Jinx

“Urghhhh…” was the sound that escaped my lips in response of the ringing bell marking the end of my second and happily last period of the day.

What a model student! This is what you should all think by now as you surely believe that I let out a frustrated whimper, seemingly saddened that my so captivating economics course came to an unwanted end. Yeah, you bet! As if I could be depressed because of that! The truth is that I fucking groaned from the very top of the classroom, shamelessly sprawled on the closest table to the window, my head reposing on my crossed arm and my legs lying comfortably on the wooden bench, malignly cursing under my breath that fucking bell which startled me, waking me up in the cruellest way ever from my dreamless doze.

I tell you. Ear-piercing bells are evil. Just like tricky lockers’ doors. And sneaky stairs! Almost forgot the stairs. Unforgivable! I have no idea of what happened in my classes since, let’s say, sometimes along the first period. Maybe I should inform my history professor, a rather cute petite woman, that her melodic voice is perfect to cradle her students to sleep. Or maybe I should just shut up and try to stay on good terms with her. To keep up my grades. Sounds better to shut up.

The good news is that I’m a little bit more refreshed after my not so tiny nap, that is, I still feel like shit but I’m now able to keep my eyes opened. That’s rather useful for, you know, not bumping in everything around when you walk, or not falling down the stairs when getting out of the classroom. Remember, sneaky stairs are evil! The bad news is that I didn’t take any notes at all and so it’ll be really hard on me to catch up later. Shit! I whish I was a sleepwriter. It’s way cooler than sleepwalking, and at least helpful in these particular circumstances.

I rubbed my non hamster styled heated cheek with the tip of my fingers to erase the red lines temporarily scarring my skin, marks I got from pressing too heavily on the crumpled sleeve of my sweater. My face and puffy eyes were screaming ‘I just woke up’ while my body was begging for me to be tugged in a smooth bed, under a warm blanket, surrounded by soft pillows, to the end of time. Since I’m not too demanding, till tomorrow will suffice to make me infinitely happy.

Still in a pleasant daze, I stared blankly at the window while picking up my things and tossing them carelessly in my backpack. I was the last one to quit the room and found the hallways of the fourth years’ building already deserted to my own satisfaction. I’m no loner but I just didn’t want to run into some of my classmates, who doubtlessly hardly knew I even existed till now, but suddenly couldn’t help feeling all worried about my well-being. Worried? My ass! More likely, acting all friendly to try to extract a piece of information from my grumpy self to feed the already running gossip about my trashed face. I guess the harsh glint that darkened my eyes and the devilish grin I sent to the few who dared to open their mouth to question me earlier this morning were dissuasive enough to convince my other classmates to stay the fuck away from me. As you can tell, I’m not exactly in the mood to socialize.

The chill air made me shiver as I stepped outside and I straightened the collar of my coat. Damn it! It was freezing. Fucking coward of a sun which was sheepishly holing up in the shell gracefully offered by the menacing clouds. How could it be so idle not to do its job properly, that is to warm up the day for all of us little humans to enjoy, instead of letting these sullen blurs obscure its light? Won’t you move your lazy ass from out of there? I blinked at the sky, one time, two times, then heard the dull roar of the thunder from not so far away. Nope, it won’t move its lazy ass from out of there anytime soon.

Crap! Guess I’ll have to move my ass faster if I don’t want to catch a cold. I sighed and pushed my hands deeper in the pockets of my jeans to heat up my already reddening fingers. I hurried down the gloomy streets to get downtown, not paying any attention to my surroundings, lost deep in my thoughts, wandering somewhere between finding a way to help Ayden to get his freedom back and wondering about what the hell could Lou ever wanted from me.

One of the advantages of having a fucking blue bruise on the cheek is that all the passer-bys carefully step aside your way to avoid bumping into you like the plague, as if trouble was written all-over your face. Now that I think about it, it is the only good point you can take out from receiving a whacking.

As I turned past the last corner that separated me from the mall, I felt my phone vibrate in the inside pocket of my coat.

“You’re late.” Was what greeted me immediately after I had picked up my phone.

If I considered the weather cold, it seemed to be mere child’s play compared to her tone, which could positively compete with the North Pole, subjective to its iciness. Lou was back to her old bitchy self. Lucky me!

“I said I’d meet you around one, Inspector Rodriguez, not at one on the dot.” I remarked bluntly, calling her by her title as I knew she hated it.

Was it a good move to annoy her? Hell no! But I must confess it’s so fucking funny to watch her losing her temper for nothing that I can’t stop myself from teasing her. Plus, her militaristic habits were getting on my nerves. Hey, it was only four minutes past one and she was already lecturing me!

“Whatever. Get your ass at the Italian restaurant on the first floor and fast! I’m waiting.” She grunted sourly and hung up before I even got the time to think about a sharp answer. Can’t she let me have the last word for once? Damn it!

As I was short of brilliant ideas to piss her further off, I complied with her orders like the good boy I am, fought my way through the busy crowd to the escalators, finally arrived in front of the restaurant and smirked. Mario’s pizzas. How original! My smile disappeared as soon as I caught the sight of the brunette energetically stomping towards me, her long black dishevelled hair messily undulating on her shoulders. She was tall for a woman, reaching a little past my shoulders, but she took a great care of her body as her sensual curbs could easily testify. Yeah, even in her early forties, she could still be considered a beauty.

“Somebody had a rough night, huh?” She pointed out, eyeing sternly my trashed face.

“You’re one to talk.” I bit back, noting her bloodshot dark eyes clearly indicating that she had stopped crying not a very long time ago.

I yelped as she yanked me inside by my elbow, using her vicelike grip on my arm to lead me between the tables to the very back of the restaurant. We stopped in front of a wooden door, half-hidden behind an eye-catching exotic plant which played its role to perfection since you wouldn’t have noticed the door if you hadn’t known it was there.

We stepped in the small but cosy private room, in the centre of which was dressed a table for two, some Italian food already fuming in the white plates. Smells delicious! My stomach stirred back to life and rumbled in agreement. So, lasagna and salad it will be. Yummy! To tell the truth, starving as I was, I would have drooled on a piece of dry bread. Yep, right now, I’m in heaven! I sat down and watched with amusement as Lou took a peek outside, her eyes carefully scanning the main room in search of the slightest detail out of place. Talking about paranoia… I smiled mockingly as she seemed satisfied with her examination, closed the door conscientiously and joined me around the table.

“I already ordered. Hope it is to your liking.” She told me the obvious while unfolding gracefully her napkin on her laps.

“I noticed, thank you.” I replied, taking a bite of the warm pasta.

Yep, definitely heaven! A ghosted smile floated on Lou’s lips as she watched me childishly chomping like there’s no tomorrow. Nobody’s gonna steal my food, I know. Well, my brain registered this information but kinda forgot to give the message to my hand and belly…

“Always so sharp-tongued! Bet it’s the reason you’re bruised, huh?” She smirked in a demoniac manner as I glared at her.

“As far as I know, we’re not here to talk about me, are we?” I retorted, totally ignoring her question.

Her eyes darkened in response and she gritted her teeth as she leaned to pick up her bag from the floor. She rummaged in it a few seconds then took out a thick folder, putting it on the table between us, her hand protectively flattened on it. She took a deep breath and stared at me in an almost frighteningly serious way. What the hell am I doing here?

“What I’m going to tell you now must absolutely stay in this room. They’re classified information. Other than me, and Todd to a lesser extent, you’re not to trust anybody with this. For your own security, as much as mine. Understood?” She warned me, her hardened face clearly stating that she was not kidding. Her gaze intensified to the point that I began to feel uncomfortable supporting it. The hell I want to know something that can potentially get me killed! I’m not a masochist!

“Can’t you just stick to what you want me to do and cut the blah blah?” I asked, hoping that I could escape from all that confidential stuff.

“No.” She asserted in such a firm tone that there was obviously no room for negotiation. Shit!

“Okay, I got it. No slip-up. I’m gonna be a tomb.” I promised. I just hope I won’t end in a coffin to stay true to my words.

“Three years ago, while Todd and I were trying to bring down a drug dealing network, some intriguing documents fell into our hands, by mere luck, because they should normally have been destroyed right after being read. These documents were the first evidence we found of the existence of the group we’re currently investigating on. We called it Black Phoenix from the emblem they use to sign their orders.”

I scoffed and almost choked on the bite of lettuce I was dutifully chewing. Rabbit food isn’t as harmless as it used to be! When I could breathe again, I laughed loudly at the pathetic name they had given to that criminal organisation. I almost pity them. How can they be taken seriously with a name like Black Phoenix. Please? We’re not in a bad teen movie involving a crappy secret society, the kind that gathers the elite among the students of some prestigious college. With a shady entrance ceremony. Of course taking place in a damp basement. By candlelight. To bully and impress the newbies. See what I mean?

I blinked as Lou abruptly shoved a sheet of paper extracted from the folder lying now opened on the table, right between me and my food. I glared at her, slightly annoyed by her invasion in my personal space, but immediately looked away as her eyes were sending daggers. Ow! It was apparently a touchy subject. Wouldn’t have even smiled if I had known she was the one who had named them. Apparently, the outlaws were at fault too, judging by the drawing of what I supposed was their signature, standing out in black ink on pure white right in front of me. Actually, it was a bird, wings widely spread out, but what struck me the most were the flames that seemed to consume its entire body in a vivid fire. Weird! And old-fashioned. Well, Black Phoenix doesn’t seem so completely off track now.

“We thought at first that we were dealing with a new actor of the underworld but we finally found out that this organisation had existed for at least two centuries. We followed their trails during almost two years with very little progress. We only discovered the identity of a few minor members, who surprisingly were from very different backgrounds and social status, as if they were randomly chosen, from mere mob bosses to successful businessmen, including a few rather high-ranking politicians. They were all killed before we could make them talk. We don’t know exactly to which extent their power goes, but we’re convinced that they entirely rule the international underworld from under the scene. They have a say in all the major decisions on drugs trafficking, weapons dealings and so on, in the five continents. We even believe that they economically and politically control a few countries, mainly located in Africa and Eastern Europe.” She exposed calmly as if it was nothing.

I stared at her incredulously, my eyes widely opened and my now cold food completely forgotten. I vehemently shook my head, trying not to drown in the continuous flow of information she was debiting. Hey, not my fault! I’m kinda new at this game. Plus, I don’t really want to play! I would have passed if I could. However, if all of this is real, there’s no way I get involved. Over my dead body! When Lou thought she had given me enough time to digest, she continued her creepy speech. Great, there was more! Yay for the gloomy sarcasms.

“A year ago we were contacted by a young man, Liam Trevors, heir of a big industrial company that went bankrupt three years ago when his father was violently assassinated. At that time, Liam had just recently become one of the top executives of Black Phoenix. He had known for years that his father was the previous head of the organisation, the Sire as they called him. But he had just discovered that some other greedy higher-ups had planned his murder in order to lay their hands on the many assets only the Sire has access to. That’s why Liam offered his services as informant to help us bringing down the big shots.
The new guy that took Liam’s father’s position as the Sire applies a much more aggressive strategy and that’s the reason Black Phoenix came up from the shadows just a few months after the change of management. He plans to extend Black Phoenix’s activities to a larger scale and doesn’t hesitate to resort to lesser methods such as blackmails or even murders to have his way. Liam’s inside help allowed us to gather real evidences of Black Phoenix’s involvement in current deals and to arrest some of its active members. Our main problem is that the top executives don’t know each other’s and the Sire’s identity. Only the Sire knows the names of all his right-hand men.” She paused to drink a few gulps of water.

I shifted awkwardly on my chair, putting my elbows on the table to rest my chin on my closed fists. I’m certain as hell I don’t want to be in Liam’s place. This guy has some fucking balls. Lou’s hoarse voice reverberated again in the room, drawing my eyes back to her.

“That was about to change. The Sire demonstrated his intentions to gather the major actors in town to define a new course of action in about a week from now. Liam was invited to the meeting as well and should have been able to eventually identify the head of Black Phoenix. He called me a few days ago. He was hysteric and clearly scared to his limbs. He told me he was being followed and didn’t feel safe anymore. I thought he was getting a little paranoid and didn’t pay much attention at what I thought was just an idle whining.” She whimpered in a broken tone and I dreaded what was to come.

“I made a mistake. Liam was not paranoid. His body was thrown in front of our building last night. He was gang-raped and beaten to death. He had just turned twenty-six.” She forced herself to whisper, tears rolling silently along her cheeks as many others must have since this morning.

“Oh. My. God!” was all I managed to articulate as my throat suddenly tightened and my stomach painfully clenched. I think I’m gonna be sick.

Lou raggedly wiped her eyes with the back of her trembling hand and intensely stared at me, as if she was actually trying to see through my skin. Her lips were dangerously twitching and her anger radiated by all the pores of her being. It was personal now.

“The meeting is scheduled next week. We don’t know how many people will be there or how long it will last. Just that it’ll take place at the Velvet Club.” She blurted out, pulling nervously a few locks behind her ear.

Shit! Why among all the clubs in town choose the exact one I work at? Must be a really bad twist of fate. That, or I’m doomed by somebody who hates me enough to curse me. Who can that be, huh? Guess the list is too long to find out. Damn it! Did Lou actually expect me to spy on their encounter? No way! She can’t be serious! Okay, it’s my workplace. But, I’m not a fucking cop. I have no fucking idea on how to deal with this kind of predicament. I don’t even have a fucking gun to protect me! She had definitely lost her mind!

“That’s crazy. I can’t do that, Lou! No way I get mixed up in such troubles. It’s too big! Find someone else to do the job.” I almost shouted, slamming my fist on the table.

“There’s no one else Marcus. It’s too late to introduce an undercover agent in the club, if he even manages to be hired. You have been working there for four years now. No one will notice you so you have nothing to fear. That’s perfect.” She outlined, trying to trick me into her mad scheme.

Perfect? Who was she kidding? She was not the one risking her ass if her plan flunked. In the worst scenario, the case she was working on would be hushed-up and that’s all. While I would join Liam in a black bag.

“Is that what you told Liam? That he had nothing to fear? Cause he may have another point of view now that he’s fucking dead. Gang-raped? I don’t want to end up like that. I don’t have a death wish, Lou! I plan on turning thirty when time comes. Even twenty-three! You’re letting your guilt blind you. I can’t believe that you even dared to ask me to put my life at stake to spy on those crazy fucks! Are you insane? I’m a fucking civilian!” I yelled angrily, feeling my cheeks, forehead and neck heat up.

My anger didn’t last long as I broke out into a cold sweat. I realised that I was holding the table so strongly between my clenched hands that my now white knuckles began to throb painfully. I threw my body away from the table until my ass connected with the hard back of the chair and rested there, panting slightly, completely disgusted by my coward attitude but at the same time paralysed by the fright clutching my guts I couldn’t succeed to suppress. These contradictory feelings were overflowing in my head, tragically fighting to overcome each other, putting me in a dazed forced silence Lou took advantage of.

“Calm down, Marcus, please. There’s no chance I will be so careless a second time. I won’t let the same mistake occur twice, I promise. Of course, I don’t expect you to eavesdrop on the Black Phoenix’s gathering. Considering that my team’s involvement is surely out by now, we’ve fucked up all opportunities to catch them off guard since we lost the surprise effect and they’re surely gonna become extremely suspicious, even about your club’s usual staff. It’s too risky to act on a whim.” She soothed me, rubbing small circles on the back of my hands with her fingertips in a calming gesture, her new-acquired confidence making my will of washing my hands of this matter right here and now slowly waver. I removed my hand from under hers and put them down rebelliously out of her reach, on my laps.

“So what exactly do you want from me, if not spying on them, huh?” I asked straightforwardly, licking nervously my lips with the tip of my tongue to wet them.

Yeah, I’m upfront and so what? Playing riddles has never been my cup of tea. I’m not a very patient guy.

“Just to keep your eyes opened in case you notice something out of the ordinary. The Black Phoenix’s representatives may be cautious enough to relocate their meeting. Thus, there’s always a slim possibility that nothing happens at your workplace. But, if everything goes as first planned, I want you to do your job as usual, and not to change one bit your habits to avoid any unwanted attention. If you manage to catch a glimpse or hear on the fly the names of a few of our targets, so that we can identify them and put them under surveillance, it would already be awesome. Finding out who the Sire is would be the best but it’s not a priority because I highly doubt we’ll achieve to bring him down this time. You’d report to me every once in a while if there’s any progress and that’s all. Nobody else but Todd and I will know about your contribution. As long as it remains a secret, we’re safe.” She spelt out in a softer tone, intently staring at me, her dark eyes glistening with hope.

It no longer seemed so hazardous to me now that she had flattened things out. Maybe, I’ll give it a try. I mean the task doesn’t require being a genius or a fucking hairy hero. Just observant. And I must confess I’m more than a little curious to discover what type of loony lousy criminals still hide themselves behind a phoenix’s symbol in our days. Perhaps, their Sire’s got a bird fetish?

“Ok, I’ll do it. But if I ever estimate that it’s becoming too dangerous, I’ll get my ass out of there within a minute, right?” I decided, a bitter grin crossing my mouth as I couldn’t help feeling a tiny bit excited about my new mission.

Lou’s face lit up and she jumped on her feet, a warm smile spreading her lips apart, showing two rows of perfect white teeth. She crashed on me, pulling me forcefully into an oppressive hug, ruffling my hair with her small manicured fingers. She pinched my cheek playfully, a bad persistent habit she got from when I was a child, and sighed with obvious relief.

“I knew I could count on you, kiddo. But be careful ok? No rash actions, huh? And don’t worry, I’m gonna watch your back to the best of my abilities.” She kissed me gently on my forehead, before I pushed her away to grasp some air.

I wonder if you can die from too much sudden affection. Guess not, or I would be six feet under by now. Lou grasped energetically the folder on the table and stuck it in her messy bag.

“Gotta go. I have tons of things to do. Don’t forget to call me if you smell something bad!” She debited at full speed, stomping her way to quit the room in a not so elegant manner. Once the door was ajar, she turned over me and rubbed her index pensively on her chin. “Don’t get yourself into another fight, alright? I want you to stay out of trouble. Oh! And it’s my treat of course.” She scolded me, half-joking, before slamming the door behind her.

Her motherly tone forced a grin out of me as she couldn’t keep herself from worrying about the damn brat I was.

As always after an appointment with Lou, I felt completely worn out by her bouncing enthusiasm. She’s really got the talent to strip me out of all the energy left in my body. I stayed a long moment just sitting and staring in the private room of Mario’s pizzas, trying to collect my thoughts. I couldn’t believe I just agreed to play Lou’s game. Idiot! There was no turning back now. It was mid-afternoon when I came back to the regular darkness of my apartment. As I was sure I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on any of my college assignments, I stripped and crawled on my bed to try to grab some sleep to be able to perform well tonight at the club.

A few dreams with groping pigs and burning birds, a quick shower and a twenty-five minutes walk later, I was in front of the Velvet Club, staring at the silver letters gracefully shining on the black bricks building. The sight usually made my heart race a little, as I almost considered this place as my second home. I always thought it had some kind of magic in it, to put so much bliss in the gloomy shadows of my everyday routine.

But today, the magic was gone. As if my sanctuary was already dirtied by some invisible corrupted hands. As I slipped inside, I stared at the square tables surrounded by classy ebony chairs which foundations were covered in shining black or purple velvet as if I saw them for the very first time. From the scene where a jazzy band was tuning up their instruments for their upcoming concerts to the balconies overlooking the main room, giving access to the private suites reserved to the VIP, all here seemed to have fatally lost its sparkles. Even the stylish glass bar, with its black marble Greek styled columns, suddenly looked crummy. A chuckle brought me back from my delusive state, and I faced a small skinny guy, with hazel mid-long hair and maroon eyes, actively preparing the glasses and alcohols he would use tonight as a bartender. Greg. The club’s manager. I smiled at him and he grinned back.

“Hey Marcus! You’re early today. Want me to do something about that horrible face of yours?” He chirped without glancing at me, always keeping his hands occupied. He seemed really stressed and that was unwonted.

“Yep. I was wondering if you had some foundation I could use to hide that villain bruise. What’s getting you all hyper?” I asked, watching him almost run to his bag, fumble in it a few seconds to eventually pull out a bottle of makeup with a triumphant smile and throw it at me.

I easily caught it and noticed that he had already resumed cleaning imaginary stains on the perfectly gleaming glass. That was odd! Yep, Greg wasn’t the confident type but usually a very cool guy. Not one to have a cleanness fetish. Well, I don’t live with him, so maybe he’s some maniac housekeeper. I shook my head in denial.

“I received a call earlier from the owner. He said he’s going to stay in town for a few weeks. He’s coming by tonight to check up on the club. I’ve been running his business on his behalf for six years now and I hope I’ll manage to be up to his expectations.” He announced, his voice slightly trembling with anxiety.

An inspection? Tonight? That sucks! Can’t the universe cut me a fucking break for a minute? Since yesterday, I’ve felt like my life was falling apart. Wait! It’s not exactly an impression. I shrugged and sent an encouraging smile to the desperate Greg.

“Chill man! You’re gonna be perfect and show off to the owner.” I reassured him while heading to the locker room. “Anyways, thanks for the makeup. I’m gonna get ready and took a grasp of fresh air before my shift starts, ok? If you need me, you know where to find me.” I added before disappearing behind the heavy purple curtains that separated the staff-only area from the main room.

I opened my locker and grabbed my carefully folded black waiter’s apron I tied around my hips. I stared at my reflection in the mirror to apply the foundation that entirely covered the blue mark on my cheek. Magical makeup! I thanked silently the little brown liquid that saved my sorry ass. I frowned at the sight of the band-aid hiding my first hickey, standing out proudly just above the collar of my shirt. Bastard must have known what he was doing to locate it so perfectly well to make it soooo obvious.

Must stop thinking about him already. That’s it. Repeat after me. I have no interest in whatsoever is linked or even remotely connected to Julian Evans. Well, I’m not into men but I must confess he’s got some animalistic charisma. Yep, he’s one hell of a sexy bastard. Damn it! I did it again. I shook my head to clear my thoughts. I tucked away Greg’s foundation in the safety of my locker and checked me out one last time in the mirror to make sure everything was in order. It was. Except my hair. As messy and unruly as ever. Bah. Nothing that I can do about it.


Before the other waiters, Devin and Miles, two nice guys who were actually an item came in, I escaped outside to enjoy a few solitary moments before the rush began. I walked down the alley leading to the entrance of the club, sat on a low wall concealed in the shadows of a majestic cherry tree and locked my gaze to the ground where a yellow caterpillar was happily rolling its hairy body in a very funny way. I enthusiastically filled my lungs with the chill air of summer, lost in the contemplation of this unique and pure spectacle only nature can offer, until my delighting one-to-one with my new cute companion was interrupted by two shoes.

Two shiny and perfectly polished black shoes. And a black suit pants. And a grey tweed overcoat. And a smirk. A very characteristic smirk. A smirk I knew from my little episode in a locker room. Remember? It was him. Evans. Think I did very horrible things in my previous lives for karma to be such a bitch with me this week.

“If it isn’t yesterday’s pip squeak!” The bastard said with an amused chuckle.

“It is indeed, old perverted bugger. What you’re doing here? You’re a stalker now?” I bit back angrily, looking up to meet his shining blue eyes.

He tilted my chin with two fingers, letting his gaze fall upon my bruised cheek. Want to check if you did enough damage, huh? He brushed my skin with his thumb and I hissed in pain, slapping furiously his hand away.

“Tsk. Is it a way to talk to the one who took great pain to cover twice in a row for your ass?” He retorted with a reprehensive flick of his tongue.

Great pain? He just gave Ayden’s boss a call. It’s not even worth a thank you. Wait a second! Did he say twice? Why twice? He just drowned out the pig’s incident and that’s all. So why twice? Grrr. Forget it. I don’t give a damn!

“I don’t remember ever asking.” I stated, getting up with all the dignity I was still able to gather in my frantic haze. “If you’d excuse me, I have to get back in to begin my shift.” I said in a sarcastically respectful way.

As I stepped beside him, he wrapped his arm around my waist in a blink and brought me halfway back, forcefully pressing my shoulder against his muscular chest. Not again! This was becoming annoyingly repetitive. I struggled but to no avail as he tightened his grip around my back, trapping my arms in the process. Shit! Like yesterday, I was helpless.

I went limp in his arms, still rebelliously forcing my head away from his shoulder, when I felt his hot breath tickle the sensitive skin of my neck. He leaned over me, his cheek and square jaw resting on mine and nibbled softly at my ear, grazing his teeth in this delicate spot. I flushed and tried to break loose but failed miserably. He let his hand run freely on my back, his butterfly touches along my spine sending electric shivers in my whole body. Why the hell did he have such an effect on me? Damn!

“You’re so lewd, my cute lover. Wonder if your sharp tongue will manage to let out such smartass comments while I’m fucking you to ecstasy.” He whispered huskily in my ear. I turned bright red and resumed my wriggling out of his embrace.

“I’m not your fucking lover! Let me go, you bastard!” I yelled, slamming my fists against his abs in a mad attempt to break free. Ouch. Fucking six pack abs!

“You’re not going anywhere until I dismiss you, shrimp. Unless you say please. Try begging and maybe I’ll overlook your lies without punishing you any further.” He told me with a point of anger, harshly slapping my ass as a warning. God! I’m going to kill him! That is, once I’m free.

“Who’s gonna beg? You’re one sick son of a bitch, you know?” I snarled, clawing my hands around his biceps to shake him but he didn’t flinch.

“You call me names while I don’t even know yours. How impolite!” He chuckled, pushing my body closer to his.

It was becoming difficult to breathe as he was cutting my column of air with his steel hold on my crushed back. Please, make his gym close so that he can’t work out anymore!

I didn’t like one bit what he was insinuating. Shit! He’s a psychic or what? I hope not. Or else, I’m screwed. I gave him a rather explicit ‘what the fuck’ look and was rewarded by a devious smirk. A smirk throwing right to my face that he knew something I didn’t and was determined to enjoy it to no end. Damned bastard!

“Tell me how I should call you, since we’re both aware that you’re not Ayden Phields. A junkie mafia underling, you’re certainly not.” He purred in my ear, quite pleased with the blatant surprise displayed on my face.

Crap! I’m too easy to read. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction to see that his words were getting at me. Scratch that. I don’t want to provide him of any kind of satisfaction! Should I bite his neck to prove how much he’s pissing me off? Quite tempting. But his payback would be worse. Definitely worse. I startled when his hand moved slowly down my lower back, dangerously close to my ass. I arched my back in order to face him and sent him my best incredulous glare.

“How?” I inquired for good measure, because of course I’m not stupid, and I already knew the answer. “Damn! Did you check up on me? You’re really out of your mind! ” I shouted at him, hesitating between disgusting and scary to characterize his insane interest in me.

He laughed evilly and let two fingers run teasingly just under my belt. Give me a gun so I can shoot him! Okay, I can’t move my arms. Maybe I can use my teeth to pull the trigger instead?

“Your naivety is quite refreshing. Did you actually believe that I would graciously help out someone I don’t know a thing about? I couldn’t get to be repaid this way.” He pointed out shaking his head and rolling his eyes at my foolishness.

Here I thought he had acted out of kindness! Like normal people do. Guess someone who beats the crap out of a complete stranger to claim him as his, then pursues him the next day and reiterates his sexual and verbal assaults, isn’t exactly normal. More like a madman in fact.

“So? Your name?” He asked but that sounded more like an order.

Yep, I took it as ‘I’ll give you hell if you don’t open that cute mouth of yours and spit your name out within a second’. My bad. I misunderstood. It was in fact ‘Name! Now! Or I’m gonna rub my knee against your dick until you confess’. And he did. Rub his knee against my crotch. So I gave him the only rational answer that came to my drifting mind.

“Fuck you!” I groaned in my renew trashing out. I’m proud I didn’t moan.

What the hell? Did this promiscuous asshole just press his fingers in the cleft on my ass? Rhetoric question. Of course he did.

“We will come to this part in due time. If you want to play hide and seek first, so will we.”

No I don’t. Play with someone else if it gets you off.

“I have my own way to find all I need to know about you. Who do you think you’re talking to?” He growled lowly, violently groping my left buttock to show his wrath. Grr! Leave my ass alone!

Well, I think I’m talking to a perverted restaurant’s owner. Who has two very bulky bodyguards to cover his back as I’ve just noticed. As if he couldn’t protect himself on his own! This man is a fucking killing machine! And who the hell would want to harm an obscure restaurant’s owner, huh? Alright, I would. Anyone in his right mind would. He has just the shittiest character ever existing on earth. Ouch! What the hell? He’s chomping on my ear! Alright, he does need bodyguards.

“Yet, be sure of one thing. No matter how hard you resist me, I’ll have you in the end. You’ll be mine without restraints. The more you struggle, the greater pleasure I’ll take in seeing you finally submit to my will.” He established in a dead serious tone, a menacing glow dancing in his icy eyes.

I couldn’t respond. Not that I suddenly became mute. Nope. I was merely angry beyond words. The nerves of this man! I’m not his fucking property. And won’t be! Never! Kill me if I ever become his.

“You’re allowed to go now.” He dismissed me, relaxing his hold on me and sidestepping to clear my way back to the club. “Be my guest.”

I didn’t move right away, but glared at him, my lips pressed in a thin line, my fingers trembling in anticipation as I was fighting the urge to simply punch his arrogant face.

“Thank you, your Highness.” I snorted wryly, tilting my chin defiantly.

He settled for his regular smirk. I hate him.

Please God, make him go. Anywhere. Far away from me. In another universe would do. That was what I whished for as I disappeared from his sight in the smoothing warmth of the Velvet Club. My heart started beating again, colours returned to my face and I let out a relieved sigh. I grabbed my tray to get to work and put my business smile on my face. I was safe here.

Dream on! Was what the little voice in the back of my mind chirped. You should listen to the little voices in the back of your mind. Because they’re always right.