Red feigned dozing as they got to the VIP room. Martin placed her on a sofa and was gallant as he pulled down the hem of her skirt, protecting Red’s modesty.
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There was something odd about Martin, Red sensed, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. She tried to probe with her mind more, but as Martin turned back to look at her, she stopped her probing and continued to pretend to sleep. She heard him chuckle under his breath and then he went over to another Wolf. He spoke loud enough for Red to hear and she thought he did it on purpose. “Watch that one, Bill. I think she’s going to be trouble.”
“How much trouble?”
“None for us, but go take a look, see if you recognise her.”
Bill wandered over to Red’s sofa, assuming Red was asleep. He took a good look then wandered back and nudged Martin: “Is that Hazel? What the fuck is she doing here? She can’t be drunk!”
“I know. That bitch Anna had a bottle of Rohypnol. I saw Darius give it to her earlier.”
“Is Rast about?”
“Yeah, he’s around, don’t know where though, but he’ll not be far.”
Red remembered the three brothers. She was glad they were still keeping as a family unit after all these years. She was also glad they had kept their names; she wouldn’t have recognised them otherwise. What she couldn’t work out was why they had been brought in to do the club security.
They stopped talking as Anna came back with Darius: “What are you doing now? Get back downstairs, you’re supposed to be working!”
Martin pulled at his fringe, in a mock-subservient gesture. Bill, however, spat at her feet, just missing her boots. Before Anna could react to Bill’s disrespect, Martin yanked him away.
“Did you see what he did Darius? I told you, that Billy’s trouble!”
“And I’ve told you, they’re not your personal servants. Treat them better and they’ll return the respect.” Darius said. “Where is she?”
Anna pointed to the sofa where Martin had put Red. Darius looked down on her ‘sleeping’ form and Red got the distinct feeling he was taking longer to look over her legs than was necessary. She must remember to thank Martin for pulling her hem down.
“Hazel! Red! Wake up darling. The party isn’t over yet.” Darius leaned and shook Red’s thigh. “How much did you slip her?” He asked Anna.
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“All of it.” Anna replied.
“Jesus! We’ll be lucky if she ever wakes up. Get her some water, you silly bitch.”
Martin and Bill stood at the top of the stairs and when they heard Darius call her Hazel, they looked at each other and made their way downstairs to find their brother.
Anna bought the water over and Darius splashed some on Red’s face. Red took her time in ‘waking up’ and Anna was back from the bar once more with shot glasses by the time she had sat up.
“I’ve got us another little drink Red.” Anna said, placing the glasses on a table. “Darius said you like Absinthe with sugar.”
“Ooh, Absinthe, I’ve not had that in ages, I don’t drink much you know.”
Red wobbled as she tried to stand, but Darius guided her back to a seat.
“Hello Darius, I’ve not seen you in ages.” Red giggled.
“Hello Hazel.” Darius said.
“Shh. Not Hazel, s’Red.” She said in a whisper. “Sit here Darius, next to me.” Red scooted over a little to give Darius room to sit, allowing her skirt to ride up her legs to distract him.
He passed Red a glass and took one himself.
“Yours looks tastier than mine.” Red said, giggling again and she leaned forward and sipped from Darius’s glass. “Here, have some of mine now.” She offered Darius her glass in return and watched as he downed the shot. “That either had no Rohypnol in it, or he’s not worried about being affected by it.” Red thought. She wiped her fingertips over Darius’s mouth, flirting with him. She noticed Anna watching and laughed to herself.
“I need the little girl’s room.” Red said. She stood, wobbled and sat back down, almost on Darius’s lap. He grabbed her waist to guide her and helped her stand steadier. She staggered off to the toilets and was just drinking water when the door opened again and Anna came in. Red splashed the water onto her face to disguise her action.
“Are you ok Red?” Anna asked.
“Yeah, I’m drunk Anna.” She held onto the sink and dipped her face into the water, drinking as much as she could in the time. Then Red went into a cubicle, locking the door behind her so she could use the toilet.
Red delayed her exit as long as possible, giving her body time to make use of the re-hydration. Anna looked over the top of the cubicle and told her “Come on Red, move it, there are drinks to be drunk out there.”
Red faked a tired sloppy smile and came out of the cubicle. She washed her hands then filled the basin once more, dipping her face as before.
Anna laughed, “You’ll smudge your make-up!”
“Never mind, Darius has seen me in worse states.” Red said dismissing her by waving her arm. She dabbed her face dry with a paper towel and then they went back to the party.
As Red hoped, Anna’s natural jealousy was beginning to be affected by her mentioning Darius and the overt flirting she was doing with him.
Shots were waiting at the table and Red wobbled back slower than before. There was another Wolf at Darius’s side when they got back; they stopped talking as they approached but then Darius continued: “Look at all this female flesh on view, bare chests and arms and long bare legs. God, I love this age, Rast!” He looked at Red’s booted legs as he said that and Anna couldn’t help but notice.
Anna flounced off to the bar. She stood behind the crowd waiting to be served at the bar with her hand over her head, clicking her fingers. The barmaid recognised the signal and served her first, much to the annoyance of others waiting. Anna trotted back to the table with a tray of shot glasses, brimming with Absinthe; sugar was sprinkled over the tray more for decoration than by accident.
Red downed a shot and noticed that Anna was being sly and had not even touched hers to her lips.
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Rast recommenced his conversation with Darius: “How about it boss? Are you going to let us three have a little time off?”
“That’s a good idea Rast!” Anna chipped in. “Darius has a little party planned for us after the punters have gone. I don’t think your brothers deserve to be here for it, especially that Billy. I think it’s a great idea that you three just go.”
Whilst Anna was berating Rast, Red took the shot glass closest and tipped it under the table, then slammed it down on the table, wiping her mouth with her other hand.
“C’mon Anna, you gotta catch me up.” Red giggled.
Rast looked at Red and she saw the flicker of recognition in his eyes. Red took another chance and tipped another shot under the table too. This time she banged the glass a lot. “Anna! Hey, you’re not partying. I’m going to have a little dance.” She stood and wobbled again, grabbed Darius as she fell and pulled him onto a sofa. He landed facing her with his arms either side of her. Red gave him a quick peck on the lips and started giggling again. Darius stood up and helped Red up too.
“Here Red, you dance with my friend Rast while Anna catches you up. I’ll fetch more Absinthe.” He said as he pushed Red towards Rast, draping her arms over his shoulders. Ignoring both Rast and Anna’s protests, he went to the bar.
“Hello Rastus.” Red purred. “I didn’t recognise Mart or Bill earlier, but you’ve not changed.”
“Hello Hazel. You’ve not changed either, wherever there’s trouble, you’re either the cause or in the middle of it.” He smiled. “You are in the deepest shit you can imagine.”
“Tell me about it. I know.”
The urgency in her voice made him look again. He continued, “Here’s how it’s going to go. Darius wants you humiliated. He’s got plans. Go with the flow and trust me. There are only us three that you can trust here, the others are eager to make their presence known to Darius, wanting to climb higher up in his firm. If we go, he’ll bring more in, so we’re staying. We’re not going to interfere, but at least you’ll be taking on three less. Go to sleep again now.”
Red rested her head onto Rast’s shoulder and feigned sleep. Rast scooped her up just as his brother had earlier. “Boss, oh come on. She passed out. It’s no fun if there isn’t a little life her.”
“Well wake her up then.” Anna said as she brought two more glasses over. She tipped Red’s head back and poured one of the shots into her mouth and she ‘woke up’ spluttering. Rast still held her.
“Did you catch me up, Anna?” Red said as she took the other glass from her. Anna went off to the bar again.
“Red, there’s one more thing. Darius wants us to…”
“Spit it out quick Rast.” Red said.
“He wants you to be the floor show. He wants us three to get you involved in anything up to full sex in front of his entourage.”
“Oh right, does he? That explains the Rohypnol he’s been spiking my drinks with then.”
“How did you know? It’s got no taste or smell.”
“I overheard Mart and Bill talking earlier.”
“Yeah but it also explains the camera equipment downstairs too. She’s back.” Rast bent to kiss Red. “That’s better; it’s not the women in your life but the life in your women to miss-quote Mae West.”
“Red, come on. More party drinks.” Anna said and Red didn’t miss the spite in her eyes.
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Red leaned on Rast and he helped her to the table. “I don’t want any more Anna, I feel weird, will you phone Luke to fetch me? You’ll like Luke, he’s nice.”
“Yes I know he is. We’ve met – a few times.” Anna said, attempting to make Red jealous.
“Of course we will Red.” Darius said. This will perk you right up while we wait for Anna to phone him.” Darius handed Red a tumbler with an amber liquid in it.
“Wattizzit?” Red slurred.
“You’re drunk darling; it’s a metabolic drink to help you clear all the alcohol out of your system. Drink this now, then a lot of water when you get home and you’ll be right as rain tomorrow. You’ll not have a hangover or anything, I promise.” Darius said.
Red had no choice but to take the glass. She began by waving it about in order to spill as much as she could, but she figured even the amount she had spilled wouldn’t count for much. Darius wouldn’t care if she overdosed on it, she wouldn’t be alive to worry about the effects of too much Rohypnol – or any other drug – he would be happy as long as she didn’t drop unconscious in the next half hour or so.
Red took a good swig and saw Rast looking worried. Then he moved forward, took the tumbler from her and said: “Forget the medicine, darling, I’ve got something that will make you feel much better right now.” He winked at Darius and led Red down the stairs; she spat out some of the drink as she went.