Secrets of a Gigolo

18

Brianna sat on the couch with Zachary and Ansley watching a movie. Eliza had gone to bed hours ago, and Zachary hadn’t spoken to Brianna since their talk in the study earlier that night. She knew he had a lot weighing on his mind. He’d made a lot of changes in a short period, and it was going to be an adjustment for him.

There was a commotion coming from the foyer that drew everyone’s attention. It sounded like Chino was fighting with someone.

They all got up and made their way to the front door where they found Chino trying to force Addie out of the house, but she was fighting him. “Let me go. I want to see my brother.” She snarled fighting against Chino as he tried to get her out the door. “Zac!” She called out when she saw him. “Zac, I have to see you. Please, tell this ape to let me go.” She yelled.

Zac nodded, and Chino released Addie. Judging from her eyes and her slurred words she was high. She was still bruised and stitched up from her time in the hospital, and she was already back on the street getting stoned.

“Addie, what are you doing here?”

“I needed to see you.” She slurred. She was vibrating she was tweaking so hard. “I needed to see you. I needed to see you.” She repeated over and over like she was having trouble focusing her thoughts.

“You can’t be here. I’ve told you that before.” Zac snarled.

“I need money.” She said grabbing on to his arm.

“Of course, you do. I only ever see you when you need money. No more. I paid your debt.”

“He wants more.” She stammered.

“Of course, he does he always wants more.” Zachary snapped at her. “I’m done, you’re cut off.”

“No-no-no-no-no!” She tugged on his arm. “You can’t cut me off he’s going to kill me. You have lots of money. I know you do. All you got to do is go on one date. It’s nothing to you.”

“I’m out of the life. You want money, get it on your back because I’m done. I’m not doing it anymore.”

“What? No. Zac… no… please.”

“I’m done helping you Addie. You’re on your own. Now get out my house before I call the police and have them remove you.”

Addie stepped back and glared at him with disgust. “Oh, so suddenly you're better than me. You’re a w***e Zac you’re always going to be a w***e. You’re not better than me.”

“Addie get out of my house. And if you have your boyfriend rob me again, I will send the police after you, and I will press charges. You’ll get your next fix in a cell.” He warned.

“Screw you.” She flipped him off, and Chino rushed her out of the house and locked the door. Seconds later a rock shattered the window next to the door as Addie threw her tantrum outside.

Zachary sighed. She was leaving him no choice. “Chino call the police.”

***

Addie had taken off when she heard the sirens. She had taken a long way back. She didn’t want to tell Jesus she couldn’t get the money from her brother. The last time she didn’t come back with cash he had put her in the hospital. She didn’t want to relive it again. She knew she couldn’t put it off. She was going to have to find another way to pay him.

Addie knocked on the door and waited for the door to open. The large man that answered the door stepped aside to let her in. Jesus stood up from the couch butting out his cigarette when he saw her. “You better have my money.” He snarled.

She shook her head no. “He wouldn’t give it to me.”

“That is not good for you.” He said coming around the coffee table to stand before her.

“Maybe we can take it out in trade?” She suggested reaching for his belt.

Jesus pushed her away disgusted. “I wouldn’t f**k you if you were the last w***e on earth.” He said pulling his switchblade. “I don’t get my money I take a pound of flesh.” He said grabbing Addie by the hair and forcing the blade against her throat.

“No please! I can get the money! I know how we can get the money.”

He paused and released her. “I’m listening.”

“He has my daughter. He loves her. If we take her, he’ll pay to get her back. He’ll pay anything. I know where she goes to school I saw a tuition letter in his house one time. I know where we can get her.”

Jesus c****d his head thoughtfully. “He’ll pay anything will he?” He rubbed his chin as he considered her proposal. “Just how much does Daddy Warbucks have?”

***

The week had passed quickly, and everyone had been adjusting to the new living arraignments. Brianna had moved in, and Ansley had made her new room her own with some personal touches. Zachary had taken Ansley shopping for a new wardrobe and had enrolled her in a private school. She had complained about the dark navy-blue uniform, but after her first day at school, she came home excited about many of the options classes they offered.

Zachary had thought about the pending meeting with the publishing representative and the more he thought about it, the more he thought maybe publishing his journal wouldn’t be the end of his world.

Now that he wasn’t out all night every night he slept better, and he was awake and alert when the girls got up and went to school. It had been so long since he’d been able to help Eliza get ready for her day and frankly he was enjoying it as much as she was. He had breakfast with the girls. Read the newspaper while Brianna brushed Eliza’s hair for the day.

He made sure she had her homework and her lunch before she left for the day and before Chino rushed the girls into the car to drive them to school, he walked them to the door where he said good-bye. He’d given Ansley some money for lunch at the cafeteria, and then he’d kneel to say goodbye to Eliza.

She’d been learning about sign language at school the past few days, and she was so proud she could sign ‘I love you,’ and before she left for the day she would sign ‘I love you’ and he’d sign it back and then Eliza would hug him good-bye and race Ansley to the car. He’d stand at the door and watch Chino drive out the gate.

His life was different now, but he was enjoying it. Zachary closed the door and went into the living room where Brianna was cleaning up the girly hair products she had used on Eliza just moments ago. This woman had changed his life so drastically in such a short time. He would have never believed he’d be standing here today when he met her in the men’s locker room at the gym. He’d thought she was crazy, but she had bettered his life, even when he fought her every step of the way.

“I’ve decided.” He said as he watched her gather up all her things.

“Decide what?” She asked not paying attention.

“I’m going to publish my journal.”

Brianna looked up at him and smiled. “Really?”

“Yeah. I mean I can make a lot of money with it. I’d be crazy not to. And when Eliza grows up, and people ask her what I do she can be proud and say I’m a writer. It’s better than a whore.”

“I think this is a really good decision. It’s going to change your life for the better.”

“You changed my life for the better.”

“I just gave you a nudge in the right direction.” She giggled.

“You know we have the house to ourselves.” He said leadingly.

“Yeah, that might not happen too often.”

“Let’s go upstairs.”

“It’s Thursday, don’t you have drinks with the boys?”

“I got an hour before I got to go.” He said pulling her in his arms.

***

Addie and Jesus stood in the school office waiting for the principal. The snobbish woman came out of her office and looked at them both over the rim of her glasses. “My staff says you’re looking for a student of ours?” She asked curiously.

“I’m here to pick up my daughter,” Addie said as she scratched her arm. It had been a few hours since her last fix, and it was starting to get to her. She wanted to smoke a little to take the edge off, but Jesus told her she wouldn’t get anything until they had Eliza.

“And who is your daughter?” The principal asked.

“Eliza Cooper.”

“Eliza Cooper?” She walked over to the computer on the counter and typed something into the computer. “No, I’m sorry there is no Eliza Cooper in our database. Are you sure she’s a student here?”

“Yes, look again.”

The woman typed again and then shook her head. “No, I’m sorry we have no student by that name. I’m going to have to ask you two to leave the premises.” She said politely.

Addie and Jesus turned around and walked out of the office. “You said she went to this school.” Jesus snapped as they stepped out into the hallway.

“I’m sure the name on the tuition letter was this school,” Addie said looking back through the window to see the principal already on the phone with someone. The bell rang, and the hall filled with kids all headed for their lunch activities. Addie smiled when she saw a beautiful little seven-year-old girl with dark hair and green eyes. She was coming their way. She hadn’t seen her daughter in years, but this little girl looked just like Addie. “That’s her.” She said as the little girl came their way.

“That’s her?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Like I’m looking at myself. Eliza… Eliza Cooper?” She called the girl.

She stopped as she was walking by and looked up at Addie. “Yeah?” She asked questioningly.

Addie knelt bring herself to the same level as her daughter. “Oh, look how pretty you are.” She said touching Eliza’s hair. “You look like me.”

“Who are you?” The child asked giving her a funny look.

“I’m your mommy.”

Eliza shook her head. “No, my mommy is dead.”

“Who told you I was dead?”

“Uncle Zac said my mommy died. You’re not my mommy.”

“No, I’m not dead. I’m your mommy.”

“You’re a stranger. Uncle Zac says not to talk to strangers.”

“I’m not a stranger. I’m your mommy.” She snapped annoyed by the child’s persistence that she was dead.

“Just take her.” Jesus snarled at her as he looked around for any other adults.

“You’re going to come we me ok?” She said reaching for Eliza.

Eliza backed away. “No!”

“You have to come with me I’m your mom.”

“No, my mommy is dead!” Eliza growled as Addie reached for her again. “Don’t touch me!”

“We don’t have time for this,” Jesus growled, and he stepped forward and grabbed Eliza up off her feet.

Eliza immediately began to fight him, but she was small, and he held her easily. “Come here you little brat,” Eliza screamed at the top of her lungs. And then sunk her teeth into his forearm. Jesus swore in pain and then slapped Eliza so hard across the face it knocked the child out. Just then a janitor came running to the rescue, but Jesus pulled his gun and waved it in the older man’s face. “I will shoot you back off,” Jesus warned.

The janitor put up both his hands and backed down. Addie and Jesus ran out of the building carrying Eliza. They jumped in Jesus’ car and he thrust Eliza in Addie’s arms as he drove away putting distance between them and the school. Without a doubt, the cops were on their way.