Chapter XVI

Buildings passed by us in a blur as Sharon weaved through the traffic like a madman. I was hanging onto my seat for dear life, still digesting what was happening.

“Where are we going?”

She did not answer as if I didn’t just say anything. On second thought, it seemed like she didn’t hear me. Her eyes were glassed over, their blue color almost lifeless which raised warning bells in my head.

“Sharon!”

“Relax,” she said and yet her voice was shaky. She was sniveling although she had many layers compared to me who’s only in a sleeveless dress, courtesy to her rushing me. A sliver of dark satisfaction took over me which disappeared quickly as she carelessly took one hand off the wheel to wipe her streaming nose.

“What did you do to Caleb?”

She waved over my concern. “Just gave him something to get him off our backs for a while.”

The busy scenery outside changed to sketchy sidewalks and rundown properties. The surrounding was a whole lot darker now than it was minutes ago like we entered into a new dimension but Sharon navigated the streets comfortably. My eyes narrowed at her.

The details were so obvious now that the idea crossed my mind. Alarming visible lines of veins under her smeared foundation; pink smudges on the corners of her lips which were actually small burns; the listlessness in her dilated pupils; her runny nose…

“Did you drug him?”

She ignored me and stared right ahead while continuing to wipe her nose annoyingly. Dread settled in my stomach. I began hoping that Dante would realize that I wasn’t at his brother’s house anymore and had found a way to track my location in that controlling way of his. His authoritativeness could really come in handy right now. A loud bang ripped me from imagining him yanking the door open and getting me out of this place.

“Fucking pothole.”

Sharon parked the car by a chain-link fence surrounding an abandoned building. Beside it, almost blending with the dark, was a tall black square building where confusingly enough, people dressed up in fancy clothes huddled in line outside trying to remain inconspicuous as if afraid to be seen in such a poor neighborhood.

“We’re here. C’mon.”

Before I could argue, she was already pulling me out of the passenger seat and marching me towards the square building. I was hit again by the biting cold and I longed for the little warmth that the car provided me. We didn’t go straight to the front where everyone was but instead, she led me towards the back and down the little stairs where we stopped before a silver door with a small slot. She knocked on with six precise rapid taps.

“Sha-”

The slot slid open and a pair of black eyes popped up, emotionless.

“Sid,” Sharon said like it was second nature and the sound of heavy locks rang loud as the man behind the door opened it to us. She pushed me inside as the man put the locks on back, the reverberations from it were louder in the small hallway. Dim red lights colored the floor guiding us toward the end where the long hallway opened up to a high-ceilinged raging club.

My jaw dropped. The sudden pounding music threw me off completely and I had to take a second to adjust my eyes to the flashing lights. I’ve never been to a club before and just the thought of being surrounded by these sweaty bodies in an unfamiliar room gave me anxiety.

I turned back toward the exit. “We have to get back. Now.”

“What’s the rush?” She grabbed my arm before I could move past her. I tried shrugging her off but her grip was like steel. I glared at her.

“Why did you bring me here?”

She let out an exasperated sigh. “To give out a eulogy.” She rolled her eyes when I shot her an unimpressed look. “Of course, to have some fun! Isn’t it obvious?”

Her grip softened and she pushed me to a corner where it was a little quieter. “I could tell you wanted to get out. So here, I’m giving you an opportunity. Take it.”

Sharon was one year younger than me and had gotten the triplets and gotten married before she could even legally drink but when I first saw her, she looked more put together than any other adults I’ve known. If Leo hadn’t told me her age, I wouldn’t have guessed that she was younger than me. Right now, I could see that juvenility shone from her. Leo did mention that Lorenzo met her in a club as well where she lied about her age. She was reckless from the start. Maybe she just missed the life she had before and she was perceptive enough to see that in me too.

I stared at her. We’re both young and were thrust into this life unwillingly. She could be the one I could get to my side. Not that I agree with her leaving her kids unattended nor her dabbling with drugs even though I hadn’t confirmed that one yet but I could talk to her about it. Maybe we could help each other out…

I let her drag me deeper through the crowd. I had to admit, I was curious about the place as well. Dante would be furious if he found out I’d been here but what the hell. I’ve already put myself in trouble when I got in the car with Sharon. Might as well have some bit of fun while I was at it.

Before I could get comfortable, cold fear returned through my veins as Sharon didn’t join me on the couch. She looked distracted, her eyes flicking back and forth around for something. Or someone.

“Stay here.”

I called out to her but she already disappeared among the bodies of people dancing the night away. Sweat beaded at my temples and I clasped my hands together, both of them cold and clammy. I felt like I was being watched by everyone and I tried not to meet anyone’s eyes as I searched for Sharon. When I located her, she was already talking with a hulking bald guy by the bar. His black eyes were on me, a dangerous glint on them.

What the hell?

Wherever this club was, I just had a feeling that we were well outside the Romano territory and Sharon brought me here with a purpose.

Run.

I quickly got up from my seat and blended in with the crowd as I looked for the nearest exit. It was not easy as the people were getting rowdy and I was wearing a dress. I couldn’t count how many hands I'd swatted away from wandering up it before I ended up in another hallway, the same as the first we entered except this one was less shady and was decorated with crude paintings.

I wasn’t paying attention as a curious face peered at me through my hair. Instinctively, I jumped away from the man and scowled at him. His face split into a menacing smile as if he just confirmed something by staring at me creepily.

“Well, well, well. Isn’t this the Caruso bitch?”