Chapter 13

Conally Morse was gone, but Shana was still panting heavily. Before leaving, the man had terrified her by telling her he would be fucking her regularly in the future.

Shana, not knowing what to do, dressed, and ran down to David's apartment. David wasn't there. She left a note on his door and returned to her own apartment. While she waited, she douched herself out, feeling dirty for having been touched by Con.

When her door buzzer sounded about an hour later, she was surprised to see Gina there. She invited the dark-haired woman in and offered her some coffee. Gina accepted.

Gina knew Shana. Whenever the redheaded woman had a problem, she always had to talk to someone. Right now Shana's problem was Con Morse, Gina had seen to it. Now Gina wanted to know what had gone on between Con and Shana.

She waited patiently, and just when it seemed Shana might open up to her, the door buzzer sounded again. It was David this time, and Shana, standing at the front door, out of Gina's hearing, told the man what Morse had done to her.

David frowned and said, "Well, it seems your friend has taken away one of my turns. He's fucked the hate out of you."

"David, I'm afraid of him," she said.

"Don't be," David assured her. "Who's in the kitchen?"

"Gina," Shana replied.

"She works with Morse a lot," David told her. "She might be here to spy on you for him."

"I didn't think of it that way," Shana shuddered. "David, what can I do?"

"First," he told her, "you don't panic. Second, we turn the tables on them. I have a complete dossier on Gina Cevetti. She's one of those women who likes to swing both ways, with men as well as with women."

"David, you're not suggesting I ... "

"I'm not suggesting anything," David replied. "But one thing is certain, and that is, if you continue with Con Morse, you're going to be drawn into a sexual relationship with Gina, as well."

"What can I do?" Shana asked.

"Beat her at her own game," David suggested. "Make her think you're the one interested in her ever since you found out about sex. Go to one of these womens' saunas. At this time of the day there's no one there. If Gina thinks she's won you over, and you'll know if she has, then tell her I'm also interested in getting in on this gun-smuggling game. I can get all the guns she wants, but I don't have anyone who can take the weapons abroad for me. Now since you've supposedly retired from this racket, maybe Gina and Morse would like to do the job for me."

"What will you do, trap them with the weapons on the other side?" Shana asked. "If you do, they'll know I was in on it, and even in prison Con will find a way to get at me."

"I have a plan which will keep Morse from ever thinking you had anything to do with his being nailed," David told her. "You play along with me, and both Morse and Gina will be caught but they won't suspect you. What's more, you'll be scot-free."

"I don't know if I like being free," Shana shrugged.

"Oh?"

"I used to think I wanted to lie around and do nothing, but I realize what a waste that was. I'd like to spend the rest of my life doing something worthwhile, but only with the man I love."

She stared at David, letting him know her meaning.

David sighed, put an arm around her, and said, "Morse fucked the hate out of you. Now you're losing the feeling of sloth. You go with Gina, do what she wants, then tell her about me. If she is willing to set up a meeting with Morse and myself in your apartment, I'll see to it Morse keeps his hands off you from now on.

"David, I love you," she said.

He looked at her long and hard, then said, "We have a long way to go before we can make any definite future plans."

"But do you love me, David?" she asked, holding his arm.

"Yes, damn you, I love you," he admitted.

"Then I'll do anything you say."

"Fine. Just go back to Gina and convince her to take you to some nearby sauna. Then you can let Gina take over from there. If everything works out well, before the month is over, Conally Morse and Gina Cevetti will be out of your life for good."

"And you?" she asked.

"I told you, whatever takes place between us is something that will need time."

"Not too much time, I hope," she whispered.

He leaned forward, kissed her on the forehead, and said, "No, not too much time."

"Does the fact that Con fucked me make you love me less?" she asked.

"No," he assured her, and kissing her lightly, left.