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Twist of Fate
- Fanfic
By Stacey: November 2001 Enter Frankie and Colleen at the airport... "You know you don't have to go." Frankie took Colleen's hand in a gesture to stay. "I know, but with this money I have a chance at helping a lot of kids. They deserve it, and I wouldn't really know what to do with all this money by myself anyway." She kissed him, "I will miss you, I won't ever forget what you did for me and my brother. Thank you." With that, she turned and walked down the corridor to her plane. Frankie watched the plane taxi off until it was out of sight. He walked through the crowded airport to the bar. He sat down and ordered a Scotch and water. As he sat pondering what he should do with his half of the money, a young woman sat next down next to him. "Coming or going?" He looked up from his drink, "Neither, just seeing off a friend." He sat and stared at his drink as if it would contain the answer to the meaning of existence. "By the looks of it, she's already gone." He laughed, "What makes you think it was a she?" "Oh please, you look like someone shot your dog. And the only time someone looks like that is when he or she has to give up someone really important. Of course, I could be wrong, it could be a he, are you gay?" He scrunched his forehead at her, "What? No, I'm not, if it matters to you." The young woman smiled, "It might. That is, if you were, it would be a waste of a perfectly handsome man such as yourself." "What about you, Coming or going?" She shifted on her seat, "Oh, coming. I just packed my bags and got on the first available flight and here I am. I get bored easily, and I love to travel so whenever I get tired of the scenery I just find somewhere new to go." She dipped her finger into her drink and ran it over the rim of her glass and a soft ringing bellowed from the glass. "You must worry your family, always moving." She looked down at the floor; "I don't have any family, just me. But even when they were around it didn't matter; they were just like me. Nomadic, like gypsies or something, we used to travel in a big van that my dad had left over from the 70's it was great." She got up to go and Frankie stopped her, "Wait, what's your name? Where are you going to stay?" "Don't worry, I'm going to stay with a friend. My name Jessica, or Jessi if you prefer. See you around." Frankie stood up and shook her hand and handed her a card. "I'm Frankie, if you are ever in the neighborhood stop by." "I just might, thanks Frankie." She picked up her bag and walked out of the bar. Frankie shook his head and laughed to himself, "Damn twice in one day." He finished his drink left a tip, and went home. He tried to return to normal life. He used the money to fix up the club and paid everyone a hefty bonus. The rest he invested and bought himself a new car. He also made sure that Hopscotch's funeral was just the way he would have wanted it, elaborate and classy. The wake afterwards was not really as much of a wake as it was a party. Everyone shared stories about experiences with Hopscotch and such. Soon after, life was getting back to a normal pace and Frankie had put all of his time into the club once more. It was Friday night, and the club was at full capacity and Frankie was enjoying the company of his customers and friends. He was sitting at the bar talking with a friend about opening another club with his newly found wealth when someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned in his seat to see the young woman from the airport. "Hey, it's you! Jessi right?" He motioned to the bartender to get her a drink. "You remembered, how nice! Great place you have here! It seems very popular, it's not very often you see both men and women in a strip club." Frankie smiled and handed her a drink, "Yes, but as you can see it's not just a strip club, people come here to dance and have a good time, the girls are just a bonus." She sat with him most of the evening and they conversed about everything from politics to religion, their likes and dislikes. In the middle of their discussion she got up from her seat and started to dance. "I love this song! Come on, dance with me!" Frankie shook his head, "I don't really dance, I'm more of a spectator. Go on, enjoy." She pranced backwards to the dance floor, "Fine suit yourself." Frankie watched her as she danced. Within seconds she had two different men dancing with her, she teased them and taunted them both all the while keeping her eyes on Frankie. He admitted to himself that she was very good and as desensitized as he was to the continuous exposure to his strippers there was something about her that made him have to adjust himself in his seat. The song ended and she came walking up to her seat. As she sat back down, one of the men she had danced with sat on the other side of her. "So, would you like a drink?" He asked. "Sure, that sounds great." She looked over to Frankie, "Baby, do you mind if this guy buys me a drink?" Before Frankie could reply the young man quickly replied with an apology and retreated back to the other side of the room. Frankie laughed "That was cruel, teasing him with that dancing of yours and then blowing him off." "Oh please, he'll just move on to the next target, it was either disappoint him now or later, why drag it out?" "I should give you a job, your moves could make a lot of cash you know that?" She feigned innocence, "Who me? Why I don't know what you're talking about." Then she got serious, "Do you really think so? I just feel the music and the moves come naturally. But really, I could use a job, I'm staying in town for a while and I have to help my friend with bills and stuff." Frankie pondered for a moment then went ahead and agreed to try her out for a bit. He knew she'd be good for business, but at the same time he felt as if he were using her for some reason, almost guilty about it, almost. Jessi finished her drink, told Frankie goodnight and left. Frankie realizing it was almost closing decided he should wrap up and kick everybody out for the night. He finished the cash outs for the night and let the staff out and locked the door behind them. He went upstairs to his loft and fell asleep. The next day Jessi arrived at the club just after noon. She entered to find that it was deserted and the lights still out. After finding a light switch she went searching for Frankie. She searched the back rooms and his office but he was nowhere to be found. She headed upstairs thinking there were more changing rooms and private dance rooms, instead she found herself in Frankie's apartment. She looked around the loft to discover he was still asleep in a bed in the far corner of the room. She walked over to the bed and sat quietly next to him. She admired his long flowing hair as it covered his face. She pushed it away from his eyes, which caused him to stir. He immediately reached under his pillow and pointed a small revolver at Jessi. "Oh shit, Frankie it's me! Don't shoot!" She backed up until she felt the cold glass of a window against her back. Frankie realizing his mistake quickly drops the gun on the bed and sit back down. "Wow, I'm really sorry. I am just a bit jumpy as of late. I hope I didn't scare you to badly, Please sit down." She gathered her senses and sat down in a chair nearby. "No I think I'll be fine. I guess I should have knocked or something." Frankie who realized he was wearing nothing but his briefs, decided to quickly cover himself. She laughed at him, "Would you like me to turn my head while you find some pants? Not that I mind the view." Frankie got up and began rummaging through the closet. "Well, as long as you don't mind, after all I'll be seeing you mostly naked later." As he stepped into his shower she replied, "Yeah, but you'll be paying me for it. I'm going downstairs." She went down to the bar just as some of the others were showing up to get ready for the after work crowd. They all got acquainted and were going over some routines when Frankie came down. "Ladies, I see you have all met Jessi. Well, since you've already met I'm sure you won't mind showing her where the changing room is. Now take those pretty faces of yours and go get ready Please. We can't have our customers waiting now can we." They all blew kisses at him as they walked by, except Jessi who pinched him on the ass. "You look good with or without pants." She closed the door behind her. Frankie was left blushing with the Bartender trying to stifle her giggles. As the night drew on the club filled up to capacity. Each of the girls took turns on stage and finally it was Jessi's turn. Frankie got up on the "stage" and got everyone's attention. "I would like your attention please. I have a special treat for you all tonight. Most of you have been coming here for some time just to see the special talents of the most beautiful women in the world, and I am not about to let you down now. I am very pleased to introduce you to the latest addition to our family, Jessi!" As Jessi took stage center to dance all of the other dancers came out to sit on "Pervert Row" with Frankie centered on the stage. The lights went low and the music began. A sweet little blues number filled the air "Feelin Love" by Paula Cole. As the lyrics permeated men's (and women's) ears with sexual innuendoes, They all watched Jessi as she moved to each of the dancers, teasing them with her lithe body as she moved to the music. She would deliberately pass Frankie and move from one side to the other then back to center. She displayed a great gymnastic expedition with the pole in the middle of the dance floor. Then when the song climaxed near the end she slowly moved to face Frankie. She dipped down as close as she could, he held out a One hundred-dollar bill at her. He assumed she would take it with her teeth, but much to his suprise she flipped her body weight forward to balance most of it on her chest still facing him and reached her leg over her head and took it with her toes. She then placed it in her teeth winked at him and raised her body up with her arms and stood back up. She finished her dance and walked off stage. She went to the changing room and the girls came in a few minutes later. "That was great! How did you learn to do that?" They all wanted to know. "I'm double jointed in most of my body, and I've taken gymnastics since I was a girl. As for the rest, I just let the music consume me and the moves create themselves." She got dressed and went out to see Frankie. It took some time to reach the bar however. She was met with a barrage of men all wanting to by her a drink or ask for a dance. She turned them away and finally made it to the bar. "Well, do I get to stay?" She ordered a drink and waited for his reply. "Do you really have to ask? You got my attention, and every man and woman in this club. There's no way I'm letting you get away. How much did you make just now? Besides what you got from me and the girls." She pulled the money out of her boot and began to count it. "Well I gave the girls back what they handed out, I didn't want to take their money it was hard earned they shouldn't be giving it to me. So what I have here, totals to $150 bucks. I think most of them were being overly generous since it was my first time." Frankie laughed heartily, "Don't underestimate yourself, or them. You are good, and these guys don't fork out cash like that just to be nice, trust me. You can ask any of the girls, they have never made that kind of cash in one dance. Hell they don't even make that much in one night sometimes." Jessi swigged down her drink, "Okay, okay, I get the point I'm good. I have one more set to do before the night's over, see you later." She went back to the changing room and left Frankie anxiously awaiting her next performance. Pretty soon the night rolled into early am and it was time to close. The girls filed out one by one saying goodnight to Frankie. When Jessi walked passed he grabbed her hand. "Why don't you let me buy you breakfast, we can talk some more." She took back her hand and readjusted her shoulder bag, "I don't think that would be a good idea. You don't want to get involved with a girl like me." "I don't know what kind of girl you are, so why don't you let me decide whether or not I want to get involved." He persisted. "Frankie, please I really like you, you've been great to me, but trust me, I'm not girlfriend material. I don't want to hurt you." She lowered her head and began to walk out. "Hey, I'm sorry. I won't push it, just promise to have dinner with me sometime, no strings I promise." She smiled at him, "Okay dinner, no strings." She got in her car and drove off. Frankie locked up and decided he would go for a drive. As usual he ended up at the beachfront. He parked and headed down the boardwalk. It was a nice evening and the moon was full. The water glimmered like crystal shards and the entire beach was lit up from the night sky. As he walked he noticed a young woman with a man, at first he thought they were sharing an embrace but as he got closer he could see that she was struggling to get away from him. He quickened his pace until he saw the young woman pull a gun out on the man. He watched as the man backed up, and then lunge at the woman. There was a struggle then the gunshot rang through the air. The man fell to the ground and the woman began to run toward him. She was crying and running blindly. Frankie grabbed her and realized it was Jessi. "Jessi?! What the hell just happened down there? Who was that man?" "Oh my God, what are doing here, did you follow me? I have to get out of here, that man he was... Look there's no time to explain right now, we have to go before the cops get here!" They ran to Frankie's car and drove off just before the cops showed up. They drove back to the club and Frankie went behind the bar and fixed them both a drink. He also gave Jessi a towel to get the blood off of her face. "You want to tell me what happened back there?" Jessi sat there for a moment holding her head in her hands. "I really don't think you want to be involved with this, I can take care of myself. I'll be leaving first thing in the morning so don't expect me in tomorrow night. I'm sorry. I really thought I had gotten rid of those jerks once and for all." She sat there on the brink of tears while Frankie was just trying to figure out what he should do. "Who are they? What is it you are running from?" Jessi sighed and went into a dialogue of maniacal proportions. She explained how she had been the daughter of a very wealthy and powerful man. Not the hippie she had explained to him in the beginning. He owned a large corporation that dealt with the stock market, but apparently in his last few weeks of life he had managed to get himself into trouble with some bad men, Mafia men. He died owing them a lot of money and the only heir to the business and estate was Jessi. She sold the company and paid back what she could but they were not going to rest until they got the rest of their money. "Unfortunately for me, there's no more money left. Daddy owed a lot of people and I had to let the state take everything else. Those jerks don't seem to get it. There's nothing left. I've been avoiding them for nearly two years. But now they know where I am, and they won't stop until they get their money or I'm dead." Frankie took a deep breath, "How much money is it?" She shook her head, "Why are you gonna pay them for me? It's too much that's how much. They want 5million." Frankie laughed, and poured himself another drink. "I want you to tell me as much as you know about these men and where to contact them. We can deal with them in the morning. Oh wait, it is morning! Let's get some rest and we will deal with this later, when we are more coherent." Jessi looked at him, "Where am I supposed to go? I can't go home, they'll be looking there." Frankie took her by the hand, "Come on, you can stay upstairs with me, I'll be good I promise." They went upstairs and once inside Frankie began digging in a closet for bedclothes. He handed her some blankets and a pillow and unfolded a futon sitting adjacent from his bed. She began to put the blankets down and he took them from her. "No, I'll sleep here, you can take my bed, I insist. Go and run yourself a bath, you look like you need it. It's just behind that door." She smiled gratefully and did as she was told. He finished making out the extra bed and changed into a pair of bed pants. He lay down on the futon and closed his eyes letting sleep take over. Some time later Jessi came out of the bathroom draped in a towel. She noticed her new found knight sleeping soundly. She quietly foraged through his dresser and found a shirt. She slipped into it, taking in his scent as it draped over her head. She tip-toed over to the futon and sat herself next to him. As she admired him, her mind began to wander. "Why is he helping me? He doesn't even know me. So sweet, so kind, I don't deserve this. I should leave, but I can't gather the strength. How can I walk away from such a glorious creature?" She sighed and raised from his side to go lay in his bed. As she wrap herself in the warmth of the satin bedspread her mind continued to plague her with thoughts and fantasies of Frankie. It seemed it took forever for exhaustion to take over and finally put her to sleep. It was well into the next day before either of them awoke. Frankie was up first. He started making phone calls and calling old debts and favors, he was determined to find out all he could about these men and get Jessi all the help he could. He was a sucker for a lady in distress. As he wondered the room while talking on the phone he noticed that Jessi had begun to moan. He hung up and went to her to see what was wrong. She was dreaming, and it didn't seem to be a very good one. He sat next to her and began to gently shake her from her slumber, which made her jolt upright and scream. The shock of it was still overpowering her as she continued to scream and resist his comforting embrace. He gave her one good shake and said her name to get her to come around. She came out of the dream and clutched Frankie with shaky arms and buried her face into his bare chest. "Shh, it's alright, nobody is going to hurt you, it's okay." Frankie did his best to reassure her that it was just a dream. She sat up and looked into his eyes, "I don't deserve such kindness. I have brought you into my hell and yet you don't even turn me away." She placed a hand on his cheek, "You are truly wonderful." She leaned in and kissed him gently and slowly. He returned her kiss just as delicately, as if she would break at his touch. They made love like two teenagers for the first time. It was deliberate, so as to learn every part of each other's pleasure. It raised into heated passion as she lay beneath him. He slowly joined with her, as if he were entering a sacred temple. He shivered with every sensation she gave him. She sounded out in the delight of his offering. But once more they gave way to the heat between them and it became primal, it was emotion and passion in its purist form. They climaxed, first one then the other and Frankie collapsed at her side. They lay in silence, basking in the serenity of the aftermath of the moment. Finally, Frankie spoke, "I have set up a meeting with the man in charge of those goons who have been chasing you." Jessi nearly leapt from the bed. "What?! Are you insane? He'll kill us both!" Frankie took her hand and walked her to the shower with him. "Don't worry, I've made a deal with him. I'm going to give him 3million in cash and the rest he will receive over a 5-year period from revenue from my nightclubs. I can afford it; I recently came into some good luck so to speak and I won't miss it really. I make enough from this club and my new one across town to be comfortable." Jessi stood against the cold tile of the wall with a hesitant look on her face. "I can't let you do that, its way too much money for someone to give up. I won't let you do this." She went to walk away but he grabbed her arm and pulled her close to him. "It's already done, if we don't show up they will find us and they will kill us both. Besides, I'm not letting you get away from me. I lost my heart to one woman; I can't afford to let it happen again. I care about you too much to see you dead. Besides, (he grins) you can always work it off downstairs to repay me." She rolls her eyes at him and shakes her head; "Oh so there's a catch. I get it. But really, how can I thank you?" He pulls her into the shower and draws the curtain, "I'm sure we can think of something." That night Frankie loaded up the familiar suitcases into the trunk of his car and he and Jessi headed out to the pier. They were to meet a gentleman known as Mr. Tate at a small houseboat at the docks. The night was clear and the moon was bright which made it easy to find their way. They arrived at the boat and was greeted by a large man with an oozy machine gun. Frankie introduced himself and Jessi and was let in. They were immediately greeted by Mr. Tate and seated at a small table. "You are a hard girl to find Miss Jessica. I should shoot you here and now for being so difficult. You're just like your father that way." He glared at her in a most intimidating manner. "Fuck you, you know nothing of the kind of man my father was." She was quickly becoming irritated and was ready to walk out but Frankie calmed her down. "Mr. Tate here is the money you requested and I have here contracts that have been drawn up by my lawyers that state you will receive 15% of my profits over the span of five years. Which by my account, will clear her and her of any debts owed you." He handed over the paper work, which was quickly read and signed. Mr. Tate then had the large man at the door take the suitcases and put them away. Frankie and Jessi got up to leave and Mr. Tate stopped them. "Why are you helping her, what's in it for you?" Frankie turned to him, "Everything." He put an arm around Jessi's waist and walked out. ~Fin~ |