She frowned. “What are you talking about? You agreed to drive us here. You have to drive us back.”
I shook my head. “I don’thaveto drive you back. And I don’t want to. Have fun tonight.”
Without waiting for a reply, I pivoted around and walked away.
I didn’t know where I was walking to and didn’t really care. I just wanted to be as far away from them as possible, and first thing Monday morning, I was going to find other living accommodations.
I didn’t want to put up with this anymore, and if it meant having to explain to my worrisome mother why I wanted to move out…
Well, I would deal with it when it comes time for it.
My limbs shook as I reached the front of a bar not too far from the club.
I was surprised I could stay standing for as long as I had, and I signaled to the waitress that I was going to the outside table.
The place was bustling with people, all here with someone else.
I shifted in my seat, feeling self-conscious about being out by myself.
The city was surprisingly busy for a Thursday night.
The waitress came up to my table, and I ordered a soda and some boneless chicken wings before going back to watching the club.
Three men came to the patio, loudly, drawing my attention, and I watched as they walked over to the table next to mine.
I peeked over at them, having them pegged to be in their mid to late twenties.
One of them, a cute brunette with kind green eyes, caught my gaze, and he smiled at me, showing dimples.
I shyly looked away and down at the table as the other two sat beside the handsome stranger.
They weren’t in college, that was for sure.
Probably working professionals, judging by their clothes, and somewhat well-off.
Besides the man that smiled at me, I didn’t get a good look at the other two and didn’t know what they looked like.
I knew how they sounded, though, as they weren’t quiet when they talked.
“That club is getting big. Pretty soon, it’s going to tarnish our city,” one of them said.
“You think so?” another asked.
The third mumbled something I didn’t hear before the first spoke up again. “Look at this club. I heard the President—what’s his name—bought a whole bunch of empty buildings around here, and will construct it into businesses.”
“He’s just opening businesses,” came the response.
I lost track of who was talking at this point, except when the first guy spoke.
His voice was distinguishably loud and deep. I was pretty sure most of the people on the balcony heard him.
“Oh, don’t be so naïve,” he exclaimed. I almost jumped at the boom of his voice. “You really think they’re opening businesses just to open up businesses? No, I bet they’re using it to launder money and shit.”
“Laundering money and shit, you say?”
This voice didn’t come from the table.
I tensed and turned to the doorway to find another three men standing there.