Dealing with the Devil

by M. E. Clayton

  She didn’t comment for a long while, but when she pulled her phone from her purse, she said, “Give me a sec, okay?” I nodded and went into the kitchen to give her some privacy.

  Though my apartment was small as hell and I could hear her conversation if I wanted to, I made excessive noise getting a couple of glasses from the cupboards, and after pulling the ice trays from the freezer, I noisily cracked them free, and dumped them in the glasses. I refilled them in the sink and placing them back into the freezer, I opened the fridge and grabbed the pitcher of iced tea. And it wasn’t until I saw her put her phone away that I walked back into the living room with our drinks. I placed them both on the coffee table, knowing they were probably going to go untouched.

  “Okay, so, I called my cousin, Sully, and…well, after assuring him I wasn’t the one in trouble, he told me there were three…uh, unorthodox lenders in Rockford.”

  Unorthodox lenders.

  Loan sharks.

  God, how I hated myself for asking. “And?”

  “There’s Milton Downey, but Sully said he works in small amounts mostly. Like, two-thousand or as high as five, but that’s it.” Kim reached over and squeezed my knee. “That’s not to say he won’t or can’t do thirty, just that he’s not known to.”

  “Who else?” If I had to meet with Milton Downey as a last resort, I will, but I didn’t need two-thousand or five. For that amount, I’d just go back to the bank.

  “Alvin Fischer is ano-”

  “No,” I said, shaking my head. “That’s who Keith owes the money to.” I let out a deep sigh. “I’d be paying him back with his own money, and…Christ, Kim, I can’t go begging to the man who beat up my brother and who might very well kill him.” I fought back the tears of stress. “I know this is all Keith’s fault, but…I just can’t.”

  “No, no, no,” she whispered. “It’s okay. I get it. I understand.”

  “So, who’s the third guy?”

  “Cassius Sire,” she said. “And Sully said if he were ever in need to borrow money like that, Cassius is who he would go to.”

  “Why?”

  “I didn’t ask,” she grumbled regretfully. “He just said he’d go to Cassius over the other two.”

  “So…so, how in the hell would I even get a hold of the man? I mean…” Christ, I was in way over my head. “I mean, I don’t know anyone who…” I didn’t even know what I was trying to say. How did a person get in touch with a goddamn loan shark? At least, how did they do it without calling attention to themselves?

  “Hold that thought,” she said as she grabbed her phone from her purse again.

  I didn’t utter a word as I heard her talking to her cousin again, asking him how to get in touch with Cassius Sire. And, holy crap, was that his real name? Who named their kid that? Or was it his street name? Something he thought would sound cool and powerful. Because Cassius Sire, really? Was I going to have to curtsey when I meet him?

  Kim hung up with her cousin and I wasn’t sure if I was happy or scared to death with what he said next. “He’s known to frequent The Tenor. It’s a bar in town, and you might run into him there by chance,” she said. “However, for an official meeting, you need to go the bar and speak to someone to request one.”

  That didn’t make any sense. “Why would he let a random bar arrange his meetings?”

  Kim shrugged. “Maybe he’s friends with the owner or manager.”

  “And you’ve never seen him before?”

  Kim shook her head. “No, but that’s not saying much,” she answered. “I work just as many hours as you do, Devi. And when I’m not working, I’m resting or with one of my hookups.” Kim wasn’t necessarily against commitment, but she preferred options right now in her life.

  “It’s what? Five?” Kim nodded. “Can you give me ride to The Tenor? It’s a Saturday, it’s possible he’ll be there since it’s the weekend, maybe?”

  “Of course, I’ll drive you, but…I know you don’t have many options, Devi, but are you sure you want to do this? This could get dangerous.”

  “You didn’t see Keith, Kim,” I replied. “This mess is already dangerous.”

  She gave me a sympathetic nod as she stood. “Then let’s do this, chick.”

  The drive to The Tenor was a quiet one. I was still wondering how it’s come to this, and Kim was probably worried about me, trying to think of another option. I was truly blessed to have a friend like her. I’d have no idea what I’d be doing right now without her.

  When she pulled into The Tenor’s parking lot, she turned the car off, ready to get out with me, but I stopped her. “I can’t thank you enough for your help, Kim, but…I don’t want you going in there with me.”

  Her brows jumped. “Why?”

  “I don’t want your name associated with his mess,” I told her honestly. “I don’t want any rumors getting started about you requesting a meeting with Cassius Sire.”

  “Devi-”

  “Please,” I pleaded. “I already have one person I'm sick with worry over, Kim. I can’t have you getting any more involved in this disaster than you already are. Please.”

  Kim didn’t say anything a full minute before finally saying, “You call me as soon as you’re done in there, okay? I’ll…I’ll go get a coffee down the street and wait for your call.”

  I nodded. “Thanks.”

  Turning from her, I grabbed my purse and got out of her car. I tried not to throw up as I heard the sound of her car start, ready to leave me to go do this thing that…that I still wasn’t sure of.

  With bravery I never knew I possessed, I walked into The Tenor and straight to the bar. There were only a couple of people sitting at the bar, so the bartender noticed me immediately as I approached.

  When he was close enough, he asked, “What can I get you?”

  With my brother’s beaten face burned in the back of my mind as a reminder of why I was here, I said, “I’d like a meeting with Cassius Sire, if possible.”

  His handsome face gave nothing away as he asked, “Are you sure that’s what you want?”

  Hell no.

  I nodded. “Absolutely.”

  Chapter 7

  Cassius~

  I finally arrived at The Tenor at a little past six. When Xavier had texted me that I had a meeting request, I’d done what I always do when hit with such a request; I made the person wait an hour on me. It was the only way to vet the serious requests from the pain-in-the-ass ones.

  Nobody waited an hour on a rude asshole unless they were serious.

  Settling at my desk, I rang the bar and told Connor to have Sergio escort the woman back. Sergio was The Tenor’s manager, and one of the very few people I trusted. That was another reason I spent most of my time at The Tenor for business. While The Alto and the restaurants were legitimate places of business, with legitimate employees, and legitimate middle management, The Tenor was just a tad different from the rest. Still under The Vaudeville Corporation, the employees who worked at The Tenor worked for me, personally. They didn’t work for the Vaudeville Corporation, even if the corporation did sign their checks.

  I had a few women working as servers, but most of the employees of The Tenor were men. Men who were in the know. And if someone came looking for me, they knew to call Xavier to set up the meeting. I also paid handsomely for their loyalty.

  At the knock on the door, I stood up and said, “Enter.” And what happened next, almost knocked me on my ass.

  Sergio opened the door, and when he pushed it wide enough to allow my visitor entrance, my entire gut seized with recognition.

  Devi Westland.

  It took the sound of the door shutting behind Sergio’s exit to snap me out of my surprise. I walked around the desk and almost lost my goddamn mind when I was close enough to get a whiff of her scent. Devi smelled like wildflowers, and I wasn’t sure if it was her shampoo, her perfume, or just her skin, but I knew I wanted to find out.

  I stuck my hand out. “Cassius Sire.”

  S
he took my large hand in her small one, and the bolt of desire that shot down my spine was strong enough to let me know I was fucked.

  “Devi Westland,” she said, introducing herself.

  Up close, she was even more magnificent-looking than I had originally given her credit for. Standing just below my shoulders, her dark brown hair framed a face that looked like it was sculpted by a god. Rosy cheekbones sat on either side of a delicate nose, and underneath that nose was a pair of full, soft, pink lips.

  But what was really fucking me up was how her dark, arched brows were positioned perfectly over a pair of eyes I’d never seen in real life. Devi had heterochromia, with one eye a sky-blue color and the other one a pale green. And they were surrounded by a forest of dark lashes that would make them stand out even if she weren’t wearing makeup. She was also dressed in the same outfit I had seen her in earlier when she’d gone into The Opera.

  When I realized we’d been shaking hands for long after what was appropriate, I finally let go, and led her to one of the chairs in front of my desk. Taking my position behind it, I sat down, leaned forward with my arms on the desk, and asked, “What may I help you with, Ms. Westland?”

  She looked nervous as fuck, and I found I hated that look on her. “I…” She had to clear her throat, and I hated that, too.

  “Would you care for something to drink?”

  Devi shook her head. “No. No, thank you,” she rushed out.

  I inclined my head for her to continue. “Then, how may I help you?”

  “I…uh…I heard you…you’re a lender…of sorts.”

  That was one way to put it. “And you’re in need of a loan?”

  Her hands were fiddling with the strap of her purse, and it was taking everything in me not to demand why she was here. “Yes.”

  “And how much were you hoping to borrow, Ms. Westland?”

  Devi didn’t say anything for a long time. She was just looking at me with those rare eyes of hers, and there was so much indecision and despair in them, I could actually feel it radiating off her person.

  She was here because she truly was desperate.

  She was here as a last resort.

  Suddenly, she jumped up from the chair. “I…I’m sorry,” she sputtered. “I…this is a mistake. I’m sor…sorry I wasted your time.” She was already halfway to the door when I jumped out of my chair and fucking chased her.

  With my hands on her shoulders, I stopped her and turned her to face me. Staring down at this woman who was going to be mine eventually, whether she knew it or not, I did my best to calm her nervousness. “Whoa, there,” I said, softening my usually rough tone. I had a deep voice that didn’t always come across as friendly. “Hold on a minute.” She just stared back with too many emotions swirling around in those eyes of hers. “Why don’t you have another seat, and tell me what’s going on,” I suggested calmly. “Because, with all due respect, you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t need to be, Ms. Westland.”

  “Can…can you call me Devi?” she asked.

  Fuck yeah, I can call her Devi. “If it’ll make you more comfortable, of course.”

  I led her back to the same chair she’d been sitting in before she began freaking out. But this time, instead of taking my seat back behind my desk, I leaned my ass up against the front of the desk and planted my hands on the surface on either side of my body.

  “I need thirty-thousand dollars,” she blurted out.

  Damn.

  “And you’ve already tried to secure that through a bank?”

  Her eyes flashed, and my timid little mouse had a backbone hidden beneath those nerves. “Of course,” she practically snapped. “I’ve applied to nearly every lender under the sun, and their responses were all practically identical.”

  “What do you need it for?”

  Those rare eyes flashed again. “Does it matter?”

  I leaned forward a bit. “Yes,” I replied. “Actually, it does.”

  “But why?” Her voice sounded generally confused.

  I stood up and took my place back behind my desk. Any more time spent so close to her, and I was liable to just take her in my arms and start kissing the fuck out of her.

  And so much more.

  Leaning back in my chair, I said, “Contrary to all the gangster movies you’ve seen, that’s not how this works, Devi. People don’t just walk in here, demand a specific amount, and walk out with it.”

  “I’m…sorry. I didn’t mean-”

  I held my hand up. “I’m not in the Mafia, Devi. I don’t work for the Mob or anyone else. I work for myself, and I’m a businessman at the heart of everything I do. Money lending included.” I made sure to hold her gaze as I schooled her on who I was and what it was I did. “If you’ve never heard of me, that’s a credit to the clean life you’ve led. But having never heard of me puts you at a disadvantage because you have no idea who you’re dealing with.”

  She stood up again. “Okay, I…I need to leave.”

  Once again, I was around the desk and had my hands on her shoulders before she could escape. “I’m not trying to intimidate or frighten you, Devi-”

  “Sure could have fooled me,” she bit out.

  “I’m just trying to explain that I haven’t gotten to where I am by loaning money to anyone who walks into my office.” I pressed down on her shoulders, forcing her to take a seat again, and the image of pushing her to her knees, so she could suck my cock, flashed in my mind like an explosion of fireworks.

  I’ve had a lot of women in my day, and felt attracted to half of them, but this was something new. Devi Westland was affecting me in a way I didn’t completely understand. My dick understood perfectly fine, it was the rest of me that was trying to get a grip on the realities of love at first sight, or whatever the fuck this was.

  When she was still looking at me like I was full of shit, I explained, “So, say someone comes in here asking to borrow ten-thousand dollars because his health insurance doesn’t cover an operation his wife or child needs. I’m inclined to believe he’ll do his best to repay the debt because he’s borrowing it for legitimate reasons. He’s borrowing it for a reason that holds value. Understand?”

  “Yes,” she answered, though she sounded reluctant to give me points for logic.

  “Now, if someone comes in here asking to borrow ten-thousand dollars because he wants to gamble it all at the racetrack, well, I’m a bit less inclined to see that transaction through.” Her shoulders sagged at that. “The last thing I want to do is kill someone who I was stupid enough to lend money to, Devi. And since you can’t collect money from a dead man, I’d hardly consider that smart business. And like I said, I’m a businessman at the end of it all.”

  “What…what’s the interest on a loan that size?” she asked, the fire extinguished from her voice.

  “Why don’t you tell me what the loan is for first?” I suggested. “If you’re here, so you can make it rain at the strip club, the rest of it doesn’t matter since you won’t be getting the loan.”

  “I-”

  “And before you think to lie to me, I will find out what you used the money for, Devi,” I warned her. “I have eyes and ears everywhere.”

  Devi pulled her shoulders back and straightened in her seat. Looking me dead in the eye, she said, “My brother owes Alvin Fischer thirty-thousand dollars, and if he doesn’t pay up at the end of three weeks, Alvin will kill him.”

  Out of all the things I expected to hear come out of her mouth, that one never crossed my mind. I expected money for a car, or the pipes bursting at her house, or something civil like that. I never expected she’d be here, borrowing money from a loan shark, to pay off another loan shark. Though Alvin Fischer didn’t run in the same high stakes circles I did, he was still a formidable presence on the streets.

  “Why does your brother own Fischer thirty-thousand dollars?”

  There was a deep sadness in her eyes that was unmistakable. “My brother has a gambling and drug problem, though the drugs ar
e more recreational than a dependent habit, and he tends to get in over his head every now and again.”

  “And you believe that if you give your brother, the admitted drug user and gambler, thirty-thousand dollars that he’s going to pay off Fischer?”

  Devi shook her head. “No,” she replied. “I would pay the debt off myself.”

  That got my back up immediately.

  The idea of Devi seeking Alvin Fischer out to pay her brother’s debt did not sit well with me. Never mind that it was dangerous on so many levels, but Alvin was reputed to cancel debts by other means of payment when dealing with women.

  However, short of denying Devi the loan, I couldn’t very well forbid her to handle the transaction. And if she was here to save her brother, what else would she do to save him?

  The thought had me close to seeing red.

  “So, say I give you the money.” She nodded. “What guarantee do you have that your brother won’t just do it again.” Maybe I could send Sergio to follower her when she paid Fischer.

  In the most resigned voice that I have ever heard from anybody, she said, “I don’t.”

  There was no doubt that I was going to lend her the money, but I think a talk with her brother was in order, as well. And Sergio was definitely going to follow her to pay off Fischer.

  I pulled out a credit application from one of the desk drawers and slid it across the desk. “Fill that out while I get you the money.”

  Her eyes widened. “You’re…you’re going to give me the money?”

  “Yes.”

  “But…what’s the…what’s the repayment amount?”

  I gestured towards the application. “It’s all right there in black and white, Devi.”

  She stared at the paper a long time. Long past however long it took to read through it. It was a simple one-page commitment. It required all her personal information, and the terms of interest and the repayment structures were all outlined on the bottom before the required signature.

  I watched as she finally fished around in her purse for a pen. As soon as she started filling out the form, I headed for the safe hidden behind an original Pollock. Now, normally, I’d make the applicant leave the room for this part, but I wasn’t worried about Devi. If things end up going my way, she was going to be immersed in my life way beyond knowing where one of my safes were located.