Slowly, so slowly, his sight and hearing started to work again. He realized he had collapsed on top of Tally and was squishing him. His muscles felt too weak to move, his bones like jelly, but somehow he rolled off of Tally to lie beside him.
Their eyes met. Tally’s were sparkling, happy and hazy. The dreamy quality of someone who has been well and truly fucked. Sam grinned, knowing he was probably looking the same.
“You can kiss me now,” said Tally.
Sam laughed and did as he was told.
Chapter 24
Thenextnight,Felixlet Tally perform as his warm-up act. Sam managed to concentrate on serving customers instead of drooling. He sneaked peeks over at the stage as often as he dared. Tally looked amazing, and the audience was enthralled.
Sam grinned with pride. Something about all these men wanting Tally but unable to have him, because Sam was the only one who was going to get to take him upstairs later, was deeply satisfying.
A ripple of applause and some catcalls signaled that the show was over. Sam glanced over and saw that Tally was standing on the very edge of the stage, hips thrust forward, letting customers stuff money into his shorts.
Suddenly, the nurse’s words from what seemed a lifetime ago echoed through his mind, “Are you his new pimp?”
Sam frowned. Unease and uncertainty flowing through him like ice in his veins. Was he exploiting Tally? Taking advantage? He had gleefully thought about how much extra money Tally could bring into the bar. He knew Tally was desperate to please him, the young man would probably do anything.
He cast his eye over the bar, no one was waiting to be served. He grabbed the nearly full bin and headed for the back. Maybe some fresh air would clear his mind.
He felt Tally’s gaze on him as he left, but he couldn’t look at him right now. He didn’t want Tally to see he was upset and confused because it was not Tally’s fault. The young man had done nothing wrong, Sam wasn’t upset with him, only himself, and that was all far too contradictory to convey with a look.
He slid out of the back door into the alley. He opened the dumpster, threw the bag in and as he turned to go, the world went dark.
He slowly swam to consciousness. It felt like his mind was trying to move through treacle. He found he was lying in the back of a van as it rattled along, a bag over his head and his hands tied behind his back.This isn’t good,he thought before falling away into darkness again.
The next time he awoke, he was sitting in a chair, hands tied behind him. The bag over his head was gone, and he blinked, trying to focus. It looked like he was in a dimly lit, empty warehouse.
A huge bald man dressed all in black was sitting opposite him. Sam stared at him and wondered what kind of demon he was. The man said nothing, just raised a radio to his mouth. “Boss, he is awake.”
Sam groaned as his head began to throb with pain. He needed to get to a hospital and get scanned or something. What if they had done some permanent damage? Being knocked out cold wasn’t good for anyone. If these people weren’t human, they might not know that.
A short, slender man wearing white jeans and a white leather jacket appeared from behind Sam. His dark hair was cut short and gelled. He took off his oversized sunglasses to glare at Sam with hazel eyes.
“Let’s get this over with,” he said briskly.
Sam stared at him in trepidation. The stranger appeared to be in his twenties, but the man exuded an air of calm authority. This was a man who was used to being obeyed, despite his apparent young age.
“You insulted my family. You insulted me, when you beat up one of my pimps. You stole a boy from me. I can’t let that lie. So I’m going to teach you a lesson, make an example of you and then from now on you are going to give twenty percent of your profits.”
Sam stared at him, trying to comprehend. All he felt was confusion. And a vague sense of disbelief that his boring life was turning so eventful.
“You don’t give me any more trouble and I’ll let you keep the boy,” added the stranger, acting like it was an afterthought, but Sam knew a sweetener when he heard one.
Sam blinked, still trying to process everything. How hard had they hit him? Slowly the words sunk in and the situation started to make sense as his mind untangled what was happening. It felt like a lightbulb flicking on in his brain as comprehension suddenly dawned and he was hit with a huge sense of hope.
“You are human?” Sam asked, to make sure.
His captor stared at him as if he was insane. Sam could relate to that. He had probably given Tally that very same look, many times.
“You’re not Lucifer, or his brother? Or Jinx’s father? Or anyone from hell or a past life? Are you a demon? Do you have a hellhound?” Sam tried to clarify.
The man glared at him, “I’m a fucking gangster! My family owns this city!”
Sam felt his shoulders sag in relief. This wasn’t more crazy shit. This was just normal, seedy, but everyday mortal shit. He could cope with this. He had Tally.
A chuckle started deep in his belly and rumbled through him, growing until he was laughing helplessly, tears running down his face and his body shaking.
