Chapter 14

Damn! What were they doing here?

Her eyes followed the man who seemed to be scouting the alley. He appeared to be taking a break while smoking a cigarette in the dark portion near the garbage box, but she recognized him.

She knew he was not standing in that corner by chance. No! That was not a fucking coincidence. Thankfully, the man could not see her inside the car.

She was safe.

For now!

"Please don't say no."

She could hear him, but her mind was already going in circles.

"Have dinner with me?"

Of course, she would love to, but she could not concentrate on him while thinking of the man most likely looking for her.

Then, she saw her friend, Giana, exit the backdoor, ready to go home. Fear suddenly struck her as the man followed her friend.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck it!

No! She could not let anything happen to her friend. Quickly, she had to do something.

"I'm sorry, but I have to go." She did not want to leave him, but she had no choice.

Would she see him again after this? Maybe not. But she could not abandon her friend in the hands of those monsters.

Without another thought, she grabbed the door handles and exited the car. Then, she ran as fast as her feet would take her.

"Wait!"

She wished she could explain to him why she had to leave so soon. But she had no time. She had to save her friend.

She rushed to the corner where the man turned as he followed her friend. She knew she had to catch up with him before he did something to the only family she had left.

"Let go of me."

She could hear a shrill, frightened voice from the distance, recognizing it as her friend. She quickened her pace, hoping she was not too late.

She knew she should not have gotten involved with these hooligans. But she did not have a choice back then. She could not let her friend pay for her mistake.

"Hey, let my friend go." She shouted when she saw the man hovering over her friend, who looked terrified. "It is me who you want. So, here I am, Eddie."

She cautiously walked closer, hoping she could reason with the scumbag. But she knew it would not be that easy since the only language the man acknowledged was money.

"There you are, Charlie." The man finally turned and saw her. "I knew you would come to your friend's rescue. But I don't appreciate you hiding from your obligation."

"Giana, are you alright?" She ignored the man, rushing to her friend's side to help her. "Don't worry. I will take care of this."

Then, she turned to face the other man, shielding her friend from the threat. "I'm not hiding. I told you I would get your money back. I only need some more time."

But the look on his face told her that he was doubtful. "You know you already broke your promise before. So, excuse me if I don't believe you. Your time is up, Charlie."

"Just let my friend leave, and I will get your money." She promised.

"Why would I do that?" The man slyly answered, appearing unconvinced.

"Because she will just be a liability." She reasoned. "I promise I will get your money tonight. Just let her go." She swore to him, but, of course, she was lying.

Unfortunately, she did not have his money. Nonetheless, she would have to think of something later once her friend was safe.

"Fine. But I swear if you double-cross me again, Charlie. I will not be forgiving this time." Eddie warned her, looking between her and her friend as if considering her suggestion.

Then, the lending shark opened his jacket, showing her the gun holstered on his waist. This time, she knew he meant it.

"Giana, I need you to go home. I will handle this." She pushed her friend, wanting her to escape.

She did not want her friend to become collateral damage for her mistakes. She had to protect her since she did not know this kind of life.

Giana never experienced the harshness of the streets. Thankfully, her adoptive parents gave her a comfortable life. Her friend would not know how to protect herself in this dangerous situation.

"But I can't leave you with this man." Her friend refused to move away from her side. "I..."

But she would not have it any other way. "Giana, I'm telling you to move your ass and run home. Don't worry about me. I know how to handle this man."

She tried her best to sound confident. She did not want her friend to worry more than she already did. Besides, she needed her friend to trust her so she would heed her command.

"Please... Go home, Giana." One more time, she whispered to her trembling friend. The last thing she wanted was for her friend to get hurt because of her.

"Fine! But call me or come home as soon as possible." Her friend whispered before she slowly backed away.

"I promise. Nothing bad would happen to me." She could not assure that, but her friend did not need to know that because she would only worry.

She watched her friend disappear on the corner before she faced him again. This time, she had to think of a clever idea to wiggle her way out of this bind.

"Now, I have fulfilled your wish. It is time that you pay your debt." Eddie moved closer, invading her space and filling her nose with his manly, sweaty odor.

"Would it be in cash or kind?" This time, his hands dared to touch her shoulders, pushing her to the nearest wall behind her.

Of course, she understood what he meant, especially when his right hand crawled from her shoulder to her face, forcing her to look directly into his eyes.

"Take your hands off me." She hissed disgustingly, feeling like spiders were crawling on her skin.

"Why? We both know that you don't have any money to pay me. So..." He let the words hang as he let his fingers slide down her throat.

She knew she should not panic. She had to think, but she could not just let this disgusting man get his way with her.

"Get your hands off me. I will get your money." She attempted to reason with him.

"I don't think so." He did not believe her as he wrapped his fingers around her neck. "Did you think I would fall for your tricks again?"

Damn! She was dead.

She knew he did not believe her for a second. She guessed she had no choice but to use the oldest trick in the book.

"Of course not." She raised her hand to touch the hideous scar on his left arm. "You are too good to fall for my tricks." She hoped she could convince him.

Then, when she felt his body slightly relaxed, she took that as her opportunity to escape. She gradually retracted her right leg backward before she forcefully thrust it forward.

She ensured her knee would land where it needed for maximum impact. Then, with the palms of her hands, she pushed the man off her as strongly as her arms would permit her.

"Damn you, bitch!" The man growled in pain. But he grabbed her by the arm before she could escape. "Did you think you could escape me just like that?"

Then, she felt the impact of his fist across her face. The next thing she knew, her body was falling to the ground.

Oh my! Not again!

My baby!

But, once again, she did not feel the pain.

"Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"