Read Stray Bullet for Free Online Page B

take much as she was naturally beautiful. She turned on the shower and climbed into the cubicle, the warm water beating on her skin, she began returning to the land of the living.
     
    Her life hadn’t always been this way. Her upbringing had been modest, but comfortable. She had acquired a scholarship to gain entry to a reputable boarding school in Somerset, without which her parents she would not have been able to afford the fees. Her grades had been good enough for entrance into university, where she secretly began escorting men to complement her pitiful grant. She had planned to carry on doing this work until completion of her degree in Arts & Literature when she would return her life to normality.  However, it soon became apparent to her that men were prepared to pay a lot more than the £100.00 she received for a night’s work, if she was prepared to offer more than simply companionship over dinner.
     
    Of course she had dismissed the advances at first, but after twelve months or so, she found herself escorting a handsome and wealthy businessman around London. Towards the close of the evening, he expressed a desire to take things further and although playfully at first, they began debating what would be an acceptable price.
     
    “Darling you simply could not possibly afford me…” she had said in conclusion.
     
    “Try me!” was the brief and confident reply.
     
    She thought for a moment for a figure that would make him think twice, without wishing to insult him or for him to think she was belittling his advances, after all there could be more work at risk.  “Three thousand pounds.” she joked.
     
    “Done!” he said without hesitation… and later that evening the progression from escort to lady of the night began.
     
    He had been very pleased with his night out and the word spread quickly amongst his friends, who inundated her with calls for her services. She decided from the outset that she would only ever escort the ones she found palatable after that. It didn’t take long for her to realise that she was making far more money than she would ever earn from a normal career, and she soon thereafter dropped out of university…
     
    Lisa turned off the shower and stretched out for a towel. She began dabbing herself dry as she heard a car draw near on the gravel drive. Remaining unfazed by the potential appearance of visitors, she wiped the steam covered mirror with a hand towel and started to organise her hair. She always took casual clothes with her for afterwards, so as to tone the tempo down, an indication to the client that the date was over. Today she had blue Levi Strauss Jeans and a white polo neck cashmere jumper. She still looked radiant.
     
    She put the remainder of her belongings away in a small overnight bag and ventured out towards the stairs wondering what wonderful cuisine had been prepared for her. As she approached the top of the stairs, she heard voices from the hallway.
     
    “There’s ten thousand there for you Jack…”
    Jack stood looking at the wedge of notes and sensed taking Lucio’s money would only serve for him to descend further into darkness, the darkness of Lucio’s underworld…
     
    “I was returning a favour; I owed you. I can’t accept that!” she heard Jack reply.
     
    There was something about the visitor’s voice that she recognised. She remained perched and hesitant at the top of the stairs.
     
    “Jack, it was more than a favour. You saved me from serving at Her Majesty's pleasure, besides there’s a lot more where that came from…” purred Lucio. “Interested?”
     
    “Well I have been thinking about it and…” before Jack had a chance to politely turn down any future opportunities Lee appeared.
     
    “Good morning, everyone. I hope I’m not interrupting. It’s Mr Lucianni, isn’t it?” interrupted Lee as she strutted down the staircase and into the kitchen. She held out her hand. “I’m Lisa.”
     
    Lucio looked dumbfounded for a