Fighting for Flight by JB Salsbury (easy readers TXT) 📕

He said he had a meeting.

A quick shot of anger brings my body around, and I press the gas to get through the intersection. With trembling hands, I pull off to the side of the road. I take another hard look. Blake had mentioned this place at the barbeque. It was where he met the girls he brought. All of them, including Candy.

Jonah’s in there with Candy.

And just like that, hope has dropped my sorry butt off a cliff.

Panic floods my veins. My breathing is labored, like I’m sucking air through a straw. I shake out my arms, trying to rid them of the numbness taking over, but movement only pushes the sensation into my torso. My heart beats fast—too fast. Terror spreads through my body. I squeeze my eyes shut.

“Oh please, God, not now.” I pray aloud with hopes of divine intercession.

An anxiety attack grips my body. Tears stream down my face, and I struggle against the lost feeling that threatens to overtake me. I push against my sternum, willing my heart to slow.

“Come on, Raven. Talk yourself down.” I take a breath. “I’m in control.”

My eyes fly open at my pitiful lie. Control? That’s the last thing I have. My hands grip either side of my head and I rock back and forth.

Of course, he’s there. Why would he want to be with me, the future hooker? I close my eyes tightly. The daughter of a pimp. My body shakes. The grease monkey, tomboy. My head pounds. The virgin.

I need to calm down. Stop acting like a helpless little girl. I breathe in deep through my nose and out my mouth, until my mind slows enough for me to think straight. I need to decide what to do now. Should I go confront him? Why? So he can tell me to my face, with Candy straddling his lap, that he doesn’t want me? I pull back into the street, almost hitting another car, and speed to Eve’s.

Throwing my car in park at the curb outside her house, I walk up the front path. I’m shaking, but still. Pained, but numb. Bleeding, but alive. Consumed with confusion and contradictions.

I reach her door and knock as hard as I can. After a few clicks of the lock, the door opens to expose a very skimpily dressed Eve. Through the small crack in the door, I can see lit candles in the background.

“Raven, what are you doing here?”

“I called. You didn’t answer.” It’s all I can manage without breaking out in a full-body sob.

“Oh, yeah, sorry. I’ve been . . . busy.” She looks guilty and a little ashamed.

Her eyes seem sketchy as she looks over my shoulder to the street behind me. I look to see what’s stealing her attention. There, parked in the street, is a black H2. My eyebrows pull together.

I must have missed it when I pulled up. I guess seeing my boyfriend’s car at a strip club where his ex-hook up works when he told me he had a work meeting made me unobservant. My arms wrap protectively around my chest and my shoulders curl forward, holding myself together. I might dissolve completely at the slightest breeze of pain.

“Eve, who’s at the door?” a deep voice beckons from behind her. My wide eyes lock with hers in shock and silent apology.

“Oh, Eve, I’m so sorry. You have company. I’ll go.”

Wait, why does that voice sound familiar?

“No, Rave, wait. You look horrible. Have you been crying? What’s going on?”

She still hasn’t opened the door anymore, but her face shows concern. A large hand curls around her waist from behind, and a tall man comes into view over her shoulder.

Holy shit!

~*~

Jonah

It’s nine forty-five and the club is getting crowded. Even from my seat at the bar, it’s hard to see through the bodies filling the place. The girls finally got the hint that we aren’t here for entertainment. Their advances went beyond annoying to borderline hostile in the last hour. Blake and I finally had to tell them to back off and get the hell out of our way.

“Can I get you a drink, man?” the bartender asks for the third time, irritation lacing his voice.

This kid is pissing me the fuck off. My head swivels in his direction and I drill him with my stare. A beer would do wonders to calm my urge to kill, but there’s no way I’ll be anything less than one hundred percent coherent when I face Dominick.

He throws his hands up and takes a step back. “Whoa, I don’t want any trouble. But you can’t sit here all night and not buy a drink. I’m just following the rules.”

I pull a hundred dollar bill from my pocket and toss it his way.

“On second thought,” he nabs the cash, “enjoy your night.”

I go back to surveying my surroundings.

No sign of Dominick. Selena told Blake that he usually comes in around this time of night to work some of his girls. We’ve been here for an hour and he’s a no show.

“How long do you want to hang out?” Blake asks, his eyes scanning the room.

“As long as it takes. Raven’s with Eve so I have all night.”

I have fight-night focus. My senses are sharp. Every male voice draws my attention along with every opening door. Adrenaline runs high, as does my determination. I will not leave this place until I meet with Dominick.

I swallow a growl when I feel a small, feminine hand move up my shoulder. Can these girls not take no for an answer? Turning towards its owner, I cringe. I don’t need this shit.

“Hey, stranger,” Candy purrs, with her fake, over-affected seduction.

I jerk my head in acknowledgement.

Leaning forward, she brings her lips to my ear. “I told you, you’d be back.”

“Not in the mood for your games tonight, Candy.”

She gasps when I remove her from my shoulder and go back to scanning the room.

“Don’t tell me you’re still with