Chapter 33
I headed out from the dorm and back down into the cool night towards my car. The nights were growing lighter and warmer, but by 7.40 it was already dark.
I'd spoken to Tess for a little while longer before getting my head into my books. I had a series of exams approaching and hadn't given them much thought as yet. From now, my days would need to be dedicated more towards revision than anything else.
My car choked and spluttered to life as I turned the key and started the engine. I could see a couple of girls look over as they stepped out of their own coupe, laughing at the state of my banger. I didn't care - recently I'd come to love the little quirks of my car. I think it was the knowledge that they weren't forced on me any more; they were by choice. If I wanted, I could buy something much nicer but, right now, that wasn't a concern.
I put the car in gear and hit the accelerator, lurching it forward as smoke came gushing out of the exhaust. I laughed lightly to myself. If it gets any worse, a change might well be forced upon me.
The journey to Adam's park was a simple one and didn't take long. By the time I got there my phone clock was ticking towards 8 PM, so I quickly parked at the side of the road and stepped out. I didn't suppose I was meant to parkthere, but I didn't think the wardens would be around at this time.
I walked in through the main gate and into the park, the entrance shrouded by a couple of large and lavishly leaved trees. I'd been here a few times in the summer to sunbathe, but not at night. Right now I doubted many people would come here in the night-time - it wasn't particularly inviting.
The main area in the middle of the park was largely open, with pockets of trees around the sides to obscure the inside from the roads surrounding it. There was, however, one large tree alone in the center, cast far from its brothers and standing isolated in the large expanse of open greenery. Underneath I knew there was a bench, a place for lovers to sit and watch the world go by under the sun. It was a common proposal spot apparently, or so I'd heard.
As I approached I could see the silhouette of the bench and a man sitting upon it. I checked my watch again - 8.03 PM. I knew Kyle was an absolute stickler for time, so being late was never advised when meeting him.
He stood as I got nearer, his figure small under the imposing tree, and walked slightly from under its shadow. A slight sense of dread hit me as the figure loomed closer, still impossible to decipher in the darkness, as thoughts of Mr White flooded my mind. It was ironic - when I danced for him I thought of Kyle, and now I knew it was Kyle under the tree, my thoughts were set on Mr White. His intentions for me, as Jen had revealed, were unsettling, and made the idea of dancing for him again all the more off-putting.
As I inched forward my mind returned to ease as I recognized the contours of Kyle's body, his chiselled jaw and wavy hair clear to the eye. His eyes flashed under the glowing moon as he finally emerged into the light, away fromthe shadow of the tree. He wore a look of concern on his face, his lips unable to curl into a smile at seeing me.
He hugged me and planted a kiss to my cheek but nothing more. His eyes still swam with worry as he spoke. “What's going on Alice? I told you not to text me or call me, it might not be safe.”
It was why he'd brought me out here, out into the middle of the park under a large oak tree: to avoid prying eyes. He seemed shifty, his eyes darting to the left and right.
“I needed to speak to you about things. This is getting out of control Kyle. Look at you - are things really that bad?”
His lively eyes squared on me. “You don't know my father. Secrecy is paramount Alice.”
“Then is it worth it?” I asked quickly. “If your father's that much of a nutcase then maybe this isn't such a good idea.” I gestured with my hands between us.
His voice grew colder for a brief moment as he spoke. “My father is not a nutcase. He's an important man Alice. He has a lot of interests that need his attention, and he doesn't give any slack at all to keep everything in line.”
“I know that Kyle, but you're his son. Surely there are different rules for you than everyone else.”
He looked away briefly before returning his eyes to mine. “I wish that were the case. If anything, the spotlight is even more on me because I'm his son. It's the same for all of us, for all of his businesses.”
All of us. What was he talking about. “What do you mean 'all of you'?”
“My brothers Alice. We're all under the microscope.”
“You have brothers?” It was the first I'd heard of it.
“Four.”
“Four!” I exclaimed. “You've kept them quiet.”
“It hasn't been relevant. Suffice to say, our father has a plan for each of us, a role he likes us to play. I run the club, but the others, they take care of his other interests.”
I was beginning to understand things more clearly. It sounded like Kyle's father had been - still was - some sort of mafia boss, or at least someone heavily involved in crime and/or other questionable endeavours and enterprises.
“What sort of interests?”
He shook his head. “Look, I've said too much already. I can't talk about this stuff, about him. I don't want you getting involved in this Alice.”
He continued speaking, cutting me off before I could disagree, before I could ask what 'this' actually was.
“So why are we here?” he asked again, getting back round to the topic at hand. “Your text was abrupt. Is something wrong?”
“I spoke to Mrs Jones,” I said fast, “she told me that you'd canceled my sessions, that I was no longer to see her.”
He nodded. “You don't need to any more. You've nothing more to get from her. Nothing.” His voice had a weight to it.
“Are you trying to protect me Kyle?” I asked. “What Jen said, that she grooms people for prostitution - is that true?” I had a slight smile on my face as I asked, despite the seriousness of the topic. The idea that Kyle was pulling me away from things and protecting me was highly appealing.
He smiled and kissed me. “I'd do anything I can to take you out of this Alice. But if anyone asks, it's because you don't need more tuition.”
He wasn't really answering my question. I knew he felt guilty for that side of the business, for his involvement in it. I guessed that with other girls he would turn a blind eye, ignore it. With me though, with me I knew it became all too real. I knew the idea of me turning to prostitution was abhorrent to him,
“I've something I need to tell you too Alice.” His voice grew more grave, his eyes more sullen.
“Mr White wants to see you again. He wants you to perform once more.”
My eyes narrowed slightly as I heard the name. “Perform. You mean, dance? Just dance, right?”
“I told you Alice, I'm not going to let anything happen to you.” His eyes were set on me, his hands at my shoulders. “I don't want you to be part of any of this any more. I want you to quit.”
My head was all over the place. I was completely torn and divided on several levels. I needed the money and knew that there was no way in hell I'd be able to earn anything like what I did doing anything else. At the same time, while I'd struggled to engage with it at first, erotic dancing made me feel free and sexy. Speaking the God's honest truth, I'd even say I enjoyed it.
But then there was the other side of the coin. If anyone at college found out, anyone in a position of power or authority, I could be thrown out, my dreams of a future career dashed. And then there was Kyle: if I wanted to be with him, be with him properly, I'd have to stop dancing. Even then, relationships with ex dancers were said to be off-limits. Something also told me, something deep down in my gut, that Mr Logan, Kyle's father, wouldn't let me slip from his grasp so easily.
I looked into Kyle face and it told me all I needed to know. Words were one thing, but his expression said it all: he really did want me to quit. I could see that the idea of me exposing myself to other men was becoming harder and harder for him to handle.
“I can't quit,” I said finally, “not yet. I need the money Kyle.” It was the easiest reason to come up with.
“Forget the money,” he said quickly, shaking his head, “I can support you.”
I knew there was no way that could be the case. And even if he could, there's no way I'd accept any money from him.”
“You know that can't happen Kyle.” I didn't explain why. I think he knew, deep down, that I'd never accept it.
He nodded glumly. “I guess. Please Alice, just be safe, OK.” There was a foreboding to his words that didn't seem necessary. After all, I'd danced for Mr White twice already, and for many others, all without a hitch or hint of aproblem.
“I always am,” I said, before kissing him under the moonlight.