1. SIMON
SIMON
TODAY
I t's late in the evening and I’m currently sitting with Jules and Dima in their strip club, Desire, awaiting our possible new supplier since we lost our last one who got caught by the authorities. It's a chill vibe here tonight, a decent crowd, and the girls performing are looking extra spicy too.
“Do we know much about this guy we’re meeting, D?” Jules asks.
Dima takes a deep inhale of his cigar, before blowing the smoke into the air.
Dima is a king in his own right. He runs this place along with the bar called Starlight, which is a mixture of a cabaret and burlesque club.
Totally different clientele. Dima usually runs the club and his brother, Lev, runs this stripclub.
But he’s on a date tonight. Actually, date is a strong word.
Lev is fucking his favorite girl; the guy knows nothing outside of fucking then moving on.
These brothers are crazy as fuck and I love them for it.
I got a job with them straight out of foster care, dealing.
They noticed my loyalty and it wasn’t long until I was asked to work as a guard.
I would never cross either one of them for different reasons.
Lev is into causing pain and has zero empathy for anything, whereas Dima loves the result of the pain.
The blood. He loves the blood so much, from what I’ve heard he is into bloodplay with his boyfriend, Seb, who is a bartender at Starlight.
A bartender he kidnapped until he submitted.
Yep. This is our norm, and I wouldn’t change it.
Dima moves his sharp blue gaze onto Jules as he stubs out the cigar in the large ashtray on the table.
“His name is Carlos Silva and I know him in certain circles. But it's always wise to be on your guard,” Dima says before his eyes move over to the entrance. I follow his gaze and like a scene out of Inception, the room stops, everything stills. This is some weird shit. The guy that is walking towards us is by far the sexiest creature I’ve ever seen and I’m working really fucking hard to try not to show my interest as I slowly let my eyes wander from his feet up to his head, taking in every delicious piece of him on display.
His elegant designer clothes, black pants, long black coat, tanned skin, thick black styled hair, pouty lips and brown eyes so intense it’s hard to look directly into them.
I need to get a hold of myself. I fuck around with guys from gay bars, where I feel safe, but never would I think to bring that part of my life into my work.
My family. Which is dumb, since I know Dima is with a guy, but put it down to whatever the crazy therapists would call it. Trauma or whatever.
While I’m attracted to this guy, I notice he walks over to our table with too much confidence.
And he is watching me while he does it. Shit.
Did I stare too long? Carlos’ presence commands the air, like he doesn’t need to speak.
And I hate that about him because from the smirk on his face aimed at me, he did notice me notice him, and it pisses me off.
The attraction I felt a second ago has now turned to irritation, because I cannot stand a guy with an ego.
I especially dislike anyone who can read my face as I’ve spent years perfecting my mask.
It doesn’t help that I forgot where I was as I checked him out.
How can I be so stupid? I’m always on my game, never allowing that side of me to show.
I briefly look away then look back again.
He’s still smiling.
His eyes slowly peruse my body, his tongue licks his lower lip and I can’t help but feel like a meal that's been presented to him. We connect with our eyes again, the lights from the club flashing across them, highlighting that well known glint people get when desire takes over. Call me crazy but there is a familiarity about him. Like we know each other, even though I’ve never met him before.
Carlos tilts his head to the side, surveying me, like we are engaging in some telepathic conversation, and I immediately shut myself down because he sees it in me. He knows I like cock.
Can he hear my thoughts? Who is this fucker? A fucking oracle? What if he says something or hits on me in front of the guys?
You were eye fucking him, of course he knows. Idiot. Calm the fuck down, Si.
He greets Dima with a sexy ass voice and I have to hold myself from shuddering at the sound.
I bet this guy has a fucking rotation of people in his bed.
Who can be that lucky to have the looks, ego, confidence and voice like that?
Fortunately it does nothing for me. But he better stop staring at me before I beat the fucker.
Annoyance rises in me, and I need to take control so I decide to ignore him.
Ignorance is bliss and I manage to fool myself that if I don’t acknowledge it, then it can’t be happening.
The meeting doesn’t drag on for too long and unfortunately for me, they come to an agreement pretty fast, which means we now all work together.
I’ve done pretty well, avoiding eye contact and just keeping my attention on his guards and the girls in the club.
But as we’re about to leave, Dima arranges for a couple of girls to dance for Carlos which raises my interest enough to see how he will react, and when I look at him, straight away, I regret it.
The two girls sit on his lap and the grin on his stunning fucking face looks painful.
The idiot isn’t interested in them, he’s grinning at me.
This guy is gonna be a problem and I don’t want to be on my own with him.
With every ounce of strength I have, I clench my fists as Dima speaks.
“Simon, take me to Starlight, and message my brother to tell him everything went well. I don’t want to interrupt his date.”
Swallowing hard and removing my gaze from Carlos, I turn to Dima and nod.
“Of course, boss.”
I take my phone out of my pocket and text Lev while walking away, only to be stopped in my tracks by a large hand that grips down on my shoulder.
Going into defense mode, I quickly turn to grab whoever the bastard is who decided they could touch me, only to be greeted by Carlos.
He lifts his hands in surrender from my abruptness, and I search deep to try and find my voice.
“Don’t grab me like that,” I say as I right my jacket and run my hand through my hair. Carlos just watches me, and puts his hands in his pockets. Why is that sexy?
“Apologies. I just wanted to introduce myself since we didn’t get a chance to talk.”
“Yeah, well I’m just a guard. Dima is the important one.”
“I think you’re important,” he says, reaching his hand out to me as a formal introduction.
“I’m Carlos, and you are?”
I look down at his hand, nervous of the physical contact. But I grab it as hard as I can, not wanting him to think I’m soft.
“Simon.”
We shake hands and I shake off the goosebumps that are running down my arm, causing a tickling sensation in my throat.
I don’t like this guy. We stand looking at one another in total silence that feels like an eternity, but is weirdly not awkward.
I can feel it again, that connection when we lock eyes.
Like someone from a past life has found me. It's more than unnerving.
“Are you just gonna stare?” I say, before I think. He shrugs.
“Why not? You’re nice to look at.”
What the fuck!
“Simon, are we leaving or what? I don’t pay you to stand around chatting,” Dima yells before turning to leave. But before I go, I can’t leave without addressing that flirtatious comment. In a club I would have dragged him to bed, but here, I just can’t.
“I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but don’t,” I harshly whisper at him, pointing a finger in his face. I knew it. Arrogant.
“Just being friendly. You should go, your boss won’t be getting any happier. It was nice to meet you…Simon.”
I take a step back and assess him. He’s purposefully trying to piss me off. I can just tell by the smugness on his face. I say nothing else and turn and walk away from the nightmare that is about to take over my life.
It’s been three days since I saw Carlos.
Three days since he was revealed to be our new supplier, and I can’t stop running it over and over in my head.
I wasn’t prepared for him. I hate the unknown, to not know what I’m facing, to have surprises sprung upon me.
Carlos entering my world put me off balance, as I’ve never had an urge for someone like that before.