Two days later
I tuck my hands into my pocket, huddling up against the brick wall, trying to reserve as much heat as possible. I really need to buy a coat, winter is brutal this year. I look up at the dark gray sky, it’s not that late, only 6 o clock, so I guess it’s going to snow. I’ve been staying at the warehouse I found for 2 days. It’s a lot better than being outside, but there’s still no heat.
My stomach lets out a vicious growl and I sigh, ignoring the growing hunger. It’s food or clothes. I’m saving the rest of the money I make to get my own place. I have enough for rent and food to last for about 2 months but that’s it. This little money I make freezing my ass off out here isn’t worth it anymore.
Kyle mentioned doubling the money.
I’d have to get my hands dirty, but is that really the worst thing? It’s not like I haven’t stained my hands. I saw the newspaper about our shootout, I can’t deny that I was responsible for some of those deaths. I spend the next 2 hours selling and thinking about if I really want to do this. Snow starts falling from the sky and I try to stop shivering as the temperature drops. I suppose that’s my answer then.
I walk to the closest convenience store to get some snacks for tonight before I go back to Kyle, coughing and sneezing the entire time. I really can’t afford to get sick right now. The snow begins to fall harder and I know there’s no way I can walk back to Kyle’s.
I sigh, walking into the store, ignoring the skeptical security guard and grabbing a basket. I shop slowly, warming up my body as I pick up the cheapest food I can find. When I’m done I put my pride aside, hack into the WiFi and call Travis.
It’s loud like he’s driving and I can hear music and laughter in the background, probably Kyle and their bitches.
“What’s up Winter? Is the snow giving you problems?”
“No, I’m finished already. Can you pick me up from the convenience store on 14th street?”
“Yeah alright. I’ll be there in…10” I leave the store, rolling my eyes at the guard that watched me shop the entire time and settle on the freezing bench.
“Thanks” I mumble before hanging up and tucking my hands in my pocket. I would stay in the store but that sss looked like he was seconds away from accusing me of stealing. I’ve had that happen before and it’s not worth all the hassle.
Nobody ever believes the homeless kid.
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“Bro, are you sure you want to do this? I mean Winter it’s one of our best workers.” Travis knows he’s speaking to a brick wall but he’s still trying. Winter is his and he doesn’t agree with selling her. She’s starting to trust him more and soon she’ll have no choice but to be his.
“It’s easy fucking money man. I know you’re going to miss your piece of pussy but get over it. There’s always more.” Kyle rolls his eyes at his soft ass best friend, roughly slapping a hand on his shoulder.
“When will we ever get the chance to make this much money? It’s 50g man, and that pussy ass mafia dude is such a pushover, we can probably get more. Come on, look at all these bitches around here that can satisfy you. They’ll easily replace Winter’s stubborn ass and we can start to do real damage. This is our moment to grow, we gotta take it.”
Travis sighs and Kyle knows that his friend will be fine as soon as he sees the money. Winter may be different than most bitches and Kyle can’t lie that he isn’t jealous she chose his friend over him, but money always reigns. And bitches are always replaceable.
“Alright, what do you need me to do?” Travis finally gives in, silently vowing to find her again. And when he does he’ll kill her and anyone rose before he lets her go.
“It’s easy, as soon as she lets her guard down get her so high she can’t move . Or knock her ass out. They’ll be here tonight to pick her up.”
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I eat the sandwich I bought as I wait for Travis, willing my body to stop shaking. I really hate the winter.
“Winter?!” I hear officer Bailey call my name and I look over to see her with a short-haired woman. Officer Bailey is dressed casually but her badge still shines proudly on her hip. She must be off but on-call.
“My God, what are you doing sitting outside when it’s freezing?!” She rushes over and starts making a fuss as the woman behind her lingers awkwardly.
“I’m fine, I’m just waiting for my ride.”
“Fine? Your face is red, you’re raspy and wheezing, and you don’t even have a proper coat on.” She begins taking off her jacket and I shake my head. Yeah, no, that’s not happening.
“I’m fine, Bailey. I’m not a kid you know? Besides, it looks like you’re busy and off the clock.” We both look at the woman awkwardly waiting behind her. It’s hard to see her face in all the snow but I recognize the wedding rings on both of their fingers.
“This is my wife-”
“It’s nice to meet you Winter, my wife has told me a lot about you.” She cuts Bailey off and steps forward to shake my hand. I stare at her for a moment and it feels like I’ve seen a ghost. She looks just like my mother, well a healthy rich version of her. I shake off that feeling and shake her hand.
My mother is dead. Maybe the cold is starting to get to me, I don’t feel that well.
“Let us help you, it’s supposed to snow all night.” Bailey steps forward as I quickly drop my hand and pack away my food for later.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
“No, it’s fine. I have a ride.”
“Is this ride with Kyle by chance?” I send Bailey a hard glare. She should really stop poking around for both of our sake.
“That’s none of your business.” I notice a car pull up to the curb behind her and start gathering my things.
“Win-”
“Winter, get your ass in the car” Kyle stands from the backseat, glaring at the three of us. Bailey is defensive as they have a stare off that I ignore getting into the car. Travis pulls off as soon as Kyle closes the door, immediately backhanding me in the lip. His rough knuckles split my lip but I don’t say anything. He only does this shit when Kyle is around.
“What the hell is your ass thinking talking to a dman rat?” Kyle reaches forward like he’s going to hit me, but Travis does it for him. My head whips to the side as my cheeks scream in pain, but I don’t say anything. I keep my head down, wiping the blood from my lip, noting the way Travis’ hands clench against the steering wheel. He says he doesn’t like doing this but I honestly don’t think he cares either way.
“Are you a fucking rat? Tell me the fucking truth or I’ll blow your damn head off right here!” The hard cold metal pushes into the back of my head and I force the panic down. Swallow the fear. It’ll just make me look guilty if I’m nervous. I can tell that Kyle is fucked up right now, which makes him a ticking time bomb. He gets paranoid and ready to kill anyone that he thinks it’s slighting him.
“She just showed up when she saw me sitting outside.”
“It’s not the first time I’ve been told you’ve been talking to that damn rat.” The click of the gun sounds but I remain the same.
Don’t panic.
“She just shows up, she’s known me since I was a kid, maybe she memorized my normal spots.”
“What a fucking coincidence then huh?” Kyle pushes the gun harder into my head and the air in the car gets tense. Even his hoes wisely shut the fuck up. I hold my breath saying a silent prayer. I don’t want to die yet. I hear Travis grumble next to me before he reaches out and slaps my cheek again. He stops at a light and his hands begin to rain down strikes against my face. All I can do is block and try to reduce the damage while Kyle and his bitches laugh in the backseat.
“You have a fucking brain, use it dumb ass.” Travis doesn’t speak loud or yell as he delivers one last hard slap as the light turns green. He pushes my head into the door, driving off.
“Sorry” I mumble, using my sleeve to wipe my bloody lip. My cheek is swollen, my head is pounding, and I still feel sick as fuck but I don’t say anything. It could’ve been worse.
“Damn Travis, I ain’t think you had it in you.” I roll my eyes at Kyle’s amusement, keeping my gaze out the window. I was better off walking. I feel Travis glance at me every now and then but I ignore him. I know he just did it to quell Kyle’s anger but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t piss me off. Sometimes I ask myself if dealing with them is worth this shit.
I’m quiet the remaining ride as Kyle goes back to his overjoyed self. What’s got him so happy anyway? We all get out and go to Travis’ house. Kyle and his bitches waste no time breaking out the drugs, alcohol, and music, not helping my pounding head.
I stagger around the room before feeling Travis grab my waist. He gently pulls me back, leaning down to speak into my ear.
“Go lay down in my room. I’ll bring you ice.” I don’t have the strength or energy to argue so I wordlessly do as he says. The room is as spotless as the last time I was here. I make sure to take off my shoes, strip out of my clothes, fold them neatly, before getting in his bed. I’m not trying to get my ass beat again for dirtying up his pristine room. I put the money I made tonight on the dresser before finally getting in bed.
As soon as I sit on the soft cotton I feel a tremendous weight on my body. It feels like my limbs are filled with lead, my head pounds and my throat is on fire. I cough and sneeze as my body begins to heat up in the warm bed. I was just freezing and now I’m sweating and shaking.
I’m definitely sick.
Travis comes into the room, locking the door behind him, sighing as he looks at me. He goes to his bathroom, gives me medicine that I don’t question, before gently putting the ice pack on my face. He’s being so gentle now, so different from before. I guess he’s calmed down now.
“I’m sorry for fucking up your face but you know how Kyle is. What were you thinking talking to her? She’s the same one that arrested you.” I cough and hold the ice to my face as I lean back against the headboard.
“I told you she just showed up, it’s not like I initiated a conversation. Besides, she’s not that bad.”
“She got your ass sent to jail.”
“Detention center and it was better than being on the streets during the winter.”
“Your ass almost died in that bitch and you saying that’s better? Your definition of good is seriously fucked. Here.” Travis laughs, shaking his head, holding out a blunt for me to take.
“You know I don’t smoke like that.” Travis smacks his lips, lighting the blunt and handing it to me.
“Just take it man, I’m trying to help your ass.” I sigh and take the blunt, hitting it a few times, sending me into a coughing fit. My scratchy throat feels like it’s on fire and my head feels like it’s being lifted into the clouds. Travis gives me my drink, taking the blunt from me as I run my hands through my hair. The drink soothes my throat and I sigh, lying in his bed.
“I’m going to get you sick.”
“I don’t give a fuck about that, we can just stay in bed and make Kyle do all the work.” I scoff as we continue to smoke the harshness getting better over time. Or rather I stop caring and focus on the amazing high and lack of pain. My face is cold but the ice pack is long gone. Kyle is shirtless next to me, rubbing ticklish soothing circles on the scar on my abdomen.
“I know better than to be one of your hoes. I’m leaving when the snow stops.”
“You can’t be out in that shit, just stay till the morning.” I slowly shake my head, sniffling and sighing.
“You sound like shit just stay.”
“You need to work on your compliments” I mumble as he leans over. He takes a deep hit from his blunt before leaning down and letting the smoke float into my mouth. Our lips graze but I turn my head before he can fully kiss me. I’ve done everything with these huts except give them my first kiss. It always just seemed more intimate to me, I know better than to get carried away like that.
Travis doesn’t try to force it and we continue smoking this way until the blunt is gone. My head lulls against his pillows and I can barely move as I start drifting to sleep. I’m not sure what the hell he gave me but it was strong as fuck.
“I told you smoking wasn’t so bad, you should trust me more.” I hear him in my ear but his words sound so distant. I feel his lips on my neck and sigh, focusing on nothing but pleasure. I rub his head as he kisses down my body, his hands caress my side down to my thighs, spreading my legs open. I lick my lips, lazily trailing my hands across his fit tattooed torso down to his sagging jeans, tugging on the belt.
I don’t care about anything else, I just want to feel better.
“I know…better than to trust…you.” I mumble as I undo his belt. He leans over and grabs something before straddling my hips. Through my hazy eyes I recognize a needle and start shaking my head.
“I don’t do that shit” that’s how my mom died. I know I have a drug problem but I’ve never shot anything up.
“Just relax, trust me.” My slurred pleas fall on deaf ears as I feel something tighten around my arm. I don’t have the strength to fight and my brain can barely keep up with what’s happening.
“No…Travis…don’t…” my words trail off as I feel a pinch before immediately being carried away to a high I’ve never experienced. My eyes have a hard time focusing and my cottonmouth is moving but there’s no words coming out. All I can do is lie there and drift in and out of space.
In the distance I hear a knock on the door and feel the weight of Travis get off of me. I can’t move to sit up and I try to focus my blurry vision to see who’s in front of me. A man and woman? My eyes clear up enough to see the tattooed female who must be a hallucination because she’s gorgeous.
“So…pretty” is the last thing I remember before passing out.