Dirty Business by Huck Pilgrim Page B

fingertips on the table and leaned forward as if he were about to rise.
     
    Veronica was ready. More than ready. Ignored, head spinning from the drugs, her body revving with sexual tension, she practically leapt from her chair and then stood by the table grinning. But Donnell had not risen. Instead he let his weight fall back into his seat, and continued to smile at Veronica, his warm eyes glittering.
     
    The boy wearing the hat silently crossed the room. Standing behind Veronica, he slipped his arms around her waist and let his hand come to rest in the V between her legs. Veronica reacted quickly, stomping her heel into his foot and then spinning out of his grasp.
     
    “ Motherfucker ,” she hissed. Veronica sailed her fist around, leaping forward to put her full body weight into the punch. The boy’s head snapped back.
     
    Joe was impressed. She stood there—all one hundred and ten pounds of her—with her fists up. But the other boy had already slipped in behind her and put his arms around her waist. He drew her towards himself, even as she began to writhe.
     
    “Donnell!” Veronica raised her voice.
     
    Her face flush with fury, she whipped her head toward the end of the table where Donnell sat. For a beat, no one said anything. The boy held Veronica aloft, her feet an inch or two from the floor, her hair splayed in her eyes.
     
    And then Donnell tilted his head to the side. “ Anything ,” he said.
     
    “Oh, come on ,” Veronica said.
     
    Joe heard a tinge of panic in her voice. Setting his jaw, he silently willed her to surrender. To accept her circumstances. If she continued to fight, there would be trouble. Someone could get hurt. Someone would get hurt.
     
    The boy lowered Veronica to the floor and began to massage her breasts, his nose buried in her shiny dark hair. Veronica stood silently, her back stiff.
     
    “Help out my friends,” Donnell said. His tone was friendly, but clearly he was offering a command.
     
    Veronica remained mute, letting the boy enjoy her body.
     
    “I like to watch.” Donnell chuckled. He said this with almost an apologetic tone. He shrugged, smiled. Cutter snorted. Shook his head. He had continued to work on the powder through all the excitement, but Joe felt certain that Cutter and Donnell were the ones to watch if things escalated.
     
    Veronica looked at the pile of powder on the table, now diminished in size. She looked at Donnell, who sat back from the table, his hands in his lap, his eyes still warm. That same half smile still playing upon his lips. She swallowed hard. The boy’s hands eagerly roamed her body. Searching the room, her eyes fell on Joe, who now readily met her gaze. Joe didn’t smile, but he tried not to look too grave either. He could see the terror in her eyes as she assessed her situation. Both lieutenants would fuck her. That much was a given.
     
    Joe locked eyes with Veronica.
     
    He knew he needed to be discreet. Raising one of his brows, he titled his head toward the boy she had struck. Opening his eyes wide, Joe tried to nudge Veronica into action. Get her moving in a productive direction. She was an attractive girl and that would work to her disadvantage tonight. The big guy cutting the dope would certainly want a turn with her. Joe knew that Donnell had a girlfriend, but that didn’t matter with something like this: He’d probably go last, do something humiliating. Maybe fuck her in the ass. Maybe piss on her.
     
    Joe pursed his lips. He glanced at the boy rubbing his chin, then returned his gaze to Veronica. The important thing was to get the sex started. That was the best way to avoid any real violence. She’d wake up tomorrow a little sore, filled with semen from a few different boys, but she’d be home. Unhurt.
     
    Veronica looked at the boy she’d struck: he was working his jaw and looking openly hostile, clearly the biggest threat in the room. When she looked back toward Joe, he nodded his head once. Really it was