The smell of fresh coffee brewing and the sunlight streaming through the window provided the alarm an time to rise. Amy had already gotten out of bed and started the day. Wearing a white bathrobe, she looked great standing in the kitchen waiting patiently for the coffee to brew. Walking behind her I embraced her and hugged her. Then my hand slipped inside her bathrobe. Her warm, soft breasts provided my morning reward.
"I enjoy fresh coffee and you in the morning. I slept like a baby."
Amy smiled, "So did I. For the first time in months I felt safe." With that she slipped off her robe and gave me a kiss.
I was about ready to take her back to bed and arouse her passions and mine when a ding, indicating I was receiving a text arrived. Puzzled, who would be sending me a text on a weekend? Nothing that important at work to warrant this type of text.
The text read, "You and your whore are to meet with me at 11:00 AM at the Back Bar in St Petersburg. This is not a request but an order unless you want the attached pictures of your whore sent out on many websites and to her company. Do not call the police. I expect both of you to be there."
Attached with the text were two pictures of Amy laying naked on a bed being sexually abused by two women. Amy appeared helpless as one of the attackers wore a strap-on and penetrated her.
The expression on my face told me that we were facing another blackmail attempt. Sensing that the text had something bad in it, Amy asked to see it. At first, I tried to hide my phone but she insisted. Upon reading the text Amy started to sob uncontrollably. She screamed, "I am destroying you. I don't want that to happen. Forget me. I will quit my job and move to another state. I don't want you hurt."
I responded, "You are not destroying me, and I am not going to let them destroy you. I want you with me so we will face this together. I am ready to call in a favor from a college friend of mine. He has friends that will deal with this."
Trying to com Amy was difficult. As she hung onto me tightly, I said, "Honey, these bastards are going to regret the day they started blackmailing you. I am not going to leave you to those S.O.B.s."
After a few minutes I returned the text message. "We will not meet at 11:00 as you demand. 12:00 at the Back Bar will work. I assure you we want to meet."
Within two minutes I received a reply. "We are not negotiating with you unless you want your whore's pictures all over the internet and greeting her boss on Monday, be at the Back Bar at 11:00."
I replied, "How will I recognize you?"
The response was almost immediate, "Amy will know just show up."
Turning to Amy, "Get ready we are going to meet these assholes. I they will regret ever drugging you."
Still sobbing Amy went into her bedroom and started to dress. I placed a call to a friend of mine in Youngstown.
After three rings a familiar voice answered, "Hello, who am I speaking with?"
"John, this is Jim I hope all is going well with you and your family."
"Hey, it's great to hear from you. I hope you are doing well. I miss busting your chops over a couple of beers."
I responded, "I miss those times, but I remember busting yours more that you busted mine."
"You always had a bad memory."
"John, I need a favor. Remember that night in the bar when two goons attacked you?"
"I sure do, and you broke that beer bottle and forced them to retreat before they could do anything else. You saved my life that night and I am eternally grateful. Do you need some help?"
I told him I did and explained the situation how my girlfriend had been drugged and is being blackmailed but some group. I told him the only names I have are Vicky, Paul, and Sir Arthur. They are trying to blackmail me as well.
After listening John said, "Let me call my uncle. He has associates that might be able to help permanently resolve this problem. I will call you back in 45 minutes or an hour."
"Thanks John, I am afraid they will harm Amy and who knows what they might do to me."
With that John said good-bye.
Amy was almost dressed, and I redressed in my black attire from the night before. "I guess it will take 45 minutes to get to this place. We should leave a little after 10:00."
Her red eyes and sad look indicated she was so sorry I was involved. "I don't understand why you are staying with me. Most men would have run. Beside I have become a whore, doing whatever I was told to do."
"Amy, you are not a whore you are a victim of blackmail. You are an amazing person. When I saw you get off the elevator on our first date, you looked like a goddess. I still think of you that way. No further regrets or being ashamed. I am with you for the long run."
A revived smile told me she had confidence in me.
As we were getting ready to head to the location my cell rang. "Jim, this is John. Let me ask you a question?"
"Sure, what would you like to know?"
"You mentioned a woman named Vicky is that right?"
"Yes, she is the one who drugged Amy and appears to be the boss of a sex trafficking group. I don't know much more than that."
"When I started to share your story with my uncle he became very interested after I mentioned Vicky. Could she also go by Victoria?"
"Yes, that in fact is the name she used when she met Amy. Why?"
"About 7 years ago my uncle's niece who lives in Cleveland was drugged and had pictures taken of her. She was then threatened exposure as a prostitute unless she cooperated. Cindi went to my uncle for help. Apparent the bastards got wind that they were on his hit list and fled the state. He still would like to have a "conversation" with them. The only real clue he had were the names of Victoria and Paul, a photographer. If this turns out to be the same couple, they are in real trouble."
"John, I don't know if these are the same folks but the M.O. sounds similar. Either way we need some help."
"Tuesday two of my cousins will be arriving on Southwest in Tampa. Their flight gets in at about 10:30 from Cleveland. Please pick them up and give them all the information you have on this couple. Lucas will be the polite, polished one who can talk the pants off anyone. Bruno doesn't talk much. His looks do all the talking necessary. If this is the couple my uncle is looking for, they will make a trip to Youngstown and a "conversation".
"Thank you, John, I appreciate your help. I owe you."
"If this couple turns out to be who my uncle has been looking for, we owe you. Take care and don't anything until Lucas and Bruno get there."