Page 19 of Reflex

“You’re gross,” Luthor muttered.“We’re not all enjoying a polyamorous relationship, but even if we were, it’d be none of your goddamned business, and everyone in the world knows Spook wouldn’t be part of it.He’s fucking celibate, but maybe you don’t comprehend what that means.”

“I know it’s a fucking good gimmick for scoring girls,” she crowed.

“It’s not a ruddy gimmick.”

Xane shoved Luthor behind him.“Cool it.She’s doing it to deliberately rile you, so that you’re tricked into giving her something juicy.”

Her manicured nails scraped the front of his chest.“And is there something juicy to unearth, Xane?Some nice squee worthy piece of gossip you have for me?I’m sure you can give me something tastier than why your golden boy looks like he’s been in a boxing ring?”

He held his silence by sucking on the back of his lip piercing.

“Then again, those wounds are rather intriguing.”She had the audacity to tug on his nipple ring.“No doubt a little cash influx into the right hands will get me the sordid details.”

He fucking hated how true that likely was.They had some clout when it came to the roadies—most of them were old-timers keen to hold onto their jobs—but the venue staff?They wouldn’t give a shit.

“Better you tell me all, don’t you think, so that I can get all my facts straight.”

“For fuck’s sake!”Luthor blurted, failing to keep a lid on his temper.“Is it really necessary to be such a fucking cow?”

Xane jabbed him hard in the thigh.He’d rather concoct a bullshit disagreement leading to a fight between Spook and Paul than let Ava get her hands on the truth.They could easily laugh off a brawl.People got pissed off at one another, especially when they were forced into close quarters for months on end.Yeah, they had a bit of a barney, but no biggie,he could already hear himself saying in some future interview.It cleared the air.Everything’s good.

“Go on, honey.Do tell all.”

There wasn’t the opportunity, as Spook suddenly scraped his stool back from the bar.Glass in hand, he leaned forward, getting so far up into Ava’s space she was forced to take a backwards pace.That didn’t get her anywhere.Her photographer was right behind her, and the rest of the band stood in a semi-circle around them.

Spook’s eyes were two blue splinters.His jaw clenched iron-tight.“Din jävla fitta!”

Xane didn’t know much Swedish, but he knew what that meant.

“What?”Ava retorted; eyes wide, and her cheeks burning with anger and embarrassment.“What?Say that to me in English.”

Instead she was treated to a tirade of words in fast and furious Swedish delivered right into her stuck-up face.

Bingo.It looked like they’d hit emotional jackpot pay-out time.

“Spook,” he said.

It didn’t get a response.The stream of venom continued, eventually drawing to a climax when he brought the hand in which he was holding his drink down hard upon the bar.The glass smashed on impact, showering Ava in blue curaçao and splinters of ice and glass.

She shrieked.

The bar staff all shot to the opposite end of the bar.

“Helvete!”Spook swore, before turning on his heels and staggering in the direction of the gents.They were all left staring at his retreating form.

“What did he just say to me?What did he say?”Ava demanded.She was unhurt, but soaked.Blue spots splattered across her cream blouse.

“How the hell am I supposed to know?”Xane was way more concerned about Spook than her.

Ava’s attention moved to Luthor, who had his hand in the long strands of his fringe.He shook his head.“There is no way in hell I’m translating all of that.Let’s just summarise it as ‘Stay the fuck out of my shit, you fucking cunt,’ and leave it there, shall we?”

He turned away too.Xane followed.

“Are you going in there after him, or am I?”

“I will,” he said.“It’s past time we all left.”