Ben and Rain arrived back at the hotel in late morning. They'd picked up coffee and averted their eyes from the sun, but that didn't keep the splitting headaches and sluggish feelings at bay. They entered the lobby hoping to be left alone all day. This hope was swiftly vanquished at the sight of Dando playing video games on a nearby couch.
"Shit, you two were out all night," he grinned. "Vin's gonna be pissed."
"Please talk quieter, Dando," Ben pleaded with his friend.
"Did you get the sale?" Dando wondered in the same volume.
"Yeah, yeah," Ben groaned, pulling stacks of cash out of the pockets of his jacket and tossing them on the coffee table in front of Dando. "Forty thousand."
"Damn son, we're gonna be rich."
"Yes, yes we are," Ben sighed painfully as he sat down on the couch.
"I think I need sleep," Rain moaned lowly as she sauntered by them. "I might die if I don't get it."
"Oh, I know that feeling, Rainbow," Dando snickered.
"I don't think you do," Rain mumbled as she headed for the stairs. "And don't call me Rainbow."
"Whatever you say, Rainbow," Dando waved her off playfully. He turned back to Ben as soon as Rain disappeared up the steps. "So, what were you two doin' last night?" his demeanor quickly switched to suspicious.
"Nothin' much," Ben said vaguely, rubbing his head.
"Sure as hell don't look like nothin'. I can see sin in you, Benjamin."
"Piss off for a while, Dando."
"You're lucky Vin never caught onto you being gone. He'd cut off your balls if he knew you held all this money for a whole night. You know how he is."
"Yeah, I do, I'm just in no mood to care." Ben clenched his eyes. His eyes had been shut from almost the second he walked into the lobby. As dimly lit as it was, it was too much for him to stand. Any ounce of light that got in shocked his brain like lighting. He almost considered covering his eyes with his hands for the rest of the day, as ridiculous as he knew it'd look. The ridiculousness of his actions was just another thing he didn't much care about at this point.
"Seriously, Ben, you look like hell," Dando spoke in concern and confusion. "What the hell were you doin' last night with that girl? She looks worse off than you though," it was at this statement that a look of realization washed over Dando's face. "Oh hell no, Ben, you didn't. Did you?"
"I suppose that depends on what you mean by 'you didn't'," Ben retorted.
"You didn't fuck that girl, did you?" Dando wondered frankly.
"What?" Ben's eyes finally opened, sending unbelievable pain rattling into his head. "God no! I know I'm not necessarily a moral or decent guy, but I've got a line, and that's crossin' it. So no, I didn't fuck her."
"Well what the hell did you do then? You don't look innocent at all, man. You're lookin' guiltier than OJ Simpson," Dando prodded further at his hungover friend. "You know I ain't gonna stop unless you give it up."
"Jesus Christ," Ben snarled. "You're like a damn dog or somethin'. Just sittin' around bothering the shit outta me."
"That's what I do, Ben, you know that. Now, God's been seein' everything you're doin', so he's gonna make sure I find out sooner or later. So why not just make it sooner?"
"Do not tell Vin or Joe, understand?" Ben growled.
"This sticks with me," Dando nodded.
"And don't tell Rain I told you either."
"It's really sounding like you fucked her," Dando pointed out.
"Shut the hell up and listen if you want to hear anything," Ben sneered. He saw Dando quickly shifting himself to a position that spoke nothing except uncontainable eagerness. "Look, I didn't start this, I just sorta went along for the ride."
"That's how it always starts," Dando commented excitedly.
"What'd I say? Stop talking. Anyway, I was driving away from Deacon's place with the money and Rain and I were both stressin' over the KC Devils situation. Then Rain pulls out two pills she snatched from the bag and says that they'll fix all the stress."
"She stole them?" Dando was astounded. "Vin really can't know about that. That's heavy shit unless someone's got a death wish."
"I know," Ben sighed, "that's why we're not telling him. Nobody is."
"Go on," Dando gestured for him to continue.
"Alright," Ben continued, "so I take this pill, figuring its already stolen, I might as well. And God damn, Dando, God damn. Forty large is short sellin' it. I have never had anything like that before. Every light from anywhere painted some kind of awesome painting all around. I can see why Rain danced for so long at that party. This shit is insane, our billion dollar drug. So," he got himself back on track, "we're goin' all over town trying to find a club or rave, we can't find shit. So we just drove out to the begonia fields and watched the sunrise. It was...amazing. But nothin' else happened."
"Okay," Dando nodded in acceptance. "Not exactly a sinless night, but better than rape."
"Better than rape," Ben let out a single comical moan, "that's what I was going for. That should be what everyone should strive for on their drug nights."
"One things botherin' me though," Dando said, puzzled. "What's wrong with the KC Devils? Who gives a shit about them? They ain't nothin' special, never were."
"That's not what Deacon said," Ben explained. "He said they're bigger than they were, a force to be reckoned with, I guess. It seems to me that they were just kinda laying low and preparing for something, gettin' stronger. It all kinda makes sense."
"Did Deacon say anything specific?"
"Not really, he just said we should walk with eyes in the back of our heads. He seemed really worried about us. It's still got me stressed I guess. Maybe there's somethin' to this KC Devils nonsense."
"Nothin' we can't handle," Dando patted his friend assuredly on the shoulder before hopping off the couch and walking over the wall where his jacket was hanging.
"Where are you off to?" Ben asked, only following Dando with his eyes, too fearful of the shocking headache any real movement would cause.
"Vin gave me a bag of a thousand of those pills," Dando explained, tossing his coat over himself and pulling the large bag out of his inside breast pocket. "Now I know its worth a damn fortune I'm gonna distribute it to the dealers, get some money rollin' in."
"Watch out for the KC Devils," Ben called to his friend.
"Gimme a break, Ben, I got God on my side. God can ice any damn devil," Dando gave a wave to Ben before heading out, leaving Ben in the silence and loneliness he originally craved.
22