He waits for my response, but all I can do is flounder, unable to believe what I’m seeing, what I’m hearing.
‘I … I told her that in confidence.’
‘Well, you shouldn’t have. She can’t keep a confidence, especially one as misguided and fucked up as that.’
‘Fucked up?’ Tears cloud my eyes. ‘You promised me …’
‘It’s amazing what you’ll say when you’re high on morphine. You should have got the message by now, Maya. We’re through.’
I hear the words, and they confirm everything. The ground gives way beneath my feet, threatening to suck me into the darkness. But I’m not going easily. The grip on my arm tightens, firing me up into a fury.
‘And you didn’t have the balls to tell me?’ I demand, glaring at him.
‘I’ve got the balls to do anything, but I’m not stupid. No contact. Not even for that. I’ll protect the people I care about. But you? You fucked up once too often. I’m done with you.’
Almost as soon as I’m released, a chunky set of fingers close around my arm.
‘Miss, you need to leave.’
Obviously terrified of what I might do next, Beefy’s startled, bird-like eyes are fixed on me.
‘Fuck off, Beefy. I’ve got as much right to be here as him.’
I struggle, only to find I’m held tight in a grip that’s certainly vice-like but curiously gentle. I look at Beefy’s hand, and then at Dan. The expression on his face says it all. He’s disgusted by my behaviour. But I just don’t care. Dismissing him, I inspect his latest conquest, a self-satisfied cat that’s clearly had the cream. It’s enough to light a fuse, and I’m not surprised when I turn back to Dan and hear myself shout.
‘Do you know what you are? An arrogant, fucked-up shit! The biggest fucked- up shit to walk this planet since … I don’t know when. A manipulative, lying, selfish bastard! That’s what you are!’ There. That should do it. I’ve set the record well and truly straight. And now I address the queue. ‘Ladies and gentlemen!’ Steadied by Beefy’s hand, I wave a hand at Dan. ‘I give you Daniel Foster. A man with a big cock and a massive bank balance. Handsome, isn’t he? But, ladies, don’t let that fool you. Keep your distance, because this,’ I point an accusing finger at him, ‘is one huge fuck-up of a disaster zone!’
‘You’re making a fool of yourself.’
I’m halted in my tracks by the creamed-up feline. How dare she dump her ridiculous opinion on me?
‘And you’d better be careful,’ I tell her. ‘Don’t believe a fucking word he says. He’ll tell you he loves you, he’ll tell you he needs you, he’ll tell you you’re the best thing since sliced bread, and then he’ll dump you. Good fucking luck!’
The grip on my arm tightens a little.
‘Come away,’ Beefy urges me.
‘Leave her,’ Dan orders. ‘The job’s done. We’re going.’
A black limousine draws up at the kerb. He opens the back door quickly and motions for Little Miss Smug to get in. She complies. Stunned, I watch as without another word, Dan joins her and slams the door, disappearing behind darkened glass. Finally releasing me, Beefy installs himself in the front passenger seat and the car pulls away.
An icy wind whips at me. I shiver, focus my attention back at the queue and register a row of faces, all fixed on me, none of them offering sympathy. I’m about to tell the whole lot of them to fuck off when Lucy appears at my side.
‘What was that all about?’ she asks. ‘What was he doing here?’
‘Giving me proof,’ I grumble. ‘As if I needed it.’
I check the faces surrounding me. Suddenly, I’m not so sure I’m being shadowed any more. After all, if the man hates me that much, then why would he have me protected? And suddenly, fuelled by alcohol and disgust, I really don’t care. If Boyd’s out there waiting for me, he can have me. In full-on self-destruct mode, I retreat inside the club and head straight to the cloakroom. Lucy follows close behind, making a call on her mobile as I shrug on my coat, still shadowing me as I stomp back outside.
‘Leave me alone, Luce,’ I shout, launching into a brisk march.
‘No way,’ she pants, struggling to keep up. ‘You’re drunk and you’re angry.’
‘No shit!’ I whirl round on the spot. ‘And do you know what? I don’t want anything anyone’s got to offer in that shit-hole.’ I point back to the club. ‘I’m going somewhere else.’
‘Where?’
‘Mind your own sodding business. Go back to the cattle market.’
I don’t have to stagger far to find what I want. Within seconds, I’m heading down a set of steps. The man’s still there, standing in the doorway, smoking yet another cigarette.
‘I thought you’d be back.’ He moves to one side.
‘Maya, what are you doing?’ I falter at the sound of Lucy’s voice.
‘What does it look like?’
‘If you go in there, you’ll get pissed on.’
‘Well,’ I laugh, ‘I’ve already been shat on. What difference is it going to make?’
I disappear into the shadows, edging my way through a gloomy corridor that leads to a bar. Surveying the room, I’m surprised to find it’s not a dungeon, and I’m not surrounded by sweaty naked bodies, and I haven’t heard a single groan. In fact, it’s just a normal bar, filled with seemingly normal people, doing what normal people do in bars, drinking and talking. And they’re all fully clothed, not a gag or a flogger in sight. A wave of drunken disappointment washes through me. The doorman must have been stringing me along with all his talk of kink. I head for the counter, propping myself up next to a tallish, blond-haired man.
