As Michelle continued to stare up at Chris, a wave of fear and uncertainty quickly washed over her and she diverted her attention to the hand that held her firmly in place. 

"What are you doing?!  Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"  Chris yelled, quickly pulling her past Justin and back towards the vehicles that were still parked along the side of the highway.

"Chris wait, you don't..."

"No!  There isn't a damn thing you could say to me right now that would excuse the stupidity of you walking down the side of the highway like you were!"

"But..."

"Where were you headed?!  Out for a lovely stroll among the hundreds of vehicles driving in excess of 70 mph?!"

"I just wanted..."

"You just wanted what?!"

"I just wanted to go home."  she said, tears quickly filling her eyes as he pushed her over to the guardrail a few feet behind Justin's truck.

"I told you I would have taken you home, but you turned me down to leave with him!  Funny that we're now almost in the same situation as we were back at my place."

"I know, but..."

"Why aren't you on your way home?  Did he say something?!  Did he DO something?!"  Chris growled, motioning towards Justin.

"No, I didn't do anything to her!  Don't go confusing the two of us now!  You're the one who likes hurting her!" Justin surprisingly fired back.

Not taking too kindly to his comment, Chris shoved Justin against the back of his Escalade and quickly cocked his arm back.

"Whoa!  Whoa!"  Jackson yelled, immeadiately grabbing a hold of Chris' arm to stop him.  "Stop!"

"Don't fucking open your mouth unless you plan on joining your friend in the ICU!"  Chris shouted, quickly ripping his arm away from Jackson's grasp.

"Chris stop it!"

"Sit down Michelle!"  Chris yelled once again, aggressively directing her over to the guardrail as the others looked on, nervously wondering what was about to take place.  "You do realize that you could have very easily gotten yourself killed! You do know that right?!"

"And so I'll ask you the same thing I asked him!  Why do you care?!"

"Don't you dare raise your voice at me!"  Chris growled, quickly taking up position in front of her.  "I'm just trying to find out what the hell is going on!"

"I already told you!  I just want to go home!"

After standing there with the others for a few more moments with no one really sure of what to say or do, Chris took a large breath and sighed heavily.  Despite his nerves being completely shot with the fact that he almost witnessed the end of her, Chris knew he needed to calm down. 

"I told you I would take you home.  There weren't any strings attached, no hidden adgenda."

"I know you did but...I just...I don't trust you Chris."

"You don't trust me!?  What the hell do you think I am going to do to you?  Beat the hell out of you, and then dump your ass off on the side of the road?!"

"I don't know.  Maybe."  Michelle sobbed, her tear filled eyes finally drifitng up to meet his.

"Jesus Christ Michelle.  Do you really think I am capable of hurting you like that?"  Chris asked, his voice instantly getting softer as he crouched down in front of her.

"Please don't ask me to answer that."

"I want to know.  Do you really think I could hurt you like that?"

After glancing up at the three others nervously looking on, Michelle wiped the tears from her cheek, and looked down at the road.

"You already have." 

Knowing that the intimate details of their time together should be discussed somewhere a little less...public, Jackson quickly took a few steps forward.

"Look, I don't know exactly what the hell happened that had you walking down the side of the freeway, but we can't just stay here...and Chris is right Michelle.  You could have gotten yourself killed."

"Michelle come on.  Just get back in the truck and we'll take you home."  Justin said, cautiously stepping around Chris so that he could make eye contact with her.

"And what makes you think I would set foot back in your truck?"

Turning to glance over his shoulder, Chris glared coldly at Justin and he nervously took a few steps backwards.

"Why are you acting like I'm the bad guy here?  I'm just trying to do the right thing."

"Funny that you wait until now you to develop a conscience.  Too bad you didn't have one the night you lured me in to your bed for a piece of ass."

Hearing Michelle's comment, Chris instantly straightened up. 

"Chris don't."  Jackson said sternly, quickly moving in to the space between the two.  "This isn't your battle to fight!"

"Get out of my way."

"I'm not FUCKING around Chris!  Don't do it!"

As Chris continued to stare Justin down, the sound of police sirens quickly filled the air, and everyone glanced to their left.  Realizing they would soon be adding another two people to their little 'party', Chris quickly walked back over to where she was seated and crouched back down in front of her feet.

"You know I'm not going to let you leave here with him, so why don't just get in my truck and let me take you home."

"I told you why."  she replied,  momentarily stealing a glance back at the two officers getting out of their squad car.

"You know, you told me before that there was a time when you thought you had misjudged me.  That I wasn't the hardened and insensitive guy that I try to come off as, right?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Give me the chance to prove to you that you were right.  Let me drive you home."

"Chris..."

"Look, I'm not going to force you to leave with me, regardless of what I said a few seconds ago.  This isn't about me, or about what I want anymore.  This is about you."  Chris said, a nervous look quickly spreading across his face.  "Don't get me wrong.  I want you to leave with me, but I want you to do it under your own free will.  Not because I'm making you, or because you feel you don't have a choice."

"Chris, I just...I don't understand.  What do you want from me?"

"Isn't it obvious?  I want you."

After allowing a blank expression to wash across her face, Michelle heard the footsteps of the officers getting closer, and quickly wiped her face.

"This isn't a parking lot here fellas.  Unless you need some assistance, you are going to have to get moving."  the one officer said, approaching the group as he directed the other to start checking out the vehicles.

"No, everything is fine.  She just felt a little sick so we pulled over.  We were getting ready to leave when you pulled up."  Justin replied, casting a hopeful glance in Michelle's direction.

Unsure of what she should do, Michelle quickly glanced back at Chris who was still crouched down in front of her.

"The choice is yours.  You can either stay here with him, or you can leave with me."  Chris sighed, quickly glancing back at Jackson who was doing his best to keep the other officer distracted.  "Either way, we can't stay here too much longer."

"Why?"

"I think you know why."  Chris whispered, raising his shirt slightly to expose his gun.  "If we were dealing with the LAPD, it wouldn't be a problem.  The California Highway Patrol, that's a whole other story."

Looking back at the eyes that seemed to desperately searching for acceptance, Michelle couldn't help but think that he really was telling the truth.  That there was another side of him she had yet to see.  It was captivating to her in a strange sort of way, but at the same time, the idea that she wasn't really sure 'who' he was frightened the hell out of her. 

"Michelle, come on."  Justin said, his head quickly motioning towards his Escalade as Marty headed over to the passenger side.

Hearing Justin call out to her, Michelle glanced up at him and felt the weight of the world on her shoulders.  She didn't really want to leave with him, but the fear of what could happen if she left with Chris proved to be too strong of a determining factor to avoid when it came down to making her decision. 

"Michelle?"

Seeing the frightened look once again spread across her face, Chris came to the heart breaking realization that she had already made up her mind to leave with Justin, and slowly stood back up, forcing himself to avoid any eye contact with her as he waved her over towards Justin.  After taking a few moments to digest what it was that she was witnessing, Michelle cautiously stood up and Chris backed away from her even further.

"I'm sorry Chris.  I'm not trying to hurt you, I swear to God I'm not, but I just...I don't know what the hell I'm supposed to do here!" 

Knowing that he couldn't even formulate a logical response to her comment, Chris gently took a hold of her hand and began walking her back up towards Justin's truck. She could try to convince him that she didn't know what to do, but the look on face as she looked at him spoke volumes.  She was still absolutely terrified of him, and would more than likely never willingly allow herself to be alone with him.

Once he had finally reached the driver's side door where Justin was standing, Chris let go of her hand and continued walking the rest of the way back up to Jackson's truck...alone.  His heart shattering into a million pieces knowing that he really had no choice but to give up on the only chance he would ever have to be truly happy. 

"I know you might not think so right now man, but you did the right thing."  Jackson said, quickly jumping up into the driver's seat as Chris made his way around to the passenger side.  "She just needs more time.  She needs the chance to work through everything that happened."

"And she'll have all the time in the world."  Chris replied, quickly jumping up in to the truck and slamming the door.  "I can't stand seeing the way she looks at me anymore.  That's it.  It's just...it's over."

Knowing that an emotional pep talk on the ins and outs of any relationship wouldn't be received too well right now, Jackson started up his truck and continued on his way to the hospital, leaving a sulking Chris staring out the passenger side window.

After watching Jackson pull back on to the highway, Michelle choked back the sobs that were threatening to explode from her chest and just climbed in to the backseat of Justin's truck.  Deep down she knew she was making the right decision, but the ache that she felt deep inside wouldn't let up and she began finding it difficult to breathe.

"Are you alright?"  Marty asked, as he climbed in to the passenger seat.

Not wanting to make casual conversation with either of them, Michelle simply nodded her head and he turned back around.

"You know, you don't have to sit back there."  Justin said, his hands resting on door frame as he looked in at her.  "You can sit..."

"I'm fine where I am."  she snapped back, quickly sliding further in to the middle of the seat and far away from Justin.

"Why are you acting like this?  I told you that it's not what you think.  Why won't you let me explain?"

"There's no need to.  I really don't care to hear the specifics Justin."

"But you need to hear them, and the most specific of those details was the fact that I was falling in love with you."

"Yeah, and that makes it so much better huh?   'I wanted you for a piece of ass, but lucky me.  In the midst of all my bullshit I found true love'."  Michelle mocked him, smiling sarcastically at him as she flipped him the middle finger.

"J, just let it go."  Marty interrupted, turning back around to make eye contact with him.  "The last thing we need right now is more drama.  Just take her home."

Knowing that Marty was right, Justin pushed himself away from the door and jumped in to the driver's seat, quickly starting up his truck so that they could get the hell out of there.

After about ten minutes of near silence, Justin turned in to her apartment complex and found a place to park.  After turning off his ignition, he shifted to his right and glanced back at her.

"Can I at least walk you up to your door and make sure that you get in alright?"

"As I said before, don't do me any favors."  Michelle replied, quickly opening the door so she could get out.

"Michelle..."

Offering him nothing more than a wave of her hand, Michelle continued across the parking lot and up in to her apartment building.

Chapter 192

As Michelle got closer and closer to her apartment, she began to feel physically tired. It seemed that everything that had happened in the past few months had taken the last breath of life she had remaining. Pulling her hand through her hair roughly, she let out a heavy sigh and took the steps two at a time in an effort to speed up the process. Once she reached the small landing in front of her door she silently cursed herself. 

"Fuck!" she mumbled to herself, realizing that she had no way to get in. 

Turning around to the door just across the hall from her own, she took the few small steps that seperated them and exhaled a deep sigh before knocking lightly on it. Folding her arms across her chest, she waited impatiently for her neighbor to answer. After what seemed like an eternity she finally heard a bit of commotion on the other side of the door. 

"Who is it?" 

"Ummm, its Michelle." she paused for a moment "From across the hall." 

After a few seconds of silence, she heard the the sound of the deadbolt unlocking on the other side and took a slight step back.

"Hey Bree. Im really sorry to bother you, its just that I locked myself out, and ummm.....before Jenna left she told me that she had left a spare key with you."  As Michelle continued on with her explaination for her visit, a concerned look quickly began to wash over her neighbor's strained features. "So umm...I was kinda hoping that I could get that from you." 

"Are you alright?" Breanna asked, slowly taking a few steps closer to Michelle. "I mean, the other day when I came home from work...I heard some stuff going on over there." 

"Stuff?"  Michelle asked nonchalantly, hoping that what she was referring to had nothing to do with one of the full contact fights she had endured at the hands of Wade.

"Yeah...ummm...with your boyfriend.  At least I think he's your boyfriend."  Breanna replied, he gaze briefly drifting down towards one of the many faded bruises still left on Michelle's arm. "I'm sorry.  I'm not trying to pry in your business or anything.  I was just...I mean...I couldn't help but be concerned about you.  These walls are pretty thin incase you didn't know."

Realizing that Breanna was priviledge to way more information about her personal life than she would have liked, Michelle quickly tried to change the subject back to the real reason she was standing in front of her door.

"It's fine.  Everything's fine." 

"Are you sure, because I can..."

"Honestly Bree, I'm fine."  Michelle quickly interjected, trying her best to cover the visable marks Breanna was still studying.  "But umm....as I was saying, if you still have that spare key then..."

"Oh yeah, the key.  I'll gladly give it to you if you still need it, but you shouldn't.  Jenna came back from New York earlier this morning.  I didn't hear her leave or anything, so I assume she's still in there."

"Jenna's back?!"

"Yeah, she came by earlier to ask me if I saw you and..."

Before Breanna could even finish her sentence, Michelle turned around and quickly ran back across the hall. The distance between the two doors seeming more like miles than feet. Feeling her neighbor's eyes burning into her back as she walked away, Michelle turned back around. 

"You know.......it's not what you think.  I'm not a bad person." her voice cracked as she spoke. "I ju-just wanted you to know that." 

After quickly turning back around, Michelle tapped lightly on the front door. Suprisingly though, she didnt have to wait long to get in. In fact, she didnt have to wait at all, as the door slowly creeked open. It wasnt even shut all the way. 

Crossing the threshold of her apartment, Michelle closed her eyes and breathed in what she could only describe as the sweet smell of freedom. Unfortunately, that taste of freedom was short lived, as she felt that sharp stabbing pain surge through her ribs once again. 

"Ow...God damn it."  she whimpered.

After taking a few seconds to pull herself together, the pain slowly subsided and she finally opened her eyes. Only this time when she opened them, Jenna was standing in front of her, a large black trash bag in her hand, and a look of sorrow spread across her face. Michelle blinked her eyes rapidly, hoping that she wasnt hallucinating. 

"Jenna?" Michelle whispered, her eyes instantly filling with tears. 

"Hey you." Jenna's soft tone mirrored her own. 

Unable to control her emotions, Michelle quickly closed the distance between the two of them and threw her arms around her best friend. 

"Oh my God Jenna, I've missed you so much." she sobbed into her friends shoulder. 

"I've missed you too chick."  Jenna replied, her voice breaking slightly as she gently rubbed the back of Michelle's head. 

Michelle tried her hardest to hold on to the last bit of compsure she felt she had left, but feeling Jenna's arms around her in that reassuing embrace made her feel genuinely safe for the first time in a long time. In that moment, she let go of all the hurt, all the pain, and all the fear that had been consuming her for the last few weeks. Holding onto her friend for dear life, she continued to sob uncontrollably. It seemed as though the tears would never stop. 

"Michelle.....talk to me please." Jenna cried with her friend. "I can't help you if you won't tell me what's going on." 

"I cant!" Michelle cried, her body trembling. 

With the unsteadiness of the embrace knocking them off balance, both friends fell to the ground, not once breaking their hold on each other as they continued to cry with complete abandon. Michelle for the pain that she wished she could let go of, and Jenna for what she knew she couldn't understand. 

"Michelle you're really starting to scare me." Jenna sniffled. "I don't know what's going on. It's like your a ghost. I haven't spoken to you in months, I've been calling both the home phone and your cell trying in vain to get in touch with you, and when I can't take the worrying any longer and decide to come back home and check on you, I find that the apartment's a complete wreck and............by the looks of it, so are you." 

Pulling herself away from Michelle slightly so that she could look her in the eyes, Jenna tried to steady her own voice enough to try to sound reassuring to her friend. 

"Michelle, you know you can trust me.  You're my best friend and I would never judge you....never!" her eyes pleaded with Michelle for answers. "What is going on? Is it Wade again?  Did something else go down between you two?" 

"Oh God Jen. Its just..." her eyes searched upward for an answer. "Its everything. It's Wade, it's Justin.......Chris!  My life.  My career, or the lack there of."  she quickly rambled out.  "I just......I fucked up Jen. I fucked everything up so badly, and I dont know how to fix it." 

Jenna's face held a mixture of confusion and sorrow.  She was vaguely familiar with the problems she had been having with Wade, and assumed when she mentioned Justin that she was referring to something going on with the tour, but Chris?  That was a name that she couldn't place a face to and that bothered her.  Especially after seeing the look on Michelle's face as she said it.

"Well I can't help you unless I know what's going on.  You need to talk to me."

"I wouldn't even know where to start Jen!"

"How about from the beginning.  I mean, last time we talked, you mentioned that you and Wade were having some 'problems', right?"  Jenna asked, trying her hardest not to sound judgemental, especially knowing very well that the problems she was referring to were the ones that involved Wade putting his hands on her best friend.  "So, I assume things haven't gotten any better?"

"No, they haven't.  Everything just kind of.....escalated after that."

"Things got worse?!"

Unable to verbally respond with the painfully memories so fresh on her mind, Michelle just looked around at her surroundings and shamefully nodded her head.

"You said he hit you before and that you thought it was an accident, but if it happened again Michelle, you have to know that it wasn't!"  Jenna yelled, her heartache getting the best of her as she tried to come to terms with what she was hearing.  "You left him, right?"

After letting out a heavy sigh, Michelle turned back around and just hung her head.  She didn't need to say or do anything more.  Her reaction to her question said it all.

"Michelle!  Please tell me you didn't stay with him?!"

"I tried to leave Jenna, I really did!  More than once!"  Michelle cried out, quickly trying to wipe her cheeks.  "I just couldn't do it!"

"Why?!"

"He wouldn't let me!  Everytime I tried to put some distance between us, I ended up in worse situations than before I tried to leave.  It got to the point where it wasn't even worth it to try anymore. Everyday felt like it could very well be my last.  I couldn't take fighting him anymore.  I wanted to die!"

Watching the look of despair and fear resurface on her best friend's face, Jenna grabbed a hold of her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.  She hated seeing her so fragile and lost, but she had too many questions that needed to be answered to just back off.

"Did you ever call the cops?  Report him to anyone?  Anything?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"It wouldn't have done me any good Jen.  Too many other people were getting involved.  There really wasn't any clean way to just walk away from it all."

"There's always a way Michelle. You should have told me.  I would have came back here to help you, you know that."

"The last thing I needed though was more people I cared about getting hurt.  I watched too much of that already, believe me."

After allowing Michelle a few moments to compose herself, Jenna sighed heavily and once again prepared to try and get Michelle to open up.  She wanted to know everything that had been going on, but she also knew that certain details were only going to be given over time, and only when she felt comfortable enough to address them.  Right now she would have to be satisfied with just knowing the basics of what she had been enduring.

"Alright, so things with Wade didn't get any better, and Justin?  Did something happen with the tour?"

"No, something happened between us."  she replied, her voice cracking slightly from the still present heartbreak his betrayal caused.  "It happened one night when Wade was out of town.  We weren't really together, or at least in the sense that I would like to think of with two people who are susposed to care about each other, but that didn't matter to Wade.  He ended up finding out about the two of us when he came home and he was beyond livid."  she sobbed, gently adjusting her position on the floor so that the pain in her ribs wasn't so intense.  "He basically gave me two options.  Either accompany him back to his house so I could be...dealt with, or he would go and confront Justin head on.  Given what had already happened with Marty, I knew I couldn't allow Justin to pay for my mistakes as well.  I had to go back to his place with him."  she said, pausing slightly as her thought process took over.  "Unfortunately though, I found out later that Justin was really only interested in giving Wade a does of his own medicine, and not me.  I was just a pawn that he was using to accomplish his goal, and I guess it worked."  she continued, wiping a few stray tears from her eyes.  "But you know what, it doesn't even matter anymore.  All that's water under the bridge."

Knowing that there was still one more person they had not yet covered, Jenna cleared her throat and stared nervously at her.  The look she recalled seeing on Michelle's face as she said his name, almost causing her to seriously question if she should even bring him up.

"What?"  Michelle asked, tucking a few stray pieces of hair behind her ear.  "Whatever it is Jen, just say it."

"Earlier when I asked you what was wrong, you mentioned that things had gone wrong with Wade, and your job, but you also mentioned someone else."

"Yeah, and I told you what the deal was with Justin."

"No, I'm not talking about Justin."

Instantly realizing where this line of questioning was more than likely headed, Michelle quickly got to her feet.  She had already revealed enough embarassing details about her life with Wade and Justin to make her feel mortified for the next few years without bringing up anything, or anyone else. 

"I think I'm just going to go lay down for a little bit."

Not wanting to let her walk away without answering the one question that was making her the most concerned, Jenna got up to her feet as well and moved in front of her.  She needed to know who this guy was and what had gone down between them that had her still so visably shaken.

"Michelle?"

"What?"

"Who's Chris?"  she asked, her face distorting slightly in anticipation of her response.

"I'm not ready to talk about him Jen."  she cried, instantly hanging her head in shame.  "Please don't ask me to."

"Why?  Who is he?!"

After laughing slightly at the question her best friend had just posed to her, Michelle shrugged her shoulders like she didn't have a clue.  That one simple question having way more answers than she cared to discuss at the moment.   Who was he?  He was friends with Wade, or at least he was up until recently.  He was someone who spoke confidently, and with authority, or at least he was until he was trying to convince her he wasn't the person she thought he was.  He was a hardened person, unwavering when it came to human emotion, or at least he appeared to be until a few hours ago.  Realizing she didn't know any more about Chris now than she did that very first time she saw him, Michelle just shook her head.

"I wish I knew how to answer that question Jen, but the truth of the matter is I really don't know who he is."

Picking up on something other than the fear she had originally heard when she vocalized his name earlier, Jenna cocked her head to the side in preparation for another question.  It wasn't one that she wanted to ask, but knowing Michelle like she did, she knew she didn't have a choice.

"Look, I really don't know what went down with this guy, so forgive me if this question offends you at all, but do you want to know who he is?"

"What?"

"Do you want to know who he is?  The way you said that kind of makes me think you're disappointed with the reality that you don't."

"I should say no Jen.  I should be able to say that there isn't anything about the guy that intrigues me, but if I did, that would be a lie!"  she blurted out, the tone of her voice conveying that she had clearly lost any sanity that she still had left.  "This guy isn't someone you would want occupying your thoughts, and yet for some strange reason I find him doing just that.  I mean, I am absolutely terrified of this guy and what he is capable of, but at the same time, something draws me to him!  It's like a moth to a flame.  What is wrong with me?!"

"Nothing is wrong with you."  Jenna quickly reassured her as she pulled her friend in for an embrace.  "Things are just a little crazy right now.  I'm sure given everything that has happened, your just tryin to grasp on to anything or anyone that makes you feel alive.  Whether the feeling is good or bad probably doesn't matter.  Everything will be alright though, I promise.  It's just going to take a little time."

"How long you got?"  Michelle asked, her tears finally giving way to a slight smile.

"All the time you need girl."

Chapter 193

Chris Steadied the wheel of his '67 Mustang with a heavily casted left hand. He couldn't believe the state that he was in. One hand swollen and bruised to hell from the beating he gave Wade, and the other damn near shattered from the little lesson Jackson decided he needed to learn. Wrapping his right hand gently around the clutch, he swiftly shifted gears and winced at the pain it caused him to make the light fist. Rolling his head to the side, he gave his friend a crooked smile.

"I should shoot you." he stated very matter-of-factly.

The friends stared at each other intently for a moment, Chris' eyes darting between Jackson and the road, before they both errupted int a fit of laughter.

"Shoot me?!" Jackson spat out, laughing. "Shoot me, for what?!"

"For breaking my fucking hand." Chris continued laughing. "Look at this shit," he held his hand up for a second. "I cant even drive my fucking car!"

Jackson threw his hands up in the air, giving Chris a 'whatever' look. Maybe he had taken things a bit too far with the handcuffs, but he was truly trying to help.

"First of all, you were the one who bitched and bitched until I took you to get this damn car, so I dont wanna hear shit about you driving it. And secondly, you'd still have one good hand if you hadn't treated it like a lethal fucking weapon last night."

Chris shrugged at Jackson's comment.  Maybe he had a point. The friends continued their back and forth banter until they finally arrived at the club. Flying into the parking lot, Chris whipped the small sports car around in front of the now quiet establishment and hopped out.

After shoving his keys in to his pocket, they headed inside to survey the damages from the previous night, and handle the business that had been severly neglected in the midst of the whirlwind that had been Chris' life for the past week. As they entered the establishment, reminders of the night before all but screamed at them immeadiately.   Splatters of blood here, broken glass there. The place looked more like a run down biker bar than the exclusive establishment that the friends had intended it to be.

Letting out a slight chuckle, Chris surveyed his handy work with a more than pleased look on his face. The memories that the sight before him brought back, suddenly making the pain that he felt miniscule.

"Geez." he chuckled. "You'd think as much as we pay these people somebody could have cleaned this shit up."

Lowering his sunglasses, Jackson shot Chris an annoyed glare, before replacing them snuggly on the bridge of his nose.

"You're fucking sick...........you know that right?"

Chris shrugged nonchalantly, making his way over to the bar where Phil was taking inventory.

"Hey, you wanna pass me that bottle of Louis Tres and a couple glasses?" he interupted.

"You care to know what happened with the cops last night?" Phil asked ignoring his request.

"Not particularly."

Letting out an exasperated sigh, Phil filled three classes with ice before hauling them and the bottle of premium liquor over to Chris.

"You know Chris, your dad..."

"Don't go there Phil." he interupted before pouring himself, Jackson and Phil a hefty portion of the potent liquor.

Lifting his glass into the air, he waited for the other two men to join him in his salute. After a moment of hesitation, both Jackson and Phil lifted their glasses half heartedly with Chris'.

"To new partnerships, a fresh beginning..." glancing down at a small red stain on the floor that he knew belonged to Wade he laughed, a hearty laugh. "...and old blood."

Phil and Jackson exchanged annoyed glances before letting out a less than enthusiastic 'cheers' to down their drinks with Chris.

After refilling each of the three cups halfway, Chris tucked the bottle under his arm and headed toward his office, waving his casted hand over his head at Jackson and Phil as he walked away. 

"I never thought I'd say this," Phil began, taking a small sip of his drink. "but that little shit right there..." he said, pointing in the direction where Chris had disappeared just seconds ago. "...is even crazier than his old man."

Jackson's eyes shifted to Phil over the rim of his glass. Nico Carbonell was definitely a nondiscussable topic as far as Chris was concerned. It was like that game you play as a kid, 'Bloddy Mary'.  Everybody knew about it, but try getting someone to say her name three times and see what happens. 

"You know Jackson, you may not remember," Phil continued, reminicing about the 'old days'.  Days that to he and Chris were long since dead, "but when Nico was running things...."

"Are you out of your fucking mind?" Jackson finally spoke up, looking to where Chris had gone, making sure that he hadn't stepped out and accidentally heard anything Phil was saying. "You know, if you think Chris is half as crazy as you said, you wouldn't even be thinking about Nico in his presence, let alone mentioning him."

"Why? Its not like we're all gonna turn to stone Jackson."

Hearing a slight sound come from their left, both men turned to see Chris standing in the doorway that led toward the upper level of the bar, almost as if he had appeared out of nowhere. Shocked, neither man said a word.

"Oh please, don't stop on a count of me Phil. Continue. Let me know how great things would be if Nico were here." Chris didn't move, the expression on his face was unflinching, but the sound in his voice was an unmistakable mix of anger and hurt. A tone that was specific to the topic of his father. "Really, Im dying to know."

Lowering his head, Jackson shook it slowly. This was going to get ugly...it always did.

"I'm gonna go get some work done." Jackson announced grabbing his drink and heading off to his own office. He didnt want any part of this mess.

Once Jackson was out of the room, Chris made his way over to the bar. Resting his elbows gingerly on its smooth surface he leaned over, toward Phil.

"You know I respect you Phil, I mean hell, you've known me since I was just a twinkle in my daddy's eye." he let out a soft chuckle. "So if you wanna jump ship, or if you feel I'm making a mistake, by all mean let me know. At the very least, I owe you that much.  After the amount of work and loyalty you've put in over the years, you deserve more respect than anyone else around here."

His posture stiffened as he stood up straight, locking eyes with Phil.

"And I have no problem at all with you disagreeing with me Phil, or you voicing your opinion." his voice was sincere. "But if you ever, EVER mention that man's name around here, or compare me to him again. I'm gonna forget how good you were to me when I was a kid."  he finished, giving the older man a knowing look.

Phil knew what he meant by his comment, and knew that like his father, Chris would keep his word and indeed set all feelings aside if he broke the cardinal rule again. Giving the younger man a nod, Phil went back to work stocking the bar and taking inventory. 

"Anyway," Chris' voice was suddenly more friendly "I need your numbers from last night."

Still keeping silent, Phil handed Chris a small, neatly stacked pile of recipts, along with a bar order and a running tally of comps and tabs.

Taking the various lists and reciepts from Phil, Chris gave him a quick thanks before heading back to his office. Stopping mid stride, he turned back to the man who had always been a part of his life, and at times more of a father than his own. A small pang of guilt suddenly gnawing at him.

"Hey Phil, I meant what I said....ya know about.......him." he found himself fidgeting at the subject. "But I apologize for threatening you, or if I disrespected you. I really-"

"Its alright Chris. I shouldn't have.............I apologize too. It won't happen again." 

Both men stood for a moment, a silent understanding between them as they briefly returned to the past.  Chris, a boy looking to Phil for guidance, and Phil, a knowing mentor looking at a lost boy with an indescribable fire inside of him.

"Well, I'll be in my office if you need anything." Chris said quickly, retreating back upstairs before Phil could say anything else.

Once Chris was back in the confines of his office, he gave his head a hearty shake in an attempt to shake away the 'moment' he and Phil had just shared. The feeling that the few seconds had stirred in him causing chunks to rise in the back of his throat. Once he felt the sensation subside, he laughed to himself. He felt like such a little bitch. He felt.............what the fuck was all this feeling shit?! 

Sitting down at his desk he began to throw himself into the monsterous pile of work he had to go through. The realization that Michelle was no longer a part of his life washing over him suddenly. He was happy to be rid of her he thought, maybe after a few days without her, all of this 'feeling' madness would fade away. It was creeping into every facet of his life, and he was beyond sick of it.

Deciding that the best thing for him to do at the moment was to quit thinking about everything and just work, he did just that. For the next few hours Chris made countless calls, set as many business meetings as he could to occupy his time, and even managed to reschedule the appointment they had set with their interior decorator to come in to meet with him and Jackson about new looks for the club and their offices.

Leaning back in his chair, Chris rested his head against his hands, satisfied with what he had accomplished in the few hours that he had been there. Closing his eyes, he heaved a heavy sigh.

"You havin' a happy thought, or is somebody under that desk giving you a happy ending?" a smooth female voice asked.

Chris knew who it was before he opened his eyes. He would know that low sexy rasp of a voice anywhere. Slowly letting his eyes drift open, he realized that indeed his ears had not deceived him. Not bothering to answer her question, he took a moment to give her a once over. His eyes racing over her body without once feigning discretion.

She seemed to have gotten better looking in the months that he hadn't seen her, a feat he'd thought impossible. Her face was soft and inviting, but always had a natural hint of 'you wish' aloofness about it that most women attempted to convey. She was a thin leggy brunette, with hair that flowed in soft carefree waves down the middle of her back and over her shoulders. Waves that he knew weren't carefree at all, but maticulously styled. Her body was quite grecian, perfect by any man's standards. She was model height, easily 5'9" with bare feet, and every part of her statuesque frame was perfectly manicured. 

"Kendal. Its been a long time." he smiled at her.

"Too long." she smiled back.

"What can I do you for?" he asked eyeing her up and down.  The thoughts of all the things that he would be doing to her in just a matter of moments, causing every ounce of blood in his body to rush south. 

"Well...didn't you just ask a mouthfull?" she asked, a slight snicker lingering in her words. "Pun intended."

He gave her a nod as if to say 'touche', not bothering to respond verbally. He wondered to himself how her timing always seemed to be so perfect. Whenever he was stressed, or needed to take out a little frustration.....or hell just needed some of the kind of fun only Kendall could provide, she would just appear. They wouldnt speak or see each other for months, at one point, even a few years went by without them having an encounter, but she never failed to show up at precisely the right moment. It was like the bitch had radar. 

"So, you gonna offer me something to drink?"  she asked, an expectant look on her face.

Pushing himself back from his desk a bit, Chris exposed the buldge that seemed to be fighting against every seam in his pants. 

"Why dont you get down here and get yourself something to drink." he suggested, gesturing with his head for her to occupy the empty space between him and the desk.

Walking the short distance between the door and where Chris sat, Kendall stood before him, lust dancing across her features. Licking her lips, she ran her knee seductively across his inner thigh, stopping just short of where his body and his designer appearal seemed to be at war.

"Dont waste my time Kendall." his voice was steady and authorative, but his face held a hint of playfulness.

"I've missed you." she said lowering herself to her knees, the comment directed more toward the buldge in his pants than at Chris directly.

"Show me."

Chris' words had barely echoed in his own head before she made quick work of relieving the throbbing portion of his body from the confines of his pants. Giving her lips one final lick, she burried her head between his legs, wraping the soft skin of her lips snugly around the part of his body that seemed to be as hard as the day was long. 

Chris groaned, a deep, satisfying groan at the feel of her expert movement. Her mouth suckled and pulled gently at him, daring his body to deny her the satisfaction of knowing that she was pleasing him. Her tongue moved in melodic patterns, circling him, slowly tracing a velvet trail of soft licks and kisses down his shaft, before easing him back down her throat. Allowing him to lingering for just a few seconds, feeling his entirety buried deep and warm inside her mouth. Feeling the muscle that he now had no control over flex slightly against her, she slowly slid her lips away from him, smiling proudly up at the man who had taught her everything she knew, before repeating the action.

Chris' fingers instinctively tangled themselves in her hair, bunching locks of brown waves into a fist and forcing her head to move at whatever pace he commanded. The force he was using causing nothing more than a sensual moan of pleasure to hum passed her lips and on to him as she followed the pace he was creating. 

Snatching her head away from him with a snap, he forced her gaze to his and released the grip he had on her hair.  After sliding his hand roughly up her neck, he rested it against the line of her jaw before giving her right cheek a firm smack, causing her to suck her bottom lip between her teeth. 

"You like that, huh?" he asked, an easy smile spreading across his face.

She nodded, sill biting her bottom lip.

"You used to be such a sweet girl." he chuckled to himself. "And now....well now, your such a dirty little bitch arent you?"

Again just a nod.

He loved this about Kendall. More than her looks, she was more than willing to play the sweet little submissive to Chris. At times she seemed to enjoy it more than he did, and every time they were together, he seemed to exploit it more and more.

"I thought you said you missed me." he inquired, changing the subject. 

Cocking his head to the side, he eyed her, his game face on, waiting for an answer.

"I do.....I have."  she replied, her voice now a mixture of sweet and sexy

"It doesn't feel like you miss me." he pouted "C'mon Kendall you gotta do better than this." he nodded at the position they were in. "Maybe we've just run our course."

"No no, I can be better."  There was a desperation in her voice, but it was still sexy. "I can prove it to you."

"How?"  This was where it seemed to get more and more interesting every time.

She paused for a moment, before staring up at him with a familiar look in her eyes.  It was a look he had seen before, but not a look that she had ever given him before. A look that he knew from somewhere else.

"I'm all yours.  You can do whatever you want." 

The sexiness that was ever present in her tone, now almost nonexistant. There was an innocence to her at that moment, her face, her voice, her body.  It all reminded him.....

of Michelle. 

Chapter 194

After taking a few moments to really study the look on her face, the grip that he held on her hair loosened briefly. For a second he couldn't decide if she was playing, or being sincere. This was not a part of their 'game'.  It never had been, and never would be.

"What the fuck are you doing Kendall?" he asked, jerking her head briskly from side to side, his grip tightening once again. "Huh?!  What the FUCK is this shit?!" he shouted, his voice cold and harsh as he stared down at her.

"Nothing." she winced, her hands quickly reaching up to grab his wrist and try to alleviate some of the now uncomfortable pressure he was applying to her head. "I thought.................I thought this was what you wanted."

After physically trying to shake the thought of Michelle from his head, Chris let out a small chuckle. The look on Kendall's face at that moment was priceless. He could tell that he was hurting her, to a point she hadn't expected him to. That much was obvious.  But that wasn't what he found funny. The funny thing was the look of expectation in her eyes, and the confusion. She knew something else was coming, she just didnt know what.

"Get your fuckin hands off me!" he commanded.

She did as she was told, her slender, perfectly manicured hands sliding cautiously away from his. Her eyes darted back and forth between him, the floor, the door, anywhere in the room but at him. She looked confused, worried. She had good reason to be worried Chris thought to himself.

Once her hands were placed dutifully on the floor beside her, Chris let go of the clump of hair that he had been holding on to. Her neatly coifed strands now a mess of waves.  After running his hand over the smooth surface of her collarbone, he slid his hand up alongside her neck, and back through her long lockes, pulling at it when he hit a slight snag.

"Anything I want huh?" he asked, rocking her head from side to side. "Stand up."

She hesitated for a moment, but eventually did as she was told.

"Take your clothes off." he instructed, reaching around her into one of the drawers on his desk.

Pulling a small sterling silver tray from inside, he placed it on the desk behind her as she continued to undress. Walking around the desk, Chris removed one of his famous small plastic baggies from his pocket. Emptying its contents onto the tray, he made short work of drawing out several thin lines, paying little to no attention to Kendall as she removed what little clothing she had on.

"Now what?" she asked, turning around to watch Chris as he bent over the other side of the desk.

"Shut up." was all he said before snorting two of the lines up each nostril.

After clearing his throat, he stood back up straight and motioned at her with the small cylinder he had just used.  As she stood there motionless, staring at him, he raised an eyebrow at her.

"You know I dont fuck with that shit Chris." she replied with a nervous laugh.

Scratching his eyebrow with his index finger, Chris walked back around the desk to where she was. With her now standing naked in front of him, he smoothed his good hand over her bare skin, grabbing and kneeding it aggressively with his fingers. It was so rough that she could feel the places on her body where she knew she would later see bruises.

After whipping her body around so that she now faced the small tray, he pinned her against the hard wooden surface of the desk and his own body.

"Yes Kendall, I know you have some sort of junkie superiority complex because you're just a little pill popping bitch, but you said whatever I want." his voice was simple "And what I want, is for you to bend your skinny ass over this desk, and not to come back up until you go numb."

Doing as she was told, Kendall bent over the desk and began to slowly snort the neatly drawn lines of cocaine off the silver platter. It wasnt that she had never done the stuff, or that she didn't like it. She just simply prefered the pills to powder.

While she continued to guide the small cylinder across the tray, she felt Chris guide himself inside her, letting out a slow moan at the feel of him.  After getting himself settled inside of her, Chris began working in and out of her at a rapid pace. The combination from the effects of the potent drug, and the feel of her wet and throbbing around him felt amazing.  Yet somehow, it made him long for more. Need more.

Driving himself deeper and harder inside her, Chris began to get almost angry at the fact that he couldn't release the feeling of aggression that previously begun to bubble inside of him.  It was that look.  The look she had given him just seconds earlier had gotten in his head.  It was driving him crazy, and not in that 'I wanna bang you in all the right ways' crazy, but in a 'I wanna punch that sweet fucking look off your face' crazy.

"That look!" he shouted, not realizing that he was thinking out loud. "All you fuckin bitches think you can just bat your eyelashes, pout your lips, and put a little sugar in your voice, and that's just gonna make the whole fuckin world seem like a fairytale!   Well I got news for you baby!  I don't believe in happy endings, and I'm sure in the fuck not your Prince Charming!"

His thrusts became violent as he slammed her torso against the desk. A small grunt escaping her, as her body went crashing against the hard surface of the finely crafted piece of wood.

"Chris....." she coughed out. "Chris your really.......hurting....me" 

Her words came out in desperate grunts as he continued to apply pressure to her body.  Suddenly, as quickly as the pressure had been forced on her mid section it was released, and was now focused on her hair. Snatching her body into an upright position once again, Chris never missing a stroke, but somehow managed to pick up speed and aggression as he continued.

"Good." he hissed in her ear "Now quit fuckin bitching about it and tell me how much you like it."

When she didnt answer him, he forcefully tugged on her hair.

"I cant hear you!"

"I LIKE IT!" she screamed, hoping that by following his instruction he might ease up on her some.

"You like what?!"

"When you hurt me!" she cried out, however her tone conveyed the exact opposite.

"Good girl." Chris coaxed, slamming her face forcefully back against the desk. 

After a few seconds of feeling her body being pressed back against the desk, Kendal began to taste what seemed like a mixture of cocaine and what she imagined pennies would taste like in her mouth. Lifting her head as much as she could off the desk, her eyes widened instantly at the site before her. A mixture of blood and white powder lay in a small puddle right underneath where her face had slammed into the desk. Unable to control her reaction,  Kendall let a soft sob escape her lips at the pain and humilation she felt at the moment. 

She and Chris had always gotten each other off in a more kinky and abusive way than most would appreciate, but something about this time was just not sitting right with her. In all honesty, he had probably hurt her worse than this before, but it was the feeling that was accompanying the moment this time around that was what was truly scaring her.

"Dont you dare!" Chris' voice was beginning to sound irrate and desperate "Dont you dare FUCKING cry!"

Kendall tried desperately to hold in the tears that threatened to spill over her eyelids

"You think you're her, dont you?" he asked, this time bringing his mouth to her ear instead of pulling her up to him again.

"I d-don't know what you're talking about Chris." her eyes raced around the room, truly frightened.

"Oh, I think you do! I think you all just wanna fuck with my head!" he continued, his casted hand making it a little more than difficult for him to slide the smooth leather belt from his pants as they hung midway down his thighs.

"Chris I swear, I'm not trying to mess with you." her voice was desperate.

"You keep telling yourself that Kendall." he said coldly, the belt now hanging loosely in his hand as he talked to her. "But I know you, and I know her, and I'm done letting you bitches fuck with my head.....and my emotions."

'Your emotions?' 

The question ran through Kendall's head, but she never got the chance to ask it.  As soon as the words left his mouth, Kendall felt the cool leather of Chris' belt slap around her neck, and tighten instantly. It was in that very moment that she realized that this had absolutely nothing to do with her, or even with what they did with each other.  This was about Chris and his desire to want to hurt someone.  Unfortunately for her, she just happened to be in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

In a matter of seconds, the pain that he was causing her below the waist paled in comparison to the pain of not being able to draw in air. She struggled and gasped, trying....hoping for the smallest sliver of fresh air to enter her lungs, but each time the pain worsened and the spots that she had begun to see multiplied. She tried to speak, yell to him that she really couldn't breathe, that this wasnt funny, but all that came out was a choking grunt.

Chris on the other hand seemed to be in a completely different world all together. He would look down at her ever so often, seeing the skin of her neck around the belt turning an off shade of white, but not once did it connect in his head that he could really be hurting her. He smiled as his eyes fixed on the spot where the buckle was pinching her skin. He could hear her soft grunts, but they sounded so far away, like they didn't belong to anyone in the room. The release of aggression he had been seeking in the action overcoming him at the moment, his head surprisingly becoming more clear than it had felt in weeks. Beads of sweat dripped from the stands of hair that had fallen in front of his face onto her back as he continued to seek that release of tension that suddenly seemed to be within his grasp

Curling the end of the belt that he held around his hand, he tightened his grip and pulled on it so hard that Kendall felt like her neck was going to snap. Pulling her body up at an awkward angle using only the belt, he turned her face to his. Her eyes were glassy and scared, like an animal that knew it was about to die. Her lips had turned a pale shade of blue, and the sunny California glow that normally illuminated her soft features had drained completely.

Her eyes pleaded with him, begged him for mercy, but he just held on tighter.  It wasnt until a single tear managed to force its way from her strained eyes, and she coughed out his name with a faded 'please', that he finally released the pressure that he had been applying so diligently to her neck.

As soon as she felt the least bit of pressure give, Kendall inhaled a large desperate gasp for air. The action itself proving to be terribly painful. There was no doubt in her mind that if he hadn't released the hold he had on her at just that moment, he would have surely strangled her to death. She wanted to scream at him, to beat him...........to sit upright, but at that moment, all she could do was take in as much air as her lungs and bruised wind pipe would allow her to. Her desperate breathing a mixture of labored attempts and a choking cough.

Paying absolutely no attention to her, Chris simply scooted her body to the side of his desk before leaning down and doing away with several more lines of the white powder that still lay neatly on it's silver throne. Next to it, lay the contaminated pile of coke that Kendall had apparently bled in. She was bleeding? He shrugged away the concern, and merely picked up the glass of cognac that he had poured himself before Kendall entered his office.

"Jesus Christ!  Look at my desk." he commented, taking a hefty gulp of the glass' contents, before making a 'tsk tsk' sound and shaking his head at the sight of his once organized space 

Looking to where Kendall had been, he noticed that she had slid from his desk to the floor. Her hands wrapped gently and protectively around her throat, her shoulders heaving dramatically as she continued to try to catch her breath.

"Want something to drink before we finish?" he asked in all seriousness.

Her eyes shot up at him in the best glare that she could manage. A drink? Was he out of his fucking mind?   Her mind told her...YES!  He had always been a complete nutcase, but this was beyond crazy...even or him. Clearly whatever sanity he had been able to hold onto over the past few years had gone completely out the window since the last time she saw him.

"I guess I'll take that as a no." he sighed before finishing what was left in the glass.

"I can't Chris." she managed to get breathe out, realizing that he had been serious about 'finishing'.  "I cant take anymore."

He laughed, walking over to her, before picking her up by the shoulders. He could feel it in her body that any strength she had was being dedicated to breathing. He was literally holding her up. A task that given how little she weighed would have been effortless, but given the condition that both his hands were in, it was a bit more difficult than he had anticipated.

"Thats cute Kendall.  You said that like you meant it," the chuckle that came from deep in his throat was bone chilling. "like its a fucking option."

Her eyes pleaded with him to stop, but she knew that he wouldn't. He had lost all touch with reality

"Chris...." her eyes bore into his. His cold and wanting, her's scared and hurt. "Chris please."

Hearing the innocence in her voice that made him long for Michelle, Chris swung her small body around in one fluid motion and slammed it into the wall behind her. 

"Don't.  Fucking.  Do that!" he screamed at her, banging her body against the wall between words. "You dont get to cry Kendall!  That's not a part of the game!"

"This isnt a game!" she screamed back, tears now streaming down her face.

"Tell me you want me to treat you like my little whore.  Tell me you want me to hurt you." he commanded, ignoring her pleas and tears so that he could regain his focus once again.

Kendall shook her head 'no', unable to put her response into words.

"You said whatever I want." he informed her through gritted teeth. "So say it!"  he yelled, her back once again connecting with a loud thud against the wall. "SAY IT KENDALL!"

"I want...to be your little whore." she said, her voice barely above a whisper as she fought back tears.

Chris positioned himself to enter her again, her body pinned securely between him and the wall. That cheshire grin slowly easing across his face as he gathered his composure.

"No." he drug out the word. "I want you to say it like you mean it. Like I know you can." he said, caressing the side of her face. "Now say, 'Chris I want to be your little whore'....the right way.'"

Taking a few necessary long breaths, Kendall finally calmed herself down enough to repeat the words he wanted to hear.

"Chris-"

"Yes?" even his voice smiled, as he eased just the tip of himself inside of her.

"I w-want.......I want you-"

"You want what?" he eased himself in ever so gently an inch at a time.

"I want to be your little whore." she said, turning her face away from his.

"Look at me Kendall."

Her eyes slowly came to meet his again. The deep green of his eyes flicked with a certain sadistic pleasure that only he seemed to poses. Closing her eyes, she exhaled slowly before making eye contact with him again. This time she held back her tears, forced them to stay hidden behind her lashes. She willed her voice to be steady and firm, knowing he would except nothing less.

"I want to be your whore.  I want...you to hurt me." 

The conviction he saw in her eyes, that he heard in her voice at that moment was exactly what he had wanted. Rising up on the balls of his feet, Chris pushed himself completely inside of her, illiciting a stifled whimper from her. Satisfied that he had accomplished what he set out to do, he wasted no time in getting back down to business.

Chapter 195

Grabbing her waist firmly with his hands, he leaned in closer.

"Tell me how you want it!" he breathed, his face smashing into the side of her's.

"Harder!" she cried out, her voice strained, and nothing could have been further from the truth.   Hell, at that moment she would have told him she was purple if it would help him reach his climax, and get him the hell off of her.

"Don't you ever try and pull that shit with me again!  You got it?!  You're not her Kendall!  In fact, you're the farthest thing from her!"  Chris yelled, pushing himself deeper and harder inside of her, pulling her hair so that her body arched away from the wall and towards his.  He wanted to hear her scream. Scream from pleasure, from pain, fear.  It didnt matter.   He just wanted to hear the scream of a woman who couldnt control it, even if she wanted to.

Kendall squeezed her eyes shut as tight as she could. Hoping that somehow the effort she put into that one action would somehow ease the pain she felt.  Unfortunately it didn't take long to realize that no amount of effort or distraction could lessen the horrifying situation she now found herself in.  A situation she now realized was the result of an encounter he had with some girl.  And not just any girl, but one who had let his guard down for.  One who had hurt him.

"Say it again!"

His thrust were harder, faster, more erratic.

"Harder Chris!" she obliged, knowing she had no other choice.

Her slender fingers slipped and dug into the sweat covered skin that held tight to his muscular shoulders.

"Again!" he commanded.

"Harder!" a stray tear slipped from between the confines of her tightly sealed eyelids. 

"AGAIN!" he shouted his command. "Beg for it, you bitch!"

"HARDER!"  the pain that he was putting her in, enhancing the desperation of the plea. "PLEASE!" 

Hearing the words she spoke, and the sound of her voice as she said them, Chris lost complete control of his body. It was almost as if he were in a race with his own body. That feeling quickly building up in his gut that only came when release was near. 

Quickly pulling himself out of her, he used his casted hand to force her down to her knees in front of him. A feat that was fairly easy, seeing as how her body had all but given out on her by this point. Holding her in place by her hair, he stroked himself feverishly with the other.

"Open." he instructed.

When she took longer than he deemed neccessary to oblige what he considered a fairly simple request, Chris threw a quick slap across her face.

"I said open your goddamn mouth!"

Slowly, Kendall drew open her mouth, her jaw trembling slightly. Partially from the sudden cold she now felt rush over her entire body, and partly from the fatigue and pain she was in.

"That's a good girl." he coaxed, taking a step forward as he felt his climax reach its tip.

After a few more rapid strokes, Kendall heard a strained moan escape Chris. Her head jerked slightly at the feel of his warm orgasm being released inside of her mouth. She stayed there, mouth dutifully open, until every last drop of what he had to give was now resting inside of it. She knew better than to move, than to take her eyes off of him. Chris was very particular in the way that he liked things done, and when it came to their sexual escapades, it was no different.

Once he was satisfied that he had nothing left to give, Chris took a step back before looking down at her with that same sadistic smile.

"What are you waiting for?" he asked, his hands now placed impatiently on his hips.

Placing her lips back together slowly, Kendall closed her eyes and allowed the warm, salty taste of him to slide down the back of her throat, before opening her mouth again to show him that she had swallowed every last drop of what he had given her. What he had once referred to during one of their encounters as his "gift" to her.

"Thats why you're my favorite Kendall." he smiled, placing a hand over his chest for dramatic affect before heading toward the bathroom that was connected to his office. "You always aim to please."

Once Kendall was sure that Chris had entered the bathroom and had the door securely locked behind him, she made what felt to her like a mad dash for her clothes. In reality, her movement resembled something more along the lines of a brisk limp.

When she finally made her way to the pile of clothes that belonged to her, she quickly wiggled her way back into her dress. Not wanting to spend another moment within a quarter mile radius of Chris, she stuffed her undergarmets into her purse. As dirty and used as Chris had made her feel, the time it would take to put them on now seemed like a luxury she couldnt afford. Snatching her shoes up from the floor, she adjusted her bag on her shoulder, smoothed out her dress, and half limped, half ran out of his office. 

Second later she was heading down the stairs and toward the front doors of the club. Doors that in that moment seemed to get further away the closer she got. 

~

Leaning carelessly against the bar, Jackson took a long tired sip on a glass of scotch. Chris was beginning to wear on his last damn nerve. He could only remember one other time his friend and business partner had pushed him to the brink of homicide, and at least then it could have been blamed on youth. Now, it was just pure stupidity and stubborness.  He was beginning to lose his patience. 

Heaving a long sigh, Jackson pressed the cool glass to his forehead, dragging it slowly across the surface of his skin. Hoping in vain that it would cool his mood.  Sadly, it didnt.

After sitting there for a few seconds with his eyes closed, the glass still resting against his head, Jackson was snapped back into reality by the sound of chair legs scraping against the floor. Turning his head to see what had caused the slight commotion, he saw a visibly dissheveled and unsteady Kendal making a desperate attempt for the door

For a moment he just watched her, until the possibilities of what she may have been limping from began to swim in his head. She had just been with Chris.....and there was no telling what he had done to her, because she sure as hell didnt walk in looking like that.

Quickly closing the distance between them before she could get to the door, Jackson grabbed the upper part of her slender arm in an effort to stop her. Almost as soon as his skin made contact with hers, he could feel that something was seriously wrong. She was shaking, and whatever it was that had her so shook up was coming off of her in waves. 

"Kendall?" his voice was soft, concerned.

Her face was turned away from him, but he could tell that she was crying.

"Kendall, look at me." when she didnt respond her gave her arm a slight shake. "Kendall?  What the hell happened?"

When she neither moved nor spoke, he put a little more bass in his voice before addressing her again.

"Kendall. Look at me."  This time it wasn't a question.

Slowly, the young girl brought her gaze to meet with Jackson's. The look on his face affirming what she already knew. Trying to hold back the flood of tears that threatened to spill over her lashes, she took shallow breathes in an attempt to keep them at bay.

Jackson's eyes scanned over the exposed parts of her body, taking inventory of all the afflictions that now adorned her thin frame. There was a mixture of partially moist, partially dried blood, and what he knew was probably cocaine smeered under her nose and across the upper part of her top lip. The lower half of her mouth was split vertically, halfway between the middle and right side, and her eyes were completely bloodshot. Not to mention the faint hint of green near her chin and just above her right cheek bone that he was sure would develope into full blown bruises in a matter of hours.

"What the fuck happened up there?" he asked, a mixture of concern and anger evident in his tone.

They were standing face to face now, but her eyes looked past him. 

"I dont....wanna....talk.....about it." the response came out in shakey hiccups as her body tightened still trying to fight off the tears. 

It was then that Jackson noticed what was probably the most prominent of her injuries. Once he spotted it, he wasnt quite sure how he had missed it just seconds before. On her neck there was what appeared to be a burn about an inch in width that circled it completely. Her skin was scratched and bruised, raised in welts at some points, and raw and rough at others. He traced his finger tips gently across the sensitive surface of her skin, stopping when he reached a point that was more swollen and bruised than the rest of her neck. It was just a small rectangular section, that virtually throbbed under his touch, and he knew without a doubt that it had to have been from Chris' belt. 

His heart ached for her. Kendall was their friend. Sure, he knew that she and Chris had their own little thing on the side from time to time, but she had still been one of a handful of people that garnered any kind of genuine respect from either Chris or Jackson.

"This wasn't a part of the little game you two play, was it." It wasnt so much a question as an observation.

Hanging her head, Jackson could feel the shame she felt radiating from her as she slowly shook her head 'no'.

"Im so sorry Kendall. I dont know what else to say."  He had always liked Kendall, respected the fact that she knew who she was and what she wanted, and never made apologies for herself. She wasnt a hanger on or a groupie, she had put in work, proved that she could be trusted, proved that she deserved and demanded respect......and she sure as hell didnt deserve this. "Look, why dont you head home, and get some rest. I'll have someone stop by later and get you taken care of, ok?"

She nodded her head, knowing that he wouldn't accept no for an answer anyway. 

"Thanks Jackson, I -" she stopped mid sentence, her eyes teary and wide with fear.

Jackson studied the look in her eyes for a moment, before turning around to see what had her so spooked. He had a pretty good idea of what had caught her attention, but he just had to see for himself. He rolled his eyes at the sight of Chris strolling over, a cocky grin on his face as he fastened his belt while he walked. 

Turning his gaze back to Kendall, Jackson realized that the girl was physically paralyzed with fear. She looked catatonic. The only movement that she displayed at the moment was a slightly involuntary twitch in her eyes from fighting back tears. The way her tears glistened and fogged her eyes was both heartbreaking and breath taking at the same time.

"You know Kendall, its awfully rude of you to just run out of here with out so much as saying goodbye." Chris commented, rolling his sleeves up as he made his way to the bar.  "Will you fix me a drink please Phil?"

The older man nodded and silently made Chris his signature drink of Metaxa Amphora Brandy before heading over to the beer cooler to pretend to check stock. 

"If I didnt know any better, I would almost think that you were trying to hurt my feelings." he smiled, taking a sip of his brandy and walking toward Jackson and Kendall.

"Im still here Chris." she informed him.

"So I see." he took another drink of his brandy, but this time it was a more liberal drink. "Was there something more that you wanted?"

His eyes twinkled with mischief as he spoke, an hornery smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"I just wanna go home." her voice was barely a whisper, but still it cracked.

Cocking his head to the side, Chris examined her, giving her a look that was a cross between amusement and annoyance.

"Awww, Jackson I think she's gonna cry." he said glancing at Jackson and then back to Kendall. "Are you gonna cry Kendall?"

Unable to fight back the tears any longer, Kendall finally gave into the flood that had threaten to spill so many moments before. She just didnt have the strength to continue to pretend that she wasnt hurting physically and emotionally.

"Oh you gotta be fuckin kidding me.  You're crying!?" he threw his hands up in the air as though he couldn't believe what he was seeing. 

Closing the short distance between them, Chris grabbed her chin roughly between his index finger and thumb, pulling her face a hair away from his own.

"Be a fucking woman and suck up the godamn tears Kendall." he pecked her lips in a slow seductive manor before letting out a throaty chuckle. "Besides," he laughed "you know you fuckin liked it." he ran his tongue across her lips before tossing her head to the side. "See you around Kendall."

Once Kendall had disappeared out the front door of the establishment, Jackson shot Chris a disgusted glare.

"Your fuckin special, you know that? Just.........special." he shook his head as he turned to walk away.

"Thats what my mom always said!" Chris shouted over his shoulder with a chuckle at a retreating Jackson. "Why is everybody so damn uptight?" he asked himself, with a shake of his own head. 

After a few more moments of standing in the same spot sipping on his brandy, Chris let out an indifferent sigh before heading in the direction that Jackson had gone. Once he'd made his way back up the stairs and past his own office, he stopped at a door just a few feet down on the other side of the hallway.

"Knock knock." he leaned a shoulder against the frame of the doorway that led into an office almost identical to his own.

"What?" Jackson replied, not bothering to look up from the stack of papers he was sifting through.

"So this is how its gonna be?" Chris asked, before taking another drink of the potent liquor.  "Everytime one of these little sluts cries about what a horrible person I am, you're just gonna stop talking to me.......give me the silent treatment like a little bitch?"

"I dont know who the fuck you think you're talking to, but I got your bitch right here." Jackson replied, setting a sleek 9mm pistol on his desk. "And you know that shit with Kendall was wrong man."

"C'mon Jackson," he laughed nervously "you know how it gets when Kendall comes around. Shit just got a little rough. Its not my fault she couldnt handle it."

Throwing his head back in frustration, Jackson let out a laugh of complete disbelief, before looking back at Chris.

"Do you even hear yourself?!  I mean seriously, do you?!  ' She couldnt handle it'? It seems to me that there isnt a single woman on this planet who can handle 'it', and God help the ones who try."

"Oh and who are you supposed to be Jackson? Huh? Captain fuckin save a ho?!" Chris asked, sounding more deffensive than anything. "You act like I'm the only one with skeletons in my closet."

Clasping his hands together, Jackson propped his elbows on his desk before resting his chin on his knuckles.  A contemplative look wearing on his features. 

"You're absolutely right Chris, you're not the only one with skeletons in your closet. However, in ths room," he motioned around the room with his fingers before resuming his position. "you are the only person whose skeletons seem to taking trips to the emergency room."

"We're not talking about Michelle god damn it!" Chris spat out.

Leaning back in his chair, Jackson let out a disgusted chuckle, once again shaking his head at his friend.

"You're right.  We werent talking about Michelle." he stated in a matter of fact tone.

"You know what......" Chris was at a rare loss for words for a moment. "One day someones gonna knock your self riteous ass off of that high fucking horse your on."

"Well, seeing as how that 'one day' is not today, and that 'someone' sure as hell isnt you, I dont think I'll be losing any sleep at night." Jackson went back to sifting through the mountain of paperwork on his desk. "Now, if you dont mind, some of us actually still have this business on our minds and would like to get back to work."

Chris didnt bother continuing to argue with Jackson, and in yet another rare moment, let the arguement die. He did however, slam the door hard enough that it almost came off its hinges as he walked away from Jackson's office.

Now standing in the door way of his own office, Chris contemplated whether or not to go in and get some work done, or get out of there and clear his head. The fact that he was even having the dilemma was answer enough for him. Walking briskly back into the mostly bare space, he snatched his keys off the desk before hastily exiting the club.

He hadn't gotten more than five feet out the door, before he had his cell phone flipped open, and was scrolling down a particular list he had so lovingly titled the 'starting line-up'. Scrolling down the rather long list of some of the most beautiful women in LA, he laughed lightly as he passed Kendall's number and highlighted the one just beneath it. Marilyn. It wasnt her real name......honestly he had forgoten her real name quite some time ago, but had dubbed her Marilyn because of her striking resemblance to the starlet, but with longer hair. 

"Hey girl." he smiled into the phone when she picked up. 

Cradling the phone between his ear and shoulder, he made an odd maneuver with his broken hand to unlock his car before hopping into the driver's seat. Pushing the key into the ignition, his baby started with little more than a soft purr before he peeled out of the parking lot.

"You know I got a nice little treat for you." he continued as he drove. "Question is, what are you going to do to convince me that you deserve it?"  He chuckled at her answer. "You at work?..........Well tell Terry I said you're off. I'll be there in fifteen."

After just under fifteen minutes of driving, Chris pulled up in front of a large corporate building in downtown LA. Whipping his car into a handycapped spot, he hopped out and headed inside. Once inside, he rode the elevator to the twelth floor, chuckling to himself that he had managed to remember which floor she worked on, but couldnt for the life of him remember her real name. Seconds later the bell on the elevator dinged before the doors opened to ELEMENT Promotions. 'Marilyn' was hovering around her desk in the reception area gathering her things.

"I thought I said fifteen minutes." Chris' voice was seductive in her ear, as he gave her back side a quick smack.

The sultry looking blonde - who was dressed more like it was 1940 than 2008 - jumped, startled by his presence. 

"I was just getting ready to come down." her voice was nervous and seductive all at once.

"Getting ready to, and having your ass down there are two different things." This time he squeezed the spot he had previously smacked, pulling her closer to him. "You know how much I hate to be kept waiting Marilyn."

She laughed lightly at the name that he had given her, and had continued to call her for....well since the day they met.

"I'll make it up to you." this time seduction was all that was in her voice.

"Oh I know you will." he smiled against her ear. "I'll be downstairs, dont keep me waiting."