Chapter 18

I had to take a break and walked down a couple of blocks to the doughnut shop for some caffeine and a sugar rush. They opened at three and I was the first customer. I'd been working for fifteen hours straight and standing that long was killing my back with my bulging belly. This early in the morning the streets are quiet, the noisy crowds, flashing lights, honking horns are all gone. Only a few stragglers, pimps, hoes and junkies were usually out this late and I knew I wouldn't get any more business, not here.

Sitting at a table to finish my early morning breakfast I saw a couple walk in holding hands while kissing and laughing. They seemed so happy, so normal and so much in love. That was something that I'd never have. With everything that I'd done, no one will ever want me, not that way at least. Even if I got away from Ronnie, what would I do and where would I go? I had no money, no skills and no one but him and my mom.

Finishing my coffee I dropped the empty cup into the trash can. It was time to get back to work. The last time Ronnie came to check on me was around one o'clock and I hadn't quite made a grand for the day. He wasn't happy about that and irately informed me that I couldn't go home until I made another two-fifty. I was eighty dollars short of that number but could hardly stand any more.

I rubbed my belly sighing. Six months along and I was so much bigger that I was nine months the last time. I had no idea how many I was carrying as Ronnie still refused to take me to the doctor. I needed to sit down and used the bus stop bench to rest. Just for a while.

It had been a week since my ordeal on the riverboat ended. Ronnie left me there five weeks and I still get chills thinking about that place. Sometimes I wonder if I wouldn't have been better off going with Dawg. I don't think he would have done too much harm to me since I was pregnant. Ronnie wouldn't let him, of that I was sure because I was carrying his future income.

Five weeks of hell, that's what I call it. I was locked in a small cabin below deck with no window and very little ventilation, compelled to service not only the kitchen staff, but every other employee on the boat and then some. Sometimes customers of the casino were allowed down to fuck me, but the majority of the sex was from casino employees.

I was on call 24-7, not given any time off except to eat and use the bathroom. The difference between there and New Orleans were fewer johns per day and my time was spread out over weeks and not days. Patrick used my heroin as a bargaining tool and reduced the dosage and frequency to keep me desperate for it. I only got what I needed when he felt like it and I think he was selling the excess that Ronnie gave him that he didn't give to me.

I jumped when a bright light shined in my face, blinding me. Holding my hand to shield my eyes, I could see a police car under my palm. Shit, the cops. I didn't move and waited to see what they wanted.

"Are you okay, Miss?" someone asked.

"I'm fine," I called back still squinting from the bright light.

"What are you doing out here this time of night?"

I wanted to laugh, to scream out that my father was making me whore myself out here to put money into his pocket and wanted to beg them to take him, or me, away.

"I'm waiting for my ride," I finally said rubbing my stomach to display my pregnancy. I was sure that they wouldn't arrest a pregnant girl.

"You shouldn't be out here alone. It isn't safe," he said turning the light off.

"Okay, thank you," I said still seeing bright stars dancing in front of me.

"Can we give you a ride?"

As much as I wanted them to, I knew that I couldn't. Ronnie would be here any minute to get me and I'd better be here. Graciously I declined, opting to wait for Ronnie. Even after I got home from the casino, he still beat my ass, careful to avoid my stomach, and left me black and blue over most of my body. That was just a warning, he informed me.

I noticed a truck coming down the street and stood, leaning against the cop car for support. "I think my ride is here," I told them motioning with my chin. They turned to see the pickup slowing down, but not stopping. He drove two blocks down and made a U-turn, parking just beyond the doughnut shop. I grumbled at having to walk that far, but I needed to go before the cops got to asking too many questions.

"Be safe," the cop told me before pulling away. I had hoped that Ronnie would drive to me now that the cops were gone, but the asshole stayed almost two blocks away and made me walk. I was ready to flay into him until I saw the expression on his face. He wasn't happy about something.

"Gemme my money," he ordered even before I had the door closed. Shaking my head I reached into my purse and handed him $160 in wrinkled money. "I said two-fifty," he added. "Where's the rest?"

"I only made one-eighty and used some to get a coffee and a couple of doughnuts and a soda earlier. You can have the change if you want it."

"Don't fuckin' get smart with me, bitch. I said I wanted two-fifty!"

"Ronnie, there isn't anyone out this time of night to make any money from. Not on a Wednesday. I haven't had a customer in over an hour."

"You best not be holding out on me, cunt, I'll fuckin' gut you, you hear me?"

"Yes, I know," I said rolling my eyes in the dark. How many times over the past few years have I heard that same threat. It's not that I don't think he would, he's very capable of doing it, but it get's old after a while. We remained silent for the rest of the drive home.

Everyone was asleep when we got home and I went straight to bed. I didn't even shower as I was too exhausted. I didn't like going to sleep with the scent of those bastards who pay to fuck me, but tonight I didn't care. I needed to sleep.

I slept until ten and was awakened by momma brushing the hair from my face. Slowly my eyes opened to see her smiling down at me. I returned the gesture, taking her hand from my face to hold it.

"Good morning," she said leaning over to kiss my forehead. This was too weird.

"What's going on?"

"It's time to wake up. Ronnie wants you ready in thirty minutes."

"Ready? Ready for what?"

"Work. You'll need to start earlier because you disappointed him."

"I disappointed him? How?"

"By not earning enough last night. You'll need to make it up today so hurry and get dressed."

I couldn't freaking believe what I was hearing! My own mother was telling me her husband wants me to start prostituting earlier because I only made $1140 yesterday!?! I'm six months pregnant and I look like a walrus waddling down the street and he's disappointed that I didn't make him enough money?

"Mom, I'm tired. I can't keep working like this. Look how big I am."

"It's only for a little longer, Debbie. After we have enough money saved, we can both quit and move away from here. Ronnie said Boloxi is where he wants to move and we'll get a house on the beach and have a big yard for the kids to play and we won't have to think about anything but spending time with the family."

"Do you really think he'll let us stop, mom? Seriously. He's in it for the long haul and when you and I are all used up and worthless, he'll start using Dawn and the twins and soon whatever baby girls we have in the future. He won't stop, mom, not until he can't make any more money from us. Then he'll probably sell us for a few more bucks to a low-life scum."

"Debbie, you're being ridiculous. Your father loves us and wouldn't do something like that." I knew it was useless to argue with her and pulled myself out of bed. I didn't know how much longer I could actually do this. Right now I can't even feel when someone is fucking me and I haven't seen my pussy in months.

I could still smell the men from yesterday and showered for almost twenty minutes, scrubbing myself to remove any trace of their encounters. I would have stayed longer but Ronnie came in yell at me to hurry. None of my clothes fit any longer and I had to resort to wearing moms with a few modifications. I didn't care how I looked and sat quietly until Ronnie pulled to the curb just past the doughnut shop.

"I'll check on you in a couple of hours," he told me handing me a syringe half filled with liquid. Staring at it I licked my lips. That is what I had been waiting for since I got up. Taking it, I pulled up my skirt and searched for a vein. I had shot up so much in my arms that the veins weren't usable. I moaned feeling the euphoria washing over me like a warm blanket.

"I want a hundred an hour," he said reaching over to open my door. "And you still owe me for yesterday!" I half heard what he said as my head was floating. I wouldn't remember what he said until much later.

Right away I started hustling, waving down my first car within ten minutes of standing out there. He seemed delighted that I was with child and made some comment about getting a two for one special. His car was some Japanese import and there wasn't much room to fuck, but he managed to get off, remaining inside of me until it slipped out. It took a while to get out of the back seat as I couldn't find anything to hold on to and he was too weak to pull my fat body out.

Two more customers graced my inner thighs and one other wanted a blow job by the time Ronnie came for his money. After three hours, I had $280 ready for him and he complained about me being short. I wish I had the nerve to tell him something, but I remained silent, promising to make it up.

"You better," he warned before driving away. "Or you'll have your ass out here all night again!" I knew he'd hold true to that threat.

I had one more john before I needed to rest and sat on the bus stop bench. My head was over the back rolling back and forth, trying to devise a plan to rid myself of that bastard. I didn't want to leave my little sisters with him but knew that I couldn't take them with me. Maybe I could leave now and come back for them when I could. I groaned knowing it was just wishful thinking.

The screeching tires and whoosh of wind from the bus broke my thoughts as I turned my head to avoid the dust and dirt blowing on me. That's when I saw the young woman and a young girl walking toward me with a smile. She looked familiar, but I couldn't place where I knew her from. The woman started to gallop faster, leaving the small girl behind her as her arms widened for a hug.

"DEBBIE!!!" she cried out and I stood just as she reached me, throwing her arms round my neck for a crushing hug. "Oh my god I'm so glad I found you!" For several minutes she latched on to me, rocking back and forth whispering how much she missed me. It wasn't until she backed away that I got a good look at her.

"Rachael? Rachael is that you?!" I blubbered, grabbing her back, pulling me to my swollen belly. "Oh my god, Rachael, I never thought I'd see you again!" We hug again, both crying for the longest time. When she pulled away, she patted my stomach.

"You're as big as a house," she observed. "When's your due date?"

"I'm not sure. In about three months, I think."

"Who's the father?" I laughed, waving my hand in a semi-circle.

"Pick one, anyone could be the father."

"Oh my god, you're so huge; I can't imagine being that big."

That's when I remembered the little girl with her. "Who's that?"

"Her name's Emma," she informed me. We're on our way to California and I wanted to stop by to see you as we went by. You are just like a sister to me you know that, right?"

I looked at the young girl. She couldn't have been more than seven or eight and introduced myself to her. "Is she your little sister or something?"

"Not exactly. It's a long story and I don't want to bore you with the details. So tell me, Debbie, what's been going on since I last saw you?" I had to laugh and shake my head.

"Come, let's get a doughnut and coffee and I'll fill you in on a few things."

We ended up eating a dozen doughnuts between the three of us and stayed talking for hours. It felt good having a friend and I didn't once even think of Ronnie or the repercussions of not earning him money. At the time I didn't care. I wanted to spend time with Rachael and told her everything that happened. She was in shock and kept her mouth opened from surprise for the last fifteen minutes that I spoke.