“Ladies first.” Liam said.
I got on the bus. We climbed all the way to the top and sat down, seeing London. Sitting down, Liam put his arm around me. Arm on the chair. I leaned into him.
“Are you scared?” I asked.
Liam thought for a moment. He was warm.
“Not really. Are you?”
“No. Just nervous I guess. I really hate John right now…”
He chuckled and rubbed my arm with his hand.
“I do, too. So…my name’s Wyatt, I’m your boyfriend. We’re only there for an hour. If anyone asks why we leave so soon, it’s because we have to catch a flight in the morning to Stockholm. Buisness and modeling if they must be so personal.”
I giggled. I gave him a thumbs up. The street below became more soft spoken when we pulled up to a boardwalk area. Liam and I got off.
“Now, if anyone dares to touch you, you let me know.” Liam said, near my ear.
“How long have I been doing this? A while. I won’t draw attention in slapping someone but dont you leave my side.”
As we reached the boardwalk, the wood underneath us creaked. People were walking everywhere. Food of all sorts were in stands as far as the boardwalk could go. I thought for a moment. What if most the males here are trafficing? Are any of the girls walking around going to get snatched? My eyes searched the rooftops of the small shack stores. Liam held my hand.
“Lucy?! You came!” a voice said.
It sent chills down my back and I turned my head, looking everywhere. That face caught my eye. Liam’s presence was stiffened. As soon as I saw Zacko’s eyes look at our hands intertwined, he looked pissed. We walked over to the side of the shack he was standing near.
“Who’s this?” he asked, nicely.
“Wyatt. My boyfriend. So is this where the party’s at?” I smiled.
“Yeah. Glad you two could come. Oh! Wyatt, there’s a bar in the back if you’d wanna check it out.”
“Thanks. Maybe.”
Liam mustered up a smile and we walked in. It wasn’t a club, it was more like an alcohol social area. If that makes any sense. As we walked in, I felt out of place. As if we were fish surrounded by sharks. Some guys trained their eye on me and i kept my head down. Liam led me to a side stool and a table for us to sit at. It was in the corner.
“Look casual.” I said.
As I let go of Liam’s hand, I felt open. As if I could be taken. My training came into thought. A touch from behind means the elbow to the face. The side, turn and kick. Front, a broken nose. A waitress came over.
“Something for you two?” She smiled.
“Corona. Two.” Liam said.
Not that we’d actually drink it. She walked off and Liam smiled. I flashed one back and searched the room. Zacko was in the crowd. As I studied and memorized the other faces and attire, one man couldn’t stop looking over here. Not a creeper stare, a look, look away, look, look away. He didn’t seem strong or menacing. Not that he couldn’t be though. The waitress brought our drinks.
“I see him, too.” Liam said.
My phone buzzed. John.
“I know it’s not that safe, but I need you to talk to Zacko. Have Liam be near you talking to someone else but you have to get SOMETHING out of Zacko.”
I let Liam look and his face dropped.
“You sure?” he asked.
“Orders are orders. Be right behind me. It’s the only way.”
I stood up and Liam walked behind me. I got all the strength in me and walked up to Zacko. Liam stopped a little behind me.
“Hey!” i smiled.
Zacko turned and smiled.
“Hey. I see you have a Corona. Fan?”
“It’s alright, I suppose.”
He flashed a smile.
“How long do you plan on staying?” he asked.
“Oh, no too long. Busy day tomorrow.”
“Doing what?”
“Wyatt and I have to fly to Stockholm. I model. Buisness I guess you could say.”
“Oh, what a shame. Actually, I know a few models myself, and what a coincidence. We were all supposed to get on a yacht and take some shoots tomorrow.” He said, looking me up and down.
“That’s too bad. Which dock? The one down the way?”
He nodded. I sipped the Corona and looked around. I was so bored. Yet, uneasy. I heard Liam talking to some peopld behind us. Before Zacko could say another word, Liam came behind and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
“Well, we better get going, love. Thanks for the invite, mate. Was a blast.” Liam said.
They shook hands and Zacko smiled.
“Well, alright. If that flight gets cancelled, we’ll be on the boat. You’re still invited.” He said, referring to just me.
“Maybe! Thanks again.”
I waved and Liam pulled me out of the shack.
“That was THE worst ‘party’ I’ve ever been to. What a creep.” Liam said.
“I know. Let’s get home. All the stress has gotten me tired.” I shivered.
“Hop on my back then.”
Without rejecting, I hopped on him. He walked through the crowd. It was already nine. The bus pulled up right when we got to the station and rode it home.
