pack up a bunch of your stuff, though. It’s out there somewhere. They put it off to the side. Come on now, I need to do this.”
“Day, I need out of here, please!”
“Sailor… if I’m not out there with you all made up and lookin’ like he wants, it’s gonna be my ass. I ain’t puttin’ my whole family on the line just to piss him off! There’s no workaround, just get through this! Have the kid and be good, and he’ll let you walk away after.”
Sailor wilted, more tears falling, but she stayed still as he put make-up on her. When he finished, he opened her bag and pulled out the dress and shoes he’d gotten out of her closet.
“I can’t…”
“Just put it on, Say,” he cut in angrily.
“It’s too small! The chest is too tight! I only wore it to Janine’s sister's wedding, and it was her old dress!”
“And it shows off the goods. Just wear it tonight, Say! Wear it out there while he’s got his crew all gathered up and let them see you all on point and shit, okay? Come on. Turn around and let me do your hair some too.”