Mine Until Dawn by Ednah Walters, E. B. Walters Page B
Authors: Ednah Walters, E. B. Walters
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and pulled out several twenty-dollar bills. Tariq’s eyes widen. “I’ll give you a hundred. Fifty now and fifty once I confirm you’re telling the truth.”
Tariq appeared undecided, his expression suspicious. Vince waved the bills, getting impatient. He didn’t have to wait long before Tariq nodded.
Vince picked up a pen and a hotel pad from the table then cocked his eyebrows. Once he got what he wanted, he gave the boy the two-twenties and one ten-dollar bills. “Collect the rest when I come back tonight.”
Less than an hour later, Vince drove past the commercial and garment district in north Newton and entered the road leading to the Pueblo Del Rio housing project in South Central. He pulled up by four young men on the curb, switched off the engine, and stepped out of his car.
The screams from sirens, wheels on pavement and people yelling at each other assaulted his ears. The stench of uncollected garbage and piss hung in the air. Didn’t bother him none. He’d seen worse during his reporting days.
Squinting, he looked around. There was the usual collection of hopeless and tired characters loitering about: jobless young men hanging out, selling Lord-knew-what or playing games on the ground; a few winos and druggies sleeping off the poison they’d consumed earlier. To his right was the building he was searching for. Its lower levels had received a paint job by local graffiti specialists.
His gaze drifted back to the four young men. He hoped one of them would point him in the direction of Valerie Redding’s apartment.
CHAPTER 6
Jade snuck a look at her watch. Two hours and counting. Where were the strippers? The wait was driving her nuts. The other women, immersed in the I Never game, appeared unbothered.
She sipped her nonalcoholic beverage and wished it were something stronger. She’d be drunk, loud and acting crazy if she drank the concoctions Faith mixed at the kitchen counter. Being the only cold-stone sober person at every party sucked sometimes, but it was either that or taking chances with her life. Controlling her arrhythmia always came first.
Jade’s gaze swept the loft and she grinned at the party decorations and games. Trust Faith to come up with something unusual. Everything was either shaped like a penis or had one drawn on it—penis-shaped piñata, the poster of a yummy handsome hunk for the game Pin the Macho on a Man and its assortment of penis-like objects hanging from it, the paper hats the guests wore except Ashley’s tiara, the suckers, and even the straws used for drinks. When women acted bad, they did it with a bang. The groping that was going to take place tonight. She almost felt sorry for the strippers.
“I never went in public without underwear.” The giggled confession drew Jade’s attention back to the game.
“What planet do you live on?” a woman scolded amid guffaws.
“Cruising commando is a passage to womanhood,” another said and raised her glass.
“Amen,” the others yelled in heartfelt accord.
“Drink. Drink. Drink.” The chant filled Ashley’s loft as the women who claimed to have gone commando replaced their crystal glasses with highball glasses frothing with alcoholic mixtures. In unison and amid cheers, they chugged down drinks with wacky names like screaming-orgasm, sex-on-the-beach, and slow-comfortable-screw, Faith’s specialty.
“I never made-out in a public place…”
“I never danced topless at a party…”
The more drunk they were, the more outrageous their confessions. Been-there and done-that seemed to be the response for the evening. Jade joined in the cheering, but wondered how many of the women were telling the truth. She fantasized about most of their supposed exploits. On the other hand, she’d attended enough bachelorette parties to know most women faked deeds just to get drunk. She, of course, faked to save face. But she’d be lying if she didn’t admit she envied the ones who dared to live wild and tell about
Tariq appeared undecided, his expression suspicious. Vince waved the bills, getting impatient. He didn’t have to wait long before Tariq nodded.
Vince picked up a pen and a hotel pad from the table then cocked his eyebrows. Once he got what he wanted, he gave the boy the two-twenties and one ten-dollar bills. “Collect the rest when I come back tonight.”
Less than an hour later, Vince drove past the commercial and garment district in north Newton and entered the road leading to the Pueblo Del Rio housing project in South Central. He pulled up by four young men on the curb, switched off the engine, and stepped out of his car.
The screams from sirens, wheels on pavement and people yelling at each other assaulted his ears. The stench of uncollected garbage and piss hung in the air. Didn’t bother him none. He’d seen worse during his reporting days.
Squinting, he looked around. There was the usual collection of hopeless and tired characters loitering about: jobless young men hanging out, selling Lord-knew-what or playing games on the ground; a few winos and druggies sleeping off the poison they’d consumed earlier. To his right was the building he was searching for. Its lower levels had received a paint job by local graffiti specialists.
His gaze drifted back to the four young men. He hoped one of them would point him in the direction of Valerie Redding’s apartment.
CHAPTER 6
Jade snuck a look at her watch. Two hours and counting. Where were the strippers? The wait was driving her nuts. The other women, immersed in the I Never game, appeared unbothered.
She sipped her nonalcoholic beverage and wished it were something stronger. She’d be drunk, loud and acting crazy if she drank the concoctions Faith mixed at the kitchen counter. Being the only cold-stone sober person at every party sucked sometimes, but it was either that or taking chances with her life. Controlling her arrhythmia always came first.
Jade’s gaze swept the loft and she grinned at the party decorations and games. Trust Faith to come up with something unusual. Everything was either shaped like a penis or had one drawn on it—penis-shaped piñata, the poster of a yummy handsome hunk for the game Pin the Macho on a Man and its assortment of penis-like objects hanging from it, the paper hats the guests wore except Ashley’s tiara, the suckers, and even the straws used for drinks. When women acted bad, they did it with a bang. The groping that was going to take place tonight. She almost felt sorry for the strippers.
“I never went in public without underwear.” The giggled confession drew Jade’s attention back to the game.
“What planet do you live on?” a woman scolded amid guffaws.
“Cruising commando is a passage to womanhood,” another said and raised her glass.
“Amen,” the others yelled in heartfelt accord.
“Drink. Drink. Drink.” The chant filled Ashley’s loft as the women who claimed to have gone commando replaced their crystal glasses with highball glasses frothing with alcoholic mixtures. In unison and amid cheers, they chugged down drinks with wacky names like screaming-orgasm, sex-on-the-beach, and slow-comfortable-screw, Faith’s specialty.
“I never made-out in a public place…”
“I never danced topless at a party…”
The more drunk they were, the more outrageous their confessions. Been-there and done-that seemed to be the response for the evening. Jade joined in the cheering, but wondered how many of the women were telling the truth. She fantasized about most of their supposed exploits. On the other hand, she’d attended enough bachelorette parties to know most women faked deeds just to get drunk. She, of course, faked to save face. But she’d be lying if she didn’t admit she envied the ones who dared to live wild and tell about
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