Chapter 13: Living in Fear

Author's Note: I rebuilt the orphanage and the brothel because I got some inspiration for what I originally wanted these buildings to look like, so they will look different in the pictures.

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"Again, Piper?! I send you out and you only bring back $500? You better not be keeping extra money stashed away or something, bitch!"

"I swear, Leo, I'm not hiding anything! I just can't make as much as Gypsy."

"What the fuck do you mean, you can't make as much?! Or is it that you won't do what the client says. We're not going to have to go through that bullshit again are we, Piper?! Are we?!"

"No, Leo, please, just let me try again."

"Too late, bitch. You don't get to go out anymore. You never bring me back enough cash for it to be worth it. Give me that $500! You don't get a cut because you disappointed me. Now get the fuck out of my sight!"

I had just opened the gate to the front yard of the brothel to see Leo wrenching money away from Piper while yelling at her yet again. It was of no big surprise to me as she was always pissing off Leonardo. She and I had a strange relationship because we weren't exactly friends, but we weren't exactly mortal enemies either. I suppose we simply tolerated each other. She was already here when I was brought in.

"AHH! Leo! That's not fair! I earned that money fair and square!"

Leonardo crossed his tattooed arms in front of his chest and stared smugly at Piper. She started screaming and getting really animated with her arm movements. He just continued to glare at her until she gave up and went inside, slamming the door behind her.

When that disgusting man took me away that night, he made it sound like he was the one who was behind the business venture, but he was really just one of Leonardo's thugs. The business venture was actually all Leonardo's idea. He was the most powerful crime lord around right now. He was corrupt, and he controlled a lot of things, while scaring a lot of people. Any crime that happened these days was usually of his doing. When he said jump, the correct response was how high, because he had no qualms about murdering people on the spot or ruining lives in a split second. Truthfully, I was terrified of him, so I did what I was told because I didn't want to end up at the bottom of a river with concrete blocks tied to my feet. So far it had been working well, and he was usually pleased with me because of all the money I earned for him.

"$2,500."

"Fuck yeah, Gypsy. That's what I'm talking about."

Leonardo took the cash out of my hand and counted the bills greedily. His eyes were a fitting color for the greed that always oozed out of his pores, a bright intense green that contrasted with the darkness of his demeanor. He wasn't exactly bad to look at, even though his personality was ugly. He placed $1,500 back into my palm.

"Take a break, then I want you working the pole tonight. You're my money maker, and you're the one who's picked up the most advanced moves."

I nodded, and walked past Leonardo as he slapped me on the ass when I turned the doorknob to go inside.

I went upstairs and sat on my bed, sore from the few hours I'd been out. My bed wasn't exactly the most comfortable thing in the world, but it did feel nice to sit down with my legs closed for once, and be alone. Feeling all those gross men all over me all the time messes with my head a little. I've gotten used to my life the way it is right now, but I know it's wrong. Sometimes I think about leaving, but then I wonder where I would even go. I can't bear to go back to my house because I always fear that I'll walk in and see Gerard's dead body laying somewhere. After everything I've been through, I don't think I could see that and not fall apart right there. I'm trying to hold it together here as much as I can, and as much as I fear Leonardo, I am grateful I have a bed to sleep in and food to eat. Not to mention, since I'm good for business, Leonardo would be super angry if I left. I don't know that he would have the patience to find another girl to replace me, plus all the money he'd lose out on without me around. No, he'd never let me leave.

"Gypsy? You up here?"

Piper's shrill voice travels up the staircase and into my bare room. I hear her stilettos clicking on the hard wooden stair treads, not saying anything, knowing she'll find me anyway. Piper comes into the room and leans against the small half wall, which is all the privacy I get around here, even if there's a client in the bed with me.

"What do you want, Piper? I'm relaxing."

"Can you believe Leo? He didn't give me my cut!"

"This isn't the first time you've said that, so what did you do to make him angry?"

"I didn't make enough on my trip out. Ugh, why does he have to be such a jerk all the time?!"

"I don't know, Piper, maybe it's because he's a crime lord?!"

I rolled my eyes, getting irritated with Piper. It was quite often that she came up to me to complain after bringing things onto herself. Piper wasn't phased much by my sarcasm, which was fairly normal.

"So what's the rest of your night look like?"

"The pole."

"What? You get the pole? Ma-an!"

Piper whined again, and I was confused why she sounded like she enjoyed it here. She spoke about me working the pole like it was something to be coveted. I had to change into my 'work uniform,' so I got off the bed and walked past Piper to the chest that was on the opposite side of the half wall she was leaning on. Piper walked around the half wall, following me around, watching me as I pulled out some lingerie and went behind the room divider to change.

I ignored Piper's incessant whining, not really knowing how to respond to her at this point. I took my hair clips out, and ran my fingers through my hair, smoothing it out. I shook my head around so that the strands would look a bit messy and unkempt, sort of like bedhead. I didn't have a mirror, so I couldn't really see how my hair looked, but I was satisfied with the way it felt.

I stepped out from behind the room divider and started walking towards the stairs when Piper took a deep breath and gasped. I turned to glance at her, unsure what was going on. Did my hair look wierd or something?

"Holy shit, Gypsy. You look amazing."

"Uhhh... thanks?"

I always felt wierd when Piper drooled over me, I knew she was just being nice, paying me compliments, but the fact that she said things when I was in lingerie always made me uncomfortable. Wanting to leave Piper's presence immediately, I quickly turned and walked away to find Leonardo standing at the bottom of the stairs waiting for me. He licked his thumb when he saw me, and whistled.

"Ooh yeah, baby. Looking good."

"Thanks, Leo."

"You want a drink before hand?"

I nodded, and leaned on the counter, while Leonardo started making some drinks. Leo could be nice when he wanted to be, and I was glad I didn't keep pissing him off, like Piper did. He poured some vodka tonics, and set them in front of me.

"Here you go, babe. One or two drinks then, go on the pole."

"Thanks."

I took a glass and sipped it. It was really tasty, as Leonardo was an expert bartender. He could make most anything that a customer requested.

"Where the fuck is Piper, she's supposed to be my waitress tonight. She's so useless."

"She's still upstairs. Leo, why do you keep her around when she just keeps making you mad?"

"I don't know. She might not bring that much money, but she does bring money, so I guess that's why."

I finished my drink, then walked over to the wooden pole that was securely fastened to a low platform stage, made of planks that interlocked together. There were three lights around the stage that illuminated every curve of my body as I strutted around the pole, as opposed to the seating areas, which were dimly lit. I started out with a simple sexy walk around the pole so I could gain some momentum to do a spin. I plastered a fake smile on my face, as I found that I got more money when I looked like I was enjoying myself.

A man in a hooded sweatshirt and worn jeans arrived in the brothel. He had auburn hair, streaked with some blonde highlights. I couldn't make out the color of his eyes due to the poor lighting from where I was. The man sat down in the lounge, or rather, the sorry excuse for a lounge, made up of two leather couches that had seen better days. He propped his elbow up on the arm of the couch and watched me intently. At some point during my show, Piper had changed into her waitress uniform and finally come downstairs. Leo shot her a disapproving look and pointed towards the coffee table in front of the man, which was littered with empty plates. Piper scurried over to the table, and walked in front of him, causing him to scowl as she blocked his line of vision. He smacked Piper on the ass as she walked by, effectively pushing her out of his way.

Once Piper was out of the way, I jumped up on the pole and spun around, gracefully bending my right leg around the pole as I twirled myself around it. I felt my boobs jiggle as the man whistled at me and smiled, throwing some $1 bills on the stage. He hadn't changed positions at all the entire time he was watching me, and I noticed that he was sitting with his legs spread. Every time I had to work the pole, I hoped that the man I had to take to my bed for the night wasn't going to be rough or mean to me. I got the feeling this man was semi polite, since the most he had done so far was whistle at me. I didn't mind the cat calls either, they usually meant I got more money, which meant Leonardo was happy with me.

Hoisting myself up on the pole with my legs, I gripped it and bent down backwards, trying to focus on the guy's face to see if I could read his expression. He was kind of cute, and not greasy or sleazy like most of the fat, unattractive men who came in here. His eyes were intense, but there was a kindness in them that was appealing. I stuck my chest out and stretched my arms above my head, smiling at him. Leonardo liked when I drew attention to myself and managed to get more money out of the customer. Usually I hated to do it because the customers always grossed me out, but this customer wasn't being overly rude, and he was just watching me, rather than trying to make me feel more uncomfortable.

I dropped myself down to the stage, and then jumped up, catching the pole with my right hand and legs while stretching myself straight out. I felt the man's eyes on me the entire time. This move was always the one the guys enjoyed the most. I especially liked it because for some reason I felt powerful doing it. It was almost as if I was pretending that I was reaching out to a better life, and it made me happy. I knew it didn't really make sense in the big picture, that I shouldn't be happy living in a brothel, but I had to hang onto the little happiness I found in my life here.

I finished my show, and sauntered over to the customer, who followed me with his eyes. He sat with his hands in his lap, smiling at me. I stood in front of him with my hands on my hips and smiled seductively at him.

"How much?"

"For the whole night, or a lap dance?"

"Both."

"$900."

"Whoa, that's steep, but you're worth it. You're gorgeous, and you've got skills."

"You haven't seen all of my skills yet, but I'm glad I could impress you so far."

I was just about to go over and start the lap dance when Piper came over with drinks. She set them on the table and left. I sat down next to the customer and rubbed his thigh. Then I sat on his lap, grinding on him a little bit. He pulled me close to him and kissed me. We turned around on the couch, and continued kissing.

I rested my arm on his shoulder, and ran my other hand through his hair, which was soft to the touch. The customer stopped kissing me for a second to speak.

"Is there somewhere more private we can go?"

I nodded, whispering that we could go to my bed which was up the stairs, and got off of him, walking past Leonardo and making eye contact with him. Leo gave me a sly smile, followed by a wink. I saw the customer head up the stairs, and I quickly followed so he didn't have to wait long.

I went upstairs to see the customer standing by my bed, but he wasn't behaving like the countless other men I had encountered, who usually would have been either stripping down to their underwear, or completely naked. This guy was just there, rubbing his neck, with one hand on his hip. I thought maybe he had a sore neck or something, so I went to give him a massage, but he declined politely. I was very confused as to why this man had seemed so interested in me just mere seconds before, but now he seemed distant and aloof. What did he want from me if it wasn't sex?

I began to go through the motions, reaching around to unclasp my bra, wondering if he just wanted me to call all the shots or something, but I felt the man put his hand on mine, stopping me.

"No. You don't have to do that."

He was whispering, and I was starting to really wonder what his deal was. I didn't have to wait long before he smiled warmly at me, and then explained himself.

"I noticed earlier you have a wedding ring on. Are you stuck here? Were you taken? I can help you escape if you want."

My eyes opened wide and I stepped backwards, leaning against the door frame as I did. I couldn't believe it, this man, whoever he was, was offering to save me from this life. Maybe I could live a normal life again, one where I didn't have to sell my body for money. My thoughts fell a little, wishing that Gerard would have been the one to save me, and then I had some anxiety when I once again pictured him dead. I was scared about putting my trust in this person who I'd only met a few hours ago, a person who at first, was just another customer, but who now seemed like he might be my savior.