Whatever doesn't kill you...

[Jamie Quinn]

 

May 19th, 2017 - Club 6(0)9 - Atlantic City, NJ.

“Are you okay, babe?” Adriana said quietly into the phone.

“Yeah, why?”

“You just sound a little…off? I guess.”

“I’m fine. Just a little tired. It’s been a long night.” Okay, so it wasn’t a total lie. Jamie was tired and it had been a long night, but there was something that was bothering her. You ever have that feeling that something bad was going to happen? She didn’t know what it was, but the feeling has been lingering in her stomach all night. It was almost as if she could feel literal butterflies swarming around in the pit of her stomach.

Meh. It was probably just the edible from earlier.

“Oh, okay", Adriana exhales in relief “It’s been crazy over here, too. Cain has been on edge all damn night.” Adriana could’ve sworn she heard the sound of Jamie’s eyes rolling at the mention of her Cain’s name. There was no one in the world that Jamie hated more than that man. Cain was never disrespectful towards Jamie directly, but she wanted Adriana to herself and to treat her like a Queen. Knowing how Cain treated Adriana, there wasn't a day that went by where Jamie wouldn't run several scenarios through her head on how she could kill him and not get caught. 

Things were so easy at first. It all started on a random Friday night 6 months ago when Jamie and Dez had some business to take care with Cain at his strip club. While Dez and Cain were too busy carrying on in their side conversation over drinks, Jamie just kept her eyes on the alluring beauty that was dancing on stage. She is a lot of things, but Jamie damn sure isn't subtle.

(Flashback to Jamie being all kinds of thirsty for Adriana)

Being a stripper, Adriana has been with her fair share of women, but  none of them ever came close to Jamie Quinn. Up until that night, she had only heard about her and it didn't take much for her to realize that seeing her was a whole different level. It went from looks to flirting. Flirting to lust. Lust to sex. Sex to a dangerous romance. Then there they were. Whispering sweet nothings to each other over the damn phone. “I have to finish counting so I can get out of here. Are you going to be able to come by?”

“I’m not sure. I have an hour left here, but I don’t even know if he’ll be coming home tonight.” 

Jamie glances up at the clock up on the wall. 1:15 A.M. She lets out an exasperated sigh. This shit was really starting to weigh on her and Adriana sensed her disappointment.

“lo siento, mi amor.” (I'm sorry, my love)  

“Yeah, me too.” Jamie quickly hits “end” before flipping the phone on the table. After a few seconds, she realizes hanging up so fast without even saying bye may have been a little harsh so she grabs her phone again and sends a quick text:

“It’s not your fault <3 ”

She drops off the stack of bills with Dez before heading  to the parking lot out back. As much as Jamie loves the nightlife, she was ready to go home and sleep off the remnants of whatever the hell what was in the edible she had earlier. When approaching her 2017 Silver Metallic Honda Accord Coupe, it was barely a second after she grabbed the handle when she felt a strong forearm wrap around and squeeze her throat. “You think Cain wasn’t going to find out about you sleeping with his woman?! Time to go night-night, bitch!” The mysterious figure says in a harsh whisper into her ear while squeezing every ounce of air out of her. Of course Jamie’s first instinct was to try & reach up behind her and claw at his face, but instead she’s able to use her legs as leverage to push off against her car sending them both to the ground. The force was enough for him to loosen his grip, providing the opportunity for her to use her keys and drag it down the side of his face.

He groans in pain, grabbing his face, and let’s go of her. She pushes herself up to catch the rest of her breath. It didn’t take long before the man was back up to his feet and charging right towards her. She felt a blow to her abdomen as she’s basically speared into the side of her car. It was so hard that the assailant damn near knocks himself out in the process. While he tries to get back up, she finally is able to get a grip of the gun that was tucked into the back of her pants, but as she brandished the weapon, the man starts to sprint down the alley and hops into a waiting getaway car. Having a hard time focusing her aim, she doesn’t get a chance to fire off a round and watches the car speed off into the night.

While trying to regain her composure, Jamie tries to use her car to hold her up. Instead of gaining the feeling back in her legs, they just felt more wobbly and began to collapse underneath her. Before she can even register what is happening, her breathing starts to become a little more erratic and labored. Copper flavored liquid slowly starts to make it’s way up her throat, into her mouth, and a sharp pain begins to throb at her side. She spits at the ground and pressed her fingers into her side. "Fuck..." she lets out a shaky breath as she feels a deep stab wound at her side. 

"JAMIE!!” She hears the familiar, yet faint, sound of Dez's voice. Then everything fades to black. Guess that paranoia wasn't just the drugs after all.

January 2nd, 2018 - Club 6(0)9 - Atlantic City, NJ.

“I want to do this."

Jamie yanks out a crumpled up piece of paper from her back pocket and slams it down on the bar, sliding it to Desmond. He grabs it, looking it over. “Where did you find this?” He then picks up the bottle of Rum and attempts to pour some into a glass for Jamie, but she just snatches it away from him and takes a swig.

“Before the cops busted up in here last night after I almost broke that asshole’s face in, some guy liked what he saw and handed it to me. It gouged my interest, but I wanna know what you think.”

“I think you could use a break from…” Dez leans back in his stool and looks around the empty club, gesturing towards their environment “..this.” He takes one last puff of his cigar before setting it down in the tray. “I mean, it’s not like you didn’t almost die seven months ago or anything. As corny as it may sound, maybe it’s your calling to get ‘way from this shite.”

“But what about you?” Jamie takes another drink. There were only 2 people in this world that she cared about and loved. Adriana and Desmond. He has been with her through thick and thin to the point where they basically consider themselves brother and sister. If there was an opinion that was going to make a difference, it would be his.  

Dez barely shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Don’t worry 'bout me. This place isn’t going anywhere, Jamie. You saved Adriana from her life. Maybe it’s bout time you start looking out for y’self, yah?”

Jamie just nods her head in agreement and glances around the bar, recounting all the things that’s happened over the years. She’s been doing this shit since she was 16 years old and to be quite honest, she could use a bit of a change. Cain’s strip club was raided, closed down, and he’s rotting in Prison where he belongs, leaving Adriana with her now. Starting something new was definitely necessary, and The Factory was right up her alley. 

"Okay then. Let's do it."