“One vodka Red Bull and one Amstel please.” She said to the guy behind the bar.
“And one vodka coke,” I added. Her head spun around as soon as she heard my voice. Initially, she was surprised but I could see the fear lurking behind her eyes and the uncertainty of why I was there.
She flicked her eyes over to the blonde guy who was talking with his back to her. I could tell she was trying to alert him without saying anything.
“Why are you here?” she asked breathlessly. The fear had well and truly kicked in now because her eyes were wide and she was swallowing hard and her body language was nervy and jittery.
“I missed you, baby, and now that I’ve seen that face and figure in the flesh again, I missed you even more than I thought I had.”
The annoying thing was that I was telling the truth. I wanted nothing more than to grab her and kiss the face off her, pull her towards me so that she could feel exactly just how much I’d missed her, but my goal was to get my money back and, unfortunately, that meant I would have to do whatever it took.
I could see her soften, reluctantly at first, but I knew that she wanted to believe me so badly.
“Really? Did you really? Is... Is that the only reason you’re here?” her eyes flitting between uncertainty and optimism. Dani really did have eyes that revealed her soul along with facial expressions that revealed her thoughts.
I picked up the drinks and pulled her away from the bar. “Why don’t you introduce me to your friend over there?”
Immediately, her guard was up. “We’re not a couple. He teaches Olivia and I German lessons, that’s all.” She replied defensively.
Olivia? German lessons? What the hell was going on? I head over there not giving her a chance to change her mind.
She taps him on the shoulder and he turns around.
“Michael, this is Luke.” We shake hands and I can see that they haven’t had sex because there’s no suspicion in his eyes, he is fully accepting of me and not in the least bit suspicious. No flicker of concern or recognition of my name, which made me very happy because that meant that she’d not gone around blabbing her mouth off. Good girl! If only she’d pay me the money back I was sure that we could make it work, she was already primed to be a dealer, she just didn’t know it yet.
We talk a little and I tell him that we met when we were backpacking and I call her Dani instead of Bex, but then pass it off as me hanging out with too many women. He laughs and carries on talking to his friends.
I text Mick and tell him to head back to the hostel while I try to work some magic on Dani and get her to come with me to where the van is parked.
“Fancy a walk, babe?”
She looks at her friend and then taps him on the shoulder. “I’m just popping out for some air. I won’t be long.”
That’s what she thought.
Dani walked ahead of me and sat on one of the wooden benches that was placed strategically outside, straight opposite a window in full view of everyone. Clever move, I thought, feeling annoyed.
I put my hands on her face caressing her silky skin with my thumbs and I nuzzled her neck and hair. “I’ve missed you so much, you crazy little bitch.” She doesn’t reply but I could feel her momentarily relax.
“Let’s go somewhere a little more private, babe. I need to taste your lips – both lips,” I add, and I feel her shudder and feel myself getting hard at the thought of tasting her.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. You might still be angry with me.”
“Look, babe, at some stage we will have to talk about that, but don’t worry about the money just yet. Come with me back to my hotel, we can talk in private. I’ve missed you.”
I reach in and kiss her, gently at first and then I reach inside her mouth with my tongue, tasting and exploring her. I feel her body soften and come alive as we connect, and for a few seconds, she surrenders and I feel myself grow again at the thought of entering her.
Suddenly, she’s pulling away from me, suspicion and confusion evident on her face.
“I can’t come with you. You’re still angry with me I can sense it. I haven’t got your money and I’m sorry about what I did, I didn’t realize how much drugs cost. Don’t hurt me, just leave me alone.”
She’s pale and shaky and she starts crying and quickly runs towards the door. I grab her arm, harder than I intended and she yells.
“You’re hurting me. Get off. Please! You’re hurting me.” She’s panicking now.
A group of older men are walking towards the pub and they stop, assessing the situation.
“Bist du in Ordnung?” a tall dark-haired man yells out.
“We’re fine thanks,” I say smiling as I put a hand up in a half wave even though I haven’t a fucking clue what he just said. They loiter a little taking time to walk, checking that everything’s good.
“Sorry, babe, I didn’t mean to hurt you, I’ve spent so long trying to find you and I don’t want to lose you again, that’s all. I panicked when you walked off.”
She stalls, contemplating what to do and I quickly look around and run to grab her. At that moment, a group of rowdy women exit the pub laughing and I stop as Dani breaks free and runs back into the pub. Fuck. There’s no way I can go back in after her now.
I walk away and head into the park opposite. I sit on a bench, which gives me some coverage but it also allows me to see into the pub, to see who’s leaving.
I pick up my phone.
“Mick, I need you to head to the pub now. I almost had her but it’s too busy here. She’s with a blonde guy called Michael. I want you to tail her and him if possible. Find out where she’s living and then we’ll hang around another day or two if we need to, but we are not leaving without her. One way or another, she is going to pay for this.”
I walked to an off-licence to buy a bottle of vodka. If I am going to sit in a park and watch Mick mingle in the pub, then I was going to do it with alcohol. Luckily, Dani had never met him because I’d kept the business side of things completely separate, and was I ever grateful for that right now.
I sent him a text: Don’t forget she’s changed her name to Bex. Whatever you do, DON’T call her Dani if you start talking to her. You’re backpacking and looking for work as you go. Think on your feet but try and get to find out where she’s working and what the fuck she’s doing here.
I sat there for two hours before Mick, Dani, the German guy, and two others walk out of the pub, laughing and heading to who knows where.
My phone chimes just as I am trying to decide whether to follow them or head into the pub for another drink.
I’m heading to the German’s house now. Apparently, we pass Dani’s house on the way and she is popping in for some more vodka. Result, bro! Hang loose and I’ll see you early hours as I want to get as much info as I can. Mick
Thank the fucking lord. I walk to another bar and order myself a pint and a plate of bratwurst, mustard mash and bread. The food was fucking shit in this place, but only one more day and then we could head back home with our little Danielle in tow, and then mummy would have to part with some of her hard-earned or inherited cash to get her little girl back in one piece.
**********
No comments:
Post a Comment