This Hostage to Fortune

By Oscar Phoenix

Prompted by heartbreak over losing his lover, Lucas Stoulson finds solace in his memories of a time when clubs were filled with rebellious party people from all social backgrounds, and the music created a blissful atmosphere.

It's 1989. Lucas and his best friend Reggie meet girls and have connections, money and good times.

After creating a publishing and exhibitions company that conceals their drug trafficking operation within the streets of London, Lucas and Reggie party with their crew and find a way to secure their financial future, by building their reputation in the criminal underworld.

As their business grows, the young crew soon find themselves entwined in temptations that for some are too enticing to resist.

This Hostage to Fortune is a tale of a young man’s journey through a vibrant party scene and the brutal underworld. He begins to learn that the only person he can ever trust, is himself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Aug 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781483419787

Book preview

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Chapter 1

T HE END OF a chilling nightmare leaves Lucas covered in an icy sweat. Another blessed sleep is tragically cut short by her haunting whispering voice. Lucas abruptly rises from his slumber to instinctively grasp at the empty side of his bed, for a lover that’s gone. He looks around in frustration. His dark blue eyes adjust to the blackness surrounding the room. The vacant space by his side becomes obvious to him that she’s not there. And an empty space, where she used to lay next to him, as they held each other throughout their dreams is the sad reality of his lost love. On realizing the truth that she has gone, he starts to breathe frantically. Lucas becomes dizzy and nauseous, until gradually, he clears the lump in his constricted throat. Lucas places his throbbing head into his clammy hands, after realizing he’s alone…again.

The daylight expands across the sky during the cold morning by the sea front. Lucas frailly stands against the moss green railings with his trusted friend Reggie. They look above them, knowing that it’s sure to rain shortly. They face the sea wind that blows hard against their skin. From afar, they can hear a melancholy Latin song, with the beautiful voice of a woman singing I Will Wait for You. The music plays on repeat within Reggie’s car. The mystical serenade of Astrud Gilberto carries through the street. Her enchanting voice haunts the memories of the two men standing in the unforgiving cold weather.

It seems colder than it was this time last year.

Reggie’s tall frame almost shivers when the words leave his mouth. He aims to break this morbid look that’s cast over his best friends face. Instead, he receives a cold glare and a somewhat colder reply.

Yeah.

Lucas tries hard to defy the wind that runs over his skin and screams at his bones. He leans into the ferocious breeze. The monosyllabic response comes across too mean towards Reggie, and Lucas wants to correct his manner. But he finds himself lost in emotion, saying nothing at first. He appears extremely upset and unapproachable. Lucas is fully aware of his mood, as is Reggie. Reggie, a man now in his forties has maintained his athletic build. His brown face looks younger than his age would suggest. He’s seen a world of morbid decay that’s attempted to devour his dreams. He has remained defiant over it all.

You cool?

Reggie’s question seems to unnerve Lucas. They have been standing side by side in this harsh weather for hours, with Lucas thinking about the past.

In his reply, Lucas’s voice quivers as he fights back the tears.

You know Reggie, I’ve been stupid! We wasted so much time me and her, now she’s gone. All I’ve got is the memories. She waited for me. I had something precious. And what did I do? I fucked it up!

Reggie takes a deep breath before answering. He shakes his head slightly when he reminisces of the best as well as the most testing times of their lives. The music playing from the car stereo almost seems mocking when Reggie ushers Lucas to the vehicle.

Come on, let’s go back.

Lucas grudgingly turns. Not wanting to let go of his thoughts. Though at first, he seems comfortable that Reggie has taken his arm. Then he quickly looks over his surroundings before slowly moving his arm away from his friends guidance. Lucas starts to feel unease when he’s looking at his cousins, Simon and Steven. The brothers sit, waiting in another car. And though they are Lucas’s family, he refuses to show them a glimmer of weakness at this moment. Lucas notices a loving couple holding hands, looking jubilant together across the way from where he and Reggie stand at the promenade. Lucas’s jaw tightens up. His face turns to stone just as the girl from the happy couple looks over to them. Her smile slips away. Nothing about her reminds him of his lost love Mimi except the essence of a female. Though somehow the girl does look familiar to him, youthful, playful and carefree like so many girls he once knew. Lucas opens his mouth as if to call out a name to her but no name comes to mind. His steely look has her feeling uneasy. Briefly, her smile is lost, but quickly she reforms to the playful world she was in moments ago as her boyfriend gently squeezes her hand. She looks at him and feels safe. Her boyfriend is oblivious to what she has just seen in Lucas’s eyes. She quickly looks back at Lucas before the feeling of love and happiness embraces her again.

The emotional reminiscent moment sends Lucas’s memory racing back to one of the first summers of love that he experienced. Lucas begins thinking of acid house tracks blasting out of the speakers at crowded underground clubs in and around London. Soulful Electro Funk and Hip Hop tracks that made everybody dance. He remembers a time in the eighties when music was creating a joyful atmosphere and people from all racial backgrounds danced as one, in unity. It was a time when House music was on a collision course with those that governed the country. The music and the movement began pushing forward like a sea of pure happy emotion. A time when the clubs filled with the rebellious party goers, the financially rich and poor danced together. The drop outs, the up and coming celebrities, the outcast, intellectually, spiritually and sexually curious were all looking for the new something. All the different peaceful people who just didn’t fit into the normal day to day were jumping on a new sound that seemed to complement them perfectly with the way they looked at the world, with love. It was a need that was denied them up until now. A piece of heaven appearing just at the right time, filling the lives of many people unable to find the key to open up the door to their dreams. Now, the key was gracefully handed to them at one infinite point in a field or club. It happened suddenly. They found this universe of beauty and happiness, inviting them to enter, embracing them on arrival.

Lucas’s uncle Henry was known to be a man with connections.

Reggie and Lucas were just out of high school. Their grades had been enhanced, with the assistance of Henry. To aid Lucas, Henry had acquired pictures of the male headmaster wearing lacy female garments at a fetish club. When the headmaster was shown the photos, the pictures silenced any problems that may be raised while the two friends attended high school.

Within Lucas’s crew, Henry only really wanted to look out for his son’s Simon and Steven and of course his only nephew Lucas. For Reggie, it was an awkward relationship between him and Henry as he knew Henry’s wife had left him years ago for a black man. Apart from being a property developer around West London, the man Henry’s wife left him for also supplied marijuana to Henry and his rich business colleagues. Most people within the circle of friends around the family quickly found out what had happened. This humiliation left Henry upset with the non white population in England. And from time to time after consuming the best part of a bottle of fine brandy, Henry would let Reggie know just what he thought of Those darkies, if Reggie was at his house to hang out with Simon, Steve, Lucas and a party of girls and guys. But of course, once Lucas put his uncle straight, he’d always exempt Reginald from his hatred and disrespect. Normally Henry would state Not you Reggie, you’re alright. You’re welcome here at my house anytime you want to come around. It’s the other lot I don’t like!

Lucas always spoke to his father Lucas Stoulson Senior and Uncle Henry about his future. Lucas included Reggie into any plans, making sure that everybody knew that they were the best of friends. It had been that way since they met at high school.

Neither of them backed down, which allowed them to deal with challengers when fighting, until it was just Reggie and Lucas facing each other. They had a mutual understanding from the beginning. For them, it was all about the girls, the money, the good life.

Things go well for them over time. Reggie and Lucas finished college. Then they dropped out of university to start up a joint entrepreneurial business which was the way forward for them during the nineteen eighties. With money in their pocket’s and a growing notoriously dangerous reputation, they acquired hardened criminals to assist them with their endeavour’s to sell drugs and other merchandise within London. It was a business that was growing daily in size and was carefully hidden under their own legitimate exhibitions and print media company that they ran successfully. With their pager and mobile numbers in Filofaxes belonging to so many of London’s wealthy yuppies, along with contacts to most of London’s underworld, some years pass, and things got better for the crew.

Chapter 2

T HE SOUND OF Mantronix King of the Beats pumps out of the speakers and through the house that’s owned by Miles. He strolls confident and merrily out of the front room where Steven, Reggie and Lucas converse. They have been consuming a considerably large amount of cocaine. The addictive substance has been placed on a long oval table made of onyx that the friends lean over. In turns, they’ve vigorously snorted slug lines of the white powder. Reggie and Lucas ease back down onto the expensive dark brown leather sofa, but only for a moment. With a bootleg video recording of the film King of New York showing on the television and drugs in their system, neither of them can sit down for long. Lucas and Reggie are quoting lines from the movie. Avidly, they watch a scene where Jimmy Jump fights a masked man hanging from the swinging car door while the car is being driven by Frank White. At speed, Frank White drives the car towards a fire hydrant. As Frank gets closer, he swerves the car away. The masked man loses his grip on the car door and he is propelled towards the fire hydrant. His head smashes against the metal object. At the same time Lucas and Reggie shout out along with Jimmy Jump Nobody rides for free mother fucker. They laugh in admiration. Outside the room, Miles large brick like Motorola continues to ring until he casually answers it once the living room door is shut behind him. In the front room, Steven sits in a cosy armchair. He’s lying sideways with his legs drooped over the armrest as he looks indifferently at his cousin and friend.

That’s your favourite line in the whole movie isn’t it?

Steve almost seems bored with the whole play of things like he’s watched a rerun of a television programme once too many times. The drugs have been taking effect.

Lucas has something on his mind.

"Can you imagine the way our future will be? It’s going to be so bright, it’s ultraviolet!

We got the money coming in, the connections growing all over the place and more pussy than you can shake a dick at, well for us, not you Stevie. You can shake your stick at whatever you like, but you know what we mean right? Our organization is growing in size and shortly we go international. That time is coming real soon I can tell you!"

Lucas crouches over the table to snort another line of cocaine. Steven sits in a corner of the room. He watches his cousin slowly getting toasted. The last part of what Lucas said seems to catch Reggie’s interest as he sips his rum and coke.

I got to speak with my guy at sea soon Stevie boy. Anything you want me to let him know?

Steven looks over to Reggie who rolls his shoulders back. Reggie waits for Lucas to finish off his line of cocaine so he can get some more. Steven sounds as though he would rather be anywhere else than where he is.

There isn’t much that I haven’t told you already Reginald. Just make certain that it avoids my father’s timetable with his cargo and everything will turn out fine.

Lucas does one more line of cocaine before he gets up and starts to dance over to the drinks cabinet. Steve, still sitting calmly begins to produce from his silver cigarette case a cocaine spliff that he made earlier. He lights it up and puffs away. In a obnoxious manner, he warns his younger cousin of his indulgence.

Take it easy now. Don’t drink too much of the Bollinger dear Luki. We don’t want to get pinched for drink driving while we have those pills on us do we?

Steve’s comment and nonchalant body language irks Lucas who watches his cousin lazily lay in the chair while Steven takes to his mouth a touch of gin and tonic from the crystal tumbler. Steven begins to puff smoke into the glass. He smiles to himself. He’s dressed in an immaculately white Vivienne Westwood T Shirt with the orb on the centre of it. His red tartan bondage trousers hang slightly off waist with a pair of well polished black dealer boots on his feet. Steven has a silk paisley Versace dressing gown draped over his clothes that he has snagged from Miles.

Slowly he pulls on another blast of the spliff. He awaits his cousin’s reply.

Don’t get into a tizzy just because I’m having a shot of booze, it’s alright. And it’s Cutty Sark, not the champers. And for your information, I’m not driving tonight. And as you well know, the gear is in the secret compartment in the car! You just focus on picking up the cash from your chums!

Steve sarcastically grins at Lucas and finds comfort in another pull of the cocaine spliff. His moment of pleasure is spoiled when he has his perfectly styled hair ruffled by Lucas, to his annoyance. Steve chooses to face away in order not to rise to the bait.

Yeah, you better look away. And give me some of that joint you’re bogarting!

Reggie pays little attention to the banter between cousins. He’s heard most of it over the years and he knows what they need to do to push each other over the edge if they want to. He nods his head along to the track playing while sitting crossed legged by the onyx table. Reggie is coming to the end of constructing a cocaine spliff. He gently sniffs up a pinch of cocaine whilst quietly he makes some lines from a couple of grams for Miles, Lucas and Steve before putting one together for himself.

He leaves just over a gram in a pile to the side that’s close to an opened seal. The opened seal contains an ounce of pure white powder and on top of this package is his nine bar of Double O. A cannabis resin laced with opium wrapped in cellophane.

Reggie smiles comfortably at Steve’s reply just after Lucas has messed up his cousins well groomed hair. Steve’s posh accent quotes from the same movie playing, and he adds a line in a terrible West Indian accent. I don’t want to hurt you…but I’ll blow you away if I have to, understand? You bloodclot!

The attempted West Indian accent by Steven makes Reggie laugh. He accidentally blows most of the carefully prepared cocaine lines across the onyx table as well as some of the powder that was previously up his nose. Still laughing, Reggie looks at the living room door as Miles enters the room. The proud house owner looks most displeased at the state of his table with snot and cocaine sprayed over parts of it.

Miles becomes agitated. He quickly looks at the cousins to gage their reaction, only to find them in a mock stare off. Somewhat perturbed, Miles looks down towards Reggie who is trying to detach himself from a string of mucus that’s running from his nose to the table. Unfortunately, Reggie is only carrying the string of snot from one hand only to attach it to the other.

Fucking hell Reg, you’re supposed to inhale the powder with that shotgun nose of yours, not decorate my carpet with it!

Get fucked Miles!

Miles takes what he’s told jokingly. Then he pushes his luck a little further.

And please get that booger off my furniture and your hands man. You look like you’ve been slimed by that ghost from Ghostbusters.

Reggie stands up. He says nothing before projecting an unimpressed stare at Miles as he walks towards him. Miles moves away from the door, allowing for Reggie to pass unchallenged into the hallway and towards the downstairs bathroom. It’s not the best thing to do, messing around with Reggie’s patience, as Miles knows all too well from drinking on occasions with him. He has witnessed strangers taking advantage of Reggie’s sometimes jovial behaviour. With each one of them then ending up in the emergency room after Reggie has let off a near lethal punching combination towards his antagonist and anyone who attempts to stop the onslaught.

Miles releases a breath of relief once he realizes that he hasn’t overstepped the mark. He turns his attention to Steve. Hey. And take my gown off! Olivia likes wearing that at night and she wants my scent on it, not your perfume! Hand it over!

Miles stomps over to where Steven lays in the chair. He starts tapping impatiently on Steven’s upper arm to hurry him up with disrobing. Steven, like a cat not wanting to be moved, reluctantly eases himself up from the chair. He sticks his hand out to pass the spilff over to Lucas then in a confrontational manner, he stands in front of Miles while undressing himself from the silk paisley dressing gown.

It’s not my style anyway.

The remaining smoke that was left in Steve’s mouth eases out. It passes over Miles face.

As uncomfortable as he feels, Miles stands his ground. He refuses to be totally pushed around in his house. First by Reggie now more evenly matched with Steven, he doesn’t back down this time. The two young men are slim and around the same height. They only stare at each other for a few seconds before Lucas steps in, putting the cocaine spliff back into his cousin’s hand. The gesture of receiving the joint pleases him as Lucas watches Steven dancing around.

That’s what I love about you. You just vogue your way through any situation.

The comment breaks his concentration when dancing. Steven turns and pulls a glimmer of a smug grin at Miles. Knowing that Lucas is backing family makes him feel that much better about the little ribbing he just took. Steven has always assumed if anybody, he’s the outsider in the crew but Lucas has always looked out for him, so has Simon.

However, Steve felt that sometimes his father Henry seemed to have a look of annoyance when talking to him. Though on the surface, he seemed to come to terms with his sons sexual preference. It seemed he did not want to make a fuss of it for the family’s sake.

The intercom buzzes, then the caller impatiently rings again. Miles heads to the door and presses the receiver next to it.

Speak.

The crew uses a password in order to make certain that they don’t get caught by police or rival gangs when they may be holding a stash of drugs. Mostly they use Marvel superheroes or the hero’s alter ego, changing them weekly. Miles hears what he needs to hear.

Bruce Banner.

The enter button is pressed on the intercom. Shortly afterwards, Miles follows Simon who strolls through the landing with a big cheeky smirk on his face and a short start to a story of how he just got a girls number on the way over. In the front room, the boys find themselves in one of Reggie’s profound conversations he’ll occasionally start once everybody begins to get intoxicated. For Reggie, these thoughts were constantly running around his mind. He was always just waiting for everyone to get on his level so he can get them to agree with what many people considered to be obscure conversations until they got high enough to see his point of view.

…So everybody has the ability to be good or evil it’s all a matter of choice. They have the choice to choose what they believe to be right and wrong. So some people steal to get by and can justify their actions. Maybe not in a court of law but for example, if someone had a starving baby and they took some baby food to feed their kid would that be wrong or right? Then some people steal because they like the way it makes them feel, it turns them on. But stealing is stealing, so whether you steal to feed your baby or steal for the fun of it, who is to say either is right or wrong?

Lucas is still standing by the drinks counter, speechless. His interest in the conversation is holding him from pouring another glass of whisky.

Lined up on a Chick Corea album sits more cocaine. Where five lines are soon to become four. Then Lucas breaks his silence.

Sniff. So you think that some people just go through life doing what’s considered good or evil with a thought for what they are doing but need to do it anyway. And others without caring because they get off on it?

Exactly that. Or are they the same thing? But that’s why we are such good friends Luki, you get what I think. Who’s to say either of these things are right….or wrong for that matter? The thing is… who are we really to say either is right or wrong? We are but creatures at the base of it all and we and when I say we I mean as a generic. We people find comfort in sayings like what goes around comes around. Well I’m sure we all know some people that have got away with whatever and come out smelling of Hai Karate. Steven frowns, puzzled by what he’s hearing. He feels he has to speak out. I don’t think I for one want to come out smelling of Hai Karate for my resumed sins thank you very much! Reggie looks over to Steven, and smiles when he does. I bet you want the small self defence instruction booklet that comes with the aftershave. Teaching you how to fend off women though don’t cha?! …My point was, so many people worry about doing right and still end up fucked up. So what is the point of that? Of it all? Eternal life? Where? My piece of heaven is right underneath my feet wherever I am cos that’s where I’m standing and that’s where I’m happy. And these people who go around caring or not caring are just as happy as each other. It’s the ones in the middle that have the problem. It’s the ones who do nothing but stand on the side of life and stare at us because they don’t have the guts to decide. Who stare at everybody else and go around pointing their finger at others. Fuck em! No conscience, no care. Just go for it, whatever it is!

Miles and Simon enter the room with Simon mentioning to Miles that he still has half an ounce of cocaine that he’s promoting for his friend Marty. The two conversations collide and carrying on until Lucas asks Simon how the delivery of pills went.

Yep. All drop offs went well.

Reggie looks to include Simon and Miles into this topic of debate.

Ah gentlemen, perfect timing. Please sit down and tell us what your opinion on the nature of humans and the way of the world is.

Simon and Miles look on each other. Then they look at Reggie sniffing heavily while he is beginning to look a little wired with his eyes becoming ever so wild but still holding it together. Still looking at each other, Simon and Miles only have one thing to say before turning to Reggie with an answer.

Time consuming.

Reggie makes a gesture with his right hand as though he’s shaking up a can of fizzy drink. Wankers!

Lucas snaps out of the buzz to pour a drink, after passing the cocaine strewn record cover to Reggie. Then he knocks everyone into play.

Come on peeps let’s clean up and clear out.

Each one of them takes another snort of cocaine then Miles puts the silver package of coke under the VCR, along with the nine bar and heads for the door.

They step outside into the night. The warm summer air relaxes them at first as they start to walk on the street.

Reggie steps into his black Saab convertible. And once he sits in the driver’s seat, Lucas jumps into the passenger side, playfully shouting in a commanding posh voice.

Right. Home Hoke!

To which Reggie replies Hoke? Do I look like Morgan fucking Freeman!? This isn’t Driving Miss Daisy, bitch!

They start laughing uncontrollably, with Reggie eventually shaking his head and turning the key to start the engine.

Which reminds me Reg, we need to get a few more bootleg videos of that movie. If you tell Toby to drop off fifteen hundred to them barrow boys that took care of that thing for us.

The car pulls away like it’s moving in slow motion. On their journey, Reggie and Lucas pass through the busy parts of London while they listen to a pirate radio station that plays Acid House. The DJ plays an uninterrupted mix.

Stuck in traffic, Reggie and Lucas begin calling girls over to the car at any chance they get. They spend most of the journey joking between themselves about some of the girls they caught up with since school and college along with some of the places to get the best designer clothes.

On their way, Reggie points out the many people going through their weekly ritual of Friday night abuse and weekend wildness, that summer madness. It happens all around the world. It’s that need to cut free which engulfs almost everyone once they get their pay packet. He can see them scraping along week by week, month by month. Reggie, he’s different. No car payments and the mortgage on his house is almost paid off. The idea that the crew had was to flood London with the drugs they supply. Making everybody their victim. But whose victim is he?

Lucas does not over think things. He just wants a weekly and monthly readout of figures of what he’s paying for and what he’s getting back. He never seems to be amazed by the questions Reggie asks him.

You ever thought about living over in some other country when you got enough money?

Lucas looks to his friend and replies. He’s unsure of what he means.

When I got enough money? When is that then?

Come on Lucas.

"Why bother? I got everything on British soil. My family is right here. I got connections that go way back and everybody speaks the right language, why move?

Is that what you’re thinking of doing? Why would you? Things are running smoothly.

Plus, in the highly unlikely event anything ever does go wrong, we can run this work from prison which is a piece of piss over here. Besides, I got plans that include a stately home and a nice purchase of racehorses by the time we’re thirty, you already know this. If that answers your question, then why go anywhere else?"

Reggie ponders for a moment. Sometime in the future, they are destined to go their own way.

The sun is calling me. Maybe we can go to Ibiza or the Caribbean. We’ve been there and we have connections in those places. I just want to go somewhere that hasn’t been colonized too much. Where beautiful native woman walk around with their tittys out.

You’re proper funny Reg. We are English, there isn’t many places that we haven’t stomped our footprint all over the natives way of living, so you’re going to have to search very hard matey.

You laugh. While you play the sport of kings I’ll be the king, King Reginald of Titicaca.

That’s a lake.

Well, it’s the only place that I could think of that has tits in the name. Give us a break.

They reach their destination, a large theatre that’s been converted into a club with a huge sound system, along with laser lights. At the entrance is a mini circus act taking place and inside the club are some of the finest DJ’s playing non stop House music. Reggie drives past the long line of ravers. He glances at the wildness of the crowd outside the venue. Each and every raver desperately waits to get in, all charged with explosive excitement and dying to party. As the car gets locked up, they can hear the sound of Unique 3 playing The Theme coming from a vehicle. One of four girls calls Lucas over to her Wrangler Jeep. Reggie listens to Lucas as he catches up.

It’s on Reg, we’re in business.

Lucas grins when he looks back at Reggie for the briefest of moments. He then puts on a smooth pose when he continues to head towards the Jeep. Aware of the possibilities that may be in store, Lucas feels it’s a sure fire promise. He can sense it’s all going to happen by the lustful naughty look on the girls face in the left hand driver’s seat.

Anya recognizes Lucas from previous clubs that she has seen him in where he’s been treated like royalty. He’s the one she wants and she will do whatever it takes to get with him. Anya precariously leans out of the window towards Lucas, with her cleavage showing.

I know you.

Lucas pays little attention to any oncoming traffic or what she just said to him. Anya looks at Lucas with a wanting passion that engulfs her. The sensation starts from her toes. The sexual feeling wells up around and between her legs, then through her body. Lucas grins with hungry passionate eyes as he focuses on Anya while she sucks on a raspberry lollipop. She looks right at him and almost giggles in excitement as he confidently walks towards her. When he gets closer, Lucas doesn’t hesitate to push his tongue into her mouth as she responds greedily. The strength of her ravenous response nearly pushes his head back. They stay kissing uncontrollably. Reggie moves past the front of Anya’s car and over to the passenger side to say hi to her friends. He tries to scope which one of the three girls is the best pick out of the bunch. Reggie introduces himself to the girl in the passenger seat. She’s a blond with brown flicks in her hair, a sprinkle of freckles around her nose and a slight dimple in her chin. He smiles and greets her.

Hi.

Her frosty reply is the opposite of her friend Anya’s hot welcome. Her name is Celeste. She doesn’t know who Reggie is and usually does not care for people of colour. The only person she tolerates of an ethnic background is Anya’s friend Tara, the girl sitting behind her in one of the back seats of the Jeep. Celeste looks on at Reggie in near disgust at the audacity that he would even introduce himself to her. She replies bluntly with her Johannesburg accent and then she looks away.

Hi yourself!

Reggie almost feels the coldness of the response from Celeste. She is no less of a predator than Anya but she has her preference. Anya wants the Caucasian banker rugby type, and when she sinks her teeth into one of those men, it’s for the long term. This is why she’s dating Clark whose father has climbed the corporate ladder in banking, just like hers. Apart from the lack of sexual electricity, Clark ticks all the right boxes for her. Celeste considers their partnership to be a relationship of convenience.

Reggie is about to ask one of the girls in the back seat for a light. As he bends down to look through the window, Reggie notices Anya really going for it with his friend Lucas. Anya is half way out of the car where the window would be while tonguing Lucas and giving it all she’s got.

The half an ecstasy pill she consumed earlier starts to kick in as she tips out of the window. Lucas is caressing Anya’s breast in full view of clubbers passing by in cars and on foot. Drivers honk their horns when slowing down to watch the foreplay while they cruise passed them, though Lucas or Anya could not care less. The kissing and fondling attracts attention outside the car and inside. Anya’s brown suede jeans are hanging half way off of her arse and her bum is on show to those in the Jeep and Reggie on the pavement. Reggie cannot help but stare until one of the girls shrieks at her friend.

Anya!

Melissa who was sitting impatiently behind Anya had seen enough and screamed at her friend. She grabs Anya’s jeans by the back pocket then pulls her friend’s backside into the driver’s seat in an attempt to protect any respectability the girls have. Reggie looks to Celeste with a suggestive look. She can almost read what he’s thinking as she presumes it’s something along the lines of I don’t know why you’re playing hard to get. We both know how it will turn out….

Reggie is still smiling though Celeste is not amused by this. She looks almost disdainfully at Reggie though Reggie is ready to laugh it all off. He points to the girl sitting behind Celeste who he cannot see too clearly. She remains sitting back in her seat. The shade of the canvas roof is shadowing her face and her leather jacket covers her figure. The girls have been laughing and listening to music as they shared a bottle of champagne which Reggie notices is next to her. He smiles that much more when he guesses the bottle is empty while it lays horizontally.

You got a light?

Sympathetically, Tara says Yes, reaches into her leather Mac and pulls out her silver Zippo. To Tara’s excitement, Reggie reaches into his pants and pulls out a large spliff. He and Tara partake in conversation around the back of Celeste’s head.

Bit hot for leather?

The effect of her ecstasy tablet is coming over her while she answers politely.

Pleasantly shocked at the sudden rush he’s given her.

Yeah, but it gets a little breezy in the back with the roof down….when it was down.

She giggles nervously. Reggie only half listens to her answer. Instead, he concentrates on looking cooler than cool when lighting his joint by flicking the Zippo lid open and running the cog wheel along his waistcoat. He then holds the flame to the end of his spliff. Reggie gently puffs out part of the smoke in Celeste’s face through the right side of his mouth. Celeste licks her lips as Reggie is trying to find out if she smokes dope. He figures she does by her reaction though he does not want to show her that he knows. Celeste breathes in the smoke, licking her lips a little in anticipation of smoking the joint. She does not want to give in to ask him for a pull on the joint, though her half of the ecstasy tablet she took is awakening during Reggie and Tara’s conversation. Tara shows more interest in Reggie. She looks across the street.

…Is that your car?

Reggie flicks the lid of Tara’s Zippo shut.

Tara and Celeste glance over to Reggie’s Saab and quickly Reggie peers at Tara.

He gleefully squints to get a better look at her in the back seat but still she remains shrouded in darkness. In order not to appear too eager, he waits for her to come forward as he holds her lighter near to him while she gazes at his car. He makes certain, to get her Zippo back she has to move into the light. Reggie believes his plan cannot fail and so he smiles that much more.

You saw me get out the drivers seat didn’t you? You can look inside my ride later maybe, baby.

Tara gracefully moves forward to receive her lighter while making a half giggle.

Reggie watches Tara composing herself as she moves towards him. Gently, she strikes Reggie with her beauty. Her skin is a light complexion. She is a mixture of a beautiful red and yellow almost amber skin tone, a produce of an Indian mother and a Trinidadian father. Reggie almost stands back in amazement once Tara moves forward to pick the Zippo from his hand. She’s eclipsing all things in his sight. Their moment of magic is shattered by Celeste, with the thought of her not being the centre of attention anymore.

Why would she want to look inside anything of yours? Look we’re going to the club and we are meeting our boyfriend’s.

After her stabbing remark, Celeste pulls on Anya’s shoulder which stops her from French kissing Lucas. Melissa in the back of the car is still shocked by watching Anya’s antics. She chooses to remain quiet, her arms crossed, anxious to get inside and slowly becoming perturbed for receiving zero attention.

Boyfriend’s!

Celeste reminds Anya of the codeword to use if any of the girls want to get away from any guys. She starts prodding Anya who doesn’t follow through. Instead she replies dryly.

I don’t have a boyfriend Celeste. You and Melissa are the only ones with gentlemen callers.

In her frustration Celeste opens the car door and attempts to push Reggie away with it. Reggie avoids the door being slammed into him by holding it and letting the door open at his chosen pace. It gives him time to move aside. This assault grates against his patience and when he starts to talk, his voice tone has changed. An assault, whether by a car door being pushed at him by a girl or whoever, is still an assault. He confronts Celeste with some harsh words when she steps onto the pavement.

Don’t come wid dat attitude to me!

Celeste almost surprises Reggie by standing her ground. She clinches her hand, thinking back to when she used to use a horsewhip on people. Reggie knows she needs to be put in check so that she doesn’t try anything like this again. Before the argument escalates; two policemen turn the corner that the car is parked close to.

The scent of marijuana from Reggie’s spliff is flowing in a ten metre radius. From where the policemen are they don’t smell anything yet. But one of them with a real sharp eye homes in on the joint. The police officer takes a couple more steps and then through his nose, he begins to breathe in that familiar pungent odour.

Hey put that down and stand over here. You’re under arrest boy!

The command goes almost unnoticed by Reggie who casually turns around to them.

At the same time Lucas pulls away from Anya to look over and find out just what is taking place. The two policemen move apprehensively towards Reggie. Next to Reggie stands a nervous Celeste. She is already pleading her innocence. She’s stating that she doesn’t know this man at all. Tara who has climbed out of the Jeep can see one of the officers planning on making an example of Reggie.

I told you to put that down!

Reggie rebelliously takes another pull on the spliff, real slow. He’s unafraid and looks the officer in the eye.

I would do, but I’m smoking it!

Smoke rings exit Reggie’s mouth. The officer’s eyes grow wide and wild. Before things get violent, Lucas shouts out to the other officer.

Gary.

Gary turns around and puts his hand against the chest of the other officer to move him out of the way. Then he joyfully replies in a surprised manner.

Lucas?

Hello mate, how you been?

Lucas walks over to where the policemen stand. He ignores and passes the first police officer to greet Gary who he remembered from college. Gary was someone Lucas once protected from the older guys who started on Gary as Lucas was walking through the hallway. After that, he began to look out for him when he could.

Tara and Celeste stand frozen in shock, mystified by what is happening. An obvious, overwhelming and uncomfortable feeling is coming over them.

The nausea is entwined with an exhilarating entity entering their bodies. The ecstasy they took is taking effect. Celeste almost reaches out to touch Reggie who stands next to her. The attraction of danger excites every molecule in her body. Anya stumbles out of the other side of the car. The champagne she drank earlier along with the ecstasy and what she considers to be fun is getting her off. Melissa rasps at her but at the same moment she speaks out, she’s aware of how loud she is and turns the volume down in order not to attract attention.

No! ...Stay in the car.

Anya has other plans, intrigued by what is happening.

I want to see.

Melissa stays put inside the Jeep. She begins to feel very alone. Then she starts thinking if they all get arrested, what will she do? And the shame of it all if her boyfriend or her parents have to pick her up from the police station if she is also arrested. Then she starts wondering if the police can incarcerate someone when they’re high. Lucas and Gary talk over college briefly and Gary tells his colleague to relax. Gary reminds the other officer that he came round to his house only a few days ago for a smoke and that this was a friend of his so let this one slide. A respectful nod is given from Gary to Reggie. Reggie just rolls his shoulders back and kisses his teeth. He takes another pull on the joint and watches Tara giggle in excitement of his insolence before he speaks.

You guys going clubbing?

Reggie’s sarcastic question cuts to the bone. The other officer still wants to arrest him. Lucas mischievously answers for them, looking right at Gary when he replies with no regard.

Naw they got work to do.

Once the officers disappear, Anya asks for a blast of the joint. Though she is almost immediately cut short. You’re Reggie; I’ve heard of you, you’re a dangerous person to…

Reggie has his blood up for battle after the police attempted to take his smoke and incarcerate him. He looks over to Lucas. Reggie ignores Anya and her anticipating hands.

Luki, we got to go man. Now you got rid of them filth, let’s take these girls partying.

Anya finds it impossible to contain her excitement of hitting the jackpot with two heavy hitters taking her and her friend’s out tonight.

Woo hoo!

At the point that everything looks like it’s calmed down, Melissa precariously climbs out of the jeep, as she wants to see what Anya is cheering for. When she does step onto the street, she’s almost run over by the driver of a red Ford Capri who slows down just enough to escape running over Melissa. Melissa barley moves out the way of the oncoming long bonnet. While the car passes her, the driver’s passenger throws an empty can of lager that narrowly misses her head, though the can taps the back of the jeep. In frustration, the drunk driver shouts out at the startled, slightly dazed and confused girl.

Nice tits love; I’d prefer them on my face than on my car window!

Before the driver and his laughing passenger can fully pull away, he gets a retort from Melissa. In a blend of shock from nearly being crushed, used as target practice and coming up on the ecstasy, she shouts out.

Well you shouldn’t drive so fast then should you cockface?!

Though there had been some erratic driving, Melissa immediately realized that it probably wasn’t the best thing to shout out. Insulting at a glance what looked like two wild looking hillbilly boys. At her guess, they’re probably on amphetamines and have been drinking all day with nothing better to do then drive around in a beaten up Capri on a Friday night. The car stops ten metres up the road then begins to reverse.

Though the passenger can see two police officers ahead, the driver cares less about them and more about punching out a defenseless girl. Unknowing to them that Lucas and Reggie are coming around from the other side of the jeep. They appear suddenly. Bravely stepping into the street and standing on either side of Melissa to protect her. The driver of the Capri stops abruptly before wheel spinning away. The sound of screeching tyres catches the attention of the two police officers further up the road but they let them drive on. Ruffled by the experience, Melissa walks over to her friends. Reggie and Lucas look blankly at each other for not receiving even a thank you from Melissa. They’re left to stand in the middle of the road waiting for some form of gratitude which doesn’t come. They start a conversation on a holiday to Ibiza for the end of the summer to escape all this rudeness that is nonexistent over there. Then once back on the pavement with Tara and Anya, the boys get all too friendly trying to touch the girls up until Melissa asks what her two friends think they’re doing. Anya and Tara laugh. Celeste looks scorned. Now clearly turned on by Reggie’s dangerous aura but she’s unable to let anyone know. He’s different from any black man she’s met. She’s feeling something running through her body, a sensation of desire touching her all over, making her body feel alert and warm. Celeste desperately wants to respond to her sensuous thoughts while she licks her lips, ready to speak to him.

So you gonna give me a pull on that?

Reggie holds the joint close to his crotch and jokingly replies with attitude.

What would you like to pull on?

Laughter surrounds her. Before Celeste can answer, Reggie frowns and asks her origin.

South African, right?

The atmosphere around them changes. No one knows where to look apart from Reggie. He stares into Celeste’s steel blue eyes. She closes them. She’s paralyzed. Feeling dramatic, her throat is suddenly as dry as the desert sand. Her hands become clammy and cold as she thinks My back is sweating and so is my arse cheeks! Did I say that out loud?! The normally overconfident Celeste finds herself lost for words and thought. Her homeland, still in apartheid where so many black people are being mistreated and killed keeps her thinking it may not be the best thing to answer the question to Reggie. Reggie can see the defiance in Celeste’s body language. She wants to attack him. Celeste has never found anyone who stands up to her, as she always gets what she wants. Normally she’d put a black man in their place with her father standing beside her when she was in South Africa. But this man is firing up her blood in a different way. She wants Reggie to tear the clothes from her body right now and take her in front of everyone, kissing and fondling every part of her like never before.

My nipples are so hard.

On opening her eyes, she realizes that some or all that she has been thinking about was expressed out loud to an audience of friends and two guys. She’s still surprised to find herself very much attracted to one of the guys. Lucas and Reggie are cracking up with laughter as is Anya. But Melissa and Tara are a little sympathetic, understanding why Celeste would feel this way. Reggie puts his arm around Tara and starts to walk off. He turns around whilst passing the joint to Celeste. Celeste extends her arm out to receive it but Reggie pulls his arm back, smiles and says Over here, in this country, your regime have no power!

Instead of handing the joint to Celeste as a peace offering, he turns his back to her.

Grinning to himself, he kisses Tara passionately on the lips then gives her a pull on the spliff as he holds it. They walk towards the club with Lucas and Anya following.

Melissa stays with Celeste walking behind them. Celeste is thinking how she can get this man.

Chapter 3

T HE THEATRE WHERE the rave is taking place holds approximately two thousand people. The bass line inside the club is pounding against the concrete walls of the building. Music carries into the air outside the venue. The ravers can hear the sound of Rhythm Devine Acid Rock calling them from within the club. They desperately wait to get past the doormen to join the growing number of partyheads inside. Everybody in the queue is anticipating the best night of their young lives. Adrenalin amongst other stimulants pumps through their veins. Breathing in the warm night air, sex is all around them and the club venue is already buzzing wildly three hours into its opening. The only thing that seems to stop everyone lined up from going crazy and rushing the doormen to get in and dance is the distraction from the mini circus. It comprises of a group of scantly clad women juggling batons between each other, male and female fire breathers blowing flames into the night sky, acrobats executing cartwheels and somersaults in front of the excited crowd. A buxom woman has a large boa constrictor around her neck. She lets people stroke it while she gets complements on her bust which partially shows in her corset. Three dwarfs chanting to the crowd help to create a buzzing atmosphere. The line of happy chatty people reaches around the block with most of the crowd moving to the banging sound system that can be heard a minute away in any direction before you get to the entrance. Reggie gleefully looks to Tara. He’s wondering if she could be the one to come away with him. He’s looking at her a little too long but he’s not caring. Reggie is also aware that Celeste is sternly watching but he pays her no attention.

Duncan stands by the front door of the venue. Another bouncer named Chris talks to him. Duncan losses concentration when he notices four good looking girls enjoying the company of two guys and they’re all walking straight towards him. One of the two guys is black which has Duncan’s jealousy raging more and more as they come closer to invade his space. The four girls along with Lucas walk past Duncan just when Reggie has his arm pulled at the front of the queue by a female raver which keeps him held back. He playfully allows her to grab his attention in order not to cause a commotion, and so he plays it cool. Reggie could see that she got turned away by Chris moments before they arrived at the entrance.

The group walk up to the front door of the club, ignoring the long queue. An irritated Duncan is casting a hard hateful look towards Reggie when asking the other bouncer Chris What’s the spook doing here?

Lucas ushers the girls in once he’s greeted by the guy with the guest list at the door.

None of group could hear the remark made by Duncan to Chris except Reggie.

Reggie is trying to politely brush away the girl who had trouble getting in tonight due to her being too wasted the week before. Her boyfriend is with her but it doesn’t stop her talking to Reggie.

Babes, get us in will ya? You remember me from last week…?

Thinking that she knows Reggie from someplace and he might be able to get her in.

She tugs on his waistcoat gently which holds him back. Reggie has little time to waste. Sorry don’t know ya.

Her miffed boyfriend begins to look confused as she has exposed her lie.

Cheryl, I thought you said you were with your nan and granddad last weekend!?

Looking around at Chris and Duncan after the racist comment had been said, Reggie recognizes one of them explaining to deaf ears just who Reggie is. In order to settle things down he walks over to them.

What’s up Chris who…

Before Reggie says anything more, Duncan surges up close to him. In a confrontational manner Duncan shouts out Who are you!?

Undeterred by the aggressive comment and ready to put any guy in check at the slightest sign of violence towards him, Reggie voice bellows. I’ll show you who the fuck I am!

There’s a metre gap separating the two men. With incredible speed, the space that was once between them is closed as they clash. Chris intervenes. He steps in as best as he can but Chris finds a vice like hold is keeping them locked as Reggie and Duncan go for their best neck breaking attacks. Lucas is on the other side of the doorway inside the club when he turns around to see a backhanded slap from Reggie onto the side of Duncan’s face. Lucas comes back out to help. He pushes Chris as he’s tells him Get that piece of shit away from my friend!

Some of the security men have moved from their nearby posts as they’ve seen what’s going on. In order to keep pandemonium from erupting, they rush over to help break things up. Other security men are being alerted on their handheld transceivers. They rush over to the entrance in order to maintain control but the clubbers at the front of the queue have gone wild as they cheer and laugh. Others are shocked at the aggression. A few of the rough and ready guys in the line have even joined in. The bouncers soon put everything in check by raising their flash torches that double up as truncheons, they begin to use them, as well as some choice words to push the crowd back. The ravers fall in line. Reggie and Duncan’s row is finally broken up, though each of them are still aiming to grip each other. Chris and Lucas are holding their colleagues back in order to block them or the enemy from throwing any accurate punches.

Duncan had been working on the door of the club for his second week. He’s the younger brother of another bouncer named Willy. They grew up in a rough area nearby. He always looked up to his older brother. Their parent’s were of a nature that when it came to anything of a material value, If it wasn’t nailed down then it’s ours. The parents of Duncan and William had been in and out of prison for theft and other petty crimes. Over the years, they looked after the boys as best as they could, though eventually their constant felonious addictions that ran through the entire family had caused the brothers to be placed into care. Willy was always fighting and was sent to juvenile correction after throwing a chair at a teacher the year he was leaving high school. After that, it was court then juvenile correction, court then prison. Proving he could use his fist all the way through his childhood to now. The court cases came fast but with his history of causing people grievous harm, those who started to testify against him never turned up in court. William was known for causing mayhem and when he or his friends would go and visit the witness, he got a reputation of raping a victim’s girlfriend with his brother or associates and taking pictures to show the accuser. This would normally force the witness not to turn up for court along with them dropping any charges in fear that they would attack any more of their loved ones. Willy had been working for the same security firm at the club for nine months but after the last attack on a clubber who owed him money, he left the country for a while to lie low. Willy was due back soon, as some of his friends in the security firm and others had caught up with the accuser after the witness had disappeared when he left the hospital. This witness had finally been found then persuaded to drop the charge even though he received a punctured lung, broken ribs, broken jaw, fractured pelvis and the lobe of his ear had been bitten off. In Willy’s absence, Duncan had been filling in for his brother, taking his spot on the door. However, most of the firm didn’t take to him like they did to his older brother, mainly due to his grimy nature. Before he worked there he was taking advantage of girls when they were stoned inside the club. Often, Duncan was assaulting them sexually near the closest alleyway or on a piece of lawn nearby.

Sometimes he would lure the girls to his car, promising them drugs. And over the last couple of months, he had raped three girls at different parties while he was high on crack cocaine.

Reggie and Lucas are walked into the club by another bouncer they know. During this time, the promoter talks with Chris who is embarrassed by the tear up. He chooses to apologize on Duncan’s behalf to Reggie at the doorway to the club. Duncan is placed on car park duty until things calm down. He ended up there last week.

On entering The Theatre, the two men find the girls waiting. Chris is left explaining to Duncan before he’s sent to the car park that he can’t go on running his mouth off like that. Duncan has been a weight around Chris’s neck, who is considered as one of the most pleasant bouncers. Chris has been lumped with this idiot for that very same reason and is annoyed that Duncan abuses his brother’s reputation. Even though Chris is not keen on what Duncan’s older brother Willy is about. He knows Will can handle himself and the rest of the security firm have split opinions for and against Duncan’s brother. Some of them have done a lot worse than Willy and Duncan.

What was that about brother? Lucas raises the non judgmental question. In their time as friends, Lucas has not known Reggie to react without what they would consider to be a justifiable reason.

That fucking cunt is a wrong’un!

Before he can explain fully, the girls run up to them and begin to ask if Reggie is alright. They meet them as soon as they step out of the entrance hallway and into the club. Each one of the girls is looking to comfort Reggie.

What happened? Are you ok?

In an arrogant manner, Lucas brushes them aside in order to take his friend away from them.

Don’t worry about it girls. Have a dance and we’ll meet you on the floor. Catch you later.

The girls walk off, unsure if Lucas was serious or not with what seemed like blatant rudeness. He