noirsealed part 1

"Your heart's so dear to me," sung Paloma, swaying from side to side in her little black dress. "That I couldn't ever hurt you, so don't ever go..."

The room was thick with smoke, its dusty walls echoing her voice as she sang for the bar. In a corner booth, a suited woman leant over the table with a sly smile.

"You don't want to fuck with me, Julius."

"... don't go off to Africa, please just come back to me..."

"'Cause I've got men all around this little town, see?"

"... I'll keep your picture by the bedside, but it's nothing like your touch..."

"And if you put a step out of line, I can't promise they'll behave themselves."

"... you don't need to explore when there's a world inside this town..."

"We clear?"

Julius gulped and nodded. "Yeah, ma'am, we're clear."

"Good. Now fuck off. I'm tryin' to enjoy myself here!"

The man scampered away as Cucali kicked her feet up onto the table, listening to the singer. She'd always liked this bar, and there was one big reason for it -- that doll had a voice like an angel. Cucali took a drag from her cigar and added her smoke to the clouded room, blowing rings into the air.