Wish you were in my shoes

Chapter 5: Danger

The night was fun, the drinks kept coming, along with the stolen glances to the redhead. The others noticed him as well and were asking question after question, about their night. Christian tried to be mysterious, not to answer too much, but he had no chance with his pals. They knew him well.

“I mean dude, how bad does that skin bruise? I had some redheads myself but I believe they were died most of them, cause I have never seen skin so white till now.”

“I tried hard not to let bruises where it could be seen because he might have problems at his work, you know? But yeah, his skin is white and translucent.”

“Oh boy, and the earrings?”

“What’s with them?”

“Did you try, um I don’t know, touching them or biting his ear or …?”

“Ok, where did this come from? And what’s with all the questions?”

“Sorry, didn’t want to bother you really, but … I never saw you with any girl you liked. I mean REALLY.”

“That’s not true … I … The … “

“Yeah, that’s what I was talking about.”

Christian could not believe that he could not answer. He had his first crush, like any other healthy boy when puberty hit, but that was it, a crush. Others? He had one or two relationships but they were too much cash and time grabbing so he gave up on them and without even thinking got to have just one-night stands. He liked the women he got home with, but it was mostly physical. He didn’t bother with their personalities, likes, and dislikes, and so on. He was a good lover and he knew that, and he found out what the other liked in bed. But then they all had to leave, he didn’t need the headache. But with the redhead, it was more, and he knew it. He wanted to know more than the fact he liked being bitten or that slower s*x made him anxious. He wanted to know how much he could tease the man until he exploded, why he left, why he was working as a barista, and many more. He was deep in thought when someone grabbed him by the shoulder and dragged him out of his chair.

“Dude, let’s go. They started a fight and police is coming.”

“What?”

Indeed, in the middle of the club, men were fighting, there was blood on their faces and many were scared. Christian asked himself which were the possibilities that a fight would break right in the opening day and they were slim, so it was probably the gang of shitheads sent by Glam club, the famous club run by the so-called mafia guys. He heard from some hidden sources that they were real-life bullies, trying to get every other club to close, going as low as to send their low members to start fights, throw punches and fondle females. He was so disgusted by them, and tried hard to understand why his father let these frauds in his territory, but found no answer. At the end of the day, it was not his deal anymore, even though there were some of his connections that kept him informed about almost everything, asking him to come back every time they talked. He got up and left, letting his friends know that he will finish his night there, he was not in the mood to continue the night at another place. The guys grinned but stopped bugging him, which was ok with him. He went to the back corner of the building and lit himself a cigarette. He would wait for Mogue there, he would be patient and not call him. The air was a bit cold, but the smoke calmed him down. He was still feeling responsible, even though he knew he was not anymore. The moment he left his father's house, he left all the obligations there. He was now in what was once his turf, and he was ruthless then. Another smoke, another breathe. Someone will handle it, not him.

“Have you heard about the guy? Moge or Mouge?”

The name got him out of his thoughts and he paid further attention. Was something wrong? Should he have called?

“I know just that he was sent with three guys to the police to declare what happened.”

“Yeah, but those three were so badly beaten that they were trembling. Guess who was the one who did it?”

The guy was smiling from one ear to another. And then laughed when he saw his colleague look of incredibility.

“Yes, my friend, the one and truly redhead.”

“No way! But he’s so skinny!”

“Some guys say that he was a club bodyguard, others whisper he was the pretty lover of a mafia guy.”

The guys passed by him, just looking at him but not telling him a thing. His aura was menacing but not because someone was watching him but because of what he heard. He was smiling when he heard that the spitfire redhead could throw a punch but got really angry hearing that he was the doll of someone. The way he saw things, he could be no one’s doll, he had too much of a personality.

“Hey, guys!”

The ones who were talking stopped and looked at him, a bit scared.

“Which police section did they go to?”

“Um… I don’t know, why?”

“Look, I was waiting for Mogue, we should have met tonight so do me a favor and tell me where they went, I don’t want to bother your employer tonight any more than he is. I don’t think he would like it if you didn’t tell me.”

He let a bit of his menacing air get through his ice-cold smile.

“You are probably right. I heard they got them at 52th station.”

“Dude!”

“Shut it!”

The employee hit the other with his elbow.

“Have a nice night Mr. Adler!”

They went a bit further but Christian could still hear them.

“Dude, do you even know who the man was? Christian Adler rings any bells?”

“s**t!”

“Yeah s**t, so keep your mouth close and move. You see him again, he asks something, you tell him and that’s it. That man is dangerous.”

The man in question stopped listening to the two and started walking. The police station was close by and he needed the walk, he was still mad. Another cigarette lit, many thoughts creeping his head. He couldn’t help his curiosity anymore, so he got his phone from his pocket and called.

“Mr. Adler.”

“Search for a new hire on the club Ring.”

“I believe they are all new hires sir, the club Ring only just opened.”

“Ok, search for Mogue. It’s not a usual name so it shouldn’t be hard for you. I want to know everything.”

“Anything else sir?”

“Just this. And Richie?”

“Yes sir?”

“Thank you! I know you don’t serve me anymore but you keep helping me.”

“No problem sir, I told you when you left I will keep serving you. You will have his folder in the e-mail tomorrow.”

The black-haired closed the call smiling. Rich was his right hand, always was and always will be, as loyal as he could be. He was already in front of the station, and it was noisy. He searched for Mogue’s number and wrote him a message.

Mogue had a hard time concentrating on his work after seeing Christian, he was mad at himself for being so easy to be affected. And why, in the name of what was holly, did he accept to meet the man again? They had s*x yeah, really good s*x yeah, but that should have been the end of it. He was not becoming the plaything of someone ever again. He suffered too much to do it all over again. Some rowdy guys came to the bar and ordered while pushing others and swearing at them. He could smell the act from too many feet away. These guys were there just to cause trouble, and he knew that not just from being ordered to do the same, even though he denied the order and got beaten because of it, but also because this would not be the first time he would defend a place from people like them. He served them but said nothing yet. He just paid a lot of attention from then on, and he was glad he did. Not one hour passed and one of them almost hit a guy with a broken beer bottle. Mogue jumped his bartender's place and defended the guys nearby, while also hitting the ones who were attacking. They were almost too easy, he had training in fighting, even more people at once, and they had no training at all. He had some of them on the floor, the other bodyguards handled the others. The boss got down, thanked him, and asked him and another to go to the station and declare everything they saw. It was a boring night from there on, with declarations and signings. A little part of his brain felt unhappy that he could not meet Christian instead but he chased the thought away. He needed the bartender job, the pay was nice, so he did what he had to do. It was almost over, he was signing the last pieces of paper when his phone buzzed in his pocket. It was an unknown number, so he thought that maybe it was one of his colleagues or maybe even his boss, but his eyes got big when he saw the message.

“I’m in front of the police station, waiting for you. Good job at not being a princess in distress again. Not your prince charming. :D”