Chapter 2 Thrown to the Storm

“Why did you do that?” I pulled my hands from Bruno’s grip, my heart pounding so loudly it drowned every other sound.

“Did what?” Bruno asked, folding his arms.

“You made it seem like I was a prostitute out there,” I cried, bitter bile rising in my throat.

“Isn’t that the picture you wanted to paint to him?” Bruno asked, his eyes scrutinizing me.

“Not that way, Bruno. It seemed too real, like I actually do that. Oh God.” My tears dropped uncontrollably, blurring my vision.

“At least he believed it.” Bruno moved to touch me, but I stepped back.

“I want to be left alone,” I said calmly, shutting my eyes even as my chest burned.

“Betty, come on.” I knew his hands were raised, almost touching me, typical Bruno.

“Just go for now,” I said firmly. Bruno sighed, then I heard the door open and close. The moment I was alone. My eyes flew open and my crying grew louder. I stared at the girl in the mirror facing me. She looked shattered, and hollowed out by pain.

Disgust crawled through me as I looked at the skimpy clothes clinging to my body. I ripped them off, my hands shaking, and pulled on my jeans and shirt. I was done working for today. I knew I could not step back in there. I slipped out through the back door, my tears spilling no matter how hard I tried to stop them. The cold breeze hit me and I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself.

“Hey.” A small scream escaped me and I jumped in fear.

“Why are you jumping like that?” Bruno stepped into the light, lighting a cigarette.

“Why did you scare me like that?” I rolled my eyes, my voice brittle.

“You going home?” he asked pitifully. I nodded, then shook my head, unsure of myself.

Bruno studied me for a moment while I stood under the moonlight. “Go get some rest, Betty.”

“It hurts so much. I don’t know if I can even rest.” My body shook violently, my teeth chattering.

“Come here.” He pulled me into his arms. I clung to him as if I might fall apart. He ran his fingers through my hair, trying to soothe me. I held on tighter, breathing in and out, trying to steady myself.

“Do you need me to drop you home?” His deep voice vibrated through my head. I shook my head.

“No. Go back to work,” I said through my hiccups.

“Call me when you are home.” I nodded. He kissed my head and turned away.

Wrapping my arms around myself, I walked into the night of New York, my legs carrying me anywhere they wished. I walked for hours, numb, until I found myself standing in front of Johnson’s gate. My chest tightened.

“Johnson,” I cried, knocking loudly.

“Johnson. Johnson. Johnson.” I screamed, hitting harder, desperation clawing out of me.

The gates opened and an unfamiliar security guard rushed out. He grabbed my hands like I was a criminal, dragging me away. “Johnson, Johnson, Johnson,” I screamed, my voice breaking.

“Bring her up here.” Madam Gertrude’s voice cut through the air.

“Yes, boss,” the man answered, dragging me farther inside. I looked up and saw her standing tall and imposing in her regal outfit. Fear wrapped around my spine like ice.

We went through the elevator, and the instant we stepped out, a hot slap landed on my face. I staggered, almost falling, but the security guard held me upright.

“How dare you? How dare you do that to Johnson,” she barked. Before I could speak, another slap burned across my cheek. Then, her eyes narrowed, and her voice dropped even colder. “The instruction was simple. Make my son believe you were unfaithful, disgrace yourself enough that he would never look back, and tonight you did far more than I asked. He came back bleeding. Did you intend to kill him too?”

“Do you keep criminals at that club that my son had to come back injured?” she continued.

Tears spilled freely as I held my cheeks, pain sparking through my head. My ears rang, and my vision swam, and my heart felt like it was being crushed.

“Speak when I ask a question,” she snapped.

“That wasn’t how I planned for it to go. It was Johnson. He struck first the moment he entered the club. I didn’t even know how it happened.”

She looked at me with eyes filled with hatred.

“Mum.” Amelia’s scream pierced the air. The instant she saw me, she almost lunged forward, but Madam Gertrude stopped her.

“You, what did you do to Johnson?” Amelia pointed accusingly at me, before turning to face Johnson’s mother. “Mum, Johnson has caught a fever and the bleeding is not stopping,” she cried.

My heart shattered. I covered my mouth to keep from sobbing aloud. The image of Johnson, hurt and bleeding, ripped through me, and I could barely breathe as his mother glared at me with venom.

“Go be with him. I am coming,” she said to Amelia.

“You will surely pay for this,” Amelia spat at me before disappearing.

“I do not want to ever see you in this city again. Ever. Leave and don’t return,” Johnson’s mother barked. She threw an envelope at me. “That is your paycheck, if I were you, I'd make my miserable life meaningful with it. Throw her out of this place.”

The security guard lifted me to his shoulder. Moments later, the gates opened, and I was thrown out, the envelope landing on my face.

“Johnson! Please! It’s not what you think!” I cried, my voice breaking, echoing into the night. Rain poured down, drenching me as I fell to my knees, the cold water mingling with my tears. The sky opened, thunder rumbling, as if the world itself was condemning me. With a bitter sob, I grabbed the envelope and hurled it into the dark, letting it flutter away into the night.