Chapter 9
Soon Tod was back in business. Only his customers changed. Now they were deviates needing women. Most of them decided to forego pot altogether, rather than get involved in both. Tod admired their taste, but went on offering both goods to anyone who wanted them.
Pretty soon, Tod began to build up a new clientele. He was surprised to see some young people take an interest in kinky sex, and although he was willing to sell to them, to line his own pockets, Tod wondered to himself, why they felt the need to get off like that. Maybe it was because they hated someone, or themselves.
Whatever the reason, hung-up men began to seek him out. The kinky women began to move as fast as the pot and hash had ever done. He was in up to his ears in information and pocketing the cash. But he still had his fears and doubts, and he often expressed them to Mary. At the same time, he felt trapped.
Tod remembered the hidden threats that were placed before him by Jack, and he continued dealing. Every time he thought of Jack he thought of his girlfriend. Her beauty filled his mind, and at night, even after a session with Mary, he found himself wondering what her body felt and tasted like.
He wanted to have her and eat her up. She was like a forbidden sweet, and every day she became more and more delectable.
Tod hadn't thought about his determination to lead a 'good' life for some time now, and whenever flashes of philosophy would invade his mind, he managed to over-ride them and go on with his self-preserving activities. The more he had to deal with the underground, the more he was sure that he would be dead if he tried to get out before his time. He had heard of a few old ones retiring, but never before they were bosses, and never before old age. Tod had a long way to go.
Mary and Tod had become somewhat more distant. His business had spilled over into their house. Tod didn't like using the place for that, but from time to time it was necessary to service a good customer.
Tod knew that Mary especially disliked it, and although she never came out and said anything every time a beaten man stumbled out, she looked at Tod as if to say, "No more."
Their sex life suffered from pressures. There were two or three times in the ensuing months when Mary and Tod were locked in a fiery embrace when there was a knock on the door, and Tod lost his hard-on. Even he became visibly upset at such times, but he always relented, afraid that he might lose a good customer.
Then, when he learned that one of his best customers had died from a beating, he was shocked into reconsidering his position. Was he a party to his murder? If he had refused to sell him the girl, he would have had a bad day, or a bad week, but he'd still be alive. I guess that was naive, as he'd probably have found another source for his much needed pain.
But Tod couldn't help wondering if he was at fault. He told Mary about it, and all she could do was tell him it wasn't his fault, and ask if he hadn't expected it to happen sooner or later. Tod admitted that at first the thought had occurred to him, but then as time progressed with nothing bad being reported, he felt more secure. Now that illusion had been shattered and he knew exactly what kind of a dirty business he was in.
The organization didn't care if a contact died. As long as they had been paid with information beforehand. They knew that as long as the merchandise was available, suckers would try it. And they'd keep coming back for more and more.
Tod was depressed. He was at a dead end. Here he was working hard to make money, while his efforts potentially murdered people. And then he began thinking again about the promises he had made himself about living the simple life, and avoiding all the kinds of involvements he now found himself in. Maybe it was time to make some new decisions. And maybe now, since the killing, it would be possible to make some rather important changes in his lifestyle, ones that he had been avoiding for too long.
Tod didn't say anything to Mary, but each night in bed he began mulling over his position, trying to figure a way out of the mess he had fallen into and it seemed hopeless. Yet he knew that he could do it if he studied the situation hard and long enough.
He would have to proceed slowly and carefully, not telling anyone what he had in mind. Then, when he had a plan figured out he would put it in motion alone. He knew he could never take Mary along. She would simply be in too much danger, and that would be no way to repay her for all the time they had spent together.
His mind was settled. He would get out somehow. Until he did, he would play the game, saving all the cash he could for use in the ultimate getaway.
Days later, the invitation came to Jack's party. Tod had forgotten about the verbal invitation until his contact delivered a formal announcement. It was to be a formal affair. The name on the invitation was his and he wondered about bringing Mary. His contact suggested that he come alone. The boss was very careful about who got in ... he didn't like strangers, even female ones.
At nine o'clock Tod was ringing the button to Jack's apartment. As Tod arrived in his lavish apartment, he thought it was somewhat strange that there was so little noise, and as he looked about he realized that he was alone.
"Hello, you're bright and early, aren't you? I'm Nancy."
It was a dream. He couldn't believe his eyes. She held a strange power over his body, and he struggled to make small talk.
"Well ... yes, I do seem to be early. I guess I took the invitation a bit too seriously."
Tod smiled foolishly. Nancy motioned him to sit.
He followed her advice and clung to a brown leather chair, feeling his skin get clammy beneath his suit. He felt a mess. He was under-dressed and felt out of place ... Nancy was stunning, in an outfit that clung to every curve. Her long legs shot out from the split front and her neck-line plunged dangerously low, revealing the tops of her breasts.
Tod couldn't stop staring, and yet he knew he had to gain control of his emotions. If he didn't, and the girl's boy-friend entered the .room, he was a dead duck. Tod even felt funny being alone with her, though they were far apart on opposite sides of the large room.
Nancy came closer, and the smell of her filled his head. He felt light-headed, and almost dizzy. The perfumed girl created an inner turmoil in his gut.
"Jack will be ready in a few minutes. He's just finishing his bath."
Nancy smiled and her perfect teeth gleamed at him. He wanted to open that mouth and thrust his tongue down her throat, and suck on her tongue, making her respond to his fever.
He wanted her badly. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced before. The mere proximity of her made his cock expand. He couldn't help it. His cock rose like it was on her cunt, rubbing his head against the inside of his tight pants. If he had to stand, it was all over.
"Your face looks familiar."
She was staring hard into his eyes and the look wilted his brains.
"Uh, yes. Uh ... one day a short while ago, I was here discussing business with the boss, and you came through the room, trying to check the weather. I remember that he wasn't too happy with you."
Tod tried to smile, but froze as he saw her reaction to that bad memory.
"Yes ... I remember the day."
Nancy frowned, thinking back to the beating she had received. Since then her thoughts of escape had matured, and although she still hadn't conceived a worthy plan, she knew for sure that she was going to get away somehow.
"I hope I didn't cause you any grief."
Tod wanted to find out more about Nancy. He wanted to burrow into her secret life and discover all her loves. Then he would attempt to provide all the things that kept her happy, claiming her undivided attention for his own. He needed her.
Even though he knew he was up against a tough bastard, Tod wanted to steal his girl. It was more than a want, more than just a sexual urge. It was somehow all those things plus some. It was a love that transcended anything that he had ever felt. Although he had no reason to hope that she returned his love, he was bound and determined to test her.
"No ... you didn't cause me any trouble at all. Just tell me your name, and what you'd like to drink."
Her amiable nature surfaced once more and she crossed to the bar. Tod watched her walk, getting his eyeballs stuck on her swinging ass, feeling his scalp itch and his cock begin pulsing as her behind swayed. Was she walking that way on purpose, or was it his imagination?
"I'll have a scotch, I guess. I'm not really much of a drinker. Maybe I can help you get them."
"No. Let me play hostess. I don't get the chance very often."
She glanced over her shoulder at him and then paid full attention to the drinks. Tod thought he spotted a moment of remorse in her voice, and he hoped that she was unhappy with Jack. That would make his job so much easier.
"Did you help decorate the apartment. I think it's very beautiful."
"No ... Jack did it himself. He picked out everything here. Everything!"
There was more than a hint of unhappiness in that statement and Tod was sure he had a chance. At least he was on the right track. She could be persuaded to get interested.
The drinks came back, and Nancy with them. Tod's pants were still full of hard cock, so he only rose part-way from his seat to accept the scotch. He sipped it silently, feeling the hard liquor burn his throat and warm his gullet. He was very unused to drinking, and knew that more than one such drink would do him in for the night.
He had to be very careful and not get drunk, or else he might lose himself to his passions. That would be fatal. It would be hard enough to make this chick, without endangering his life in her boyfriend's apartment to boot.
Nancy sat opposite him and crossed her legs. They angled out and he let his gaze fall on them, carrying his look up her skirt and to the promise of soft female thighs. Just as he let his eyes look hard for the white skin, he knew was hidden in that tight nook, locked between her crossed legs, Nancy shifted. He saw the flesh. It was as if she had opened up expressly for him. It was just as quickly, the threat was gone, and her legs were clamped shut again.
But it had been enough. Tod watched her face, as she drunk. She betrayed no emotions, but he imagined a smile playing with the corners of her lush mouth. He wanted it to be there, to signal to him that she knew his game and wanted to play. He hoped it was so.
"Nancy, do you expect many people tonight?" The sound of her name falling from his lips made him shudder. It was a sweet simple name, one he would never mind saying over and over in her ear, whispering it between endearing terms of love. If only he could get that chance. Tod knew he'd have to make his own opening.
"Oh, there should be quite a few. I'm afraid I won't know most of them. Jack keeps me pretty much in the dark as to his business friends. I only know most of them by sight." Nancy sounded lonely.
"I'll talk with you. You know me. Oh, by the way, I'm Tod."
Tod extended a hand in greeting, wanting the chance to touch her skin.
Nancy accepted and closed her slim hand over his. It was like he was touching silk, as her gentle shake made itself felt. Tod didn't want to let go. He must have held on for a second more than necessary, because she finally pulled back. Tod dropped her small hand.
She looked up at him, and he knew she had realized. Her eyes alternated between pleasure and fear. Tod knew she wanted him to stay close, and perhaps touch her again, this time more meaningfully. But she was afraid and rightfully so. For at any moment Jack might appear.
Tod stood, trying to hide his hard pole, but Nancy couldn't help seeing it, and her hands shot to her mouth, suppressing a wonderful giggle. Her face radiated and then flushed.
Tod walked behind the chair, trying to conceal this vibrating cock and hoping it would calm down before Jack appeared. Yet he was very glad that Nancy had seen the way he felt.
Tod was sure she could understand his bodily needs, and he stood staring at her in the silent room He felt his blood rising. It was too much to hope that she would return his interest, and yet she did seem more and more to watch his moves, as if trying to figure out if she could trust him.
The growing intimacy was shattered abruptly, as Jack shot into the room.
It was as if he had hoped to catch them in some compromising position. Tod guessed he was disappointed to find them separated by a good deal of space and a few pieces of furniture as well. His sudden appearance made Tod's cock recede to its normal size and shape. He was grateful.
Jack was decked out in a black dinner jacket.
"Hello, young man. How are you?" He was all smiles.
Tod walked to greet him, and shot out his hand. It was caught in his powerful vise and Tod thought three fingers would crack before he let go.
"I'm fine, sir, how are you?" Tod replied "Oh, O.K. I guess."
He moved to stand next to Nancy. Then he sat, sliding his body next to her. Tod wanted to grab her from his reach, but didn't dare.
"Has Nancy been taking care of you? I see the other guests haven't arrived yet. I gather they'll be along any moment now."
He grinned at Nancy and Tod saw a hand sneak down to her thigh and squeeze.
Nancy grinned back at him through pained teeth. He was still grasping her and Tod was helpless to come between them. The bastard, he was convinced that he was hurting her for Tod's benefit. Sort of a way to establish territorial rights. Tod was impressed, but not enough to stop desiring Nancy. He was more determined than ever to have her as his own.
Nancy was thinking through her rising pain. The hard hand was stopping the circulation in her thigh and she felt her leg begin to grow numb. She moved closer to Jack, and pretending to kiss his ear, pleaded her cause to her tormentor.
It was successful, and Jack relinquished his hold and sat up straight. Tod had a self-satisfied smirk over his face and he wanted to smash through it to wreck his mouth.
Tod hated him. He knew it was his orders that had made him begin the sale of women, and it was his pressures that made it so hard for Tod to get away. And it was his girl that yearned for release from her horrible bondage.
And it was Jack's body that stood in the way of what he pictured as their mutual happiness.
Nancy let similar thoughts whirl in her brain. She was tired of being a showpiece, a piece of property. She was tired too of belonging to this man and wanted a younger one. She was sure that Jack was the number one man in these parts in the operation, and that all the orders and money filtered through his hands.
Those were the same hands that had beat her, and the same ones that roamed over her body when they pleased, with or without her consent. It didn't matter anymore. All that mattered was getting away. All that counted was making sure that she was gone one day, leaving his apartment and his life.
Maybe this Tod guy was to be her means of salvation. It was just a thought, but she thought she was able to discern some measure of hatred in the handsome youth's eyes. And he was young enough to make her sexually fulfilled, and mentally alert enough to provide her with needed stimulation. If he hated Jack half as much as she did, then he'd be able to help. She decided to check it out carefully.
The bell rang and Jack went to greet the guests. As they stopped at the door, Nancy and he both stood in anticipation of arrivals. The car was full of men, their tired faces telling how hard they had worked at living, and how unhappy their insides must be. They were the top, and as Tod watched, he knew he was doing the right thing by getting out now.
All the risks would be worth it, if he were able to avoid the unhappiness and wasted lives that showed on the men's faces. Their women were unhappy too. Although they chatted loudly and their laughter echoed, Tod saw the way they looked at Nancy, envying her still beautiful body and her long hair that cradled her youthful face.
The party was under way, now, and Tod nodded briefly to the few men who bothered to acknowledge his presence. His eyes were constantly roaming the crowd for a glimpse of Nancy. First she made the rounds on Jack's arm, playing the housepet, until everyone understood that she was his property alone.
Then she circled the room alone, finally coming up to Tod, asking if his drink was O.K. Tod smiled warmly and told her it was fine. She returned his smile and spoke in a low tone.
"Looks like you're bored. That won't do. Not at Jack's party. That won't do at all. What would cheer you up?"
"Having you in my arms."
It was a desperate gamble, but one he knew he had to take.
The effect was telling. Nancy stumbled a step back and almost turned red. But she controlled herself and laughed gently. She had recovered remarkably, and now was talking slowly, as if carrying on a normal inane conversation.
"Listen ... be careful. Don't ever say that to me here again. It'll get you in trouble. All I can bring you is trouble. I've seen you watch me. Don't let Jack catch you, or he'll get rid of you. I know."
"I know too, Nancy. But I need you. Can't you tell?"
"This is foolish, and I won't lose you because of it."
She turned to move away. Tod tried one last thing.
"When can I safely see you?"
She stopped and whispered urgently.
"In two days I'm going shopping. Noon at Goodman's."
Then she was gone. Tod didn't even know which entrace to meet her at, but he knew that he'd find her.
The crowd closed in and she was out of sight. For the rest of the night Tod studiously avoided watching her, concentrating instead on the men. He was fascinated by the way they maneuvered through the loud party, always somehow able to laugh at Jack's bad jokes and pamper his wishes while keeping an eagle eye on their women.
It would be difficult breaking free of this crowd, with their tight security and their honor at stake. No one got away with knowledge. But there was always a chance. The excitement built in his stomach as he thought about it.
The party grew louder. Kisses were the order of the day, and Tod was smothered in a sea of male and female faces, all kissing each other like they were one big happy family. And he guessed they were. Only he was ready to cut out of it.
Tod saw Jack kissing all the available women. Not one man minded as the boss lingered long at each body, sending his hands over the female flesh, pinching and squeezing as he laughed. Tod was disgusted by the fawning men. They didn't even have the guts to stand up to him.
Then Nancy was somehow at Tod's side, and he kissed her. A quick flick of a tongue played at his throat and then she was gone. It was a great beginning, and Tod made a resolution to be away from all this as fast as possible. He hoped that he would be able to keep that promise.
The day dawned clear and bright. It was the day after the party, and the world was promising. Tod had taken a day off from his dealing to rest. Now he was awake in bed, watching the dawn creep up over the city. Mary was beside him, her head under the pillows. She always slept that way, buried up to her neck, trying to shut the noised from her ears.
Tod smiled inwardly at her, peaceful and content in her slumber. There seemed no way to reach through her calm exterior, and put his troubles upon her. Not even if he had wanted to.
Of course, he didn't want to trouble her, or to make her more anguished than his every day dealings had done. And he was quite sure that they had put her up-tight for a long while. Why, or how she put up with him was something he'd never be able to explain.
Tod guessed she really loved him. It was funny, although they had never used that word in any of their frantic sexual scenes, he could feel her warmth and inner longings boiling up to him more and more. Even though she had never said it out loud, Tod could tell that her true feelings were those of love. He felt sorry for her.
It wasn't that he didn't care for Mary. On the contrary. He cared deeply, but it wasn't love.
Tod knew what love was like now. It was what he felt for Nancy. It was a deep driving force that even in the early morning hours, was working on his insides. It was the force that was about to make him keep a dangerous rendezvous in mid-town with her.
What if she were being followed? What if Jack's men kept her in constant check, and after he met her and talked with her, Tod was picked up? These fears worked against the swelling excitement that he felt whenever he thought about Nancy.
Tod caught a cab right in front of the apartment and told him he had to get to the store in a hurry. They sped through the winding traffic, fighting to meet the changing lights. Tod was glad when they saw the right street looming ahead, and he was early.
Tod paid him, and left a good tip. Thanking him profusely for making such good time. He stepped from the cab. Then he was off, ready to meet his delightful new love.
Tod walked to the store in a hurry, eager to check out all the entrances for the most likely spot. Somehow he felt he'd be able to tell where she'd wait.
And then he saw her standing there, beautiful.
"Jack's been replaced," she said. "Don't ask questions. I was told that I'd be better off knowing nothing. And, after looking at the guys who told me, I believe it.
"They gave me enough money to last two people for quite some time. Are you still interested?"
"Did they give you enough money to score some good dope?"
"Yes. And the right connections."
"What are we waiting for? We've got lots of smoking and lots of fucking to catch up on. After that we'll talk."