Hydromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts 4)

“What are you doing about finding out who he was working for?”

“I have measures in place.”

Ilano chuckled. “Tim, Tim, Tim, always evasive.”

“Maybe, but I always get the job done.”

“Indeed.” Ilano brushed a hand over the back of his head. “Are you ready for the next shipment? The weapons should be here next week, if everything goes smoothly between Mexico and San José.”

“You’ll have it in Mozambique in thirty days.”

“Good. We’re good, aren’t we, Tim?”

Tim nodded tightly. “Yes. We’re good.”

“You’ll have fifty percent of the payment by Saturday and the rest when the goods are delivered. As a token of my goodwill, I have a gift for you.”

Ilano flicked his fingers. A young woman got up from a chair in the corner and walked to Tim. She’d been so still, hidden from sight, Maya hadn’t noticed her before. She had long, black hair that curled down her back. Her coffee skin was smooth. A petite girl, she was perfect in every proportion. Her breasts were small and perky, and her legs long and slender. In a purple, sequined, mini dress and silver stilettos, she looked like a catwalk model. The dress was cut low in front as well as the back to expose her cleavage and the dimples above her buttocks.

The woman stopped in front of Tim, between his legs, slightly turned, so that her profile was visible to Maya. The girl averted her eyes in a shy manner.

“Well?” Ilano said. “Do you like my token of goodwill?”

Tim looked up at the girl and gave her a kind smile. “What’s your name, honey?”

“Felicity.” She sounded timid.

“Felicity,” Tim took her hand, “have you done this before?”

Even as she shook her head, Ilano said, “She’s a virgin, Tim. Only the highest quality for you, my friend.”

Tim didn’t break eye contact with the girl. “You don’t have to do this.”

“I want to.” She bit her lip.

“I had a room prepared for you.” Ilano lifted his hand and indicated a door on the left. “I trust you’ll be comfortable there.”

Tim got to his feet, Felicity’s hand still clasped in his. “As much as I appreciate the gesture—”

“Are you rejecting my gift?”

“Of course not.” Tim’s gaze moved over Felicity. “Such a delight can’t be easy to find.”

“Don’t worry. I’m paying her enough, but maybe when you’re done, she’ll offer herself for free in future. I hear you have quite a reputation with the ladies.”

“Very well. In that case, thank you for the honor.”

“Thank me afterward, if you’re happy with the product.”

Tim draped his arm around Felicity and pulled her against him. “Don’t be nervous. I won’t hurt you.”

“Victor,” Ilano said, “get Felicity a glass of water.”

The man with the brown hair got to his feet and poured water from a decanter on the liquor tray, which he handed to the girl. Tim waited until she’d drunk it all and handed the glass back to Victor before he led her to the room, shooting Lee a look on the way.

When the door shut behind him, Maya released the breath she was holding. Son of a whoring bitch. So, Tim was a ladies’ man. She couldn’t believe he was going to fuck the beautiful hooker in the room next door, while Victor went around and took drink orders from the men. The same bitter feeling she’d felt when she’d seen Tim with the girl from Mango surfaced in her throat. At least some of her questions had been answered. She now knew when the next shipment was leaving. She just had to find out from where.

The temptation to crawl along the balcony to the window where Tim and Felicity were doing only the gods of lust knew what was big, but a light from the garden fell on that spot. The risk wasn’t worth taking. She kept an eye on the guards at the gate and in the driveway, in case one of them moved her way.

After twenty minutes, her legs were cramping. Tim didn’t emerge until a good half-an-hour later, carrying a fully dressed Felicity in his arms. Her body was limp and her head rested on his chest.

“You took your sweet time,” Ilano said.

“It was her first time,” Tim replied. “I took it easy on her.”

“You could’ve left her in the room. Victor will take her home when she’s ready.”

Tim gave a tight smile. “Very generous, but I prefer to clean up after myself. Expecting you to see her home would be like asking you to wipe my mouth after dinner, wouldn’t it?”

Victor stepped forward, but Ilano stopped him with a hand on his chest. “Suit yourself, Tim. It’s your gift after all.”

Tim was already heading for the door. “Thank you, Ilano. This was a … surprising meeting.”

“Always good doing business with you. Just keep a lid on the rats.”

“There are no more rats. If another one slips through my fingers, he’ll wish he was never born.”