Free The Devil Inside by Mia Amano

married, with a wife and two kids living in Japan. The children are both in high school. He barely sees them, because he’s traveling all the time for his job.  
    His wife is sleeping with a male host. Apparently in Japan, they have clubs like this full of young men who entertain lonely housewives. Sex can be bought, for the right money. She doesn’t know Mr Hayashi knows about it. He’s set up some kind of recording device in their apartment.  
    He showed me the live feed on his smartphone. Thank God the room was empty. That’s some creepy, fucked up shit.
    It’s a life I can’t comprehend. Yet Mr Hayashi sits beside me and talks about all these things as if they were an everyday thing, like the weather.  
    Maybe this is how he deals with it, by paying women so he can talk to them. Maybe this is kind of like therapy for him.  
    The conversation started off okay, but after all that alcohol, he’s starting to get a bit frisky. I’m counting on the generously priced fancy French champagne to distract him.
    As I lean over the bar to place an order, Mama-san appears at my side. “You need to say goodnight to that man now, Adele.” She inclines her head, a curious look coming into her eyes. “One of our guests has specifically requested you.”
    “But he’s just ordered a bottle of Dom Perignon,” I protest, seeing the dollars sliding out of my grasp. Normally, I wouldn’t even dare sell something like this. I feel a bit sorry for Mr Hayashi. But my family needs the cash, and I can’t afford to let myself go all soft just because his wife’s cheating on him.
    “Let it go.” Mama-san orders. “One of the other girls will take care of him. I want you to take this to our new guest.” She’s holding a tray with a glass of neat whisky and an ashtray. She passes it to me. I roll my eyes. Great. A smoker.
    Rei didn’t tell me about the occupational hazards.
    “Who is so important that you’ll drag me away from my most obliging customer, Mama-san?” I can’t help the sarcasm that laces my voice.
    “Shh!” I feel a sharp dig in my ribs. Mama-san is actually elbowing me. “You need to behave with this next customer, Adele. Don’t force him to buy drinks. Just make conversation.”
    “May I ask why this guy gets the special treatment?”
    Mama-san leans in close, her voice low. “Adele, in this business, you’ll come across men who are wolves dressed as sheep. You need to recognize them. It’s in the speech, the behavior, the small tells in their mannerisms.” The strong musk of her perfume surrounds me, making me feel lightheaded. “If you happen to serve a Japanese man who has tattoos or a missing finger, don’t you even pretend to try and swindle him.”
    I blink, trying to filter what Mama-san’s trying to tell me. “You mean don’t cheat the criminals?”
    “Something like that.” Mama-san cringes, seemingly uncomfortable with my bluntness. “You’ll get better at picking them, over time. After a while, you’ll be able to tell the difference without thinking.” Her eyes dart to the corner of the room. “Go now, take him his drink. Table nine, in the corner.”
    I follow her gaze and almost drop the tray.  
    Kaito stares back at me. A cigarette sits between his fingers, a stray tendril of smoke drifting upwards. He’s wearing all black; a tailored black suit jacket over a collared black shirt. I take a moment to appreciate the way it suits him before the shock of seeing him here sinks in. What the hell is he doing here? Is he a regular? Or did Rei tell him I was here? Is she still trying to play matchmaker?
    The possibility that he’s here because of me sends a thrill of excitement through me.  
    Don’t be ridiculous, girl.
    My heart is hammering in my chest. Kaito doesn’t move. His expression is unreadable, but his eyes, coal-black in the dim light, are burning. That intense, straight-faced look is arousing as hell.
    My anger at seeing him here dissolves as his lips curl into a