Title: Making Strides
Featuring: Roxy Phoenix
Date: February 2011
Location: Rev 239

An inauspicious hiss and a swift rattle were the only sounds audible in the still air. Her brown eyes hazily opened to see the snake coiled and preparing to strike.

As she grew more aware of her surroundings, she knew that she would have to retrieve the knife out of the pocket that she had stitched on the inside of her green military style jacket. That would certainly be there… no one knew about that hiding spot. All of her other weapons had been cleaned out already.

The rattlesnake drew its head back, and Roxy pulled her fingers in the cuff to unbutton the pocket and slip the knife out. She would have to time it perfectly. If she missed or hesitated, she’d be dead...
Her fingers slithered around the handle, and within a millisecond, the point of her neck penetrated the arrow shaped head of the predator and pinned it to the desert ground. Roxy never missed.

The reptile kicked about for a few agonizing moments, and Roxy watched its pitiful attempts to avoid submitting to its untimely fate. She twisted the blade about to assist with the death rather than letting it suffer anymore, not for sympathy, of course... her chances were slim to make it through this desert without a weapon, and she was not about to leave her knife with a measly rattlesnake or with the vulture that would scavenge its corpse after she’d moved on.

The stinging hot air crisped her tan skin, and she started to get the feeling that if she didn’t get up and move that she would soon become human beef jerky. The sticky and arid air emitted an appearance of waves. She struggled to rise to her feet and rubbed at her eyes questioning if she was coming out of an acid hangover. No… completely sober.

Her hands were rough, and she looked at her raw fingers. Layers of gritty sand caked underneath the chipped pink nails. Boy, she would need to schedule a manicure today… if she could find out a way to get to the nearest little Vietnamese salon.

She reached in her pockets… nothing. No phone. No money. No keys. With a look around, there was no sign even to allude to how she had gotten there.

How the hell did I wind up here? Where the hell is this ‘here’? Shit, Roxy… it seems like you ask yourself that question too many times these days.

Well, she knew the answer to who had dumped her there. That no good chicken shit bastard Jason. Jason had left her for dead… just when things got to heavy and hot. And here she would be left to figure out what the hell to do… because she knew those bastards would be coming for her soon. She would never forgive him… ever. She was making strides to repair things she had left behind… at least to reconcile things with Elena, and here he had gone and fucked it all up. It would be a miracle if she had ever heard from her again.

At least, not until today. Roxy Phoenix would kill that lying mother fucker before he messed things up again. He would make him pay.

She sighed, briefly reflecting on the past as she exited the Porsche Carrera. It had been her latest purchase with her first paycheck. Most people would be proud to have earned a nice chunk of change in order to splurge like that… she was pissed. She missed the days of being spoiled.

Roxy wasn’t nervous… but she wasn’t at ease. She knew this would be a difficult meeting, conversation… whatever the fuck they had agreed to.

She approached the table as calm and collected as she could be. In case things got a little heavy, she was equipped with the good ol’ reliable Bonecrusher in her purse and twin blades down her boots.
It was now or never, and Roxy didn’t have time to wait for “never” to come around. Whether Elena would forgive her or not… she had no choice. But she had bigger fish to fry than whatever petty beef this petite Bulgarian had against her.

“Hey stranger,” Roxy greeted the blonde at the café table.

“We may as well be strangers as often as I hear from you,” the blonde retorted. Her voice was cold, and she was wavering to keep her cool. She was mad, and Roxy knew exactly the reasons why… several of them.

“Suit yourself,” Roxy answered casually as she sat in the chair and crossed her legs. With a wink, she waved the waiter over. He quickly went to the wrought iron table where the two women were seated.

“What can I get for you two ladies?” He eagerly questioned with a notepad in his hand. His eyes tried to remain on one of their faces, but his eyes found themselves traveling up the tightly weaved fishnets that stretched up Roxy’s legs to the pleated black skirt.

Aware of his eyes on her, Roxy leaned back, allowing for the green military style jacket complete with gold rivets to fall open and reveal the strapless black corset top that hugged her petite torso and her generous bust so exquisitely. Her left black heeled boot bounced off the waiter’s pant leg as she kicked at it playfully. She certainly enjoyed the flattery.

Her companion, however, was not impressed. She cleared her throat to interrupt the sexual invitations that were happening across the table. His gaze was roughly tugged from Roxy’s body to the blonde’s order.

“I’ll have another iced tea.” She said, finishing off the glass that she had in her hand.

“And you, miss?” His glance returned to Roxy.

“I’ll have a White Russian.”

“Jesus Christ, Roxy, it’s ten thirty in the morning!” The blonde scolded her.

Roxy giggled, “Make it a double.”

He nodded and left the table to prepare the drinks.

“It seems things haven’t changed much.” She sighed and shook her head, “I shouldn’t have come.”

She rose to her feet with an anxious pace. Roxy stood and put her hand on the woman’s shoulder.

“No,” Roxy commanded. “Stay.”

The woman did not move. She was resolute in her attitude.

The waiter approached the table, and he began to distribute the drinks, putting the glass of iced tea near the blonde’s seat. But before he could place the double shot of the White Russian to Roxy, she waved it away.

She conceded, “Get me a fucking coke.”

The request put the woman back in her seat. Roxy sighed in exasperation as she took her seat. The blonde pursed her lips, satisfied with the recent events.

“Look, Elena,” Roxy snarled. “You can’t hate me forever.”

“I’m sure I can,” Elena crossed her arms.

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“Oh?” She questioned, “I wouldn’t understand the fact that you ditched Alexei and I? Or what about the fact that you didn’t come to my wedding? Or to see Alexei off when he went to war? Or when he was discharged �" he won a Purple Heart, did you know that? Or… most recently, the birth of my first child? But, I guess I’m the insensitive selfish one that wouldn’t understand.”

“I had no choice,” Roxy pushed through her clenched teeth.

“Bullshit. You had every choice, and you chose yourself.” She fumed.

“Christ, I’m your sister, Roxy. Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?”

The waiter placed the drinks in front of the two women at the table. He got an order for two salads, and he dismissed himself from the table to ready their meal.

“I have seen Alexei… several times.” She changed the subject.

She couldn’t have been such a dead eye shot without his lessons. Everything she knew about weapons, combat, fighting, and wrestling, she had to credit to him. He was so thankful to Roxy for the trouble she had gotten him and Elena out of back home, but Elena was far too young to remember anything of their troubled childhood.

“Of course you have. That’s why I haven’t heard from him in ages either.” Elena raised her eyebrows. “What is it with you? Is it that anyone you come in contact with has to die or disappear? Because I’m certainly not keeling over for any nonsense that you’ve gotten involved in… and I sure hope Alexei hasn’t either.”

“He’s still alive, I can guarantee you.”

“Right, and I’m supposed to believe you?” She rolled her eyes.

He was still alive. Roxy knew it, but she hadn’t seen him physically in years though. Lord knows where he was these days. He had always kept to himself �" even as a kid. The last time they had met, he was making weapons, and he was her arms dealer for several years. But every now and then, she’d get a random package on her doorstep with a new gun he had made just for her.

“I don’t want to fight, Lena.” Roxy attempted to extend the metaphoric “olive branch” by closing her hand around her sister’s.

Elena’s guard seemed to slightly drop but not by much. She said, “I think time will only tell what the future holds. I don’t think you’re willing to change.”

“Maybe,” Roxy toyed with the straw in her drink. “Maybe not.”

“Why did you call me?” Elena cut to the chase.

“Fine... Are you still in banking?” Roxy lowered her voice. Thankfully her sister knew Roxy herself was growing weary of the banter as well. “You know, with private clients?”

“Private client banking?” Elena chuckled, “You certainly are not familiar with industry terms.”

“Don’t fuck around. You know what I’m talking about.”

The redhead surveyed the café, looking for an escape route in case things got too crazy. She put her forehead in her hand. Elena had no idea what danger she was being put in by just meeting with Roxy.

“Special clients that you meet with high profile business men…?”

“Perhaps,” She nodded. “What ‘high profile business men’ are you referring to? Because I certainly am not hooking you up with a sugar daddy.”

Roxy rolled her eyes, “If I wanted a sugar daddy, I would have one.”

“With that car, I wouldn’t be surprised if you had one now.”

Roxy pursed her lips. She had to stop this immature bickering or she wouldn’t get anywhere or any information that she needed.

“I need you to look up someone for me…”

“You do realize that is highly illegal, and I would lose my job over it?” Elena scolded with a cold disposition. “What makes you think I would help you?”

“I’m not asking you. I’m telling you.” She cleared her throat, managing to ease her temper some. “This is bigger than you and I, and I need you to do this one thing for me… I am desperate.”

Well, that was going a bit far, but she knew that Elena would fall for it.

Elena watched her curiously. No answer. She was no longer furious but intrigued at the mysterious consequences.

“You will never hear from me again after you do this for me.” Roxy’s words definitely struck a chord with her sister.

Hook, line, and sinker. Perhaps she dramatized it a bit, but... eh, anything she had to do to get what she needed.

“Roxy, I-I-I never said,” she began, nervous to continue. Her voice started to crack as though tears were beginning to fill her eyes.

“You didn’t have to.”

She sighed, choking back any sobs, “I’m not promising to anything… but how exactly would me looking up some client’s file help you? I don’t even know what you’re involved in to even get you the right information… even if I could.”

Roxy didn’t answer. A small smirk curved her luscious red lips.

“Roxy, if you’re in trouble, go to the cops. This may be too serious for you to handle.” Elena’s begging was becoming more serious. The frustration subsided, and her major concern was for her sister’s welfare.

“Please answer me, Roxy.” She pleaded, clutching her sister’s hand.

“Warren Van Horten.” Roxy spoke, reflecting on the Fortune 500 millionaire that ultimately doted and loathed his volatile son Jason, “That mother fucker is going to help me find Jason Chains.”
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