Blackmail (11 page)

Ryan and Matt positioned themselves at the rear of the huge crowd in the club. Vince had messaged his regulars to let them know Avery would be back. They had passed the word around amongst their friends.

“Good turn out,” Marty commented when Vince joined him.

“Yeah, she should be here any time now.”

“Are ya gonna talk to her before or after?”

“I'll wait until after or she might walk out and I'd have a riot on my hands. The clients are obsessed with that fucking slut. Her walking out on me has cost me thousands, and she’s gonna fucking pay for it.”

Marty nodded and turned back to the bar after Vince strode off.

****

Gabe turned the headlights off and eased into the trees out of sight. He cut the engine and swiveled to face Avery. “Ready?”

“No, but yes.”

He pulled her into his arms. She was trembling all over. He captured her lips and kissed her, gently at first, then with more demand. He felt her melt against him and held her for a few minutes.

“I have to go.”

“I'll watch you into the club and then I'll go in and stand in front. Ryan and Matt should be in place. Last chance to back out.”

“No, I'm going to do this for Tegan, you and your parents.”

He was so proud of her resolve. He knew how frightened she was and admired the fact she was willing to go ahead with their plan, no matter how dangerous or distasteful it was for her.

Avery placed a feather light kiss to Gabe's lips before slipping from the car into the darkness. He watched her go, she was barely visible. He breathed a sigh of relief when she opened the side door and disappeared inside.

Avery found her lingerie waiting for her on a dressing table. She stripped. Rachel would be off stage in a few minutes and she had to be ready to go on or Vince would begin ranting.

After ensuring everything was in the correct place, Avery sat to do her hair and make-up. She rummaged in her purse, flipped a switch and stood. There was less than a minute to spare when she left the room. Her heels clicked on the concrete floor as she reluctantly made her way down the hall.

“Avery? What are you doing here? Didn't you quit? I thought you were finally free of this hell.” Rachel kissed her cheek.

“It's a long story, hun. Suffice to say, Vince had me by my pussy hairs and I had no choice but to come back.”

Rachel hugged her. “I'm so sorry.”

“Me too. I have to go before Vince starts yelling.”

“Huge crowd out front, Vince must have put word out that you were back. You always were his number one draw card. It's noisy as buggery and the assholes insist on surging closer to the stage. The guys are managing to keep them back for now. Look for the sexy guy at the front. He's one I wouldn't mind dancing for privately.”

A stab of jealousy pierced Avery as she continued down the hall. If her assumption was correct, Rachel was talking about Gabe.
He's mine, you keep your fucking hands off him.

Avery moved into position facing the pole. Curtains zipped open and she felt the warmth of the spotlight focused on her back. Men whistled, cheered and yelled out obscenities. She swallowed her disgust before turning around. Her nerves settled when she saw Gabe in front as he'd promised.

Gabe watched Avery turn, his cock hardened in appreciation at the magnificent sight in front of him. Naked, Avery was gorgeous. In this lingerie, she was more beautiful than any woman he had ever laid eyes on. Her sexual allure was off the scale and the men in the club went wild. He wanted to rip their arms from their bodies and beat them to death with the soggy ends. This had to end quickly. He knew he couldn't allow her to reveal herself to this drooling mob of assholes for more than a couple of nights. Hell, he didn't even know if he could make it through her entire performance tonight.

Avery concentrated on Gabe as she stripped. She could see he was battling to stay calm as the men around him salivated like rabid dogs.
Hold it together sweetheart
, she pleaded. They couldn't afford for him to show his hand with Vince. If her boss became aware she was in a relationship, not only her life would be in danger, but his too, and she couldn’t bear it if he got hurt.

Gabe's eyes glazed with lust as Avery slithered against the pole, paraded back and forth, shedding her clothes piece by tantalizing piece. When she removed her bra and only her G-string remained, he wanted to storm onto the stage, claim her as his and cover her up. But, she would be furious if he ruined everything now. He glanced at his watch, fifteen more minutes of agony.

She removed the G-string and with a flick of her wrist, it landed in Gabe's hands. The men around him went wild and he heard one remark that she had never thrown her clothes into the audience before. Gabe grinned like the Cheshire cat as he pushed them into his pocket. They would keep for what he had planned later. Oh yeah, she would dance privately, just for him, when they got home.

His cock was so hard he wasn't sure how much longer he'd be able to stand it. The music became louder and, within touching distance of him, Avery finished her routine with the splits.  He felt the first droplets of cum soak his boxers.

She held her hand out and Gabe assisted her to stand. “Hurry,” he whispered. “I have plans for you and that outfit.

Two goons stepped close. “Fuck off.”

Gabe stepped back, his hands in the air. He was tempted to deck them both but at the same time he was grateful to them for protecting his girl. He winked at Avery to assure her all was okay. She left the stage and he turned to leave. He nodded at Ryan and Matt as he slipped from the club into the darkness.

****

Avery hurried to the dressing room. She knew Vince would be waiting to sneer and taunt her but she wanted it over with. Wanted to feel the safety of Gabe's arms around her.

She opened the door and stepped over the threshold. Both Vince and Marty awaited her. Her clothes were on the chair nearby and she reached for them to dress. Marty grabbed at them, she had no choice but to discuss things with them while she was naked. Their eyes raked her body making her feel dirty, degraded, but most of all scared. They both had a glint in their eyes that she had never seen before. She was terrified for her safety.

“Give me the clothes, Marty.” The quiver in her voice betrayed her show of bravery.

He sneered and shook his head.

“Go to fucking hell then,” she snapped.

The men laughed.

“What do you want?”

Vince answered. “We want to know why you're back.”

“Because, you arrogant asshole, you made sure I couldn't find any other work and I was starving to fucking death.”

Again the men laughed. A shudder raced through her body.

“It so happens; we don't believe you. You went to the cops. What did you tell them?” Marty stepped closer, menacing.

Avery backed up against the door, Marty moved closer.

“I haven't told the cops anything. You know I wouldn't go to them.”

Marty's hand shot out and slapped her cheek. Her head snapped back hitting the door, with force. Tears sprang to her eyes because of the pain.

“Liar. The men we had following you told us. We know you have been staying with a cop's family so, before we fuck that pretty little cunt of yours and kill you, tell us the truth.”

“We might even consider letting you live if you tell the truth. You can have the privilege of being our private sex slave. How about it Marty?”

“That's actually not a bad idea.
Click a cunt
,” he chuckled. “We click our fingers and her cunt is at our mercy.”

“I'm liking it more and more.” Vince turned on her. “Tell us you fuckin' bitch, what do they know?”

Avery sobbed. “Nothing, Vince.”

Marty slapped her again. This one connected with her jaw, she felt and heard it crunch, her head hit the door so hard she saw stars. It was no use calling for help, she knew everyone else would have left to go home.

“Leave her. Knocking her out won't help. Tell the men to take care of the cop.” Vince instructed.

“No,” Avery screamed. “Leave him alone. I'll tell you everything.”

Marty dragged her to a chair and pushed her down so hard she thought her tailbone must have cracked.

“Talk,” Vince snarled.

Avery began in a shaky voice. “The police came to me when the photos you posted of me with Tegan came to their attention. She was the daughter of an ex-Police Chief and sister of a Detective Inspector. You stuffed up Marty.”

“What do you have to do with Tegan's death?” Vince confronted Marty.

“Nothin' boss. She's talking' through her ass.”

“You're a liar, Marty. You killed her. What I don't know is why?” Avery said defiantly.

“I swear to God, Marty, if what she says is true and you killed Tegan, I'm gonna kill you. If you've brought the cops down on us because of your stupidity, you're gonna die before the night is out.”

“Boss, I didn't….” Marty whined.

Vince reddened, “Stop lying to me, fucker. I know about your little drug business and using Tegan as a courier. Is that what got her killed Marty? Did she threaten to expose your dirty little secrets?”

“How did you know about the drugs?” Marty retreated across the room.

“Do you think the rest of my men are disloyal like you? Did you really believe they wouldn't come to me?” Vince pulled a gun. “I should have realized it was you who killed Tegan. I had Joe Simms killed for no reason. How could I have been stupid enough to believe you when you told me, he was the one who had bumped her?”

Avery watched the exchange with interest. If she could get out of here, the recording device in her purse would be enough for Gabe's men to arrest both Vince and Marty. They would be put away for life. No other girls would suffer at their hands.

Vince stalked Marty. The air crackled with tension as the two men faced off. Avery used the opportunity the diversion created and slid from the chair. As the two men eyeballed each other, she moved slowly to her purse. In one quick movement, she grabbed it, flung open the door and dashed for the exit, Gabe and safety.

A gun shot rang out.

****

Gabe moved furtively back to his car. He stood behind the tree line watching for the side entrance door to open. He knew Avery would be confronted by Vince about her return and he was confident in her ability to handle him. Why then, were the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end? Why did his gut insist something was wrong? He focused his eyes on the door, willing it to open.

Ten minutes later, Avery still hadn't appeared. He was sweating, his stomach roiled. He didn't hear the man slip up behind him. Pain exploded in his skull, then darkness. He crumpled beside his car, blood oozed from his wound.

Gerry crouched down and checked the pulse at Gabe's neck. “Steady. Lucky you didn't kill him. The boss wants to question him.”

A gun shot sounded from inside the club and the men's heads jerked up. “Fucking hell. Who's shooting?” Ward asked.

Ryan and Matt hid in the trees and saw the man slipping up behind Gabe. They were powerless to stop their boss being injured but moved in rapidly. The sound of the shot from inside prevented them from being heard as they crashed through the brush.

The thugs reached down to retrieve the detective's body, Ryan spoke. “Police. Move before I tell you and I'll blow your fucking balls off.”

The menacing voice of the cop was enough for the thugs to know he would do exactly as he had threatened. They stilled with their hands in the air.

Matt moved in and while Ryan kept his gun trained on the captives, he handcuffed their hands behind their backs. He checked Gabe and called for an ambulance.

“Stand up and move over here,” Ryan instructed. The gun pointed between the two criminals never wavered.

The men obeyed and stood still while Matt patted them down. Guns, knives and unidentifiable drugs were removed and placed into Gabe's unlocked car as evidence. They would bag it and log it in when they returned the men to the police station.

Get down on your knees, sit with your backs to each other and don't move. Ryan handed Matt his gun and retrieved a length of rope from the trunk of Gabe's car. He bound the men together before reclaiming his firearm.

Matt removed his jacket, balled it up and placed it under Gabe's head. His breathing was labored and ragged. They needed help for him and fast. But, they also needed to get Avery out of the club safely. They watched the door like a pair of hawks waiting to swoop in on their prey.

Finally, the side door was thrown open and Avery appeared. She was naked and running toward them screaming. Minutes later, Vince burst through the doorway. The glint of his gun was seen by both officer's.

“This is not good,” Matt muttered.

Vince fired at Avery. She yelped but kept running.

“Get down, Avery,” Matt bellowed.

She hit the ground, knocking the breath from her body and, didn't move a muscle as bullets whizzed around her. Then, finally it was quiet. She lifted her head and glanced back. Vince was laid out on the ground. The two police officer's moved toward her.