The Lost Boys Emporium

A runner had been sent to find me early. Apparently Craig wanted to see me. Everyone thought that was unusual but Mitch told me it was probably because I was so awesome. I sniggered at that. It was bullshit, but I liked that he always wanted to make me feel good.

So I found myself sitting outside one of the offices in the east wing. Everything here was immaculate and rich and not for the first time I wondered what the hell I was doing here. I was just a scrawny kid from the streets, after all. But I so badly wanted to stay. I had fallen in love with this place, despite telling myself a hundred times not to get attached.

I looked down at my trendy new expensive sneakers and wondered what the others were doing right now.

* * * * *

Mitch heard the click as his handcuffs fastened behind his back. He tugged at them to make sure they were secure and then he swung the little gate closed with his feet. He used to have to get someone to help him with this stuff, but he’d had plenty of practice and these days was perfectly capable of locking himself in the cage under his bed without support.

It was dark except for the tiny little red light that flashed every thirty seconds. It was the small LED on the call button. He had one in the cage and one near his bedside table. Management was perfectly happy for Mitch to play rough, but not without the ability to call security if there was a need. Mitch had pressed the button once by accident. He was impressed at how quickly three very strong looking guys had busted down his door. His client was less impressed, especially as they’d had him on the floor and were about to drag him away before Mitch managed to get across his point: he hadn’t meant to press the button. Now Mitch kept well clear of it, but he was comforted to know it was there just in case.

He knew he wouldn’t need to call security today. Today’s client was a regular and after a few sessions where he found his feet, he had settled into a predictable routine. He was one of Mitch’s favourites. The routine was predictable, sure, but it was predictably good! Not quite as rough as Mitch would have liked, but good nonetheless. He really gave it to Mitch in a way that made the young man go cross-eyed!

Mitch shuffled. It was almost time. The plug in his ass was large and felt heavy and the cuffs on his wrists jangled. One of his ankles was attached to a pole, a leg spreader. The client would fasten the other leg after dragging Mitch from the cage. Mitch looked up and thought about the objects that were laid out carefully on the bed: a wooden ruler like you’d find in school, a ball gag, the key to his cock cage, and a selection of dildos.

Mitch’s heart began to race as it got closer to the time. The anticipation was almost the best part of these sessions. He was about to be used and he adored that feeling. He heard the door handle. The door opened and closed and through the dark he could just make out his client’s legs and feet.

The man began to strip as Mitch’s mouth went dry. He kicked off his shoes, removed his pants, then underwear, then dress shirt and tie. He carefully folded everything and placed the clothing on the ottoman at the side of the room. Then the watch, just like always. It, too was placed on the pile of clothes.

The client went to the sideboard and took up a cigarette lighter and lit a few candles. The room gradually lit up in a faint yellow-orange glow. Mitch’s heart was racing.

The man knelt, his large cock sinking between his legs. There was enough light now that Mitch could see it. God, he thought, that’s going to be inside me soon enough.

“You have been naughty?” The man asked. He had a British accent, like royalty or something. His tone was soft, almost quiet. It was the usual question.

“Yes, sir.” Mitch replied, anticipation and sexual energy making his voice barely a whisper. “I’m sorry, sir.”

The little gate opened and the man reached inside the cage. He felt for the cuffs, grabbed the chain between Mitch’s wrists, and yanked the boy out from under his bed. The man looked down at him from his kneeling position. He stroked Mitch’s face with soft hands before grabbing the boy’s jaw and roughly kissing him. Mitch started to respond and the man pulled away.

“Ahhh” the man said, and Mitch opened wide. The man let saliva dribble from his mouth into Mitch’s. Mitch closed his eyes and let it happen. Then the man’s lips were on his once more and his tongue was thrust into the boy’s mouth. A hand snaked down his naked torso and found the boy’s caged cock. He felt around, testing the cage and fondling Mitch’s balls. His hands reach all the way back and felt for the plug, all while the rough kiss continued. He tested the plug, pushing it and pulling it to ensure it was properly lodged in place. Mitch moaned.

“Good.” The man said, satisfied. “Stand. I will need to ensure your legs are parted in such a way that you will not be able to close them.”

Mitch got himself to his feet. He went to the foot of his bed facing away from the man. He parted his legs and the man fixed the other end of the spreader to the boy’s other ankle. The man reached around and took the ball gag from the bed. He ruffled Mitch’s hair, and said “Ahhh” again. Mitch opened wide and the gag was forced between his teeth. The man buckled the strap behind his Mitch’s head and tested that it was tight enough. Then he pushed Mitch forward, bending him over the bed so that he remained standing with his plugged ass sticking out. He rested on the bed on his elbows and gave a little wiggle

The man took up the ruler.

“I would ask you how naughty you have been, but I have had to silence you.” He said. He ran the edge of the ruler up Mitch’s inner thigh, bringing him out in goosebumps. “I shall have to assume the worst. As usual.” The end of the ruler tickled around Mitch’s scrotum and the man knocked it gently against the metal cock cage. “Always so naughty, selling your body to bad men. It wouldn’t be so bad, but we both know that you enjoy it so. Is that correct, boy?”

Mitch made an affirmative noise through the ball gag.

“Yes, as I thought. Now, boy, don’t flinch or I shall add extra punishment. You understand?”

Mitch made the same sound, as positive as he could. He knew what was coming and while it made him gooey inside, it was so hard not to flinch.

Thwack! The flat of the wooden ruler slapped against Mitch’s bare buttocks. There was a fierce stinging followed quickly by a warmth that built swiftly to heat. Before it could dissipate….. Thwack! Another slap almost exactly on top the first.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

After five the man paused. He inspected the ruler and gently prodded Mitch’s bottom with a two fingers. Mitch knew he would be red back there now. He so wanted to be hard, but the cage prevented it. His own dick was leaking pre-cum in a long, elastic strand.

“Again” the man said.

He administered another five slaps with the ruler before changing position and counting out a further ten on the other cheek. Again he inspected and again he used the ruler. The heat across Mitch’s buttocks was becoming sore. Goosebumps were spreading down his legs and up his back and torso. It was pain, but it was a pain that he loved and this client could do things with a simple wooden ruler that shouldn’t be possible.

“I believe you flinched there” there man said. Bullshit, thought Mitch. I did not! But before he could protest his innocence, the man was in full swing with the ruler. “Another ten each side, I fear” he declared.

Mitch moaned and for the final couple of hits he obliged his client by crying out a little. In truth it wasn’t painful enough to make Mitch cry, but he knew what the client liked and he was aware that he’d be marked for a few days to come as result of his punishment. Sadly this was as far as the rules permitted: Mitch could be marked in this way if he consented, but Blue wouldn’t allow worse treatment.

Finally the man stopped and dropped the ruler to the floor. On impulse he smacked Mitch’s bottom hard with an open hand. That did make Mitch flinch. It left him with a high intensity stinging on already red and sore skin.

The man leaned over Mitch, pushing his head further down and into the mattress. He groped around the butt plug, twisting it and pulling it. Mitch groaned at the sensation. His client wasn’t gentle. Finally the plug slipped free.

“Lovely” the man said as he inserted two fingered into Mitch’s rear. He probed around, pulling the boy’s entrance open and then fingering roughly. With his free hand he unfastened the ball gag and yanked it away.

“Have this instead” he said as he jammed the buttplug into Mitch’s mouth. That was a new move, Mitch tough. He eyes went wide.

The man reached down and picked out a large dildo. In one single action he removed his fingers and thrust the rubber cock into Mitch who cried out around the plug in his mouth. The man issued another open handed slap for that. He grasped the end of the dildo with both hands and fucked it into the boy. Again, he was deliberately rough. Mitch pushed his bottom back, arching his back so that the man had the best access possible.
“Good. You know your place. Excellent. Shall we continue?”

* * * * * * * * * *

I sat nestled into the comfortable armchair in the waiting area outside the office.

The runner who had collected me had disappeared, leaving me with a secretary. She was an older woman with a kind face. She had taken one look at my pale, nervous expression and told me to sit myself down. “A cup of tea, I think” she had said. I was about to say I’d rather not. I’d never had tea and I didn’t know if I would like it, but she smiled knowingly at me and something made me just nod slowly like I was in a trance. I would trust her. Maybe she knew what she was doing.

I shuffled, not quite being able to get myself comfortable. I realised now how much I wanted to be allowed to stay.

I guess early on I felt like I could tolerate the sex to have the rewards, but I had moved on from that way of thinking. I realised now, knew it with every fibre of my being, that I wanted the sex. This glorious, friendly, comfortable, somehow homely place was where I wanted it. I found that I couldn’t stop thinking about Mitch and what he did to me. Tristan was in my fantasies. And the client. My first client. He played on my mind like I was some lovesick kid. It all made me feel so slutty, but in a really great way. I just wanted to push my head down, stick my ass up, and be used!

Somehow, for maybe the first time in my life, I felt like belonged and I could be anything I wanted to be without being judged or beaten or worse. I remembered my last time with Mitch and thought to myself, well perhaps beaten a little!

I blushed at the thought and it was at that moment the secretary returned and pushed a cup and saucer in my direction. I took it from her tentatively. I’d never held a cup and saucer and it felt awkward.

“Sip. It’ll be hot.” She said to me with that disarming, relaxing smile.

I smiled back and for several long, drawn-out minutes I sipped my tea. I found I liked it. It was relaxing. Turns out the secretary knew her stuff.

Suddenly the door to the office opened. I nearly jumped out of my skin and the jolt made me spill tea into the saucer. I flushed red again.

The muscle dude, Master Jonno, stuck his head around the door. I wasn’t expecting him, but I guess he had some authority here and he was as good as any of the bosses. He gestured with his head. I set the saucer down on a little side table and stood, brushed myself off, and walked through the door.

I entered and sat where Master Jonno pointed. I felt on display in here. The chair was just plain dark wood, no cushion, and the office was stark with white walls, a simple grey carpet and a single large desk. It was uncluttered. I felt like this must be Master Jonno’s office. It reflected him.

Someone cleared their throat behind me and I jumped again. I turned to see that Craig, Blue’s husband, was also in the room. I hadn’t noticed him as I came in. He was such a handsome man. I blushed once more.

Master Jonno chuckled and sat behind his desk. “Nervous?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Um.... sort of” I said. That meant yes. Really, yes.

“Don’t be.” He said, and he smiled. The tough exterior seemed to melt from his face when he smiled. He was like two people in one. “Listen, I’ve been doing this a long time. I get it. Let’s cut to the chase shall we? You want to remain here and become a Lost Boy, right?”

“Yes” I said quickly, no thought needed. I agreed with Master Jonno. Let’s cut to the chase.

“Good. You’re in. Your first client was raving about you. I’ve actually never seen such good reviews.....” he paused. “Actually that’s not true. I have, but only once before. Only once.” He got a far away look in his eyes and Craig cleared his throat again. I got the sense that was a nudge.

Master Jonno looked me square in the eyes. “You’re in, but we need something from you first. I’m making it a condition of entry. And I’m sorry I have to do that, but I’ m out of options.”

There was a pause. Everything seemed so serious all of a sudden. I took it upon myself. “What do you need?” I asked. My voice seemed quiet.

“We have a problem. There’s a new gang roaming around the dock area and poor quarters of the city. They have taken a number of young men. Boys, really. They seem to be selling them for sex. Violent sex. Sometimes deadly. They’re doing this in our name. That’s all bad enough, not least because Blue vowed to end this kind of trade in our city. However, you remember Master Connor?”

“The guy who brought me here? Sure.” I said.

“They have taken him. We know he’s been badly beaten. We don’t know if he’s alive. I can’t have that. You understand?”

I gulped. I had a nasty feeling I knew where this was going. “Yes.” I said.

“So...” he paused again, not wanting to say it. “So... I need someone who knows his way around the streets of this fair city. I need someone who won’t just pass for a street boy, but who is a street boy. I need that boy to get caught.”

I gulped again and flushed red one more time. “I......” I couldn’t speak.

“I’ll plant a sophisticated tracker on you. In you, actually. We’ll know where you are. We’ll find you again.”

I was about to speak, but he interrupted.

“But it’s risky. I have to be honest about that. So, so risky....” he said. Craig cleared his throat a third time.

“What......how....risky?” I asked.

“A lot can go wrong. The tracker doesn’t have limitless range so if we lose you it’ll take a little time to pick up the signal again. In that time, anything could happen. You’ll be subject to whatever they do. And if anything goes wrong... if I can’t find you with the tracker.... well, then I’m back to square one and you’re waiting on me and my team to find you the old fashioned way. In that time...? Who knows.”

“You’re not selling it.” I said nervously, trying to smile and failing. But my street-cockiness was coming to the surface and I was beginning to trust these people. And I didn’t want to let them down. And I wanted to be here so badly. And I remembered Connor. I owed him, if I was honest. I probably owed him my life. They wouldn’t let any harm come to me, would they?

I closed my eyes. My head was spinning with “what ifs”. I took the plunge. “I’ll do it” I said.

Master Jonno stood and took my arm. Everything went into whirlwind mode. “Let’s go. I need to get you out of here. We’re in a hurry.”

* * * * *

The man continued to fuck Mitch with the toys, now onto the largest of them. He adjusted the angle with each thrust. That always drove Mitch crazy. The feeling of the latex sliding against his anus was a joy. Soon the man adjusted the angle to rub on Mitch’s prostate. As each stroke Mitch whimpered and moaned and his knees began to shake.

The man reach down to the boy’s cock and touched the tip of the cage. It was wet from pre-cum, and his scrotum was tight.

“Mmmmm not yet” he man said as he slid the toy cock from Mitch’s rectum. Mitch whimpered again, this time is disappointment.

The man climbed up on the bed and half knelt, half crouched in front of the boy’s head. He removed the butt plug from Mitch’s mouth and slid his cock along his tongue instead. Mitch lapped and sucked that dick for all he was worth.

“That’s it. Get me nice and close. Then I’ll finish inside you. Fill you with my salty juices” the man whispered as Mitch gave the best head he’d ever given. “Oh yeah baby… suck it” the man went on.

Soon Mitch could taste the saltiness of precum and he noticed that man’s dick had become rock hard. The man withdrew, taking Mitch by the chin and bending down to kiss him again. “Climb up here” the man said.

Mitch clambered up onto the bed, assisted by his client. He rolled over onto his back and the man grabbed the leg spread and pushed it back.

“Oh, such a glorious hole framed by two delicate balls and a caged little pee-pee” he said in a baby voice. He lined up his cock and shoved it as roughly as he could into Mitch, who moaned with extreme pleasure.

“You like it when I do that, don’t you boy?” The man asked as he buried the remainder of his shaft inside Mitch’s boy pussy.

“Yes, sir” Mitch answered. “I like it when you take me roughly, sir. I’m sorry sir.”

The man fucked into Mitch quickly with long strokes. “Tell me again” he said.

“Yes sir” Mitch replied. “I love it sir. I am sorry sir, but I do. Please, sir, please rape your huge cock into me, sir!” Inside Mitch was thrilled. Today’s fucking was as good as ever. The man’s cock wasn’t the biggest he’d had, but it was a good size and he knew how to position himself so that he stretched out the by’s ring and massaged his prostate in just the right way.

“Oh god, sir. Yes, sir….” Mitch continued.

“You are such a bad boy. I will know you repent if you are able to come for me. Can you do that for me, boy?”

Mitch could definitely do that, he thought. “Yes sir. If you rape me harder sir. If you teach me a proper lesson sir, because I have had anal sex with several men since you were last here sir” Mitch said.

The man pulled out all the way and thrust back inside, again and again and again. He pushed harder on the leg spreader, almost folding the boy in two. “That’s right sir!” Mitch said in a breathy voice. “I am so sorry sir…. I am such a bad boy”

The man fucked relentlessly, now focussed on pushing his cock onto the boy’s prostate at every thrust. He was short of breath but he knew exactly what he was doing.

Mitch was sweating and breathing heavily. Each thrust brought him closer, and closer, and closer. Each moan and whimper thrilled him and each command from the man sent shockwaves through him.

Suddenly he was there and there was no turning back. Erection or no erection, cage or no cage, he was going to come.

“Oooh sir…” he said. “That’s it sir! I can’t stop it, sir!” He exclaimed. It had come on quickly this time. His ring was hot, his buttocks were still stinging, and his hips hurt from being pushed back too much. And he was spread out. So gloriously spread out!

“Come then you little whore!” The man growled as he fucked even harder.

Mitch practically squealed. He didn’t always enjoy being called a whore, but this guy always left it until this moment and for some reason it was the finisher that he needed. His entire body pulsated and his limp, caged dick spewed cum.

Mitch shook. The man smiled. “Good boy. Now you may take my load.” He pulled out, roughly turned the boy onto his front, and then dove in again. The new angle and the feel on that cock sliding deep inside him again gave Much such a thrill.

The man pumped down on the boy. He grunted with every thrust, at the exertion of literally pushing his cock inside his boy. Mitch whimpered with every movement.

The man built up to his usual crescendo. He slapped the boy’s bottom and pulled his hair as he fucked him. Then he came as he fucked, only slowing as the last drops of hot, salty liquid were expelled into Mitch. He collapsed on the boy and they both lay there, sweating and hot and spent.

“Thank you, sir!” The boy said eventually.

The man got up and stretched. He dressed slowly while humming a little tune to himself. “Such a good boy!” He said as he unfastened Mitch’s legs from the spreader. He left, leaving Mitch to drift into a snoozy sleep, his ass sore and his ring hot and used, with a mix of cum drooling down over his scrotum.

* * * * *

Jaimie tidied his papers into a neat pile and set them to one side. He had been running through some plans with Sam. The windows had taken on an orange glow as the sun was setting.

Elliot, Damien and Anrey walked into the board room. Jaimie looked up. “Everything okay?” He asked.

“Master Johns asked us to come here.” said Anrey. “It seemed important.”

Jaimie frowned and looked at Sam. Jonno came into the room closely flanked by Craig, who avoided eye contact and went to lean on the window sill on the other side of the room. Jonno stood behind the chair at the opposite end of the table to Jaimie, while everyone else sat. Jaimie started to get a bad feeling.

“Everyone else is away” said Mistress Anrey, her voice trembling slightly. She sensed, as did Jaimie, that something was not right.

Jonno nodded.

“I asked you here to let you know that we have taken steps to locate the gang that has taken Connor. They aren’t steps I... necessarily wanted to take, but in this case the end will justify the means.” He stopped. He cleared his throat loudly.

Everyone looked around the room. What steps? What was this?

Jaimie sat forward. He was frowning. “What have you done, Jonno?” He asked in a soft voice.

“We have placed a tracker on the new boy. We have released him back into the docklands where he will try to get caught. We’re confident he’s exactly what they’re looking for. They already tried to grab him once. My people are keeping close to him. We’ll follow him. When he.......”

Jonno stopped. He met Jaimie’s gaze and found he was unable to speak, to continue. Jaimie looked pained. Sam looked white. He glanced from face to face. Anrey had a hand over her mouth.

“It had to be done, dammit!” He growled.

Jaimie sat back. He turned his gaze to Craig. “We” Jonno had said.

“Craig...?”

Craig looked up. He was flushed red and his eyes looked sore from a lack of sleep. “Jonno is right, Jaimie. It needed to be done. We have to end this before anybody else gets hurt.”

“But we didn’t need to discuss it first, right?” Jaimie’s voice was dripping with sarcasm and something else. There was sharp edge to it that few in that room had heard before.

“You would have said no” Jonno offered, softly. Craig nodded. He rubbed the bridge of his nose as if he had a headache.

Jaimie sat frozen. He couldn’t speak. He felt betrayed and hurt. They knew his views, but they did this thing anyway.

Sam tuned in his chair. “The boy offered?” He asked. This was as stern as Sam had ever been in this room.

“Don’t try to lecture me, Sam!” Craig shot back.

Damien slammed his hand down in the table. “Did the boy volunteer?” he snarled. He was like a protective bear when it came to Sam.

Jonno pulled out a chair and sat. “We made it a condition of entry.” He said.

Anrey gasped and Sam made a choking noise.

Jaimie’s stare bore into Craig. Those bright azure eyes filmed over and two perfectly formed tears rolled down his cheeks to drip onto his white shirt. The room was silent. Jonno and Craig were staring at their hands and the others were looking around at one another without speaking.

“Recall him” Jaimie said. “Now.”

Jonno looked up. “I can’t. It’s done. He’s in the wind. My people are tailing him. They’ll see he’s alright.” There was a pause before Craig spoke.

“What choice do we have?” He asked, he eyes begging for validation. “The boy was willing and we are out of other options. We can’t allow this to continue. We have to do something difficult to bring it to an end.”

He was so sure of himself. So certain that although they’d gone against how Blue would have done things, they could make it right.

Jaimie went from hurt to betrayed to furious to sad in the space of a few seconds. How could they place another boy in harm’s way? How could they go against his wishes? He almost understood Jonno. This is what he knew. This was his go-to solution and he was hurting at the loss of Connor. He felt powerless and this was his way of regaining power. But Craig? The man who’d held him after every nightmare? Who knew most intimately how he’d suffered that night in the same dockland they sought to infiltrate now, strung up like meat in an abandoned warehouse? How he continued to suffer in the prison of his own mind? It was shocking to Jaimie.

Jaimie stood. Maybe he should have done this earlier, he thought to himself.

All eyes were on him, willing him to speak, but he remained silent. He smoothed down his shirt, a self-conscious gesture. He tucked his vacated chair back under the table. He glanced from person to person, finally locking his gaze with Craig for several heart-stopping seconds. And then he left. He just walked from the room, and softly closed the door behind him.

There was a long silence, drawn out and difficult.

“Well gentlemen.” Elliot said as he stood. “You fucked that right up.”

* * * * *

Chris splashed the old man and swam away from his grasp, giggling.

“When you eventually get out of that freezing water, I will make you regret that, my little Prince!” the man called angrily, but his grin gave the game away. “How in the name of holy fuck you can swim in that, at this time of year...” he muttered under his breath. He pulled his blanket tightly around him and went to sit on one of the loungers. One of his people appeared as if by magic and handed him a fresh cigar, already cut. Two minutes later and the man was laying back, his thick blanket wrapped around his naked torso, a fog of cigar smoke about his head.

“You gonna be long, my little Prince?” He called. “If I stay out here on deck much longer my balls will freeze and then how you gonna get yourself off, eh?”

Chris rolled his eyes. He had been trying for two years to get this guy to call him by his name, other than maybe in bed where he quite liked being Pasqual’s little Prince. He’d had, it was fair to say, mixed success.

“No, I’m almost done” he called back.

The crew thought he was nuts, swimming every day no matter where they were in the world, no matter the temperature or weather. Pasqual thought he was nuts too and often teased him. It was one thing swimming in the warmth of the Caribbean, but here…..? Chris had found a taste for swimming as his way of keeping fit and making sure his body stayed lithe for his lover and as there was a pool on all of Pasqual’s yachts, in his houses and hotels... he might as well use them. No one else did!

But it was cold today. He had to admit the water was chilly and he felt like he was turning blue. He grabbed the handrail and lightly sprang up the steps to be met by one of the crew who wrapped him in several towels that had been warmed. He went to sit by Pasqual.

The old man mimed strangling him and he laughed. “You dare to splash the great Pasqual? I will see you whipped, boy!” He chuckled.

Chris wiggled his eyebrows. “You promise?” He said as he slid his hand up Pasqual’s thigh. The boy reached Pasqual’s huge cock and he stroked it softly with cold fingers.

“Ayeeee ayeee ayeee...” Pasqual called out. “You do such bad things to me. I wondered if I would still be under your charms after two years... my god boy, I am. I submit.” He went in for a kiss.

Suddenly men swarmed the deck, all bristling with drawn weapons. There was shouting and Chris was pulled into a protective scrum.

“Easy, easy...!” Pasqual said loudly. “What in the name of fuck is going on...?”

One of Pasqual’s men bent down close to his boss. “We’re being approached. Single figure, male, small inflatable with low powered outboard” he said quickly.

Pasqual stood and moved to the rail. He looked out to where he could just see a small boat crashing through the waves toward them. He held out his hand and binoculars were instantly placed there. He took a look through them, adjusting them to get the clearest view.

“Why the hell is one guy coming out here on that piece of shit boat?” He asked, almost to himself. Louder he instructed “ok, ok, I think we can all take the chill pill and stand down a little and relax, eh? I doubt our friend has a torpedo with him. Seems unarmed to me. Keep an eye on him. Let him approach and see why the crazy sonofabitch risks his neck like this, eh?”

The men did as instructed, but they remained on deck in strategic locations should the need arise. Chris was taken to the loungers on the other side of the boat, while Pasqual remained where he was. That annoyed him. He hated being protected in this way while Pasqual was free to roam around.

Long minutes passed as the tiny craft got closer and closer. Soon they were able to see that the boat was being piloted by a single young man in shorts and a t-shirt. Given his attire, it was unlikely he was armed; he had nowhere to conceal a weapon.

As the inflatable got close to the side of the yacht, the young man cut the engine. “Hello on the yacht!” He called. “I’m unarmed.”

Pasqual yelled back. “Hello in the crazy boat!” He said with a chuckle. “That’s not a good craft for this distance from the shore, you know?”

The man in the inflatable chuckled. “Yeah, I’m aware” he called. “You have a dangerous reputation Pasqual. I wanted to be sure you didn’t open fire on me before I got here, you know? It’s a long swim back to shore and the water’s cold”.

Pasqual laughed at that, turning to look across the pool at Chris who rolled his eyes. “Okay, so you made it here.” He called. “How about you introduce yourself? You know me, it seems.... but I don’t recognise you.”

“We’ve never met.” The young man replied. “I’m Jaimie Sandu-St.John of the Lost Boys Emporium.”

To be continued.....