“Rubbish! Victor, let’s—”
“Six–zero, lil’ brother. Serve.”
“Hey, I have one point, Victor! Remember my brilliant backhand.” He wags a finger at me for emphasis. I’llgivehim the measly point, though it was out of bounds.
I nod. “Alright, Graham, six–one.”
After deciding to give my brother another two points, I take the bottle of mineral water Burt has on standby.
“Replenish up,” I say. Ignoring me, Graham heads over to our gear.
“In a second, Vic.” He settles down on the ornate bench. “Let me tell you about this vision I met—”
“What are you on about?”
“The vision I—”
“You mean a woman? You met a woman. Say that.”
“Heh, I’ll say, she’s in love with me.” He brags about an Asian girl he supposedly met at Starbucks.
Offering all the necessary verbal cues, I half listen to Graham, scrolling over my phone when it starts ringing.
I don't realize that I am much too comfortable around my own blood until Graham attempts to snatch my mobile. He simply doesn’t have the muscle. He settles for peering over my shoulder. “Luxury, yummm. Saucy name, yeah?”
Luxury’s calling. It’s the only number I’ve saved on my iPhone that’s not business related. My thumb starts to decline.
This time my brother catches me off guard. The weasel successfully retrieves my mobile. While answering, he perks up. “Hello,Lux.No, this is not Victor. Listen, I’ll wager I can show you a much moreluxurioustime, gorgeous.” Placing a hand over the receiver, he whispers, “Sounds saucy.”
My mouth grits.That’s precisely why I was fond of her. Emphasis onwas.
Into the receiver, he asks, “What’s that,Lux? How about I come over?”
The bottle of water torpedoes from my hand.
“Fuck!” Graham rubs his forehead. “The bottle cap hit me. That hurts, Vicky!”
“Your fault, you bloody rugrat!” I snatch the phone away. “Hello, Little One, how’s my beautiful girl doing?”
A beat passes before she says, “Ummm, who was that? Does he think I’m some type of exotic danc—”
“No, that’s not the case. My little brother, Graham, he’s what you Americans would callspecial.” Silently I glare through Graham as he rubs a red mark on his pasty forehead. I take in a measured breath. I’d no intention of calling Luxury ever again. Nor did I give her my number, but Burt apparently did when he drove her home. “In case of an emergency,” he’d said. I vowed to Burt I’d never see or talk to her again despite his guile. Even so, I was indeed drawn to the subtle sadness in Luxury’s eyes when she’d mentioned her mum during our first encounter. Intrigued, I sought out the hurt woven deep in her soul. As a sharper shooter and a royal, I surround myself with people sparingly, so I rarely feel anything these days.
Luxury Whitson made me . . .feel.
Sex was my version of recompense. Now, Graham has thrust the pretty pawn into my world again and temptation’s calling. I could have her again.
Ishould.
But how could I keep the lovely chit safe if her emotions get involved?
13
LUXURY
For the past few days, I’ve anxiously waited for Victor to call. Thoughts of our weekend send a thrill over my spine. We only stopped to eat when tired from sex or to sleep. Each time he fucked me as if it would be my last, I lost more of myself to him.
Wonton.