6. Sienna

6

SIENNA

I've been walking the streets for hours looking for Max and Lia, and just like I thought, no one has seen them. How the hell can two girls just up and vanish? I don't know where they could have gone, but I've checked their normal spots, and no one has seen them.

I stop on the corner just to get my bearings and look across the street at two little girls pulling their father in the direction of a toy store. With Christmas being just around the corner, I'm sure this isn't the first time his kids have done this. I pray it won't be the last either.

My eyes mist up at the wholesome sight. How many of these women on the street never got a chance to celebrate Christmas with their family, or even worse, how many of them had Christmases they would prefer to forget because of abuse or trauma?

Christmas to me is nothing more than a reminder of the normal life that I no longer get to live.

I shake off the deep emotions and turn the corner, wishing blindly that I see Lia and Max just there on the other corner. Somewhere in the distance, happy and working for their money.

Of course, my dreams don't come true.

"Hey, Sienna. How you doing, sweetheart?" I look down on the sidewalk and see an older woman with a cardboard sign and her cup out. I'm shocked when I realize I don't know her name. I've come across so many different down-on-their-luck people that they start to blend together for me.

"Hey, how you doing tonight?" I ask and lean down to look into her eyes. I never want any of the people on the streets to think I find myself better than them. I could be them; all it takes is one bad decision.

"Not too great. You don't have any food, do you?" she asks and smiles sheepishly. I pull off my backpack and dig through one of the side compartments. I started my day out looking for Max and Lia, but I picked up a few supplies along the way just for occasions such as this. I give the woman a ready-made lunchmeat and cheese pack along with a package of ready-to-eat tuna and crackers. She smiles wide and instantly starts to dig in. I wonder how much longer she'll last on the streets. Young women have it easier because they can sell their bodies, but the older women don't have the same options. They're used up, and now no one wants them. It's sad.

Now they have to rely on the kindness of others. More often than not, that kindness leaves a lot to be desired.

I don’t dawdle with the older woman. She got what she needed from me, and I’m not looking for anything in return, so I continue my stroll along the street.

Every once in a while, I stop to look into the storefronts and admire the Christmas decorations some of the stores have already put up.

Honestly, some of the decorations are incredibly creative. One storefront recreated the entire exterior of the Home Alone house, just using spray snow on their windows. I can’t imagine how many hours it must have taken them to do that.

I’m so used to walking these streets alone that I almost miss the sound of a motorcycle riding up behind me.

Before I turn around, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

There’s only one reason for someone to be driving this close to me: they think I’m a working girl. I’ve been mistaken for one before, but I never feel completely at ease.

“You just going to continue to ignore me?” the person says from behind me, and just like that, my fear turns to anger. I don’t have time to deal with him right now.

I look over my shoulder just to get the verification I need.

Of course, it’s none other than Lash.

“Leave me alone,” I bark at him but keep walking.

“Just hold up.” He walks his bike alongside me, the loud engine vibrating my bones—I’m so close to him now.

“I don’t have anything more to say to you, Lash. Leave me alone,” I say again.

“Nah, hot stuff. I can’t do that.”

“That sounds like a you problem,” I spit in his direction but still keep walking. Finally, he turns off his bike and rushes to catch up to me. I’m not slowing down for him.

“What part of leave me alone don’t you understand?” I say deadpan, continuing to scan the area, searching for the two women.

“So this is what you do? I thought you were one of the strippers, but if you’re looking for a john, I’ll be more than happy to pay for some of your time.”

I’ve been mistaken for a prostitute before. Yet, for some reason, hearing Lash put me down like that really gets my blood boiling. Before I can stop myself, I turn on my heel, bring my hand up, and smack him hard across the face.

“How dare you presume to know anything about me? I’m not a prostitute, and even if I were, what the fuck makes you think I’d ever give you the time of day?”

His eyes flash, and I wait for him to retaliate.

I took his teachings to heart. My knife is no longer at my side; it’s safely tucked away in the sleeve of my shirt. Before he can take another step in my direction, I let it slide down into my palm, ready for him.

“You willing to draw blood, girl?” he snarls at me, and I swear it looks like he’s getting off on this.

“If I have to.”

“Let’s see you do it then.” He takes a step closer to me, and I quickly scan the street, looking for anyone who might be able to help. Of course, it’s just my luck that there’s no one around when I need them. It’s like the entire street is nothing but blinking holiday lights. No people as far as the eye can see.

“I don’t think you have it in you, Sienna.” He takes another step toward me, and I lift the knife so it’s chest level. My hands tremble under its weight. I’ve never had to use this on anyone. Tonight might just be the night to change that.

“In fact, I don’t even think you really know where to stab me to do the most damage. You’re threatening to kill a killer, Sienna. Make sure you play your hand right.” He takes another step, completely closing the distance between us. The very tip of the knife presses against the center of his chest, and my mouth goes dry as I wait for him to make his next move.

“Move it over to the left,” Lash whispers, and though I hear the brutality in his words, they sound more like sweet nothings.

"What?" I whisper up at him, unable to take my eyes off his.

"I said move it over to the left. Right now, you have the tip placed at my sternum. I'm a big man; it'll take you a lot more effort if you want to get it through the bone."

I'm not even sure why, but I do what he asks of me. I move the tip of the blade over to the left side of his chest, but I forget to lift it a little. As I drag it across his chest, a bright stripe of blood blooms in its wake.

"Oh god!" I pull the knife away and look down at his chest. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean..." I back away, the sight of him injured doing things to my body that I've never felt before.

"I told you, you didn’t have it in you." Lash smiles down at me like I didn’t just slice his chest open.

"I would've done it, but you're not really a threat," I say softly as I shove the knife back into my sleeve and try to walk away again.

"You think you're going to get away that easy?"

Warning bells go off in my head, and I glare at him. "What do you want?"

"I want you to tell me what you're doing out here. The slap to my face made it clear you’re not looking for a good time, so what the hell are you doing?"

I sigh and continue to walk, this time a little slower so Lash can keep up with me. "I already told you earlier what I was doing. It didn’t stop just because I didn’t find them at your clubhouse."

"You’re out here looking for those girls? Really?"

"Of course I am. They depend on me. I’m the only one who looks out for them."

"Oh, so you’re their pimp?" Lash questions, and the anger I felt before flares again. I snap my head in his direction, but he lifts his hands as if he’s going to block me from hitting him again. "Okay, not a pimp."

"No, I’m not their pimp. God, why can’t you be normal?" I scoff.

"Normal? In case you haven’t realized, you’re looking for two women we paid to show us a good time. Women who were either strippers or work the streets. This is normal, what I’m asking." Lash continues, and I know what he’s saying is true.

The only people who would normally look for two girls like Max and Lia are pimps or other strippers. That’s one of the main reasons the police haven’t done much about the disappearing women. They think they’re just off doing their night jobs. No matter how much fuss I throw at the station, no one believes me that something more sinister is happening.

"Yeah, well, not for me," I speak up. My eyes drift back to his chest, and I’m grateful the cut I gave him isn’t very deep. Still, I can see the blood on his shirt. "Don’t you think you should go home and get that looked at? It needs to be cleaned and bandaged."

He wipes a hand down the front of his chest. "Believe me, girl, I’ve had a lot worse. This will be fine."

"You’re not mad at me?" I ask, glancing at him through my peripheral vision.

"No. I knew you had bite to you when I walked up on you, and you did tell me to leave you alone several times. It’s my own fault for not taking your warning."

"Why didn’t you?" I question.

"What do you mean?"

"Why didn’t you take my warning? What are you doing here anyway?"

The cocky smirk he was just wearing drops, and he shoves his hands in his pockets. "I wish I could tell you. All I know is after you said all that shit earlier at the clubhouse, I felt like an absolute asshole. I guess I’m here to help you find your friends." He shrugs, and I nearly chuckle.

"Fine, but you’re not going to have much luck."

"I bet you I will," he says louder, as if he’s proud of himself.

"I bet you won’t," I counter.

"Fine, let’s put your money where your mouth is, then." Lash sidesteps in front of me, stopping me from continuing.

I know I shouldn't be worried about what he's talking about, but something about the spark of joy in his eyes intrigues me.

"What did you have in mind?"

"Well, if I lose and I don't help you find those two girls, I'll set up a small fund out of my own money for you to do whatever it is you do for these women. I can tell that it means a lot to you, and I'll just see it as my good karma."

I'm shocked by his offer. Not only that, I'm shocked by the fact that he cares that it means so much to me. I've had short-term relationships with people who could never understand why helping these women was so important to me, and just after one and a half meetings with Lash, he can tell that I'm dedicated to this cause.

"That's too hard to resist."

"No, it's not done yet. What are you willing to give me if I do help you find them?" Lash raises an eyebrow, almost as if he expects me to welch on the bet before it even starts. I've never been one to shy away from a challenge.

Slowly, I walk toward him. I sway my hips in wide circles, and instantly the smile on his face drops as he sees me coming closer. I know this is a dangerous game we're playing, but I think I'm due a little fun—especially if it's at his expense.

"If you win..." I whisper as I slowly place my hand on his chest, followed by my other. I push my fingers upwards, caressing his body through his clothes, and he moans slightly at the feel of me. "I'll dress up in the shortest Mrs. Claus suit I can find and..." I lean up closer so my mouth is just a breath away from his. I know what he wants, but there's no way I'm bartering my body like that. I don't care what the cause is.

"...and I'll give you a private dance that will have your toes curling and will fuel your wet dreams for the rest of your life."

He lets out a harsh gasp but doesn't instantly turn down my offer. It's not what he wants, but I hope it's enough. I can be a little flirty if I want to.

"You play hardball all the time, don't you?" he whispers, and I shrug one shoulder before giving him a wink and trying to settle back down on my feet. It takes me a moment to realize that I can't; his hand is pressed against the small of my back. I don't even know when he reached around to grab me. It all feels so right in his arms. I can't stand him and everything he stands for—at least the parts that I know about—but when we're close like this, I just want to rip his clothes off and ride him until I don't know what day it is.

"Deal, Red." He picks up my hand and kisses the pads of my fingers before he places them over his heart in a strange pact-like motion.

I'm shocked once again, not only because I just made a deal with the devil but because he didn't press for more. I never agreed that I would have sex with him, and he didn't even seem to care.

With that, he turns on his heels and continues walking beside me. Or at least he would be if I could get my legs to move. It takes me a couple of seconds to shake the lust-fueled fog out of my brain.

"So where have you checked?" Lash starts in, and I rattle off the places that I'd normally find Max and Lia. I tell him about the fact that they didn't show up on their block in front of the strip club. That's a no-no to start with. I tell him about the fact that no one saw them after they left the clubhouse. I also mention the missing women that have been forgotten by the system. By the time I finish telling him everything, it's clear that he's no longer in a playful mood. He's all about his business, as am I.

"Do you have a picture of these girls?" Lash asks, and I dig into my bag to pull out my phone so I can show him their photo.

It doesn't take me very long to find the photo. I took one the other night of the group in front of the strip club. It was a good night. All of us were just coming back from a Thanksgiving celebration, and some of the girls had turkey hats on their heads. Of course, Max and Lia didn't; they're too cool for that.

Just looking at the picture makes me smile. I pray with all I have that nothing bad has happened to them.

With a sigh, I turn my phone around so I can show Lash who it is I'm looking for. I watch in horror as his face turns from pensive to absolutely murderous. Something more is going on.

"Well, it seems like I'm going to win that bet. I hope you've got your Mrs. Claus outfit ready, Red." He grumbles in my direction. Even though I'm sure he meant it to be light-hearted, it doesn't come across that way at all.

"You know where they are? Tell me." I grab hold of his arm, but he deftly moves his hand so I have to let go.

"They left the party last night with two other people. They're with the Hands of Hell MC."