Pieces

HOW CAN I EASE THE PAIN

Almost finished for the day I saw two men come in to the class room I recognized one of them from my apartment and tried to keep my head down as I thought of something. I slowly got up and walked to the back door of the class and ran out as soon as it was open. I ran as my heart pounded like it was coming out of my chest I ran out of the school only to land in the arms of one who was backed by several others. I cursed myself as I had been trapped they escorted me to one of the Tahoe's and made me get in. 

I was in the middle if two of them and a guy was sitting in the passenger seat but didn't look to be like the hitch men. He turned around with his bright blue eyes staring at me. "Ms.Janssen I've been all over town looking for you." He gave a sinister smile. I felt uneasy and prayed they weren't taking me somewhere to kill me. "Where are you taking me?" I asked trying to hide my fear. But no one said a word we just took this long ride out of the city. Finally coming to a stop at this warehouse that looked withered and abandoned. They took me out and walked me into the building as I had one in front one behind and one on either side of me. I had made the decision on the way here to run once I got out but that planned failed miserably. They walked me into this place and all I heard were loud machines and saws wood everywhere and worker's walking around. It looked to be welders and carpenters. I followed them to the upstairs office that over looked the warehouse. "Have a seat Ms. Jansen." The boss I guess you can say.

I reluctantly took a seat and watched as he unbuttoned the first two buttons at the bottom of his tailored suit jacket. "Ms. Janssen do you know why your here?" He asked a dumb ass question. "I don't know maybe because you want me to make a painting of you that's authentic." I said sarcastically even though I kinda knew my life was on the line. "Feisty." He chuckled. I rolled my eye's I wasn't feisty I just didn't like being patronized. "Well unfortunately you owe me over 45 million dollars." His smile faded and was replaced by a more serious look. 

"And how do I owe you such an unprecedented amount of money? I don't even know you." I snarled. If I was going to die he was going to hear my mouth. "But you were the one who ruined my event last night." He eyed me. "Because you were scamming the shit out of people at least don't make it obvious with the shitty work you tried to sell." I gritted.  He gave another one of those laughs. "Oh but I know your rap sheet and it ain't so squeaky clean. Let's see." He took out this envelope. "I see you were an accomplice to armed robbery of the Federal Reserve Bank with the amount of 15 million in cash and gold.  How were you able to get out of a minimum of 30 years prison time?" He asked. 

I sat looking at him sucking my teeth annoyed by his fucking audacity to pry in my background. I had tried to forget about that it was a dark path I had taken with my older brother and a couple of his friends. "I don't know maybe I was just lucky." I gritted. He laughed yet again. "Well to pay me back you will help me with my business of the arts since that is your major." He demanded. "And if I refuse?" I asked. "Then unlike the government I wouldn't have a problem putting you down." He smiled. "Well that would be wrong because the government puts people down all the time." I smiled coyly. "Once you pay me back your Scott-free and I won't harm your little boy friend." He held a picture of Abel that looked to be from the party. "He had nothing to do with this. What if I pay you with my own money?" I asked hoping he'd except my offer."I have no interest in your money only you." He said.

After the mental pull of my reluctance to cooperate I agreed only because they were threatening Abel's life and he was innocent in all of this. "Fine I'll do it." I said dryly. "Good, good you will receive a call from me in a few days and if you don't answer kiss your boy friend good bye." He threw a phone at me. I snatched it off the table and put it into the pocket of my smock. "Can I go now?" I asked. He waved his hand and one of the guys opened the door. "Remember it's his life."

I walked out of the building contemplating on telling Abel about all of this I felt so fucked up. He probably was trying to pick me up but instead now has a mark on him all because of dealing with me. I had my share of secrets and demons and I was trying to turn my life around for the better to only be dragged back into the life of crime and bullshit with an innocent person's life on the line. Life had just gotten a million times worse for me and facing Abel would deem to be hard knowing that I have him in a situation that he has no bearings on. "We're taking you back to the school." One of the unknown men in black said to me. I didn't protest as I didn't know where I was or how the hell to get back to Atlanta Abel would be back at the school by the time I got there.