8. Chapter 8

Chapter 8

-Jared-

When my intrusion went unnoticed, I began to question whether the cousins were even present tonight. The lax security could be a sign of overconfidence or perhaps an indication that there was nothing of significant value to protect. Choosing to remain concealed in the shadows, I carefully observed my surroundings, noting that much remained unchanged except for the shift in leadership.

The women still danced provocatively, offering their services in a haze of drugs, just as I remembered. However, I vowed that they would not have to endure this torment much longer. But first, I needed to locate a few key individuals.

Navigating through the labyrinthine hallway, which led to the various rooms where patrons indulged in carnal pleasures, I hoped to uncover some clue that would lead me to the cousins. Yet, instead of finding the answers I sought, I encountered the woman I had seen with Rich.

Instinctively, I reached out and touched her, prompting a startled gasp and a swift turn of her gaze toward me. Despite the haze of drugs clouding her perception, her eyes held a hint of clarity, suggesting either a lower dosage or a familiarity with dispelling the effects. Trembling against me, she mistook me for another customer.

Seizing the opportunity, I swiftly opened a nearby door and pulled her inside. Though she resisted at first, the urgency of my actions compelled her to follow. Her heels clicked against the floor as she moved, clad only in her underwear, the rest of her body exposed to the dimly lit surroundings.

As I closed the door behind us, she dropped to her knees and made a move toward my pants. Reacting swiftly, I intercepted her, prompting a look of confusion as she gazed up at me.

"I know you can understand me," I asserted. "You're clearheaded, or at least more so than most."

Though she didn't respond verbally, the clarity in her eyes hinted at a heightened awareness.

"I'm looking for someone. The new owners," I explained.

"Owners," she murmured, her mind appearing to gradually regain its sharpness.

"Are they here?" I inquired, uncertain if she was aware of the recent change in leadership or the identities of the new owners. Masked faces still dominated the scene, but I knew better than to underestimate a potential informant. Squatting down to her level, I held her chin firmly, ensuring her focus remained unwavering.

"Is there someone important here tonight?" I pressed, maintaining a steady tone.

"Important?" she echoed, her brows furrowing in contemplation.

"A room, perhaps, where the service is... extra special?" I suggested, hoping to jog her memory.

"Special," she repeated.

I pondered if I had misjudged her comprehension, but then she blinked rapidly, a sign of emerging clarity.

"A room," she whispered.

"Yes, a room."

"There are a lot of people in there," she divulged.

"Which room?" I inquired eagerly, leaning in closer, awaiting her response.

"People go in and out all night," she explained, her thoughts not as lucid as I had hoped, but I didn't require much more information.

If the room saw constant activity, with people entering and exiting, it provided the clue I needed. Flashing her a smile, I pulled her to her feet.

"Do you know where the exit is?" I inquired.

"Exit?" she echoed.

"There's no one guarding it right now. If you're fast, you can get out of here," I advised. "Which I would do if I were you. It's about to get quite bloody."

Though she blinked rapidly, she seemed to struggle to fully grasp my words. I swung open the door and ushered her outside, guiding her in the direction from which I had come. She stumbled, reaching for the wall for support. Pointing ahead, I gestured for her to keep moving.

"That way," I instructed.

She turned her head, glancing back momentarily before continuing on. Whether she truly comprehended my warning remained uncertain, but I couldn't afford to linger. My focus shifted to the room she had mentioned, purportedly teeming with visitors. Following the cacophony of noise, I made my way toward it, the sounds leading me directly to my destination.

As I approached, I realized the extent of the crowd was far greater than I had anticipated. Even the hallway leading to the room was filled with eager individuals awaiting entry. It sent a shiver down my spine, pondering why so many sober customers sought access to this area. Brushing past some people indulging in the hallway, I heard grumbles of protest. They deemed it unfair that I barged through, but their complaints fell on deaf ears.

One man dared to lay a hand on my shoulder, but I spun around with lightning speed, catching him off guard. Pressing him against the wall, I held him firmly, our gazes locking.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. I know the owners personally," I growled menacingly, causing the older man to nod in swift understanding.

I grinned darkly beneath my mask. The cousins and I were about to get intimately acquainted. Yet, a gnawing unease churned in the pit of my stomach as I approached the room. Another participant was on the verge of entering, and I hastened alongside him, the door requiring a special card for access.

I slipped inside, the man catching the sound of my approach and turning around. Despite the dark mask concealing his features, his confusion was evident. Without hesitation, I reached out, yanking off his mask and driving his head into the now-sealed door. He emitted a grunt before collapsing to the floor.

Seizing his card, I surveyed my surroundings, realizing that this space differed drastically from the rest of the area. I found myself in a narrow corridor, illuminated by harsh overhead lights. Yet, a peculiar robotic voice emanated from further ahead.

Following its guidance, I proceeded until I entered a spacious, open area. Rows of chairs stretched out before me, some slightly elevated for better visibility. Despite the shadows obscuring their features, I discerned that every seat was occupied, all facing forward in anticipation.

" Item 35, step forward ," the robotic voice instructed, prompting my attention to a figure emerging in the distance.

Before me stood three expansive, translucent glass panels, behind which two young women swayed in their drugged stupor, clad in heels and lingerie. In the empty panel, another figure appeared, barely more than a girl. She couldn't have been older than 18, I surmised, her watery eyes and vacant expression fueling my fury.

Determined to dismantle this entire operation, even if it cost me my life, I snapped out of my trance as a buzzing sound permeated the air. A digital display flashed over the glass, revealing the first bid on this young victim. They were all depraved, and the cousins facilitated their vile desires.

Scanning the surroundings for a solution, my gaze landed on a guard stationed in front of a darkened doorway, his eyes fixed straight ahead. A smirk crept across my lips. There was only one reason for such vigilance.

With calculated steps, I approached, feigning interest in the area beyond his post. As I drew nearer, he attempted to halt my advance, but I swiftly disarmed him, bringing him to the ground and silencing him with a lethal strike. As the robot voice continued, announcing the value of the girl's life as if it were mere currency, I promised myself that these women wouldn't have to endure this torture much longer. With a resolve burning within me, I proceeded through the darkened doorway and ascended a staircase, the light growing stronger with each step.

Upon reaching the next floor, voices emanated from behind a nearby door.

"She's a fucking price," Michael's callous laughter echoed, met with Noah's equally despicable agreement.

Overcome with revulsion, I pushed the door open slightly, revealing the two brothers lounging with cigarettes in hand. Though no one else was in sight, I remained wary, anticipating the unexpected. With cautious movements, I slipped into the room, poised in a crouched position, my knife pulsating with a primal urge for retribution.

"Perhaps we should spice things up and place our own wagers," Michael suggested, eliciting a sickening chuckle from Noah.

"You always did prefer them untouched," Noah retorted.

"Indeed I do," Michael affirmed, his words dripping with depravity.

Michael reached for a button embedded in his chair, prompting the robotic voice to announce the number he had wagered. The bidding frenzy ensued, the incessant buzzing and the mechanical voice reverberating through the room as they peered down at the spectacle below, their view a one-way glass before them.

Meanwhile, I crept closer and closer, maintaining a low profile behind their thrones. The room contained nothing but these two seats, a fitting setting for individuals as egotistical as themselves, elevating them to a false sense of royalty. But this would mark the end of their reign. I had no intention of asking politely this time. Bloodshed was inevitable.

As I positioned myself behind Michael's chair, recalling Alison's harrowing account of his actions against her, I resolved not to let him draw another breath. With lightning speed, I surged forward, driving the knife into his chest as I loomed over him. He emitted a startled, gurgling sound as I relentlessly plunged the blade into him, blood splattering across the glass and onto me, while his brother was jolted from his seat.

Lunging for his gun, he made a desperate attempt to retaliate, but I swiftly pivoted and launched myself at Noah, utilizing the anchored chairs as leverage. A gunshot echoed through the room, narrowly missing me, as we crashed to the ground, grappling with each other amidst the cacophony of his brother's choking breaths.

I seized Noah's hand, trying to pull the gun from his grasp before slamming it into the ground repeatedly until he was forced to release it. Then, with a fierce determination, I grabbed the weapon, using its butt to deliver relentless blows to his face.

As Noah lay there, reduced to a groaning, bloody heap of pain, I leaned back, overcome by a dark, satisfying sensation. A laugh erupted from deep within me before I turned my attention to Michael. His gaze was fixed on us, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth as he weakly reached out for his brother. His strength was waning, and I removed my mask, revealing my face to him.

"It's amusing that you thought I wouldn't retaliate. But you see, there's something far stronger than the blood and holy vows that tie us together, Michael," I declared, rising from Noah's side and then extracting the knife from Michael's chest. He could barely articulate his pain, blood spilling from his mouth in spurts. "And that is the bond between a dog and his Master."

Reaching out, I slit his throat, watching as more blood spilled and his eyes grew vacant. A smile spread across my face as I felt the warm fluid on my skin before turning to Noah, still unconscious on the ground. But I wasn't finished with this place yet. Walking over to where Noah lay, my plaything for the night, I knew I needed to clear everyone out first.

Grabbing Noah's gun, I made my way downstairs where the bidding was nearing its end. With no guards left besides the one I had dispatched, I wore a dark smile as I began firing at random participants. It was like disrupting a line of ants at work—utter chaos ensued, screams filling the air as panic spread like wildfire. They ran toward the exit, trampling those who stumbled in their path. The narrow hallway became a trap, and I didn't even have to pursue them. I could slaughter them like pigs. The chaos escalated, and screams echoed from the next hallway as they found a way to open the door.

I ran out of bullets before reaching the end of the corridor, but as much as I desired to execute them all, I retraced my steps to locate the entrance by the windows, clutching my other gun. Discovering a secret panel beside one of them, I was stalled by the absence of the code. Hastily, I returned to where Noah lay, rifling through his pockets. In one, I found a very special golden card. Rushing downstairs, I utilized it to unlock the door.

Poking my head in, I glimpsed the stage leading to the glass area and a lengthy hallway ahead. Prioritizing the safety of the three young women, I guided them toward freedom. Though shaken, they managed to navigate their way toward the exit.

Entering the narrow hallway, I approached a door leading into a room where captive women were being held. As I swung it open, the guards turned toward me. I fired first, but one managed to hit my arm before I blocked the next few bullets with the door. Waiting for the gunfire to subside, I seized my opportunity and swiftly eliminated them on my next attempt.

They fell flat onto the ground, the thuds indicating their end. Stepping into the room, I found all the women dressed for the occasion. Unlike the rest of the establishment, this room wasn't filthy or dark. It was well-lit, with comfortable couches where the women sat, staring out into space. Putting away my gun, I began assisting them to stand. They showed remarkable resilience, understanding where to go as I arranged them into a long row, guiding them forward and out of there.

Approaching the door leading away from the auction area, I held it open for them and pointed them in the right direction. It seemed as if a part of their brain had realized the freedom within their grasp, prompting them to pick up the pace. With things quiet now, I knew they wouldn't have trouble finding their way out. If they did, I would return later to help them.

Closing the door after the last woman had passed through, I hurried back to where Noah was. Racing up the stairs, I opened the door, but before I could react, a loud yell pierced the air, and I was tackled, tumbling to the ground with Noah on top of me. In the struggle, I lost hold of the gun. He seized my injured arm, and I cried out in pain. With a cruel smile, he slammed his fist into my face repeatedly, but I managed to turn the tables, getting him beneath me and turning his face into a bloody mess.

Pressing my foot against his arm to restrain him, I grabbed his other one with my hand. Then, I took out my knife and pressed it against his throat, eliciting an animalistic hiss from him.

"You know I chose you for a reason," I said, meeting his confused gaze. "I simply couldn't let Michael live, knowing what he did to Alison. So tonight, Noah, it's just you and me. We're going to have so much fun."

The fear in his eyes spoke volumes. He understood that he wasn't merely facing a man seeking revenge. There was much about me that he hadn't yet realized. I wasn't Vince's heir because of some sentimental attachment. I was his heir because he molded me, shaping my enjoyment of pain and the power I wielded over others. If Noah thought having his ear cut off was severe, he had no idea what awaited him.

Closing the distance between us, I felt his body squirming beneath me, but he was no match for my strength. I smiled, relishing every moment of this encounter.

"Tonight, you're my plaything, Noah, and I'm going to treat you exactly as you've treated me, these women, and Alison."

"Alison..." he hissed.

"Do you know where I can find her?" I inquired, but he only glared at me. "No?"

He remained silent.

"Well, I believe that once I introduce this sharp end to your asshole, your memory will suddenly jog, won't it, Noah?"

Still, he remained silent, but that was perfectly fine. The real fun was just getting started.