Ghetto

by M L Sparrow

  “If you have to ask, I must be doin’ it wrong,” Sin smirks against my bare shoulder, even as his hands continue their exploration.

  “Practice makes perfect,” I quip back playfully, turning fully onto my back to look up at him, reaching out a hand to caress his cheek, morning stubbly prickly beneath my fingertips.

  The bright, predatory flash of a smile he gives me kicks my heart into overtime. “Best get started then.” A second later, I gasp, clutching his shoulders as his mouth finds that sensitive spot on my neck, which he’d discovered our first night together and shamelessly exploited ever since.

  It was amazing really, how he’d changed in the last few years. Nowadays he smiled more readily, his hair was shorter and he’d filled out, losing that half-starved look, though he still ate as if every meal was his last. However, the hardness in his eyes remained, after all, one could not close their eyes after having grown up exposed to the harsh realities of real life. That wasn’t to say the ice in his eyes didn’t melt occasionally, but only ever with me… and sometimes his two cousins who adored him completely and had helped pull him firmly into the family fold.

  After an hour, we finally manage to drag ourselves out of bed and into the kitchen where the coffee maker holds pride of place. Pressing the button, I only have to wait a second for the hot, rich brown liquid to pour out into the waiting mug. Handing Sin the mug, since I’d quickly gotten him addicted once he was out of the Ghetto, I get my own, accepting the jug of cream he hands me out of the fridge and piling in a couple of spoonful’s of sugar. Sin drinks it black, which still makes me wince even after seven years.

  “Breakfast?” he asks, slotting bread into the toaster as I hop up onto the counter to watch him, lifting the mug up to my nose and inhaling the dreamy scent, my simple engagement ring clinking against the porcelain. My toes curl in satisfaction. Coffee and sex, the perfect start to the day.

  “No, thanks, I’m meeting Maya for brunch in a little while.” We meet every week for a good natter, sometimes more because she’s lonely without Ben. It turned out that he’d not only beat up his stepfather, but he’d also left him in a coma, which he’d never come out of. Normally, he would be done for murder, meaning life in the Ghetto, however, the many lawyers who’d swarmed the Ghetto after my speech, do-gooders as my dad had called them, had managed to get it down to manslaughter in defence of an innocent, once it had been found out he’d been protecting his teenage stepsister who had been being abused by her own dad since her mums death years before. Thanks to said lawyers he would be out in a couple more months, which had Maya all excited as she redecorated her small studio apartment, trying to make it less girly.

  He frowns, like I knew he would. “You should have some cereal.”

  “I had some yesterday,” I answer, referring to the special cereal infused with All-Cure that Colt had finally managed to create and had released on the market almost a year ago. At the moment there was only cereal, but the plan was to expand to other foods.

  “You need to make sure you’re taking it, Sunny.”

  “I know, Sin, but I only need to take it every once and a while, or if I begin to feel ill again,” I manage to keep my tone light despite the fact that we’ve had this exact conversation a million times before. When it comes to my health, he can be a little overbearing, but I understand. Before Colt’s All-Cure food was complete I’d been visiting Dr Wongs’ clinic at least three times a year to get a shot. I was used to living with my disease, but Sin still hadn’t adjusted, he worried constantly. In an effort to change the subject, I ask, “Are you going into the office today?”

  “Just for a couple of hours, to make sure everythin’s goin’ okay.” Slathering his toast with butter and marmite, he takes a big bite, getting crumbs all over the counter as he glances at the time displayed on the toaster. “Said I’d be there by twelve.” For a while Sin had worked the job Colt had offered him at the shipping yard, but he’d ended up veering off into politics, with his granddads help. Sin appealed to many because he stood up for the poor and unappreciated, rather than simply looking out for the interests of the upper-classes, like so many of the other people running for office. I had no doubt that one day I would once again be living in the Presidential penthouse.

  “Plenty of time for a shower then,” I grin at him, setting my mug down on the counter before jumping down and grabbing his hand, pulling him out of the kitchen and through the apartment towards the bathroom.

  Our apartment is small and compact, yet tidy, thanks to Sins’ streak of OCD and the cleaning robot we rent once a week, but most importantly, it’s ours. For a while we’d lived with Colt, but after I’d got a job at an I.T firm, helping to produce an impenetrable firewall for government computers – yes, I saw the irony – we’d pooled our resources and rented a place of our own, though Colt had wanted us to stay.

  After our shower, which we take together, to conserve water of course, we both head into the bedroom to get dressed. Once I’m clothed, I sit cross legged in the middle of our unmade bed with my portable mirror balanced on my lap and quickly pull my hair up into a ponytail, untangling a stray strand of hair from my earrings. Out of the corner of my eye, I admire how he looks in a suit.

  “If you keep lookin’ at me like that we’re never gunna get outa here.”

  Leaning over to deposit the mirror on the bedside table, I beckon him over with one finger, scooting over to the edge of the bed so that he stands between my thighs as I do his tie and smooth my hands down his crisp white shirt. With a hand at the back of his neck, I pull him down for a kiss, before pushing him away. “You have to go, else you’ll be late.”

  “Don’t care.” He kisses me again, hard, but I grab a handful of his hair and pull.

  “Go, we’ll finish this later.”

  Sighing, he rests his forehead against mine for a second and I run my fingers over his freshly shaven jaw. “Fine.”

  Walking him to the elevator, I lean against the wall as he scans his Brand to open it, before turning to give me one last quick kiss. “Play nice with the other politicians,” I tease, receiving a small quirk of his lips in return. “Oh, and don’t forget Kendall and Marcie’s anniversary dinner tonight. Eight at The Sierra Lounge.”

  “I didn’t forget, darlin’, I’ll meet ya there.” He steps into the elevator, before turning back to face me. “Crap, were we supposed to get a present or some’it?”

  Laughing, I shake my head. “I already got them a present. It’s a good job one of us remembered.”

  Those steel eyes of his soften. “I love you, ya know?”

  “I know,” I assure him, “and I love you, too.”

  “Good. See you later.”

  “Have a nice day.”

  I do meet up with Maya, as I told him, but it’s not for brunch. We meet outside The Sierra Lounge; my partner in crime is already there when my car pulls up to the curb and she bounces excitedly as I get out, waiting until I’ve scanned my Brand to pay before yanking me into a hug.

  “I’m so excited!” she squeals right in my ear, almost deafening me.

  I laugh, squeezing her back. “Anyone would think it was your birthday.”

  Pulling back, expression suddenly serious, she says, “When it’s my birthday, I want a surprise party too.”

  “If you’re expecting it, it won’t be a surprise,” I answer reasonably, walking towards the building as Maya ponders that. The Comm Panel set into the door says they’re closed until four, when the early bird specials start, but we’ve already requested early entrance so I scan my Brand and wait for the computer to process it. The light above the door turns green and it slides open. Stepping into the open-plan restaurant, I glance around; the dark colours, faux leather furniture and elaborate chandeliers giving the place a luxuriously gothic atmosphere. Walking past a robot setting the tables, we head towards the elevator at the back of the restaurant which will take us up to the private rooms, one of which Colt had rented out for Sins’ birthday party. Usually, I
wouldn’t let Colt pay for something like this, but I’d wanted Sins’ thirtieth to be special and Colt had been happy to help out.

  In the room we’ve reserved for the party, we find that the decorations have already been delivered. Digging through one of the boxes, I pull out a banner with the words ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY’ written across it in big, colourful letters. Holding it up, I grin, “Let’s get started.”

  A couple of hours later, we stand back to survey our work. The banner is hanging across the window, with the city behind it, there are balloons and streamers scattered around the room and glitter on the tables.

  “We did good,” Maya gloats, holding up her hand for a high five which echoes around the cavernous room.

  “Yep,” I agree, pressing the button on my watch to produce the time. “There’s just enough time to run home and get ready before coming back to take in the food delivery.”

  “Okay, I’ll meet you back here at six thirty.” Maya follows me back to the elevator and steps inside with me. “Tonight’s going to be so good,” she exclaims, but suddenly tears fill her eyes.

  “Oh, Maya, don’t cry.” I wrap an arm around her shoulders and hug her tight, already knowing why she’s crying before she says it.

  “I wish Ben could be here.”

  “I know,” I murmur, stroking her silky black hair, “but he’s out in, what, a couple of months?”

  “Nine weeks, four days.”

  “Well then, in nine weeks, four days, we’ll have an excuse to throw an even bigger party, won’t we?”

  Dashing the tears from her cheeks, she gives me a watery smile and nods. “Yeah, we better start planning now.”

  Back at the apartment, I change into a figure hugging, silky emerald green dress and strappy stiletto heels. I always feel self-conscious in this dress, but I know from experience that every time I wear it Sins’ eyes spend the evening glued to my backside, occasionally his hands as well. Just as I’m adding the finishing touches, someone rings the doorbell. My heels click smartly against the floorboards as I make my way over to the door, touching a fingertip to the Comm Panel on the wall to bring up the camera. Looking into the camera, Micah smiles and waves. Turns out he really had been my friend after all.

  “Come on up,” I speak into the mic, pressing the button to let him in.

  Dressed in a pristine white suit, which contrasts beautifully with his dark skin, he holds out his arms and does a spin as the elevator doors slide open. “What do you think?” he demands.

  “You look amazing.”

  “You know I never miss a chance to dress up.” He grins, eyeing me up and down, “And look at you. If any woman could turn me it would be you in that dress.”

  Used to his sense of humour, I just shake my head. “You’re lucky Sin’s never heard you say that.”

  Groaning, he fans himself with one hand. “That man’s the reason I’m gay. I’m just waiting for him to realize the error of his ways and switch sides.”

  Laughing, I smack his shoulder. “Never going to happen. Let’s go.”

  “Don’t you want me to do your makeup?” he asks, looking slightly crestfallen.

  “I’ve already done it.”

  A frown touches his lips, “Really?”

  Smacking his arm again, I move around him to pick up my purse from the table. “Yes, really.”

  “I could put on some fake lashes, a bit of green lippy to match your dress, some glitter…”

  Holding up my hands, I walk past him into the elevator. “No, no and no. I look fine the way I am, now let’s go already, I don’t want to keep the caterers waiting.”

  “Fine,” he huffs, stepping in beside me. The ride down to the street is silent as Micah pouts, but he doesn’t have it in him to sulk, or stay quiet, for more than a minute, so as we’re getting into a car, he lets drop, “I did Emilie’s hair yesterday. She and your dad seem happy, or at least as happy as two icicles can be living under the same roof. In all honesty I don’t think their paths cross all that much. Have you spoken to him lately?”

  “Nope,” I answer as I enter our destination. My dad and I hadn’t exactly been chummy since Sins’ failed execution, which ultimately led to the demise of his career, however, we had been speaking occasionally up until Sin proposed a couple of months ago. When I’d told him the good news, my dad had demanded that I call it off, otherwise he’d disown me. Like I’d actually care about that at this point. Smiling slightly, I look down at the silver band on my ring finger with a single pearl cut diamond set into it. I was happy with my choice. I was happy with all my choices, after all, they’d led me here to this point in my life and it couldn’t be better.

  We reach the restaurant just in time to help the caterers unload the food and take it up to the room, along with Maya who turns up a couple of minutes after us. Roughly half an hour later, guests start arrive. Colt, his son, Kendall’s wife, Marcie, and their two girls, both of whom have grown into beautiful young ladies. Miriam comes with Dr Wong; in a bizarre turn of events she had somehow ended up as his receptionist after I’d insisted she go see him for a check-up after being released from the Ghetto. That was five years ago – she was his longest lasting receptionist to date and I suspected something more was going on between them. Several other guys from the Ghetto turn up, including Gary, Jay and Brody, who I used to play video games with and who were responsible for my first and only serious bout of drunkenness, along with Maya’s parents and many other people who owed their survival in the Ghetto to Sin and the other rebels. Joel also makes an appearance with Jai, of all people, on his arm – I hadn’t seen that one coming either, they’d kept it quiet until recently. Shockingly, they all mix well with the lawyers who’ve been helping our cause, as well as a number of Sins’ work colleagues. Augustus, Emilie’s son also turns up; after finding out he had an older brother he’d been understandably shocked, but once everything had settled down he’d expressed a desire for them to get to know each other. Unfortunately, they were too different to ever be really close, but at least both sides were making a visible effort to get along. Sins’ other brother is also due to make an appearance, but since Kit had to fly in from out of the country he wouldn’t be here until a little later.

  By the time Sin arrives, just after eight, the room is full. “Surprise!” everyone yells as he steps out of the elevator. He acts surprised, but I know him well enough to tell he’s not.

  Eyes narrowed, I walk towards him. “How did you know?” Smirking, he loops an arm around my neck and pulls me in for a kiss. I refuse to be distracted however and once he’s finished, I glare at him, demanding, “Who told you?”

  I can hear laughter behind us as he admits, “I did smell a rat, but I didn’t really know what was goin’ on until I saw Kit gettin’ out of a car as I came in.”

  Just then the elevator slides open once more to emit Kit, his pregnant wife and their five year old son, Linc, who comes running forward to tackle Sins’ legs, shouting, “Surprise, Uncle Sin!” The whole room erupts with laughter.

  Grabbing the child up in his arms, Sin tosses him over his shoulder and leaves him hanging down his back, secured with one hand around the giggling boy’s ankle as he gives Kit a one armed hug, saying, “It’s good to see you.”

  “You too, bro,” Kit grins as they pull back. Coming over to me, he hugs me tight, before returning to his wife’s side and wrapping an arm around her waist. “I hear you finally proposed, about damn time.”

  Carefully lowering Linc to the floor, Sin shakes his head, a half smile tilting his lips. “Not all of us propose after a day and start poppin’ out kids.”

  Kit throws his hands up in fake agitation at being ribbed about his whirlwind marriage to Gabi, who he’d met when he relocated to Germany with his parents, after their release from the Ghetto, something which was always a popular subject for merciless teasing. “It was six months, damn it!”

  Again everyone laughs, setting the mood for the entire evening.

  The next morning, in the e
arly hours, we climb into a car bound for home. Cuddled into Sins’ side, I rest my head on his shoulder and play with the buttons on his suit jacket as we watch the lights of the city whizz by.

  “Thanks for tonight,” he says quietly, kissing the top of my head, before lowering his mouth to run his lips over the row of rings going down my right ear, making me shiver.

  “You’re birthday’s not over yet,” I murmur, turning my face up to him with a secretive smile, “I have one more surprise for you.”

  Tilting his head, those blue eyes bore into mine with an intensity that makes my body temperature rise. “What is it?”

  “I’m not ruining the surprise,” I bite my lip suggestively, “but I’ll give you a clue. Let’s just say, it’s something we’ll both enjoy.”

  A quick peak at The Demon Inside!

  Prologue

  Darcy was eighteen and in love the summer the world as she knew it ended. It didn’t end the way most teenagers think of it; her heart wasn’t broken that day, the earth was attacked, invaded by a savage race who infected the minds of humans and took over their bodies. It was almost a year later that her heart was shattered irrevocably.

  "Alec, baby, this isn't you. You can beat this I know you can..." Swallowing the lump in her throat, she added imploringly, "I'm not ready to lose you yet." The fingers around her wrist slackened ever so slightly, but his dead white eyes didn't even flicker. His lips parted.

  "Run," he spat the word. Darcy didn't need telling twice; even though she had been prepared to die alongside him, now that the time had come self-preservation kicked in. Spinning on her heel, yanking away from his loosened grip, she dashed from the room, slamming the door behind her and sprinting down the hall.

  A second later she heard him on her heels, slamming into the wall in his haste as he burst through the bedroom door with a blood curdling roar. Heading for the bathroom, the only room with a lock, she skidded on the tile floor, scrambling to close and lock the door behind her, but her trip cost her precious moments. Ramming his shoulder into the door before she had chance to slide the lock into place, he sent her flying backwards. Charging into the room, he lunged at her, but she kicked out instinctively and her heel met soft skin, sending him stumbling back into the splintered mess which was the door.