4. Colby
Chapter 4
Colby
INITIATION: TEST THREE.
Two days had passed since my last test, and I could see the finish line ahead of me—even taste the sweet reward that came with it—wealth, power, control. I knew I’d have more questions for Nick and Dustin after the ceremony, but getting there was my primary objective.
The blokes and I were sitting in the lounge backstage from the showroom, all in our opening number outfit: a black tank top, blue jeans, our signature black leather belt with the words Heaven Down Under stamped on the silver buckle, and white sneakers—curtain call was in thirty minutes. The ten of us relaxed before the show while Jaxon was out front greeting the guests and taking photos as they filtered in and got seated.
“Nick’s been praising you a lot these past two weeks.” Darren sat beside me on one of the couches as I downed the rest of my Celcius energy drink. Out of the corner of my eye, I glimpsed his right hand and noticed the black obsidian ring he wore. Glancing around the room, I realized they were all members of the MUR. That explains a lot.
“Yeah, what about?” Playing dumb, I shrugged and stretched an arm out along the back of the couch. Based on the fact that everyone here was a member, I knew that was what he was referring to.
“You know exactly what, but fair enough.” He spun his ring around his finger. “All I’ll say is that he’s impressed with you; honestly, all of us are. We didn’t think you had it in you.” Darren admitted with a chuckle. “Country boy, raised on a farm his whole life and just shows up here out of the blue? You continue to surprise us, mate.” He blew a low whistle, lounging back onto the couch.
As I gestured to the opposite side of the room where Nick was talking with Benji and Tate, I rolled my tongue along the front of my teeth.
“Tell me, do all revue dancers enter initiation?” I already knew I wasn’t special, but I had been curious if protégés were chosen or if everyone got a shot.
Nick had been busy since the night at Solitude, and I haven’t been able to ask him for confirmation.
“So, I’m guessing you are well aware by now that our friend Nick over there is your sponsor, correct?” Darren asked, pointing his finger toward Nick, and I nodded in response.
I knew that from the mansion, but I didn’t know what it specifically meant and entailed for him. “Well… while being a dancer in any of the revues qualifies you for membership, it requires a sponsor to enter the initiation process—someone to vouch for your worth to the MUR.”
“And Nick believed that I was worth something?” My brows raised at the thought that someone here actually gave two shits about me.
“Yeah. Surprised all of us when he said he was going to sponsor you. If I’m being honest, I sure as fuck wasn’t.” Darren laughed, stretching his arms behind his head.
“Thanks…” I replied sarcastically, rolling my eyes and crushing my empty Celcius can before tossing it on the coffee table.
“Didn’t he tell you what happens if a sponsor’s protégé fails?” Darren leaned towards me with a frown of concern. I didn’t answer him, knowing he was about to tell me the answer regardless. “Not everyone gets sponsored because of the risk that comes with it. You bring someone in from the outside; they know what we do from day one. If they can’t handle or complete any of their tests, the sponsor has to take matters into their own hands. They are responsible for their selected protégé until death.”
Darren sat back with a sigh, and I pressed my lips into a hard line, glancing back over at Nick.
If I couldn’t finish my last test, Nick would be required to kill me. Great. I wasn’t nervous before regarding my initiation, but now? Fuck me.
After finishing our post-show rehearsal, I returned to my locker, pulling on a pair of grey sweatpants and a white T-shirt. I planned on going straight home and getting some much-needed sleep before physical training in the morning. Jaxon had us scheduled for a bright and early session starting at five.
While lacing up my sneakers, I heard my phone vibrate against the locker's metal shelf, so I stood to pick it up. Nick lit up the screen, and I unlocked it to see a new text message from him.
Nick: Ready for your last test? It’s gonna be a fun one.
Nick: Meet me Strip side in fifteen.
Me: OMW
Pocketing my phone, I shut my locker door and headed out of the showroom to meet up with Nick. How could he believe that any of these tests were fun? I mean, when you spend your life doing it, then I guess, yeah, it becomes a game more than a job, but fuck.
I may be overthinking all of this, and I need to let go and embrace the new life that being a member of the Men Under Revue will create for me. If I pass this final test, I will officially become one of them, making jobs like this my new normal no matter what.
Stopping just outside the double doors leading to the strip from Neon Palms Resort and Casino. A whistle caught my attention, and I looked over to where I saw Nick waiting for me, standing with his arms crossed over his chest at the other end of the long pedestrian bridge. I picked up the pace and switched to a jog to catch up with him.
“Nice choice of outfit,” Nick smirked.
“I had every intention of going straight home tonight.” I huffed, running a hand through my hair and resting the other on my hip.
“As long as it’s easy to clean. We’re partnering up for this next one.” There was a layer of excitement to his tone.
Why am I not surprised that he would be excited to participate in one of my tests? Then again, he did appear bored as fuck when I left the hotel room of the last one.
“Another hotel room?” I inquired, gesturing my chin down the long strip of casinos and hotels that lined Las Vegas Boulevard.
“Nah, not this time. We’re heading into the basement of Neon Palms for this one.”
“Then why the fuck did I have to meet you out here?” I shot him an incredulous glare, pissed off that was where we had just come from.
“Fresh air? It’s cold and smells like shit down there.” He shrugged carelessly. “Besides spending all that time in the showroom tonight, I wanted to see the stars.”
You couldn’t see fucking shit with the Strip’s light pollution. I didn’t know what the fuck he was going on about.
“Fuck, let’s just get on with it then…” Groaning, I glanced at the ground and rubbed my forehead with my thumb.
“By all means.” He chuckled, holding a hand out for me to lead us back into the casino.
As soon as we entered the basement of Neon Palms, we were greeted with the strong smell of stale air, moisture, and iron. I wasn’t even going to attempt to think of where the iron smell originated from.
The sound of rattling chains grew louder and louder as Nick led me around a corner to where a man was dangling from the ceiling by his wrists, right over a small drain. The rust-colored stains surrounding its outer edge left little to the imagination about why he was hanging in that particular spot.
“Jasper. Lovely to see you again, mate.” Nick beamed as he approached the long metal table about a foot from where Jasper hung.
“Fuck you, Nickolas.” Jasper spat, his face swollen from a beating he must have received before arriving here.
“Oh, come now, that’s no way to treat a friend.” Nick teased, picking up a small scalpel from the table, and moved to stand before him. “You remember what I told you last time you were down here?”
“Fuck.” Jasper hisses through his teeth in realization. “I didn’t—I didn’t do it this time, I swear.” He pleaded, his eyes focused on the scalpel in Nick’s hand.
“If you didn’t do shit, then you wouldn’t be here. Again. Last time was a warning; this time, you will face the ramifications.” He growled, touching the blade to Jasper’s skin, and he started wriggling against the chains.
The more he struggled, the more his body spun and twisted from the ceiling, his back eventually being displayed to me. I could see the words cheat and dice, scarred there from what I guessed was the last time he interacted with Nick.
“If you can’t already tell from his last visit, Colby. Jasper here likes to play with loaded dice and clean out our tables. Don’t you Jaspy?” Nick gave a sadistic laugh as he spun Jasper back to face us. “Colby, you’ve worked on a farm… Why don’t you educate me on how to drain a pig of all its blood?”
“N—No! Fuck you both!” Jasper continued to fight. “I’ll fucking kill you, Nickolas!”
Biting back a laugh, I pressed my lips together and chewed on my cheek. He was in no position to make threats, but the entertainment he was providing was a nice change from my other two tests. I could see why Nick said this would be fun for him. He had already dealt with this guy once before.
“There are a couple of ways to do it, usually with a chest stick, but since it looks like we don’t have one of those lying around—” I took the scalpel from Nick’s hand and brought it up to Jasper’s neck. “The next best option would be to sever the arteries right here at the base of the neck.” I pressed the blade lightly into the decompression point just above his breastbone, and a trickle of blood slid down his chest.
“Is it painful?” Nick quizzed, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Very,” I answered, tilting my head as I watched the blood continue to flow from Jasper’s neck, not pressing any further into him—yet. He had gone silent, but I could see his breathing accelerate with the fear of death—a harrowing one at that.
“Alright, go on.” Nick encouraged without pause, examining his nails.
“You don’t want to play with him a little more?” I quipped, my eyes meeting his over my shoulder.
“Nah, I’m sick of his shit, and we gotta be at the gym in four hours.” He yawned, bored already. Well, that didn’t take long.
Facing Jasper once more, I shrugged and blew out a breath.
“Sorry, mate. Boss’s orders.” Without letting him get another word in, I plunged the scalpel deep into the hollow point of his neck, blood flowing freely around the handle.
Jasper’s gurgled screams echoed off the cement walls and floor as I stepped back. He had seconds before the blood loss pulled him under. Blood pooled on the floor underneath him, already dripping down into the drain.
Nick’s hand clapped me on the shoulder as he watched my handy work and Jasper’s struggle.
“Right, let’s get the fuck out of here then. I’ll see you in a few hours.” He stepped around me and headed for the stairs, leaving me behind to stare blankly at Jasper’s blood-soaked body.
He didn’t even spare a second glance at the mess he left behind. I would ask him if I was supposed to clean this shit up or not, but my best guess was no, seeing as he didn’t instruct me to do it before he left.
The casualness of it all set me on edge, but if Nick was the man I needed to become to survive and thrive here, I might as well start now.