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The other guy turns to Cessy and his eyes positively smolder. “We would have remembered you for sure. So…”
She almost purrs. “Cessy and Ally.”
He stares into her eyes and his intentions are clear. Cessy is his target, and he is attempting a bullseye.
“I’m Julian. I hope you will allow us to join in your celebrations.”
Cessy nods. “Of course. The more the merrier.”
Brad turns to me. “So, Ally, do you live in New York or are you just passing through?”
“I live here now.” I decide to be polite even though I’m not really interested.
“Now? Where was home?”
“Washington.”
“So, you came here for…”
“Work.” I smile as I lift the glass to my lips and he nods, his gaze sliding appreciatively the length of me, making no secret of his intentions.
I note that Cessy is chatting with enthusiasm to Julian and know she will be all over him like a rash, given half the chance. He is exactly her type. Smooth, slick and full of bullshit. Not that it will last. Her boredom threshold is almost immediate, and he will only last until something better comes along.
Brad says smoothly, “So, Ally. It’s your birthday and while I would never ask a lady her age, I will ask what your plans are to celebrate.”
I shrug. “We’re doing it.”
“Only the two of you?” He raises his eyes. “No boyfriend, family, or friends.”
Thinking back on my mom’s insistence I return home to celebrate with them, I push down the guilt and say firmly, “No. Just me and my best friend.”
He smirks. “Then allow us to be your party. I can show you a good time.”
Before I can even reply to that, a shadow appears and as I glance up, my heart plummets at the stern-looking man dressed in a black suit and menace. There is another one beside Julian and Brad says with surprise, “May I help you?”
The guy leans down and whispers something in Brad’s ear and whatever he says causes the blood to drain from his face and almost immediately he stands and nods to his friend. “I’m sorry, we must leave. Um, enjoy your evening, ladies.”
Julian appears as confused as we are and yet the expression in Brad’s eye leaves no room for argument and as they head off, closely followed by the two men, Cessy says in disbelief, “Wow, what just happened?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know.”
I really can’t answer that and then, in true Cessy style, she bounces straight back and says with a slight shrug, “Whatever. Let’s go and dance. It’s time to get this party started.”
Laughing, she drags me from my chair and onto the dance floor and, as the song fills my head, I almost forget. For once I am happy with no cares or worries and as we fool around on the dance floor, to anybody watching I haven’t got a care in the world.
* * *
Three songslater and the champagne is calling and as we stumble back to our seats, my euphoria is quickly replaced with fear when I see the two men waiting.
It’s as if Lucifer himself has entered the building and I should know, because that face will be forever imprinted on my memory.
It’s him.
Cessy nudges me and whispers, “Fucking hell. What the actual fucking shit bullshit is happening?”
I’m not surprised she’s gained a sudden bout of Tourette’s because I have never seen anything like this before outside of the movies.
There are four men dressed in black standing behind the couches, surrounding the seats with a ring of black menace. Sitting down are two men who wear their darkness like a badge of honor as they watch our approach with a predatory gaze. They are dressed in black suits, black shirts and ties, a uniform of sorts and the casual way they are sitting tells me they are arrogant, self-assured and probably assholes.
