Dance Of Desire by Sweet and Special Books Page A

vitamin supplements. Cassie nodded her thanks as she took the bottle Anne offered her. “My sister sells them online. I have more than I really need.”
    Before long, it was time to head back to her apartment. Cassie anxiety started to grow as she said her goodbyes.
    As she walked she couldn’t help but feel sorry for herself.
    Her first apartment. Haunted.
    Her steps slowed as she caught sight of the forbidding building. Then she straightened up and said aloud, “No. I’m not going back,”
    She hurried past it, her steps intent and determined. As she walked deep into the dark of the night, she didn’t care less of any of the dangers of being out alone at such a late hour. She just kept on walking until she felt drained and sleepy. She didn’t even know where her feet were taking her anymore.
    But in spite of her weariness, a renewed sense of conviction took over. She just about had it with whatever she was going through the moment she slept at her apartment. Whatever that shit was she wouldn’t allow it to happen again. Ever.
    She swore to herself, with all her heart and soul—that she wouldn’t go back there that night, or ever. She’d find a way.
    “God help me, I’ll find a way, somehow,” she breathed.
    But as luck would have it, her feet just lead her back to her building. The very place she vowed to stay away from just moments before. It was almost as if she were being pulled back there. Over, and over again.
    She snapped out of her reverie long enough to realize where she was.
    “Dammit!” Cassie said as she turned on her heel to start running away from the dreaded place. She would have, if not for the man.
    “Oof!” Cassie said as she ran directly into a tall, hard body.
    “Hey!” the guy said in protest.
    Cassie started to mumble a half-hearted apology when something behind the man caught her eye.
    A taxi was parked at the curb.

CHAPTER THREE
    HER APPREHENSION ABOUT going home had come to a head and all Cassie wanted was to be anywhere but her apartment. The taxi gave her a much-needed shot of hope at an escape.
    Cassie broke her gaze long enough to take a closer look at the person—the taxi driver—she had run into. He had delicate features for a man—he looked almost feminine. And then his outfit did not match his face, as they were hardcore hip-hop complete with the bling, the baggy pants, and big shirt.
    Cassie was horrified that she’d run into someone, and yet was in even more terror when she realized she was home. “I… are you on break, Mister? Because I’d really like to get out of here.”
    The driver chuckled a bit. “Sure looks like it, Miss.” He twisted his torso for one last stretch and beckoned Cassie to come walk with him to the car. “Where ya headed?” the driver asked as he unlocked the cab and opened the door for her.
    “Am open to suggestions. A-Anywhere, but h-here,” Cassie could not stop her voice from shaking.
    “Alrighty then, little angel. Anywhere it is. Name’s Gabe by the way,” he said with a flourish as he shut the door and walked to the driver’s side.
    Cassie looked around her. The name “Gabe’s Gypsy Jitney” was on the medallion. Something about the taxi made her feel at ease. The sweet smell of some sort of incense wafted in the air. She didn’t know why, or how, but she felt that the incense was clearing her mind of cobwebs. She was suddenly thinking more clearly.
    As the cab pulled away from the curb, Cassie realized that she really had nowhere to go. She couldn’t really ask Gabe to drive around all night. She didn’t have enough money for that. She also didn’t want to go over to any of her friends. Too many questions that she’d rather not answer. She’d just been at Lauren’s and she didn’t know if she’d be welcome at Krystal’s. All of them would wonder about the bruises and why she was afraid to go home.
    Tears welled up in her eyes.
    I really have nowhere to go. I wonder how much it would be if I took this all the way