Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Chicago differed from any other city I’d ever lived in. Being from North Carolina, I was used to ninety-plus weather in the summer and at least the twenties in the winter, but the Windy City was something else.
The savings I had quickly dried up. The cost of living in Chicago was not what I was used to.
Two years later, I was putting in plenty of applications with no takers until I ended up working in a few clubs as a bouncer and sometimes bartending, trying to keep the small apartment I rented here before I moved.
I was hardheaded and refused to go back to school just to use the training and skills I’d learned in the Navy.
I had to admit, though, the club scene was pretty cool.
I’d never had the chance to experience that kind of thing before working on being a lifer, but it was time to do something else.
I’d been job hunting, trying to find the right fit for me.
I kept in contact with my old unit at least twice a month, but the Navy life was not for me anymore.
I thought I’d be sad about it, but I wasn’t.
Since I’d retired, my nightmares only struck three times a week instead of every night.
Maybe the change of scenery did me some good.
Which was why I was currently browsing for jobs online when I should be asleep.
I was filling in for Trina at the bar tonight.
I really didn’t know which was worse, having guys leer at me all night as a bartender or trying to take me on because I was a female who just happened to be the bouncer for the night.
After forty minutes, I came across an advertisement from a security firm looking for new hires to join their security teams. The advertisement specifically called for military training; however, it wasn’t necessary.
I applied to that security firm and two others.
Now all I needed to do was wait. Hopefully, I’d get an interview at least.
I closed the laptop and headed for my room.
I splurged on decorating my new apartment, selling most of the furniture I moved here from San Diego because it just didn’t fit.
I needed new furniture and décor to mirror my new start on life.
It was small, but it was just right for my budget.
But now that budget was dwindling, which was why I was getting in the bed to sleep for around five hours before I went to the bar.
But of course, I wouldn’t be that lucky. I hadn’t been to sleep more than two hours when the nightmare decided to invade. I could still smell the piss and sweat just like I was there as I fought my way back to reality.
After the attack first happened, I was a paranoid wreck.
I thought everyone was out to get me, including my team.
Even though they showed me they were there for me and had my back, it took me a while to believe or trust them again.
To believe or trust anyone’s touch or their sincerity.
I was still wary of people, and my circle was tight.
But that circle was hundreds of miles away, and here in Chicago, I had no friends, no ties.
I liked the people I worked with, but they weren’t family like we were in San Diego.
After lying awake for two hours, I got dressed for the night.
Since I was working the bar, I wanted to go a little sexier with my attire, but to be sure it wouldn’t warrant unwanted attention.
I could never understand why guys wanted to test me.
The regulars warned them not to fuck with me, but there was always one who didn’t listen.
I hoped one of the jobs I applied to would come through soon.
I pulled into the parking lot of Sipping Nights and could already hear the thump of the music as soon as I exited my car. The spot by the door was already crowded with the employees who smoked.
“Hey Tisha,” Courtney, one of the waitresses, greeted me when I joined them. “What’s up?”
“Nothing much,” I answered as her gaze covered me from head to toe.
“You must be working the bar tonight.”
“Yup.” I nodded. “Gotta pay the bills.”
I pushed past everyone else and moved down the hall.
I had to do inventory before we opened to make sure we had enough booze for the night.
Friday nights tended to be extra crowded and loud.
I didn’t mind once I had a few shots running through my system.
By the time I finished going through every can of beer, bottle of beer, and every bottle of liquor behind the bar, Mike, the owner, was unlocking the doors so the line outside could enter.
I threw back my first shot. Most nights, Courtney and Tiara did the same.
It took a special kind of mood to work at Sipping Nights.
“Don’t drink all my liquor, girl,” Mike said when I downed my second shot.
I chuckled. “You know I gotta have a buzz to do this shit.”
He threw his hand up as he walked to the opposite end of the bar to help me out. By everyone’s second round of drinks, the dance floor was packed with writhing bodies. The smell of sweat and arousal was heavy in the air as the music continued to strum through my veins.
“All right, Tisha.” Courtney made her way to the bar. “I see you.”
I did a small gyration of my hips and laughed. “Girl, now this is how you do it.”
“Right.” Courtney laughed and did a little wiggle of her hips in return. “I got another one for you.”
She rattled off the drink order, and I mentally added them to my list. As the music got louder, the crowd got rowdier, and soon the bouncers on duty were earning their pay.
I was glad I wasn’t working the floor tonight.
The crowd was a little on the rough side.
The girls were constantly swatting away touchy-feely hands.
“Hi.” A deep rumble roused me from surveying the floor.
“Hey buddy, what can I get you?” I asked, wiping down my area while waiting on the guy to order.
“Your phone number, for starters.”
If I’d been drinking, it probably would have been all over his face because I would’ve spit it out from laughter. “That is the cheesiest line ever.”
A look flitted across his face, but was gone before I could decipher it. I moved to check on the next customer, but was stopped in my tracks when he grabbed my hand.
“Come on now.” A wide grin graced his mouth. “Is that any way to treat a paying customer?”
I stared down at his hand on my arm. Since the incident with Tristan, I didn’t care to be touched, especially by a stranger.
“I’d appreciate it if you would quit touching me.”
His thumb drew circles on my exposed skin, giving me unwelcome goosebumps. The kind that rose on your skin when you had an uneasy feeling. “Come on, baby.”
“Ron!” Mike yelled from the opposite end of the bar. “Take your fucking hands off her before she kicks your ass.”
Our gazes met. The guy looked like he was thinking about how far he could go. He stared at Mike, like he was getting confirmation, but his grip tightened on my arm.
This motherfucker is testing me.
My training kicked in. Everything around me faded to black.
I only saw him and me. He pulled me closer, trapping me against the bar.
I didn’t see Mike move, but he was too slow anyway.
I used my free hand and grabbed the guy by the back of the head and rammed his face into the solid oak in rapid succession.
He let go of me, but not before he got a broken nose and bruised forehead.
“Gotdammit, Tisha!” Mike ripped me away from the guy before I could follow up. “Go to the back office and wait for me.”
I didn’t say anything, and I didn’t go to his office either. I went out the back, straight to the parking lot, and got into my fucking car. I knew exactly how the conversation would have gone if I stayed.
Mike would’ve tried to get me to apologize to the guy so he wouldn’t sue or press charges.
And on top of that, probably would’ve given him free drinks for life.
No fucking way was I going to be a part of that.
It was after twelve when I got home. There were fifteen missed calls from Mike when I finally stepped through my apartment door and checked my phone.
“I’ll call him back in the morning,” I deadpanned, going straight to my room.
Maybe.
I more than likely just fucked up my only means of keeping this place.
If one of those job applications didn’t come through soon, my ass would be on the streets.
I banked enough money for two more months’ rent with enough food in the fridge and freezer to last about that long, but it didn’t matter.
I needed something to pan out for me soon.
I peeled off the stink of the evening, tempted to face-plant in my bed, but that wouldn’t make me feel any cleaner or better.
“Fuck! I need a bath.”
I pulled the bath salts and oils out of the wicker basket on a small white stool sitting in the corner. Immediately, the scent of white gardenia filled my minuscule bathroom. I stepped into the steaming bath and sank down until the water was up to my neck.
“Damn, this feels good,” I moaned as the hot water and oils penetrated through my skin.
This bathroom, although small, was my solace. Its mint-green walls and white and pine green tile floor was calming. It was where I came and didn’t worry about the hassles of the day. I loved it.
“Tristan, don’t! You don’t want to do this,” I cried. “Why?” I moaned from the hit to my back and the fear I felt for my life. I wanted to know why Tristan, someone I trusted, was doing this to me.
“All those men,” I heard him mumble.
The look on his face, I didn’t recognize.
This was not the Tristan I knew. This man was full of hate and disdain.
All of it focused on me. At that point, it was be killed or fight.
How many times had I sparred with this man?
How many times had he shown me ways to take out an opponent who was bigger than me? And Tristan was way bigger than me.
I jerked awake from the nightmare of my attack. I was still submerged in the water with wrinkled hands and feet. Rising from the water, I reached for the monogrammed towel from the rack hanging on the wall at the foot of the tub. Wrapping myself in the fluffy towel, I headed back to my bedroom.
The alarm clock on the bedside table read two in the morning. Drying myself, I pulled out a tank and panties, slipping both on before I pulled back my comforter and slipped underneath. Hopefully, I would stay in this blissful state as I slept and not be awakened tonight.