CHAPTER

Five

Errol had stopped going into the Black Swan when he took his vow of celibacy. It was just too many pretty, long-legged temptations in one place.

A few years ago, not unlike Tony, he'd been a whore-monger. Then a friend of his had introduced him to the Buddhist practice. Although he could not find the time to attend the meetings, he studied the religion on his own and began dutifully chanting every morning and evening.

Celibacy had been a hard road to walk, but he made it through every difficult day by whacking himself off.

He'd expertly managed to avoid the Black Swan for months, but he found it hard to say no when Tony called and told him he'd gotten the job with Greene Investments and wanted him to meet him there for a celebratory night out.

Thursday nights at the Black Swan were always good. Wall-to-wall people packed the normally all-white after-work spot. White folk who didn't know that Thursday night was black night could often be seen exchanging confused looks with one another and either sitting back and enjoying the vibe or paying their tab and hustling out the door toward more familiar territory.

Tony was a regular at the Black Swan, and had bedded quite a few women who hung out there. But today would mark the beginning of a whole new set of females, because it was the beginning of summer and the beginning of summer meant a flock of fresh-faced top-college-recruit interns, book-smart Ivy Leaguers who were so green that Tony almost felt bad taking advantage of them.

A twenty-something female was helpless beneath his charm, and if he was on his best game, he could have a new woman beneath him almost every night from June to August.

“What you drinking, man?” Tony turned to him. Errol looked up into his face, but his eyes were on a woman who was standing a few feet away from them.

“Damn, she's got perfect dick-sucking lips,” Tony said in Errol's ear, leaning in close.

Errol reluctantly turned his head in the direction Tony indicated. The woman, barely twenty-two from what Errol could see, was smiling in their direction.

“First victim,” Tony whispered, and then started toward her.

Errol watched from his place at the bar as Tony made his approach. After ten minutes or so, the woman was tracing Tony's cheekbone with the long pink nail of her index finger. Ten minutes more and Tony was kissing her neck as she giggled girlishly and halfheartedly tried to push him away.

Tony turned toward Errol and winked at him. Errol knew that wink. It was the sign to let him know that Tony was in like Flynn and that their night together was over.

Errol sighed, drained his glass, and threw a twenty down onto the bar.