My Kidnapper's Mistake

Chapter 15: Perks of Criminals

Anya's P.O.V.

Julian and I had once again been left alone in each others company, whether on purpose or by coincidence didn't matter to me. We sat opposite each other at the kitchen island, each nursing a cup of steaming coffee.
"Do you want to see where some of us came from?" Julian asked out of the blue, I merely nodded because I wasn't paying much attention to the conversation.
"Then be ready in ten minutes."
"Where are we going?" The words snapped me out of my daze.
"You'll see. Just don't wear anything too revealing."
I stood blinking at him, not comprehending.
"Eight minutes..."
I scrambled off to my room, hearing Julian call out for Brian, Jason and Kevin.

Julian had told me not to wear anything too revealing, but it was way too hot for leggings or jeans even at this time of night. So let's suppose he meant no dresses. I dug around for my black highwaist shorts, they're not hotpants short but well above mid- thigh. I paired them with a red and black button-up shirt that I knotted just above the shorts, revealing a peak of my midriff. Shoes. I'm torn between the leather platform healed boots with the spikes and the ones with the gold chain. What to choose. What to choose... After a quick game of eeny meeny miny mo, I settled for the chain. Next black eyeliner, mascara and a touch of blood red lipstick. My outfit tonight worlds apart from last night's.

For anybody else the stairs would have been a challenge with these 4 inch heals, but I have walking in them perfected into an art. My entrance into the foyer was greeted with three cat calls and one growl, curtasy of Julian.
"Thought I said nothing revealing?"
"You said too revealing and I have sleeves up to my elbows." I quickly countered and only received a sceptical look in return.
"C'mon. I can hardly understand why you're not boiling in those jeans." I whined. Julian grunted and opened the door for me.
"I call shotgun!" Kevin shouted and ran to the black Mustang.
He was halfway there when Brian burst his bubble.
"Ladies always ride shotgun. So get into the back."
Kevin mumbled something under his breath as he slowed down and trudged the rest of the way to the car.

"Where to first?" Kevin asked as we pulled out of the driveway.
"Mine," Jason stated firmly.
"Yeah, yours begins the earliest. Mine starts later and Julian's only reaches full swing around midnight." Brian suggested.
"No. Lets do yours first before trouble gets there. Mine always has trouble but is the busiest around midnight so we're less likely to bump into it. Jason we'll do yours last, most of the creeps would be too drunk or stoned to notice us." Julian countered.
"What do you mean?" I asked, curiosity eating away at me.
"You'll see."

We stopped at a warehouse at the edge of the city. From the outside it didn't look any different to the one we had stayed at and fear creped into my veins. They were going to kill me. I knew it was absurd for me to think that after everything, but they were criminals first and foremost. None the less I got out of the car on steady legs. I could hear the faint sound of a crowd cheering. We entered the warehouse and it was filled with cars, like an indoor parking lot. Unlike the previous warehouse this one had no second floor. Brian led the way down a spiral staircase and a narrow hallway. We were stopped at a door by a man with muscles comparable to Dexter's although he might just be a little shorter. He blinded us with a flashlight, checking each face from the back of the group to the front. He landed on Brian and his face split into a grin.
"Brian my man. Long time no see." They engaged into that strange man hug with their hands clasped between them, shoulders touched and clapped each other on the back.
Brian never said a word in return, his expression stayed stony all through the exchange.

The bouncer opened the heavy steel door and I was assaulted by the sound of a crowd cheering and the smell of sweat and blood. The room was half the size of the warehouse above, but packed to the brim. People were packed tightly together in every direction except for a fighting ring in the middle of the room. Brian pushed through the crowds and I grabbed hold of the back of his shirt to make sure that I won't lose him.
He stepped up to the bar, it looked abandoned until he banged his hand against the counter. The counter shook a little as somebody bumped their head against the underside.
A skinny guy with a shock of the brightest red hair I had ever seen emerged from under the counter, a bottle of cheep whiskey clutched in each hand.
"Damn you Brian." He scowled and rubbed his head once he had put the whiskey down.
"Still serving the same crap as always I see."
"Still an arrogant prick I see." They sized each other up and for a moment I feared that they would start to fight, but to my utter amazement both burst into a fit of laughter.
"So good to see you back Brian. I'll write you up for the next available fight."
"Not back for good Matt. Just showing a friend around town."
Matt looked over Brian's shoulder, his eyes landed on me and something like comprehension dawned on his face.
"Well then I'll let you jump the gun. In and out before trouble arrives. You're up next."
"Thanks," Brian walked off. I made to follow him but was held back by a hand on my arm. I followed the arm back to it's owner to find Julian, but it was Matt that spoke up.
"No good following him, he'll just be warming up. Anything to drink for the lady?"
"Beer." Julian answered.
I crinkled my nose. I didn't like beer, I was more of a gin or rum type of girl. Julian must have seen my disgust because he explained that it was the only thing they couldn't spike beforehand without you noticing. I wanted to object, but realized that I didn't know Matt and it wasn't like the bar was all that exclusive to the bartender. I nodded and leaned back against the counter. Now that I wasn't so focussed on not losing Brian, I could pay more attention to the crowd. We had lost Kevin and Jason, I didn't know exactly when. The crowd was made up of mostly men. The most women I saw together were the three lounging on Sofa's along with a man wearing a well tailored suit in a closed off area. The VIP section.
"Come on. Brian is about to fight. We'll have to get closer if you want to get the entire effect."
I didn't bother taking another sip of beer before leaving it on the counter. I knew there would be no going back for it and I didn't care, I was just glad to be rid of the stuff. We pushed through the crowd to the front few rows. Brian was already up on the platform, bobbing on the balls of his feet.