Scrapbook Road: A Panthress Chronicle

By Ton’ya Felder

Brunette Hollister harbors a disturbing secret. He walks around with a bad attitude; he cannot keep a constant relationship, and only allows himself a few friends. He disowned his sister, raped a woman, and sent a man to prison for the rest of his life. He was rude to his woman in front of their friends or in private –A Drunk- he was openly unfaithful, always stoked for the next fight and trust was a word he didn’t believe in. So, its no wonder he had a hard time sleeping at night.
Oh yeah … He’s the good guy!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 24, 2009
• ISBN: 9781543498349

Ton’ya Felder

Reader ADVISORY::: Ton’ya’s Novels are EXPLICIT GRAPHIC and RAW with a hardcore SEXUAL CONTENT in the storyline the adults characters do adult things and are in adult situations. Ton’ya is working on several more novels. She wants to know what you think! Please leave feedback, questions, criticism, or comments at e-mail [e-mail]

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Copyright © 2009 by Ton’ya Felder.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 09/14/2021

Xlibris

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Special Acknowledgement to

Dennis Kaplan

For keeping me on track

being there when I was doubting myself

and all the times you listened to me babble.

I want to thank you for the phone sessions, the support

and always telling it like it is when I needed to hear it.

Thanks for keeping me grounded.

Thanks for being my friend.

My favorite Psycho

Dennis Kaplan

Respectfully

Motherluv

As ever prayerful to Yahweh in Y’suas precious name, AMEN

Ton’ya Felder Original Version written 7-1-07

To Catch a Dream

Learn to Fish

To Catch a Friend

Extend a Hand

To Catch a Word

Read the Bible

To Catch my Attention

Before You Talk First Listen

By Twila Felder

April 6, 2008

Ghetto Poet

Ode to G. B.

4/28/2008

Ton’ya Felder

When we cried, you laughed.

When we asked for nothing you gave it freely in return.

When we asked for truth, you told nothing but lies.

We gave you hard facts and you furnished flimsy alibis.

We stand firm committed to the struggle

Yet you were the first to cross the line

preaching love and peace in our face while making coffins

for the soldiers leaving men and women behind.

We put our feet down and you walked away.

We gave freely from the heart.

You raised the prices of everything

making it hard for any to survive then

you sentenced our souls to dam nation with a chip.

The sound can no longer be heard from the mountain tops

We can no longer speak what is on our minds

Our dreams are but the lost illusion just as peace

And our Freedom is but forced bondage

Because we walk around asleep.

Episodes

Trapped

Complicated

Classic JB

Like Lovers Do

The Baby Monitor

Addicted

Santa

Turn The Page

Scrap

What is the Pantheress Clan?

Pantheress are a once clandestine miniature group of people that live among human but for odd reasons would not be considered completely human they are anomalies more a rarity in this day and age, the few are not aware of their ancestry nor the mark that binds them. The ones that walk among humans are discreet, without knowing it, they are governed by the traditions of their forefathers. They can be complete only when mated with their own kind-so said, if the male or female has not copulated with another that shares their ancestry before a certain age the end results is death of a rare unknown incurable disease that man has no treatment nor answer for.

The prophecy dictates that if the Pantheress bloodline is to survive, it is critical that Panthers mate during the novena moon. The Novena moon is an anomaly itself and appears only for the soul purpose of two Pantheress that they may become as one. Once the species of Pantheress, usually the male, get the smell and or taste of another and copulate, they are mated for life no matter the circumstances that surround them. The females are known for multiple births, it is one of the curses that still bind them even in these modern times.

Last time the demon moon came to reap as three enigmas, Collend, Kemp and Colija were united then made whole, their union was consummated by the beast with the blood of a panthress virgin so prophesized by the 13 th zodiac. In the beginning before the ritual of the panthers could be performed, a set of mirror images Tenei and Tanai had to risk their lives to become the Queenox. Their final trial was to the death.

This time fate plays its cleverness.

REFLECTIONS

I can’t honestly say that I’m proud of my whole life but I will say for reasons that seemed right to me at the time I stand behind the blunders I made.

Age and errors teach us that you should not condemn people for the mistakes they have made no matter what the caliber of those mistakes because you may never understand what reasoning the person had or what state of mind they were in at the time. Two people could commit the same crime but one of them may just be innocent because of the circumstances.

I have lived on Storybook Road my entire life and sometimes it seemed my life was like pages that were turned one at a time, sometimes chapters all at once to fast for me to keep up with and some times life for me was like a turtle’s nod only bits and pieces in slow increments.

For each of us the measurement is different hours, days, months, years, trinkets, lovers, children, events, holidays, so forth and so on. Thing is we walk the road that the God allows us and are bound by the choices we make along the way. The time we are given is so short that you turn around and your grand child is asking you papa will you tell me the story again or bringing you a warm sweater while you nod in front of the television.

I consider the path I walked a journey getting here was the fun of it I called that journey Scrapbook Road because sitting here now watching my grandkids play reminded me of my life as if it were remnants torn from the pages of a much larger book with silent scenes added for a splash and my wife still has the cutest ass I have ever seen.

BFH

TRAPPED

Tanner Lenox was standing in the new bar he had just acquired. The place was empty and dirty the decor was tacky, but he saw further than most people and he liked the location. This was going to be his first legitimate venture and another step closer to being what he aspire to be, one serious no shit taking motherfucker.

He considered himself half way there and this is going to be the central location because he is going to make this bar a hot spot and own the town coming and going. Tanner was not greedy he only wanted a chunk of the rock, this was going to become his personal playground and he is going to be the ultimate bully.

Tanner walked through the bar thinking about the possibilities and figuring out where he wanted what and what had to go. He walked out the back door and saw the underground two-car garage in the alley. First thing he would do is have it scraped and painted a bright blue then trimmed in a vibrant yellow and put private tow zone in huge orange letters. He went up the long jagged steps to the apartment because this was the only entrance. The iron steps made it even better for him there was just something about sturdy and secure that thrilled him.

The door was unlocked he had not needed to use a key but he did so any way to make sure they were the right ones to the apartment. It needed to be cleaned and it was just as crappy as the bar but he would change all that. The small one bedroom flat was not what he was accustomed to and he wished he hadn’t been so hasty with Hasty telling her it was over with and that she could have the apartment building on the west end of town no strings as long as she left him alone. But what is done is done and Tanner really had got the inkling from Hasty and she deserved a small piece of his chunk. By giving Hasty, the building he owned Tanner considered it settling his debt to her. It was time for him to move on to bigger and better; Hasty had no ambitions that didn’t involve being high or getting beaten.

Tanner was tired of this drab place he had an appointment across town and he needed a strong drink. He locked the door and left for the long drive.

The thing about Tanner is he had no delusions about where stood on the ladder he was climbing in the business he chose as his profession. He made deals based on word of mouth and a handshake in shady places with corrupt people that wore guns front and center with another cloaked for back up. He was not in the big leagues (yet) but he had dam sure climbed up enough not to be considered a small timer.

He was working on that right now.

People automatically took him for a joke when he spoke because of his frilly voice, tall lean frame and average looks, he didn’t look threatening at all. When he got started, he had to let his actions speak for him or as the old adage goes, ‘I can show you better than I could tell you.’

That’s exactly what he had to do in this business. Tanner laughed to him self because he was literally a man of few words he was a man of action and he always got what he wanted (one way or another). Sometimes he had to use muscle other times the mighty dollar or sometimes persuasion (one kind or another). Tonight it had been persuasions.

But still even that didn’t come cheap.

Tanner was about to take another step up the ladder to break in the big leagues and he could not afford nor did he like loose ends or problems of any size. He had thought long and hard about the one he was currently having. The problem stood six feet three in stature with broad shoulders and a bad-attitude. His problem even had a name-Brew.

Tanner didn’t consider Brew an enemy but they were far from friends and in his business the gray area definitely mattered. He knew that Brew didn’t care for him or the way that he made his living and Tanner was okay with it. There was nothing wrong with letting another man know where you stood Tanner actually respected Brew even more for that. If he had to call any one on this earth, a friend so to speak-it would be Brew. But Tanner needed insurance that his excursions would be kept with closed mouth. Brew had been there quite by accident and Tanner knew that shit really did happen but killing or threatening him was the wrong way to go about handling this particular situation. Tanner decided he would get insurance on Brew the only way he knew how, he would have Brew walk a mile in his shoes to even things up.

Tanner got to the hotel bar twenty minutes early. He called the flat chest-ed waitress for another drink, slapped her round bottom, and winked at her when she looked back over her shoulder smiling. He thought about it. It’s been a while since the incident, he even had Brew followed but he said nothing nor went to the police but how long would that last. Tanner didn’t want to have a problem later. He didn’t want to worry about Brew having an attack of conscious so he would handle the matter now because the road to his life was branching out and calling him.

Brunette had been teased about his name most of his life. Several times when he was younger, he had to fight because of it, when he got grown most women found it and him sexy or so he has been told. The few people that actually knew him also knew about his attitude they called him Fox or Brew.

What he wanted to do was call and cancel this meeting but he was board and Tanner irked his curiosity, it was Friday night, he had no other plans so he was riding down the highway listening to a Rhythm and Blues FM station on his way to some dam out of the way hotel to see what the snake was really slithering up to.

He and Tanner went way back but there was no love between them. They knew each other because time to time their lives had crossed paths starting with the summer before eighth grade when Tanner and his parents moved on Storybook Road. It did-not make them friends. They actually tolerated each other but there have been a few laughs along the way. Brunette recognized that Tanner lacked an essential human emotion that rendered most of us compassionate Tanners was replaced with a fiendish hard core and he was nothing to play with but that didn’t make Brunette a joke either. He pulled in an empty space locks up his russet four-door jeep and heads inside just as the rain pelted down.

Tanner didn’t work per say. In fact, he has never had a real nine to five, he sold drugs and swindled older lonely well off women and that’s how he eked out his living. Tanner had admitted to being completely turned on by older women. He and Brunette did share a few secrets like men do.

Brew gave Tanner an up nod when he was walking to the table and Tanner smiled. They were almost the same height Tanner was about six feet, he was a dirty blond with neat thick hair that waved to the back and tapered at his neck he had an unruly crop that would fling in his face if he moved in a quick or sudden jerk. He had a small head with boyish features and a natural tan, Brunette knew that Tanners hazel eyes changed color according to his mood sometimes that were browner and sometimes they were greener. His teeth were not white and they were too small for his thin mouth they looked flat and square more like pebbles.

To Brunette Tanner looked like a snake waiting for his next victim.

Twain had done his job and this was the best part. Now he and Morlen a big cocky white stringy haired tanned beach bum looking idiot sat in a running car twenty feet from the woman’s door. It was pelting hard drops of rain and Twain was glad that he was not standing in it this time. They were waiting for the woman to come home. He knew the marks habits like he knew his own. This one was different or for a special client because Tanner had warned Twain if she was touched he would take his hands off at the wrist and dump him in a hospital lot. Twain had worked for Tanner long enough to know that he didn’t make threats but he did keep promises and Tanner had no sense of humor.

She lived in a basement apartment with an old woman Twain had been following her the full month to get her routine down so when this moment came there wouldn’t be any slipups. Tanner didn’t like being disappointed. The last time he had taken a brick and banged Twain on his feet and it was a month before he could walk or put on a shoe come to find out the mark was in a car accident and that was why she didn’t make it to the spot where he and Morlen were to grab her. Tanner had apologized with an extra five hundred dollars but even so when Tanner got angry, people got hurt.

Twain smiled and tapped Morlen on the biceps as he curled the thick heavy weight once more and looked out the window through the rain as the woman rode up on her bike then parked it. When she bent to put the chain lock around the pole and bike that’s when Morlen dropped the weight with a heavy thud that rocked the car, he got out, left the door open, and dragged her the rest of the way down the steps to the dark. Morlen was forceful he treated the women like rag dolls. Their size didn’t matter and this one was attractive and thick. Two minutes like clockwork we were on our way to the place she was blind folded with her hands tied behind her sitting in the back of the car with Morlen. I said, Stop touching her if you would like to still have the use of your hands when this is over.

His dense slow idiotic voice said, Oh-yeah-forgot.

But when I looked in the mirror again, he had his large sweaty hand in her shirt on the woman’s bare breast, smiling and a thick line of drool hung from the corner of his slacked mouth.

Twain had asked Morlen once what did he say to the women because they would be scared and offering to do anything to be let go, Twain knew that if they were for Tanner they would have to do anything. Morlen said that he would threaten to hurt or kill whom ever they lived with that he would tell them he knew where they lived and worked and where their family stayed at. Morlen had a good deep speaking voice and Twain was sure that they believed him. He had seen men quake in their shoes when Morlen spoke with force in his voice. Twain also knew that Morlen had to practice what to say for a couple of days because he was an idiot.

Twain didn’t care. What he cared about was the six hundred dollars and some primo heroine he would be getting-that put a smile on his face. He liked to get high so much that his dick didn’t even get hard any more. One day Twain and this female were shooting up and she said, Let’s see what would happen if you shoot your dick up.

He fucked her high for three days and left her limp. When he finished on the third day, he was left limp also. Nothing he had tried since would give him a hard on. He had even tried to shoot it up once more but nothing. Now his woman is heroine.

He took the turn on the highway as sheets of rain fell steady with no sign of stopping. Twain noticed as they took the woman out of the car she had not screamed yelled or spoken for that matter she had not moved nor tried to run or beg for her life. She did as she was told without a problem even the idiot noticed and hunched his shoulders as they guided her inside the back entrance.

Brunette sat down and the waitress brought him a whiskey no ice with a beer chaser. They toasted the shot and downed it then Tanner got right down to spitefulness. When was the last time you saw Hasty?

Brunette lowered his head and stared viciously at Tanner with his jaw locked. He wanted to hit Tanner only he didn’t know why.

His sister’s name is Aline but she danced for a strip club and her stage name is Hasty she has it tattooed in graffiti letters several places on her body. She smokes dope and they both knew it, Brew heard that Aline had also started shooting up he wouldn’t have any way of knowing how true it was but he didn’t doubt it. She was on the fast track to hell and she alienated herself from the family years ago. Aline was tricking at the age of fifteen and getting A’s and B’s in school. When she graduated, it was with honors and she spent her graduation night smoking crack with several guys and the next day she moved out of their parent’s house. Their mother, Fanny, called him and said, Brunette please go and find your sister and bring her home.

Sometimes-Brunette had the notion that his mother died of a broken heart. What Fanny failed to understand was like daddy said, once Aline made up her mind she was going to do it-it was a done deal. It took a week and two days of missed work but Brunette found her in a smoky strip club called The Bay. After her show, which was erotic as the music, she danced too, Brunette met her in a back room full of skimpy costumes, nine stools facing a long mirrored wall table full of make up and naked women with fake body parts.

He was not thrilled at all.

She was lighting a cigarette when he walked in and was fondled by every woman he walked past, brown skin, pale, and red, a few of them propositioned him and he had to double glance more than one of them. He asked her what were her plans.

She said, "Hey big brother, Aline has exited the building for good, I’m Hasty. I did what mom said all my life and what dad wanted I graduated school and now I am going to do what I want.

Her voice and face determined. I had my ovaries removed two years ago, I am going to fuck and get high for the rest of my life."

I was not surprised. We use to be close. Her last three years of high school, I have picked her up from jail after several three day stints for bar brawls that she started. I not only dropped her off at the place where she had plastic surgery on her breast but I picked her up not knowing until she removed her top, showed me, and the driver what she had done. She has been dancing since the age of 16 she told our mother that she had a weekend job working at the Condor Skillet the local out of the way grease bucket burger joint that’s a teen hangout on the weekends but I know for a fact that she was stripping and tricking because I had been told by several people who know us personally.

Thing about Aline is that she has never asked for a dime not for herself or her habit she has that well in hand and nothing was going to detour her mind set. The few occasions that I had to break up fights that involved Aline, I would be protecting the other person from her rage and getting them out of harms way. It’s sad to think it-but the drugs are the only thing that calmed her down once she was high strung.

She puffed the cigarette and a thick plume of smoke disappeared into the cloud that was already hanging.

I asked, Just what do you want me to tell mom?

She chuckled and said, To be happy and get a life. Aline stood up, tell her to spend some of the money dad left her on that cruise she had always wanted to take and pray for me. I gotta show to do.

That was it Aline move around so much that Brunette couldn’t keep up with her but she called home once a month to keep Fanny happy. Their mother died five years later. That conversation took place nearly eleven years ago he had not seen nor talked to her since.

Brunette sipped the beer staring at Tanner and said, Last I heard she was doing about the same.

Tanner laughed. We’ve been acquainted a long time Brew and we know where the other stands. I’m a man of my word and you know that to.

That sounded like a threat so Brunette stared at Tanner with a gleam in his eye. They each had another round; Tanner drank the beer first this time. He said, "Because of our history I’m going to do you a favor. First of all, I’m going to quit selling anything to your sister.

That got Brunettes attention. He sat the beer bottle down looked and listened closely to Tanner.

We both know once her mind is made up there is no stopping her.

Brunette waited. Tanners Michael Jackson imitation squeaky voice was stuck between changing and it was irritating if he had not known the kind of man Tanner was it would be hard to take his threats seriously.

He said I can only control what my people do no one else. I’ll call us even after a trade for a trade."

Brunette had not spoken. Sometimes Tanner liked to hear himself talk and sooner or later, he would get to the point. Tanner drank the last swallow of beer in his bottle, looked at the suds, and said, "There is a young woman in a room in this hotel, and you are going to have sex with her if you don’t do what I want three things are going to happen. First, I am going to have her badly beaten.

Brunette knew from a personal observation that this is how he got his real kicks and Tanner would love the excuse to do it himself. A couple of times it went wrong or he took it too far.

Second, I’m going to grant your sister one last high that makes all the others feel like kiddy rides and last I am going to have to end our relationship in a dreadfully bad way."

Brunette smiled with the corner of his mouth but it looked menacing Tanner stiffened, he resisted the urge to step back, he straightened up, and looked for his men that were placed around the room.

Brunette noticed and followed where he glanced and saw the three men two of them bared guns when he looked at them. He already knew why this was happening so there was no need to ask a rhetorical question. What he did say as he swirled the liquor in the glass was, So you want me on tape for insurance?

Tanner drained his glass of liquor in one swallow. His face was hard and serious as mines. His eyes told the story for him and the sound of his voice meant what he said if you stared into them. Exactly if I go down so do you, but if you do as I ask I will have insurance of your silence and no need to wonder if the good fairy is going to win out and I wont have too keep looking over my shoulder.

What happens to the tape if you get killed in a drive by shooting after a dirty deal gone bad or by some angry junkie.

Brunette watched Tanners eyes change color like a trick of light. Tanner looked at Brew as if these equations never crossed his small mind and said, I’ll make sure that they are destroyed.

And my sister.

She’s here in the hotel also if you think that it’s a bluff you can call me on it but one of them gets my specialty. I choose.

What do I care about some other female?

Now Tanner smiled viciously it was not wasted on Brunette.

Tanner said, She was chosen especially for you and she has not been touched by any of my men besides you couldn’t be caught on tape fucking your sister could you?

Brunette sat the empty bottle down and said, It’s been over four months and not a peep out of me. Why not trust me.

Tanner retorted quickly thumping his fist on the counter, I don’t trust my own mother when she borrows money I get her to sign and date a paper.

He didn’t smile. Brunette knew that was just the kind of snake he was. Tanner said, When you do what I want I will give you the keys to both of their cuffs and the three of you are free to go.

Trapped. Brunette didn’t like feeling trapped.

Now not only did he have to worry about his own sister Tanner brought some innocent into the circle. Brunette asked, What is to keep her from recognizing me while you are filming and what do you have on her or is she some kind of hooker.

Tanner got up, This is the key to the hotel room she’s cuffed to the bed follow the instructions and fuck her when I am satisfied I’ll slip the cuff keys under the door with your sisters room number and key also.

He tossed the key and an envelope on the counter and said, I’ll be watching.

He walked away.

Brunette sat there a while longer and looked at the empty glass. He knew that Tanner would come up with something but he didn’t think it would be this. For all his hired muscle Tanner would not dare think of killing him because in his distorted code of ethics it just wouldn’t be polite. But trapping him was another story. There were choices and Brunette should have went to the police anonymously when he wittiness it himself but all that’s spilled beer now. He was not in the mood for sex, he had not been with a woman in the past three months, and now he was going to rape one.

Wow things are looking down.

When she got to the apartment and walked down the dark steps she regretted not reminding the caretaker that the light bulbs needed to be replaced on this end of the building but she only thought about it when she got there in the evenings like tonight. When the stair well darkened and the big white man knocked her down the steps and caught her before she fell, she made the only scared sound that evening and gasped when he snatched her up.

He knocked her against the door and slid her up with one motion. His large fist was chocking her because his knuckles was buried in her throat cutting off her oxygen supply she barely heard the threat and her feet were no longer on the ground, they were dangling.

He shoved the black mask to her, she put it on then he dropped her roughly to her feet yanked her around and tied her hands up behind her back smashing her into the brick scraping her face, there were no tears she knew that she was going to die. Several women had been raped, beaten, and abducted close to or from their homes, this had been going on randomly for over three years now. You never think that it would be you. He palmed her legs grasping her roughly by the breast and humped her for a moment making her body smash into the bricks several times hard and quick.

He said, Don’t worry I’ll give you the real thing later.

Then lead her up the steps half dragging her to a waiting car he folded her down into it. His sweaty hands violated her bare breast and he whispered, You should have worn a dress so I could make this pleasant for you.

Then she heard another voice say, if you want your hands Moron leave her alone we can’t go there with this one. But that didn’t stop the Moron from rubbing her between her legs. When they got to the place, she was guided down a hall then to an elevator it had to be close to forty minutes or less she tried to keep the time but in the end, it didn’t matter.

She didn’t grovel.

She didn’t have any family but Ms. Marva and Ms. Petula shouldn’t have to suffer for her, and he knew where they stayed. They had assumed that she lived there but what she did was night sit with the two women five nights of the week. When they got her to the room she had to do everything in the darkness of the mask. She showered and before she could wrap the towel around her the big mans voice said, "Dang all I want to do is taste it."

The other voice said, "We can only watch and if you touch her, I will report back." The kinder voice said the words with fed up patience.

The big man insisted, "You dumb flea we could both have some first."

The other voice spoke slowly as if addressing a child.

And what happens when the boss comes in and asks her if we touched her.

There was silence from the big man and the other voice took over. He was completely gentler not only his voice but the way he guided her also. He said, "Do as your told, give me your hand and keep the mask on no matter what and everything will be all right."

I was given a towel and lead out the bathroom to a bed.

"Sit here and get under the blanket."

When I did he said, "Put your arms up."

I lay there thinking about my life short as it was.

Brunette stood at the door on the fifth floor for a moment and read the paper again then he walked in the room and looked around the young woman was laid in the middle of the bed with a full black velvet mask on covered in a thin cover handcuffed to the top of the bed by her wrists, the camera was obvious (both of them) and he saw how Tanner had them rigged. He got the only chair and braced it under the doorknob then he shut off the light, went to the bed, and whispered to the woman.

Tanner was in another room on a different floor watching the entire exchange. He knew that Brew had an attitude and the muscle of a run away freight train. Some day they would probably even fight Tanner might like the challenge. Morlen was panicking but Tanner said, Just sit tight, and give him a few minutes too calm down.

After several minutes the lights came back on and Brunette had a towel wrapped around his waist he went in the bathroom and stayed a full twenty minutes before coming out.

Brunette showered then came in the dimly lit room leaving the bathroom door open for light, he knelt on the bed slapped the woman twice not hard only for the camera, then he lifted her by the chest dropped her to the bed and snatched the sheet off her (following the script).

He was ridged and when he tried to press himself into her, she let out a low shrilled gasp and tensed up. Brunette was irritated, he growled, I am sure that you have done this before just let me get it in.

The mask was wet where her eyes were and he was gentler with her but it took effort all the same because she was so tight. Brunette shivered as he eased his thick hard member into her and got a rhythm with his strokes wanting to make quick work of it. She cried the whole while and gripped the restraints in her fist and secretly it turned him on.

Her tightness thrilled him and Brunette got into it, he couldn’t help but to like it, want it, need it-he became zealous and passionate, he forgot that he was raping her. When he was ready to organism, he made her organism with him. Brunette moaned out and he wanted to talk to her. He wanted to kiss her also but she kept her head turned and would not allow it even through the mask so he used her neck for the passion. Their bodies were in perfect time with each other’s they even slowed together breathless and he wanted to repeat the act he had just committed he wanted to know her name.

Instead he lay on her panting and sweating his heart thudding fast and hard against his chest and hers not wanting to take him self out of her. Brunette whispered I’m sorry as he removed himself and got off her clumsily.

When he got up and stood by the bed the scarlet stain caught his attention and he looked at the perfect woman lying there.

He was stunned, Were you a,-

The words caught in his throat and trailed off as the woman turned to the side, closed her legs, and cried out loud, she strained against the cuffs holding her by the wrist. It was evident, he covered her up and ripped the cameras out their sockets and destroyed them and part of the room. He ranted, You bastard you fucking bastard.

Then he went into the bathroom and knocked a whole in the mirror used a damp rag and dressed slowly. All the anger inside him was spent. He felt empty and ashamed of himself. When he came back out there was another envelop under the door Brunette opened it and used the key to unchain her. He read from the paper it said, Do not remove your mask and shower if you like but get dressed and they will be here to take you back when you are done.

His eyes took her in once more before he walked out the room. She was motionless lying there quietly sobbing. The moment echoing in his head.

Brunette went to the elevator and took it down a floor to where the note said his sister was being held. He knocked on the door and she screamed, Let me outta here you dip shit or just get it over with my brother is gonna fuck you up when he does get here.

Brunette opened the door and Aline looked at him. She was chained to the bed and window frame.

She said, Brew get me out of here the bastards.

He was emotionally drained and hurt. I don’t know if I should unlock you, this seems to be the only way that I can look at you.

Brunette hugged her first then released her.

What kind of shit are you into that I get kidnapped? Aline asked.

He bent and picked up the mask off the floor and asked her how long you in town for. They looked at each other and laughed out loud. Aline hugged her big brother as the tears ran from his eyes and his shoulders heaved the pain and stress he was feeling.

She said, Is it because of me?

You’re a dam brat but you’re still my favorite sister.

I’m your only sister. What did they want you to do?

Lets go see Alva for a few days and when we walk out of here lets leave it here.

Aline wiped his face, picked up the package and put it in her jacket as they left out the hotel room. Brunette didn’t notice it.

The young woman came in the hospital bent over and the night nurse helped her to a seat. The emergency room was not busy and Gladis was grateful. She was only the nineteenth person that night and her ten-hour shift was over in two more hours. Just long enough to help the woman out. She was stunning to look at and Gladis had trouble placing her nationality. Her short auburn hair was neat and curly. When she coughed it bounced. That’s when Gladis noticed that the woman was disheveled and out of sorts. She bent and held her stomach she had bruises on her arm and jaw and she had been crying.

Gladis asked, What is it that I can do for you.

The younger woman explained, I caught my boyfriend cheating and he raped me before leaving after a terrible argument. All I want is to know if I have HIV or a vaginal disease.

Gladis was alarmed and said, Do you want me to call the police?

No but thank you I’m just having trouble breathing.

Gladis came from behind the desk and helped the woman over to a desk so that she could put her medical information in the computer. Gladis said, It would be four weeks before you would know and twice as long for the HIV test.

She led her to a room, gave her one of the hospital gowns, and told her that it would be a ten-minute wait for the doctor and left her alone.

*     *     *

ONE: Complicated

Moody liked that the his attitude and name matched. He was nice looking with broad shoulders, he didn’t smile much, but that definitely added to the attraction. He has bluish black hair and rugged good looks like he just got off a horse only he wears a suit and his stride caused his hips to sway arrogantly, his light blue eyes had a constant hard edge in them and the few times Moody had seen him smile, it didn’t change the look of them.

This would be Moody’s second year at the Reynolds BFH building. They were a seemingly small conglomerate that did big business the building housed a large warehouse that did its own packaging and shipping they have an advertising firm and business office each headed by one of the four board members. This would be her first year as Mr. Hollister’s assistant. They were also the connection to small businesses that needed anything local or internationally Mr. Hollister is the CEO of his company.

Moody started in the mailroom quiet she kept to her self out of twenty-five employees she only talked to three of them on a regular basis but that only lasted for seven months. The warehouse took up the complete downstairs the small mailroom is where Moody made the deliveries using a large pushcart to both levels. One day Sharon, Mr. Ritter’s assistant was sick so I finished her papers and work then left it on his desk. When he came in the office and asked, Who completed the last two reports that Sharon left undone?

I said, I did sir.

I got her spot until she came back a month later. By the end of the second year, I was in good standing as the regular fill in. Two weeks ago, Mrs. Cottrell decided that she wanted to retire and Mr. Ritter got me the interview with Mr. Hollister in person. I came in dressed and ready for the job today after being told I was hired with a two-dollar an hour raise in pay on Friday. Catherine Cottrell spent the last eight workdays getting me use to what she called the glamorized gofer job that I would be doing for Mr. Hollister.

Catherine wanted to retire and stay at home and take care of her husband and two grand children for her daughter while she worked. She was sixty-two with a quick smile, kind word and scrumptious holiday brownies.

The offices were over the warehouse where the merchandise was shipped. There were four departments, one main secretary, and one main floor assistant but each executive had a personal assistant. Catherine and I worked together several times and she was the one to train me as assistant. The first day we were in the office an hour before the boss preparing things. When Mr. Hollister walked in he said, Good morning Catherine and Ms. Spectra.

I tried not to show it but I was impressed because he knew my name. Catherine said, This is Moody Spectra and Moody this is Mr. Hollister.

He said, I hope that we work well together Ms. Spectra I hate loosing my right hand but she won’t be swayed.

I nodded and we got to work his voice was deep lustrous and very arousing to me. I would have Catherine’s old desk right outside his office across from Mandy Shane the company secretary she did the scheduling for all four offices and she was excellent at her craft.

Mr. Hollister said, First things first.

Then he looked at Catherine. She said, What you are expected to do Moody is to simplify Mr. Hollister’s day by day schedule. You will meet with potential clients and weed out the regular list that Mandy leaves out for him. You are expected to keep him up to date with his itinerary attend dinners and private functions in place of Mr. Hollister and be there if he needs coffee. There is also light filing but only if he asks you Mandy takes care of that personally.

Mr. Hollister said, That’s the start.

He stared at me a little longer, I looked at the pad on my lap and stirred in my seat then we got down to business but not before I noticed the significant smile that Mr. Hollister, and Catherine shared fleetingly.

He and I also shared a look.

A week later, I was alone for my first day and the she-wolves swarmed. Chris Jones was the floor assistant, she went back and forth between the four executives and their assistants she and Mandy were the office gossips of the warehouse, and they were on another break. They made it their business to give me the up to date on Mr. Hollister. They said that Hollister (Mandy called him Brew) is a loner and he doesn’t mess around with the help. He’s professional and strict but excellent to work with his name is Brunette he’s not married no children and he was a sought after playboy but lately he wont even date.

Mandy said, He lives alone. He and another man by the name of Ike Reynolds are the actually owners of BFH Samuel Ritter and Jim Levitz are partners. I didn’t ask questions or comment but I did listen attentively. Mandy, Brew owns a large colonial house and he has several profitable investments.

Chris, You wont have to worry about his type because he attracted to brainy tall and slender.

Mandy, Don’t listen to her, Brew likes breasts or hips.

They laughed at the private joke between them.

I said, If you two don’t mind I would like my desk back.

I nodded down the hall. Mr. Hollister was coming towards us and for a second I watched his stride.

My first day solo was a long one I made sure that his office was cleaned and all his things were where he wanted them, when he came in he spoke.

Morning Mr. Hollister you have an eleven a.m. appointment with Marshall Leads about the shipment he claimed was damaged. Then there is a three p.m. with Warren Sims he said you already know what its about. I made fresh coffee, got Danishes, your personal bar is stocked, and your top five are on your desk.

I finally looked at him and asked, Would you like anything else before I finish the filing sir?

He was standing by his coffee cart looking impressed at me smiling.

He asked, What should I call you?

Moody would be fine what should I call you?

He poured a cup of the hot brew. Fox with a double X or Brew but never Mr. Hollister it’s a bit to formal.

He smiled slyly, for a moment, I took his rare playful smile, and his rugged looks in then I shook it off and said, My phone number is on your desk in your personal ledger Mr. Hollister in case you need me and Catherine gave me yours if it’s okay. I have paper work if you don’t need me for anything.

Actually I do need you.

His tone was intimate somehow. Mr. Hollister stared at me for a moment then cleared his throat before he sat at his desk and said, "I have an appointment with Elisa Drab about her Winged Wear account, and I would like you to keep it.

I nodded. He said you want coffee because this briefing is going too take a while."

I looked out at the desk in the hall and said, Just a moment.

I went out and got my coffee mug, pen, and pad. He watched me there and back. When I sat down, he handed me a file and said, That’s the basics. And I am going to fill you in on the rest.

I nodded and listened to him as we got down to business. He went through the file with me while we sat at the table in his office we were just finishing when Jim Levitz came in the open door and said, How did you snag the best assistant in the warehouse?

I said, Hello Mr. Levitz.

Excused my self and shut the door. I did the typing and edited the field sheets before I left. I could do the filing at my leisure.

Elisa Drab wanted Mr. Hollister to meet with her personally. When I got to the restaurant, she was more than disenchanted and it showed not only on her face but her appearance as well. She was dressed provocatively and the apricot colored gown showed all of her thighs I had to bite my lip to keep from smiling at her. When I walked up to the table she said, What is it honey I’m waiting for someone

Mrs. Drab. She looked at me and uncrossed her cream colored legs and said, So he stood me up.

No Mrs. Drab he was busy and sent me to see what the problem was.

She looked me up and down, What happened to Catherine.

She retired.

She smashed the cigarette out got her shawl and said, Have lunch on me, and tell Brunette Hollister if he’s not interested in keeping my business, our contract is up in three months and I will be looking for another distributor and advertising firm.

She walked away dragging her pink shawl behind her and I panicked.

I can make an appointment for the two of you right now if you like Mrs. Drab.

She stopped. Turned around and said, When?

I had a ledger in my hand that I kept all his appointments in I sat down and she came back to the table and sat as well. The waitress came and asked for our order she ordered a salad and asked what would you like young lady. I said, I’ll be leaving after this appointment so nothing thank you.

Elisa said, Nonsense bring us both a watercress salad with chicken chunks and I would like a highball and vinaigrette dressing.

The waitress stood looking at me, I said, I want an orange juice and Thousand Island dressing.

Elisa Drab said, So what’s your name?

Moody Spectra.

That’s different Ms. Spectra how new are you?

I smiled and said, This is my first day solo.

She lit a cigarette and took a long deep drag of it turned her head and blew it out then said, That’s true green no offense.

None taken Mrs. Drab.

She rolled her eyes over me and said, Sorry I can’t say the same Brew knew that when he told you to come.

Again, she looked and sounded disappointed. We ate and she talked. By the third highball, I knew that she was just lonely for the right male attention and she said, Maybe I should have kept the meeting with you but I want to see him.

If I may be so bold as to ask Mrs. Drab just when did the two of you date or end the affair?

She snubbed out her third cigarette and said, Honestly darling is it that obvious? Lighting her forth cigarette.

Only because I’m a woman also.

She smiled and said, "It was quick he wanted to end it and I wanted to get re-married.

That made her laugh. But Brew is a rare man by my standards he was honest and I wanted to hear nothing but lies."

That impressed me and I smiled at her for admitting it.

Elisa sounded as if she was making a confession.

"He told me that he was lonely that night and I didn’t care I wanted him.

She dropped her head to hide the embarrassment and said, I have never gotten over him."

I took a deep breath and said,