Relinquish(26)

I turn the corner and find an ambulance and two cop cars parked close to my apartment. I watch as men shuffle in a green dumpster, pulling a woman with red hair out. She has nothing on but red heels and a short, black leather skirt. Her body is purplish with dark spots around her throat and legs, evidence that she’s been dead for hours.

I gasp and cover my mouth at the sight of her. I’ve never seen a dead person before.

“I warned her,” comes from behind me, making me jump and turn. A black woman with caramel-colored hair puffed out, stands behind me with her hands on her hips. She has on a skimpy gold dress that is way too short, with black ripped stockings up her thighs. Her makeup is heavy, and her red lips are bright.

“What?” I ask confused. The glitter on her chest blinding me, I hold my hand above my eyes to shield them.

“I warned her, you can’t work these streets without a pimp,” she explains, shaking her head. Her eyes trail from the scene of the dead woman to me, eyeing me from head to toe with an arched brow. “You should get a pimp.”

“What?” I give a weak laugh. Her face doesn’t show any humor, making my own fall. “I’m not—”

“Right, none of us are,” she interrupts, plucking a cigarette from the black purse slung over her chest. ”I’m just saying, you want to run these streets? You need protection, baby. You find yourself needing one, find Daddy Mick over at the Fever Hotel.” She inhales a large drag from her cigarette, her eyes trailing my chest. I look down at what she’s looking at and notice the cash trying to escape the top of my dress.

“Shit.” I roll my eyes and push it back in place.

“Mmhhmm,” she murmurs, her lips pursed. “I’m telling you, baby, it’s safer.” She walks away, puffing a cloud of cigarette smoke, her shiny heels clicking against the pavement as she sashays.

I glance back at the green dumpster, finding the crew closing up the girl in a black body bag. The sound of the zipper has goose bumps racing up my spine.

***

My body tenses as I walk down my street, images of Chasen and his buddies grabbing me ruthlessly triggering in my mind. What a bunch of *s. The angry flashback slowly fades, leaving Landon and all his glory when he rescued me. A warm smile covers my face at the thought.

Looking at my apartment, I find our landlord Henry out smoking a cigarette, watching the cops load the dead woman’s body in the ambulance. I stop. My first reaction is to run in the other direction, but then I remember I actually have money to catch us up on our rent. His eyes light up as I grab some cash from my chest.

“Don’t worry. I got the money.” I smile.

“Your girl already paid,” he remarks, blowing out a puff of smoke.

“What?” I question in disbelief, but he just flicks his cigarette and walks inside, ignoring me.

What the hell? How did Jayden get money to pay our rent? I huff and hurry up the steps.

Seconds after I enter the apartment, Jayden shows up.

“Holy shit! You look like, well, shit,” Jayden insults while walking in the door.

“Gee, thanks,” I huff. I glance at myself in the cracked bathroom mirror and agree. I do look like shit. My makeup is smeared, and my hair looks like I was just f*cked seven shades from Sunday. I kind of was. I sigh and throw Jayden’s heels over in her area before heading to my side.

“How did you manage to pay our rent?” I ask, sitting down on the bed.

Jayden shrugs. “I have my ways,” she remarks.

I growl, sick of that answer. She used it with the ID.

“What the f*ck is that supposed to mean?”

She turns, her eyes angry. “I said don’t worry about it. I don’t need your judgment. I get things we need using what I have to my advantage. I survive,” she mutters the last part, pointing at her sweaty chest with determination.

“You use what to your—” I pause as she throws her hands out to her sides, showcasing herself. Her body.

“You mean you sleep with men?” I frown and bite my inner cheek at the thought of her sleeping around to pay our rent. The feeling of guilt riddles up my spine. I should have taken better care of her , tried harder to get a job.

I open my glossy eyes and find a confident Jayden, waiting for my reply with her hands on her hips. I tilt my head to the side, curious how she’s so sure of herself and the way she goes about it. I sold myself to Chasen. I just sold my virginity to Landon, and I feel so shameful I can’t even look at myself.

I don’t see my life getting any better than this. I have no job. I got a shitty education, and no man is committing himself to me. I’m white trash, and that’s all I will have in my future. My life has never been smooth sailing. I’m programmed for only the worst things the world has to offer. It makes me question who the hell my mother was, and the karma she left in her trail. I guess I can’t ever say she never gave me anything.

“Like I said, Charlie, I don’t need your judgment,” Jayden snaps, catching me from my thoughts. I sigh and shove my hands down my chest, pulling out the stacks of cash, revealing my own sins.

“What the f*ck is that?” Jayden exclaims, rushing to my bed.

I shake my head, eyeing the money and laughing nervously. “I used what I have to my advantage.” Jayden’s eyes shoot to mine in knowing before she falls back on my bed in a fitful of laughter.