Ah, hard arses.
Marco poured him a shot from the Patron bottle on the table, and Colin thanked him, tequila in one hand, lit cigar in the other.
“We were just discussing the subject of recreational drugs, internationally, which makes me curious. Are the preferences much difference in the UK than Spain?”
Colin sipped his drink and shook his head. “Same across the board, Se?or. Biggest problem in the UK right now for sellers is all these wanker kids trying to make their own shite and sell it independently. So many chemicals available. Big dealers try to squash the wee lads as they come on the scene, and prices have gone down a bit to accommodate. But as far as the art world goes, the preference is the same there and here. Cocaine.” He threw back the rest of his shot.
All three men nodded.
“And the human trade?” Marco asked, tapping his cigar on a stone tray. His voice sounded careful. Colin had opted for openness with the man so far, and it had benefited him, so he decided to keep to that route.
“To be honest, Se?or, prostitution and sex slavery are extremely taboo in the UK, so they aren’t spoken of often, even among the drug lords. I’m certain it’s present, but I haven’t been made privy.”
Marco hadn’t looked at him. The man kept his eyes trained on the cigar. Colin felt his two associates and the three bodyguards tensing, so he tensed as well, preparing himself for anything.
“So then, this is your first experience?” Marco asked.
“Aye.” Colin rolled the cigar between his fingers and took a single puff, readying himself to play this game. He let the air fill his mouth before he blew it out slowly. “And I want to thank you for the gift. You’re a generous man.”
Marco looked at him now. “You enjoyed her?”
“Very much.”
“And she’s the first slave you’ve ever had?”
Colin nodded, cigar at his lips again.
“Fascinating. Tell me, Se?or Douglas…how would you say this experience differs from being with free women?”
What was this? Was Colin on a fucking talk show? No, he knew what this was. He wanted Colin to admit how much better this was for him. He wanted to make sure Colin left the villa sold to the idea of slavery. And Colin would tell him exactly what he wanted, but his gut would hate it. Because the words would be far too close to the truth.
He was more like these men than he wanted to admit. This place had stirred up darkness in him. Darkness that felt good. Darkness that nobody had any business embracing, especially him.
“There is no comparison, Se?or Ruiz. The past two evenings have been…beyond brilliant. The girl, Angel, was ideal in every way and she expected nothing of me afterward. It was a fucking relief to be able to tell her to leave and having her oblige without getting an earful or dealing with tears. I fucking hate tears.”
Marco laughed and smacked his knee, cigar ash falling onto his dark trousered leg. He pointed a finger at Colin as if he’d hit the nail on the head. The other men laughed, as well. Fucking minions. He wondered what their job was for Marco. Drug pushers? Or did they buy and sell humans on the underground market? Colin smoked his cigar, his stomach churning.
Eventually Marco dismissed his two business associates and the two of them sat there together. Colin downed two more shots until his nerves settled, but he was still highly aware of his surroundings and where the bodyguards’ hands and guns were at all times. Marco met him shot for shot, and even had another.
“It takes a strong man, Se?or Douglas, to go against the puritanical rules of society. A man who knows what he wants and knows he deserves it.” Marco crushed his cigar and folded his hands over his stomach. “People act as if slavery is a new concept, but it has been around as long as people have lived. It has always been a part of the natural hierarchy of life, just as men have ruled over women. It is the way of things, and our modern societies try to fight against that, making chaos out of something simple.”
Colin nodded as if contemplating those primitive words. He poured both of them another drink, and they clinked the small glasses, both sipping.
“Mind you, I don’t see eye to eye with every slave owner,” Marco said. “I believe slaves should be maintained with the upmost care. They are a valuable commodity. A healthy, satisfied slave is a loyal slave.”
“I commend you for your way of thinking.”