Chapter 8
Seth was freaking the fuck out in the back seat of Evens car, he watched every car, and every stop light to look for an escape. Evens was silent, but Seth could see him watching in his rear view. Seth did a cursory reach for the door handle as they stopped at a red light. Evens simply shook his head. Seth fell away form the door with a frustrated stomp.
"I can just give you the drugs." Seth said from the back seat of the car.
"The man says bring you, so that's what I'm gonna do, its that simple." Evens shouted to the back.
"Look, do you know anything about what I have in my bag?" Seth pleaded.
"I don't want to either."
Seth was still watching and saw his chance as they passed a Burger King, there was a row of cars that momentarily slowed the car enough. Seth grabbed at the handle and pulled, but nothing happened.
Evens laughed, "you stupid," he said as Seth bashed his face against the window, "I got child locks. Now settle down or I'ma shoot you in the kneecap."
"Fuck, dude, I didn't even do nothing," Seth moved to the edge of his seat, "I didn't even know I had the shit..."
"Back up," Evens warned.
"Why didn't you put me in the trunk?" Seth asked as he leaned back.
"They got some kind of a safety catch in there that glows in the dark," he explained.
A massive twenty foot LED Billboard blasted the cab with images of a voluptuous women in skimpy bikinis that were at least two sizes too small smiling and winking like sexy giants. The Cherry Lounge logo appeared over the women followed by several clips that appear to have been taken inside the club. "Hey, what if I told you that you could have any bitch in that club to yourself forever?"
"I got bitches, man, shut the fuck up before I pistol whip you, dummy."
"Yeah, but not like this. With this shit there is no guess work. They will do whatever you say without resistance and without hesitation. No more paying for dinner, no more foreplay, top shelf pussy without end."
There was a long pause, but Seth could see the wheels turning before he answered, "That's Calvin's shit. I'm supposed to take you straight to him."
"Did you give him my address?" Evens shook his head, "So he doesn't know how long the drive will be..."
"This ain't a negotiation..."
"Last request, seriously, he's either gonna kill my ass or he's gonna give me one of these pills and I'll end up sucking dicks for meth."
"Truth can do that?"
"Oh yeah, dude, and so much more," Seth could see he had him and added, "The Cherry Lounge is at the next exit, just sayin'."
"So how you gonna give it to them?"
"We could put it in their drink..."
"Nah, I don't like that..."
"Or, or we could just give it to them. It looks like E. They'll probably just take it, all those chicks are on coke anyway."
"That is a shitty stereotype, sex work is work, motherfucker."
"Right, you right, but think about it, one dance and you can get the happiest ending of all time, sex on tap from a stripper," Seth's heart was beating in his throat as the exit got closer. "Last chance," he blurted out before he could stop himself.
"Man shut the fuck up!" He snapped and drove up the exit ramp. Evens was silent as he pulled into the strip club parking lot. The sign for the Cherry Lounge was almost as big as the billboard on the highway. It made night into day in the parking lot as trucks and sports cars pulled up to the club. Evens released the child lock and Seth could feel the frisson in the air the moment he stepped out of the car. The Cherry Lounge was Shangri-La with tits. A place where any man of any walk of life could gaze upon women without judgment or shame. Provided you had some money in your pocket all men were created equal and Seth felt for the briefest moment that maybe things would be okay.
"Thank you, so much," Seth said genuinely.
Evens wasn't much taller than Seth, but he was wide enough that Seth couldn't see around his mass. Evens looked him in the eye and said, "we here for one dance, and then we hitting the road, you heard me?"
"I heard you," he answered. "I'm Seth, you are?" Evens stared at Seth with a look on his face somewhere between wanting to murder him and the reflexive desire to answer the question. "Say we get separated and you getting it on, I can't just ask about the big black dude, it's bad policy."
"Why would you be asking for me?" He asked gruffly.
"Who the fuck knows? It could come up, I would like to avoid yelling 'hey black guy,' in a club."
Evens considered what the redhead said. He looked at the club, then back at Seth and finally spoke, "I'm Evens," he answered.
"Ev-Onz," he said awkwardly and Evens nodded at him.
"Now give me one," Evens answered with his hand out.
Seth nodded at him and smiled before plucking a small pink pill from his pocket. Evens snatched the pill, then pointed his finger at Seth's face, "One dance, one drink, that's it. You going to Calvin, you try to run, and I will shoot you, ya heard me?"
"Fo sho!" Seth saluted Evens as he moved towards the club.
"Don't do that," He said, "You walk behind me," as he grabbed Seth by the neck and moved him back to the car.
"Alright, copy, shit!" Seth said with his hands up.
They stepped into the club and felt the wave of air conditioning blow over them, beyond was everything he hoped it would be, paradise bathed in red and purple neon. Women danced at every corner of the bar. One stripper was stationed between two of the bars, there were several on tables, the main stage, and the girls waltzing around looking for dances. The place was literally wall to wall sexy naked women. Evens steadied himself before he walked into the room.
"What are you doing?" Seth asked.
"I got to put on my game face." He answered.
"Cool, cool," Seth nodded in agreement.
A bouncer stopped them before they got to the club floor. He wasn't quite as big as Evens, but he was still impressive looking. "You got to pay at the window," he said and pointed to booth they passed as they entered.
Seth could feel Evens changing his mind and didn't want to turn back so he stepped between them, "got it, thanks, man," he said and looked at Evens. "Look, I don't have any money, but I do have lots of drugs."
"The fuck?" Evens asked, "I knew this was a bad fucking idea, man, fuck this, we outta here!"
"No, no, don't do that. I just forgot my cash when I ran out the house trying to avoid, well, you. We're here now, let's not waste the opportunity. Come on, I will get you back."
"How you gonna do that if you end up a junky or dead?"
"You can easily rob my house. Dan is a wuss and his, um, ex-girlfriend would probably fuck you in a heart beat now. She is ferociously hot."
"I ain't robbing shit, who do you think I am?"
"A gangster," he shrugged.
Evens pulled an irritated face, "that may be true, but I ain't doing no home invasions."
The bouncer was getting antsy and spoke up, "You got to pay or get out the club, man. Ain't got time for this."
"Yeah," Evens answered, "me neither," and he started towards the door.
"Dude! Dude, come on, man. Last request."
"Nah, I'm taking you back," he said still walking. He stopped at the spot where the car once sat. "Where the fuck is my car?"
Seth turned back to the parking spot to see the wide open empty parking space that they left not a minute earlier. "Wow! Shit!"
Evens scanned the parking lot and saw his car peeling out of the parking lot. "Mother..." he pulled his gun from its holster and aimed it, but his car was already down the road before he could fire a shot. "Fuck!" he threw his hands out frustrated. He turned on Seth, grabbed him by the collar, and pointed the gun at his face. "I outta shoot you right now!"
Seth had his hands up and squeaked out, "We have another minor issue."
"What?"
"The Truth was also in the car."
Evens let go and looked up at the sky. He grimaced and shook his head before holstering his gun and walking towards the street.
Seth was at a loss and followed after at a distance. "Where are you going?"
"Shut up!" he snapped.