SophieThree months agoSophie was serving drinks at the Club.Her feet ached, her hands smarted to slap some of the lecherous men who thought all women enjoyed being pawed.She stomped into the kitchen, her tray in her hand when one of the girls stopped her.“Hey Sophie,’ said the girl as she swayed past,’ You have a visitor. At the back door.’Sophie trotted across, alarmed. Had something happened at home? Was it about Mom? Or Paddy?A couple of girls stood, smoking around the doorway and one of them indicated a figure waiting beside the gate set in the wall. The gate opened onto a narrow road that took the staff directly to the main highway, bypassing the front gates. The delivery vans generally made their way in this manner to the kitchens.Sophie marched across, worry in every step.“is it..’ she beganBut one of the figures stepped forward and said n a low voice,“This is for you. Your sister sent it.’And before she could make sense of the whole thing, the man had disappeared.
SophieShe had arrived early in the hope of meeting Schwartz. She needed him, needed to tell someone about her sister, seek help for Sondra who was undoubtedly on the run again. Sophie had sent a message through a burner phone on another number her sister had provided on the slip of paper. She had succeeded in buying Sondra enough time to run before Worthington got back to interrogate her again.***But Schwartz was too busy. He was in the basement, she was told when she made enquiries. Handsome James was helping to oversee the last-minute preparations for the Christmas Eve fight which was taking place tonight. The entire Club was humming with activity; Lucien Delano was going to fight and it was not an everyday occurrence!Damn the man thought Sophie, as she walked back along the carpeted corridors, hands in the pockets of her hoodie, brooding.***Although she had signed into the building earlier, she had beseeched her supervisor, Tanvi Shah, a sultry beauty, to give her ten minutes
Sophie She almost cried out as she watched the two pairs of feet approach the bed under which she was hiding.,And then it struck her.“He’s going to shag her! Oh, Sweet Jesus!’ Sophie closed her eyes, screwing them up and tried to shut out the sounds the woman began making, as Worthington’s trousers and his boxers slid to his polished shoes. It would have been comical if it had not been so terrifying.“Loud enough to wake the dead.’ She thought in disgust.’Oh…Paul…I love it when you spank me…AAAA!’ came the woman’s voice as the sound of a hand landing on flesh resounded in the room. She screamed as he hit her. Repeatedly.Sophie bit her lower lip to stop herself from puking.The sound of the woman screaming in pleasure was becoming louder.Sophie scowled and her jaw tightened. She would leap out and hit the both of them on their damned heads if they kept on like this, she thought grimly, revulsion coursing through her.The tips of Worthington’s polished shoes were almost in her fac
LucienHe was getting into the mood for the fight. It had always excited him, this rush of adrenalin before a fight. He had given some of his best years to it. He knew he was growing old and was not as agile as he had used to be. Schwartz had glumly pointed it out many times over the past week. But he had wanted to inaugurate the Fight Club at his own Club, his home turf.He also wanted to send a message to Dmitri: Do your worst. I am not afraid of you.He scowled as he thought of Dana/Catalina. The woman had been in his bedroom adjoining his office when he had arrived. He had had to use tact and firmness to throw her out, She had been reeking of sex and he had only felt a wave of revulsion. An image of Proserpina, sweet and fresh smelling had come to him. Her soft, willing body, the shy smile, the way she blushed...He wished she was here beside him. But he knew she loathed such events. He smiled to himself.Tonight, after he had defeated Denizen the Destroyer, he would take his Woman
I rang up Grace.I knew she would do just about anything for me; we were very close friends now. Grace was Danielle's partner, a strikingly beautiful Ethiopian. She was a kindergarten teacher and often came home to spend time with me and the kids. Since Danielle worked at the Club and was in charge of all the duties that Shark had carried out before Lucien had killed him, both Gracie and I were familiar with the world that our respective lovers moved in. it was easy to relate to her.Now I called her:“Grace, I need your help.’ I said, tightly.“What is it, love?’ she asked, having picked up on the tension in my tone.‘ I need to go to the Club. Lucien is fighting …’Her voice was incredulous.‘YOU want to attend the Fight?’ she cried, astonishment in her dulcet tones. I closed my eyes briefly and counted to ten. Grace was aware of my revulsion to the fighting and brutality that took place in the Boxing ring.‘Yes.’ I said and the passion in my voice made her pause.“Right. Fine.’ She
SophieShe wandered around, a scowl on her face, holding on to the tray that was suspended from around her neck with bright crimson satin ribbons.The high heels hurt her. Sophie’s chosen footwear would have been a pair of flip flops. Obviously, she could not wear them when she was at work. Now she stormed about in her shiny black boots. When anyone signalled her to bring them drinks or some nibbles, she would march over to them, a painted, fake smile on her face.Most of the people did not bother to look at her. Their attention was singularly concentrated upon the action in the Ring.Everything was on the house tonight, the drinks and expensive food. Sophie's lips twisted. The room was packed; burly bouncers stood at the massive doors, restricting the entry of those who wanted to enter for free. The fact that the tickets had been exorbitantly priced had not deterred any of these rich folk. They had descended by the hordes, all giggling women on the arms of wealthy men in suits, looki
LucienHe was old. That was the thought Lucien had as he swung his arm and felt it connect with his opponent’s jaw but harmlessly.Denizen the Destroyer had been like a power-packed tank from the word go. He had been beating Lucien thoroughly, thrashing him at every angle. And Lucien knew that for every one punch he managed to make, The Destroyer would come back – with two. He was a young man, not yet twenty-five years old, and his speed was lethal. The force of his punches was also fierce but Lucien had begun well. He had smashed Denizon's nose once, given him a cut above his eye and made the man bleed.Gradually, he had begun to tire. Dimly, he was aware of the crowd roaring, he could see Schwartz's white face as his friend stood close to the ropes, anxiety on his handsome features, his hands on his hips, scowling. Catalina was moving at the periphery of his vision in her absurd costume, screeching, urging him to fight.His opponent was huge, packed with muscle. For a fleeting momen
LucienHe was winded.I probably have a mild concussion too, he thought as he stood, swaying, tasting blood in his mouth from a cut on the inside of his cheek.At first, they had tested each other, Denizen the Destroyer and he, making jabs and blocks. Once the Destroyer feinted and landed a good blow on Lucien's ribs, but the follow-up, a hook to Lucien's jaw, caught air as Lucien had astutely pulled his head back, just on time.He had smiled a thin smile that had enraged the younger man who had made a mistake. The Destroyed had been winded. That was when Lucien had punched him in the face, squarely, landing a blow just above his eye.But he was still putting up a fight and Lucien was near to dropping onto the mats, about to give up.And then he heard her.A voice that seemed to penetrate through to his fuzzy brain.A woman’s voice.Not Dana/ Catalina who had been screaming, running around the edge of the ring despite having been warned by Lawson many times. She had been responding to