Chapter 3

Veronica and Casey walked into the fourth store in the shopping center. Casey spent the money she earned on food, two dresses and a pair of shoes, but she didn’t touch the money Shorty gave her. He gave Casey $300 before she met with Veronica, but Casey didn’t know what she would have to do to earn the money.

Shorty didn’t say anything more about her friendship with Veronica; he just said he wanted her to have fun and make sure she got what she wanted.

“I have to get something for Curtis,” Veronica said, interrupting Casey’s thoughts. “His birthday is next month and I have to make sure I get a gift. I am going to crush him this Saturday and I need to soften the blow.”

“OK, so what do you get a guy?” Casey asked. “I might have to get Shorty something.”

“What is going on with you and Shorty?” Veronica asked. “I mean, you have been acting weird since you had to leave yesterday.”

“He gave me something to think about,” Casey said.

“Want to talk about it?” Veronica asked. “We can sit in the cafe and get a drink.”

Casey shrugged and walked over to the cafe. It served cakes, ice cream and different coffees and juices. Casey ordered an ice cream and Veronica ordered a smoothie.

“So, what is going on?” Veronica asked.

“I think he wants out of the gang,” Casey said. “I think he wants me to go with him. Can I tell you something, and you don’t get mad?”

“Sure,” Veronica said. “I promise I won’t get mad.”

“Shorty was glad to hear we are friends,” Casey said. “He said you can open some doors in the future.”

“I can open a lot of doors,” Veronica said nonchalantly. “My father can open a lot of doors, my mother knows a lot of women in society. Can I tell you something without you getting mad?”

“Sure.”

“My mother said she wanted me to find a peer closer to our station,” Veronica said. “I don’t have much in common with the cream puff girls in my school. They are shallow, thinking about the next party, the next sexual encounter or the next fix. Honestly, you and I have more in common. We are both ambitious.

“You don’t want to continue with the gang.”

“I don’t,” Casey admitted. “I am…”

“You are not marked,” Veronica said. “Not physically, you don’t have a baby, you don’t have a tattoo, you are not addicted to drugs. I am your friend. I will help you and I think you should hear Shorty out.”

“I don’t want to be his girl,” Casey said. “I don’t want to be his plaything.”

“I think Shorty wants something more substantial,” Veronica said. “I don’t think he wants a plaything.”

“What do you think about Shorty?” Casey asked. “What do you know about him?”

“I know quite a bit about Shorty,” Veronica said. “For instance, his name is not really Shorty.”

“It’s not?” Casey feigned surprise.

Veronica and Casey laughed, “Bet you don’t know his real name.”

“No,” Casey said. “Actually I don’t.”

“Patrick Matthis,” Veronica said. “But be careful with that information, not even Coyot knows that.”

“How do you know his name?” Casey asked. “You don’t go to the same school and you don’t travel in the same circles. Coyot allows Shorty to go to school. I am sure they didn’t allow him to register as “Shorty”.”

“True,” Veronica said. “But Coyot is not Shorty’s guardian. He is the leader of the gang. Shorty’s aunt takes care of the school stuff. In fact, she is the reason Shorty is in school.”

“I guess there are a lot of things I don’t know about Shorty,” Casey said. “Do you really think I should give him a chance?”

“That is completely up to you,” Veronica said. “Let’s talk about what you want. Like I said, we are a lot alike.”

“Well,” Casey said, finally opening up. She felt safe and she knew Veronica would never take the information back to Coyot. “I don’t want to stay in the gang. I joined for protection and family. They are the only family I have really, but it is a dead-end street and I want more out of life than just gang stuff.”

“What do you want?”

“I want to go to college,” Casey said. “I want to graduate with a degree in business and make my mark on this town somehow. But I don’t know if they will remember that I was a member of Lobos.”

“I doubt they will remember,” Veronica said. “People tend to see what they want to see. If they want to see a professional peer, they will see a professional peer. You just need to have the right polish.”

“I am working on that,” Casey said.

“Let’s get the guys something,” Veronica finished her smoothie and threw the cup away.

They walked over to a jewelry shop and Veronica purchased a watch for Curtis and Casey purchased a pen for Shorty. She also saw some earrings for herself and purchased them. They took their purchases to the car and started for the house. Veronica dropped Casey off at the house she shared with the other members of her gang. She put the dresses and shoes away and she put the earrings on. One of the girls came in and told Casey that Shorty wanted to speak with her in his place.

Casey sighed and walked over to his house. This was the moment of truth, what she decided in the next few moments will change everything. Casey knocked on the door and one of Shorty’s recruits opened the door.

“Shorty wanted to see me,” Casey said.

The recruit stepped aside to let her in. He guided her to a small office and knocked on the door to announce her.

“Come in,” Shorty called from inside.

“You wished to see me,” Casey said. She had the bag with the pen in her hand and set it down on the desk.

“What is this?” Shorty took the bag, looked in and pulled out the pen. “This is nice.”

“It is present,” Casey said lamely.

“I like it,” Shorty smiled. “So, I want to talk to you about what I have in mind. Please sit down.” He gestured to the couch. He walked over and sat on the other side of the couch.

Shorty put in a relaxed pose that belied the excitement he was feeling inside. He knew the pen meant something but he didn’t know what. He spoke with Coyot earlier and Coyot agreed that he could have Casey. For a few months only, get her out of your system, Coyot said.

“So, I spoke to Coyot,” Shorty started. “He said I can claim you, but only for three months.”

Casey frowned. She didn’t want to be used, but then started to think about what he was proposing. She wouldn’t have to service any men while Shorty claimed her. Just him. Shorty was good looking with dark wavy hair he kept a little long, coffee black eyes and, despite his name, he was almost 6 feet tall. She never heard any of the girls complain about his treatment. Coyot was another story, while the girls wanted to be his woman, he did have the reputation of being more than a little rough. Casey was tired of rough, she was tired, period.

“Can I be honest?” Casey said.

Preparing himself, Shorty said, “of course.” He knew no one really wanted to be claimed by him. He wasn’t as visible in the gang as some of the other “brothers”. They were more desirable. At least, that is what he heard. And, to his way of thinking Casey was the most competent and most beautiful of all the girls. It surprised him that Coyot didn’t want her for himself. But then Coyot was always a little short-sighted.

“I don’t want to live this life anymore,” Casey said. She took a deep breath. “I know what I am saying amounts to some type of treason to the gang, but I am not looking to join another gang. I just want to live a different life. I want to finish school. Go to the university and try to…”

“...find your own way?” Shorty caressed her arm. He knew she was putting herself on the line, but she must have realized that he was offering her something more than just a three month stent in his house and bed.

Casey looked into his eyes. She knew he wanted her. She knew the price of freedom was high, she could give Shorty what he wanted or the “brothers” could forcibly take what they wanted. And they would do that for days. She might not survive.

Shorty read her mind, “You have a better chance with me. We can both get out of here. Both start another life and it could be done without us having to leave town.”

Shorty brushed his hand along her smooth thigh. He felt Casey shutter. This wasn’t going to be easy, he thought. She needed to trust him and she also needed to submit to him. They were going to be together for a very long time.

He started to kiss her shoulder as he inhaled her scent. It was sweet, her soap smelled like apples. He wouldn’t rush her and he would be gentle. Those idiots the girls serviced and the “brothers” didn’t know how to seduce. They just took. His hand slid up to the juncture of her legs, he found her hot and started playing with her.

Casey felt his fingers go under her panties and she stiffened up. She had to endure. Shorty started kissing her neck gently and whispered in her ear about how much she was going to enjoy herself.

“I am going to woo you,” he said as he rained more kisses down her throat. His other hand cupped her breast. “You are going to feel so good.”

“How are we going to get out of here without having to leave town?” Casey asked. She wanted more information about his plans and she wanted that information before she lost her concentration. She could feel her heart beat faster and she was finding it hard to breathe. For the first time she wanted more. She was becoming very confused.

Shorty stopped kissing her but continued to fondle her breast and kept the pressure going in between her legs. He leaned into her ear and whispered his plan.

“I know who killed that rival gang member,” Shorty said. “It was one of the “brothers”. A hothead.”

“Loco?”

Surprised, Shorty’s hand stilled and he looked at her, “how did you know?”

“Some of the girls say that he gets really violent when you don’t do what he says when he says it,” Casey said. She started moving against his hand in an effort to reclaim the sensation she was feeling.

“Well,” Shorty said as he continued to touch her intimately, “you are correct. It was him.”

“Oh,” Casey threw her head back and moaned. She no longer cared about Loco, the Lobos or Coyot. She only wanted Shorty to finish what he started.

Shorty didn’t say anymore, there would be plenty of time to talk about how he planned to get them both out later. Right now, he needed to sate his little vixen. He knew she would come alive in his arms.

Casey leaned back on the sofa to give Shorty better access to the area he was massaging. Shorty stopped to remove her shorts and panties and Casey helped him undress her. She threw off her shirt and Shorty unclasped her bra. Her breasts bounced free. Shorty looked at her then looked at the door. He got up, walked over to it and turned the lock.

“So we are not disturbed,” Shorty said. “This whole gang can go to hell tonight.”

Casey smiled as Shorty walked over to her, spread her legs, got down on his knees and started to kiss her intimately. No one had ever done that to Casey before. Generally, men wanted her to give them blowjobs and they wanted her to act like some lusty porn star. Shorty was making this about pleasuring her. His tongue circled her clit and he flicked the nub a few times. They both watched each other as she climaxed around his tongue.

“Feel good?” Shorty asked.

Casey just nodded. She pulled Shorty up and kissed him while undoing his pants. He started working on the buttons of his shirt and peeled it off. Shorty was strong, muscular and lean underneath the shirt. Casey ran her hands over his body and Shorty saw the feminine appreciation in her eyes. It wasn’t a look he saw very often. Casey got down on her knees and took his shaft into her mouth. She watched him while she sucked, licked and stroked his shaft. She was more enthusiastic than normal because she genuinely wanted to please him. Shorty maintained eye contact through her oral lovemaking. Shorty pulled his shaft from her mouth, took her hands and brought her lips to his. Shorty kissed her deeply and accepted her sigh. Casey straddled him, guided him into her and she started to move against him. They both clung to each other as they climaxed.

“Oh, that was amazing,” Casey said, panting. She tried to catch her breath.

Shorty just nodded as he sighed his contentment. Shorty didn’t want her to leave just yet, but she did need to get her things, “you will be staying in this house until further notice. I will let you get your clothes tomorrow. For now, you can wear one of my shirts. We have a lot to discuss.”

Casey nodded, “You were told three months.”

“No, we will be out before then,” Shorty said. “We will have a place on the other side of town, I already have it picked out. It is being renovated right now, but it will be up for rent in about six weeks. It is a big house with plenty of room.”

“How will we pay for the rent?”

“I have money set aside,” Shorty said. “Do you think that $300 was the last?”

“Oh, I didn’t spend it all,” Casey said quickly.

“I wanted you to spend it all,” Shorty said. “You belong to me now. I will take care of you.”

“I don’t want to be taken care of,” Casey crossed her arms, “I want to be a partner.”

Shorty nodded as he put his shirt over her shoulders. Casey looked at him.

“You looked cold,” Shorty said. “I will make you my partner. But first let me tell you what you are getting yourself into. I want to leave the gang too, I want to go to the university and graduate with a law degree. Then I want to come back and be a defense attorney. I will need a capable wife.”

Casey was stunned, she gaped at Shorty as he brushed her hair back and cupped her breast.

“I don’t know what to say,” Casey said. “Wouldn’t Veronica Conway be a better choice?”

Shorty laughed, “no, Veronica has her own future to contend with. And I don’t envy that future.”

“What do you mean?” Casey asked.

“Veronica is political,” Shorty said. “I don’t need a partner with a competing agenda. I need a partner who is going to support me. We are going to enter the Conway world. We are going to have a house in the Westwood Community. I just need you to tell me that is what you want too.”

Casey nodded, “that is what I want as well. Wait, what did we just decide to do?”

“We decided to take control of our lives,” Shorty said.

“Patrick,” Casey started.

Hearing his name shocked him, “I see you talked to Veronica.”

“She told me,” Casey confessed.

“While we are alone, in bed, or otherwise, you may call me that,” Shorty grabbed her chin, “but while we are in public or around the “brothers”, my name has to be “Shorty”. Coyot doesn’t even know who I really am.”

“How do you know Veronica Conway so well? How does she know you,” Casey asked. “I asked her but it was never explained to me.”

“Veronica Conway has an uncle who is an attorney,” Shorty said. “Maxwell Conway. I had the pleasure of meeting him in his office when one of our guys got arrested for attempted murder. Coyot didn’t want to pay for the man, but I insisted. Not only was the member not guilty, but the gang was trying to railroad him to protect someone else.”

“Who,” Casey asked.

“Loco,” Shorty sighed, “and I was tired of trying to protect him. So, I told Maxwell Conway that this member didn’t commit the crime and I knew who did.

“He told me that all he needed was my assurance that his client was going to be cooperative.”

Casey nodded for the rest of the story.

“I had to keep tabs on him because he was a flighty thing who swore he was going to jump,” Shorty said. “I told him to stand and he would get out of it. He trusted me and I trusted Maxwell. Maxwell came through with enough physical evidence to point away from his client without pointing to Loco.

“I met Veronica and her brother the day the not-guilty verdict came back and we were sent home.”

“Were you indicted too?” Casey asked.

“I just promised Sam I would be there every step of the way,” Shorty said.

“Sam? Your second?” Casey was surprised. She knew Sam wouldn’t hurt a fly. In fact, he was one of the sweetest people she knew. He was a budding chemist and helped the gang keep the recreational drugs recreational.

“Yep,” Shorty said. “I have a great affection for Sam, he really knows his stuff and keeps us from buying and selling shit. Remember, not even Coyot knows my real name. He can’t know it.”

Casey nodded. She wasn’t scared and Shorty didn’t hurt her. He just wanted to make sure she understood there was a lot riding on her ability to keep his secrets.

After all, in this town, Shorty wasn’t the only one with secrets.