Seeing Felix Kiselov at the club, queer and still in charge, gave me pause. I wasn’t the Boss anymore, technically, and no one was checking up on me. I made my money from real estate investments and was retired in their eyes.
Something about X Club had me wanting to return. I didn’t feel I should go back until I knew a bit more. But there is only so much you can learn online. Finally, I gave in and looked up the next visitor’s night. It was on Thursday rather than a weekend and was a queer-only event.
On Sunday I wrote that off as not for me. I was only just learning about my sexuality. I wasn’t ready to be out-out. Events like that were meant for people secure in their sexuality, right?
Monday, I ordered some rope and other gear I wanted to try out. I just didn’t have somebody to try them on yet.
Downloading a kinky dating app on Tuesday was a mistake. Even without a face picture—I’d shared one of my chest and jawline so my age was clear—I had men messaging me lewd pictures within minutes. I wasn’t interested in that, though a quick hookup might be good for my level of lust.
When Wednesday came and went without any resolution to my mental gymnastics, I made an account on the X Club site to register for the event. They wanted my ID uploaded to give me access to other events, so I used my fake ID. I got that they probably did background checks, but hopefully mine was good enough. I didn’t need a paper trail for my attendance, and I realized I would be attending.
Thursday I was anxious, but prepared. I didn’t feel comfortable bringing anything with me, though the overnight shipping had come in. I’d stashed it all in my bedroom after the cleaner left. Rope and torture gear in my basement I had my men see and clean, but not this.
“Santo, I’ll be going into the city tonight,” I informed him when I entered the kitchen for a quick bite that afternoon. “The town car.”
“Will you have a guest, sir?” Josefina asked, stirring something red in a giant pot on the stove and raising one brow that belied her interest. “I’m making plenty of cioppino.”
“Smellsdelizioso,” I evaded her question, “but I’ll eat before I go.”
Her cioppino was amazing, and I was glad she would be freezing most of it to eat later. The woman only knew how to cook for an army, and my belly showed it. Something I noticed on the app before I deleted it was the older men were either very fit or called bears. I wasn’t a bear, but I did have a soft belly. Since I was otherwise muscular and my suits didn’t need to be let out since I exercised regularly, I decided to count it as an asset.
Sure, I wanted to find a person to torture sexually, but I also wouldn’t mind cuddling afterwards. Softer bellies seemed ideal for cuddling.
Santo and I made conversation on the way into the city, discussing the twins and family we both knew. It helped distract me from wondering what I would see when I got to the club. I was going, and I would observe, but I didn’t think I was quite there yet to play publicly.
If they wanted to go home and try things out in privacy, I was willing and ready. I’d leave my gun at home, and hope for a different kind of action.
CHAPTER EIGHT
BASIL
“ID?”a hulking man at the door under the blue neon X asked, and I pulled it out for the second time that night. He opened the black, wrought iron security gate, revealing a red door that was wide enough to fit two of him side by side. “You’re good.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled, unsure if this was a bar or maybe a fancy drug dealer. That would track with the Italian, and meant he was working in Kiselov territory.
A low, bass-thumping music seemed to emanate from the curved leather walls, a different vibe than the karaoke bar next door. It felt almost sensual.
“Visitor?” A blue-haired person standing at a host stand asked when I turned a corner, making a guess, then seeing my confusion, “Just looking tonight?”
“Da. Yes,” I corrected in English, taking in their androgynous features, makeup, and silky top that almost showed nipples. Their look was somewhere between formal and sexy, giving me no hints at what this place was doing behind closed doors. I went off their cues, “Not partaking, myself.”
“Welcome to X Club, then,” they greeted, holding out a rubber bracelet and pamphlet with an image of the red front door and a blue neon sign titledRules. “Here is a red wristband to show you’re only looking. No one will bug you with it on. Would you like a full rundown and tour, or to explore and read for yourself?”
“Oh, I can explore and see for myself, thanks,” I answered, not wanting to miss my opportunity to find Greco. I slipped the red band over my hand and started to make my way past.
“Have fun, and no touching without asking,” they called after me.
The open shelving for bags and a coat rack felt strange, but they must have a rule about bringing in anything you could steal product with. I didn’t stop to read the pamphlet or check if there were cameras on the bags to discourage thieves, since I didn’t plan on returning.
From behind a closed double door, I heard someone cry out in pain and another person laughing. It sounded like a man being beaten or electrocuted. Was Greco taking his rivals to the same place he dealt from? Good way to strike fear in them, I suppose.
The hallway naturally flowed to a stretch with couches, where people cuddled under blankets. I had to wonder if they let people use on site. Dangerous and safer in different ways. Dangerous, because more laws were broken, but safer than letting customers go out and resell your product or cut it with ketamine. Dead people were bad for business.
But I didn’t see anyone using drugs. First, I took in the lack of clothing on many people, and then how many of them were on their knees. Some were in collars on leashes, and others were wearing masks. I heard a man near me refer to a naked person on his lap as a pet. Most were in leather harnesses, carrying floggers and whips. I wasn’t in a drug den. At least, I didn’t think I was.
This was someEyes Wide Shut, kinky shit.
The thought that I should turn right around and wait outside was tempting, but a suit-wearing patron turned a corner further down the hall. I hadn’t seen Greco in the lounge area, so I was hoping that was him. Spotting him in a crowd of onlookers, the red and purple lights showing him in contrast, I almost missed what was happening on the raised platform in the center of the room.
