Chapter 11
SEBASTIAN
Taking a sip of my Fireball whisky, I heave a dejected sigh and trace a heart in the mist that my hot breath has left on the glass counter.
There’s noise and chatter and music going on behind me, but I’m not interested in checking out the action.
I’m not even sure why I came to the Pit, the local bar that my devilish friends and I frequent, when I’m feeling like this.
Maybe I’m coming down with something? I’d be better off in bed, surfing porn and sipping a warming chilli and honey toddy.
‘Seven tequila shots please. Actually, make that eight. I think my pal here could use one,’ says a voice beside me, and I look up from my funk of self-pity to see a handsome dark-haired Spanish man smiling over at me.
Speaking of devilish friends ... my heart sinks. Diablo Fuego is one of my brimstone buddies, but he’s highly competitive. I do not want to start comparing quotas with him right now, especially as mine is pathetic. And after what happened today, I’m not sure how I’m going to rectify it.
He claps me on the shoulder. ‘Buenas noches, mi amigo.’
‘Diablo.’ I give him a cursory nod.
‘Why are you hiding away in the corner, Seb? Come and party with us.’
He gestures with his pointed-goatee chin, and I glance over my shoulder.
Gathered in one of the corners of the glowing red bar, there are half a dozen of our devil acquaintances dressed in a range of attire, from business suits to smart casual.
They’re fresh from pounding the London pavements and ready to get their night started.
Several scantily dressed succubi are weaving around, trying to get their attention.
One of them impatiently reaches her hand into the depths of a devil’s suit trousers and gropes him under the table while he rolls his hips and moans.
But she quickly removes her hand with a gasp, clutching a live hissing snake between her fingers.
There’s a loud whoop of laughter as she drops it on the floor with an expression of disdain.
Diablo chuckles. ‘See? The usual hijinks.’
I turn away. Usually, I’d be up for letting loose. But this evening, I can’t seem to summon the enthusiasm.
‘Sorry, maybe another time.’ With my clenched fist, I smudge out the misty heart I’ve drawn, but not before Diablo sees it.
‘Uh-oh. What’s going on?’ He pops a Carolina Reaper-infused olive in his mouth and blows out his cheeks. ‘Fuck me, that’s hot.’ He takes a sip from one of the shots and leans in close. ‘Dime tus secretos, mi amigo.’
I sigh. ‘Fine. As long as you don’t laugh. And you don’t tell anyone.’
Diablo places a hand over his heart. ‘You have my word.’ But his lips are already curving, so I know I’m going to get a ribbing, and he’s the worst at keeping secrets. But I have to talk to someone.
‘A woman from yesterday is fucking up my game.’
‘Oh?’ Diablo arches a brow and leans against the bar. ‘Tell me more.’
I lick my lips nervously. ‘I had a client in the bag today. A model who wanted to climb the ladder. She invited me to her flat, and I didn’t have to do much except show her my tats and work her up with some sexy talk. You know the stuff...’
Diablo nods sagely. ‘I know, go on.’
‘Well, we started making out on her bed, and I got her down to her underwear. She was so up for it she didn’t even protest when I ripped off her Victoria’s Secret panties and bra.
She was moaning for me to fuck her, and I .
.. I couldn’t do it. So I apologised, said it was definitely me, not her, then zipped up my trousers and came straight here. ’
I gulp a mouthful of whisky with a shaking hand.
Diablo blinks. ‘Were you hard?’
‘A semi maybe. But I really wasn’t interested.’
‘So she wasn’t hot then?’
I groan. ‘She was gorgeous. I couldn’t fuck her because I wanted Jade.’
Diablo lets out a stream of sulphur-laced breath. ‘And Jade is the client from yesterday?’
I nod. ‘I sent her to the 1980s, and I checked in on her this morning to see how she was doing, and we had a little naked chat in the shower.’
A smile breaks on my lips as I remember her threatening to shampoo my eyes out. And how sweet she looked when she asked if she could see me tonight.
Diablo punches my shoulder. Hard. ‘Snap out of it, man. You know you can’t get attached. That’s the kiss of death. You’re already demoted to the lowest rung of the ladder.’
I rub my shoulder. ‘Well, what do you suggest I do?’
‘Have you fucked this Jade woman?’
‘No, we just ... fooled around. I gave her a partial experience in return for a massage.’
‘Well, that’s your problem right there. It’s unfinished business. Fuck her pronto and get her out of your system.’
‘She’s a virgin, though. She said she’s saving herself.’
‘“Saving herself”, what a load of bullshit,’ Diablo scoffs. ‘What is this, the Regency period?’
He’s got a point: it does sound a little sus.
‘She’s playing you, brother. You need to take charge of the situation before you do something really stupid, like fall in love with her. If that happens, you’re fucked.’ He chuckles and clinks his tequila shot against mine; we down them in one.
Diablo’s right. I need to stop this, whatever it is, in its tracks before it goes any further. I need to show Jade who’s the boss.