Feelings like this were what got me into trouble, and I can’t relive that.
Finally I make it to the door and take a quick trip to the restroom to wash my hands, just in case I got any pee—er….amniotic fluid—on them.
Then back to work.
Two of my orders are up, and Travis is taking care of them for me. I owe him one. I check in with all my customers, fill a few water glasses for the busboy, and then look back toward the door to the staff lounge.
Should I warn anyone that an ambulance is on its way? That any minute now, paramedics are going to rush in wielding a stretcher for Reid Wolfe’s wife?
The soft music drifting through the room stops.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” comes Lois’s voice. “I’m sorry to disturb your dinner, but I want to let you know that one of our diners has gone into labor. An ambulance will be arriving soon, and we’ll do our best not to disrupt your meals. You’ll all be receiving ten percent off your dinner checks tonight.”
Collective oohs and ahs drift through the restaurant.
Lois is a good manager. She just made all her customers happy with a mere mention of a small discount.
She also just cost me ten percent of my tips. Most customers forget that they’re supposed to tip on the full price of the meal.
Oh, well.
Not like I need the money, but Travis and the others will feel it.
Not my problem.
Funny, I don’t say that nearly as much as I used to. Now I feel like it is my problem. These people are my friends. I should’ve given the table to Travis when he asked for it. Normally, I would have. I don’t care about tips.
But I didn’t want to lose out on meeting Katelyn.
And now?
Katelyn’s leaving, and neither Travis nor I will get the tip from the table.
Fuck it all.
5
Katelyn
“Can I do anything?” I ask Zee.
“No. I’m sorry about this. I’ll call a cab to take you home.”
“I can take care of that myself. You just concentrate on labor.”
“It’s not labor. Not yet anyway. I haven’t had a contraction since that one at the table and that was…how long ago?”
I check my phone. “Ten minutes? Maybe fifteen? I wasn’t really paying attention.”
“Here.” She hands me her phone. “See what time I texted Reid.
I take a look. “Zee?”
“Yeah?”
“You wrote out the text, but you didn’t hit send.”
She gasps. “What?”
“See?” I show her. “So I have no idea what time it was, and Reid doesn’t know you’re in labor.”
“Damn! Pregnancy brain. It’s a thing. Can you send it, please?
“Of course.” I hit send. “We still don’t know how long ago you had that first contraction.”
“Find Luke. See what time he called 911. That’ll give us our best clue.”
“O…kay. But I’m not sure I should leave you.”
“I’m fine. The paramedics are on the way, and I’m going to have to be able to tell them how far apart the contractions are. Right now, I can’t do that.”
“Got it. I’ll find him.”
I leave the lounge, glancing back at Zee. She seems comfortable enough. Still, I don’t feel right leaving her.
Or am I just fearing talking to a man I find attractive?
I stopped looking at men that way long ago. Sure, some of the men who came to Treasure Island were attractive—but they also came to hunt women. To fuck women. To treat women like disposable objects.
So their physical attractiveness became repugnant. They were all repugnant, no matter what they looked like.
Then there was…
I lean against the wall between the door to the staff lounge and door to the men’s restroom.
And images flash before me.
It’s my first night on display.
That’s what they call it. I fought as hard as I could, but I’m still here. On display.
The pain in my shoulders has finally subsided, all my bruises have faded.
And now I’m on display.
A woman called Diamond explained everything. Men will come. Men will come and look me over, as if I’m a side of beef hanging in the butcher shop. If one of them likes what he sees, he can take me for the evening. Do what he wants with me. Anything. Except he can’t kill me.
I have to force myself to become numb to the concept.
“They won’t put you out in the hunting grounds right away,” Diamond said this morning. “They start you out slowly, so you get used to what will happen.”
“How does anyone get used to this?” I demanded. “We’re people, Diamond. People, not animals. I wouldn’t treat an animal this way.”
“You wouldn’t,” she said, “but there are those who do. Not all animals are hunted for food. Some for sport.”
“It’s wrong,” I said, “and it’s doubly wrong to do it to people.”
She didn’t respond, but her eyes did.
She agreed. She didn’t like what went on here.
Why didn’t she do something to stop it?
I sit here now, wearing nothing but a tropical print halter top and a sarong around my waist. Onyx sits next to me. I don’t know her actual name. We’re forbidden to use our old names here.
“It’ll be okay,” she says to me through trembling lips.
It’s Onyx’s first evening too.
I fear for her. I want to fight for her, but then I selfishly hope she gets chosen and I don’t.
She’s beautiful. Much more beautiful than I am, with her long dark hair and gorgeous nearly black eyes.
I’m not beautiful enough to be here.
So why was I brought here?
Every woman here, including Diamond herself, is supermodel stock.
And I—
The door opens, and—I count quickly—ten gentlemen—not gentlemen, actually—stride in. Their lascivious gazes rake over us, fifteen total, and some women I’ve never seen until tonight.
We’re told not to make eye contact with the men. No problem there. I don’t want to look at any of them, and I certainly don’t want to…
Nausea spikes in my throat. How can I do this?
But Diamond warned us. If we can’t do it on our own, we’ll be given drugs.
I don’t want drugs.
So I’ll do this.
What other choice do I have?
A large hand closes over mine.
I don’t look up. It doesn’t matter who he is or what he looks like. I don’t look at him unless I’m told to.
“What’s your name?” His voice isn’t overly low but it is commanding.
I still don’t look up. “Moonstone,” I say softly, my voice cracking slightly.
He clears his throat. “I’ll take you. Come with me.”
6
Luke
She stands next to the men’s room, her eyes closed, her palms flattened against the wall, as if she needs its support to keep from crumpling to the floor.
“Katelyn?”