Another great book from Bryl Tyne. This is my version of how it came about....“Thwack.”I opened my eyes, or tried to at least. What, in God’s name had I drunk last night? A large shape loomed before me, tapping what looked like a large stick against one hand. He didn’t look happy.“Who.. who… are you?” I swallowed. If he was who I thought he was. I was in deep shit.“I believe you refer to me as Big Daddy, Bryl.” He glared at me. “I’ve had it up to here…” He stopped to make a menacing cutting motion against his throat then resumed tapping, harder and faster this time. “.. with you taking my name in vein.”I untangled the sheets from around my legs and struggled to sit up. Once an editor always an editor. “Um, it’s V-A-I-N not….”The stick… no, now my brain had started functioning properly I could see it was a rolled up bundle of papers… sped up. The voice thundered. I winced and covered my ears. Turn down the volume, dude. You’re the all seeing, all knowing… you know what my head feels like!“I’d get you to do three Hail Mary’s, but somehow I don’t think that’s your style.”He threw the bundle on the sheet beside me and, as they spread out, they made a neat fan shape. Well, I suppose if anyone could pull off that trick, he could.“Instead you’re going write me a story.”That didn’t sound too hard. I was a writer after all. I picked up the top photo. Dark, curly hair, short clipped beard, white Chesty Bond singlet, an impressive set of muscles. I could do him. “Afro-American?”Big Daddy snorted. “Mexican, Brazilian? I don’t give a damn. Dark, tough though. Nothing like your sweet Zigzagel. Name’s Travon.”Okay. I picked up the next photo. White, blond shaggy hair flopped over an impressive pair of shades. Enough fuzz on his chin to stop him looking too girly. Cool. Hot.“That’s, Drew.”“So what’s the plot?”“I don’t give a shit.”My eyes… no gaze… Bryl, get it right… jerked up from my contemplation of the next photo. If Travon looked tough, this guy looked downright dangerous. All attitude and power. Big too. Huge. Menacing. Below him was someone who looked like Danny de Vito’s twin brother.“So I can write whatever I like?”The smile that curled Big Daddy’s lips made me swallow. This was not good.“As long as you include…” He started ticking points off against his fingers. “Jewellery, a car chase, blackmail, handcuffs, sex, lot’s of sex…” He paused and the smile turned into a downright leer. “You do like writing about sex, don’t you, Bryl?”I nodded. Yeah, this guy knew me inside out.The ticking off continued. “Bribery, armed robbery, adultery…”This was starting to sound like a warped version of the Ten Commandments.He looked confused for a moment. He was running out of fingers. He’d used one for sex and another for “lot’s of sex”, but I wasn’t going to correct him. I had a feeling my job was going to be hard enough as it was.He shrugged as his forefinger struck the last digit. “… and Brut deodorant.”“You’ve gotta be kidding me!” I scrambled to my knees. I hadn’t been in this position since… what the devil had the guy’s name been??? His dick had been nice though.Big Daddy shook his head. “Nope. The story must include Brut deodorant.”I sat back on my heels and groaned. Just including something like that would wreck my street cred. The almighty, all powerful sure knew how to turn the screws. One last photo stared up at me from the pile. Whereas the other characters seemed like they belonged in the world Big Daddy had portrayed, this guy seemed different. Like an accountant. Conservative, short hair, straight, boring.“Who’s this?”“Tray.”“Like in one of those flat things you use to carry stuff?”“T.R.E.Y.”An idea started taking shape in my mind. He thought he was punishing me for writing stories about his minions with pinions. He was dead wrong. It sounded like just the sort of fucking challenge I loved. Guns, murder, mayhem.He started to turn but stopped. “Oh, and it has to have a happy ending for everyone.” He glared at me for a second. “They are possible you know, Bryl.”I buried my face in my hands. Now I was well and truly fucked.(I'm pleased to report, that Bryl succeeded.)
