Chapter 38 #2
“Gentlemen,” Koen addresses the three men. “Tonight, we’re going to show everyone here just how powerful the human mind can be. You’re about to experience a little hypnotization.”
The crowd cheers, and Koen lets the sound swell before continuing. “It’s simple, it’s harmless, and I promise, it’s going to be fun.”
Foster takes a step back, shaking his head. “Nope. No way. This is all bullshit.”
“Ah, fuck,” I mutter to myself.
“What’s wrong?” Sparkle whispers. I don’t like that she’s talking while she’s supposed to be stealthy.
I need to keep my reactions to myself.
Koen doesn’t miss a beat. He steps in front of Foster, cutting off his retreat. His smile is gone, replaced with an intense focus that makes even me sit up straighter.
“Where do you think you’re going, Harold?” Koen asks like a hunter cornering his prey.
“I said this is bullshit,” Foster scoffs, glancing at the crowd like he’s searching for backup. “I’m outta here.”
Koen raises one hand, his index finger extended. “Look.”
Harold hesitates for a split second before doing as Koen asked, and right when he does, Koen grabs Harold’s shoulder and taps his forehead with two fingers. “Sleep,” Koen commands, his voice an octave deeper than usual.
Foster slumps, his torso folding forward as if a string inside him has gone slack. Koen keeps a steady hand on his shoulder, holding him upright for the audience.
I’ve seen him do this a thousand times, but it’s still impressive as fuck.
“When you wake up, you’ll feel fine. Completely normal. But your feet will be glued to the street, unable to move no matter how hard you try…” Koen pauses for effect as if the commands need time to settle, then adds softly, “Wake up.”
Foster jerks upright, rapidly blinking as Koen steps back, his smile returning as he addresses him. “So, Harold, do you still think this is bullshit? That it doesn’t work?”
Foster blinks a few more times, his bravado clearly shaken, but he still answers, “Yeah, it’s bullshit.”
“All right, fair enough.” Koen motions to the crowd. “Go ahead, leave.”
Foster scoffs as he tries to step forward, but his feet stay planted firmly on the pavement. He tries again, but he’s all flailing arms and awkwardly bent knees.
I chuckle. This is gold.
The crowd erupts into laughter, the sound swelling as Foster looks down at his feet in confusion.
“Sylus?” Sparkle whispers again in concern, and I realize I never answered her.
“All good, baby. Koen has it under control. You better be safe over there.”
“What the hell,” Foster mutters as he continues to struggle, but it’s no use. He’s stuck.
Koen grins and extends his arm toward Harold. “A round of applause for Harold, the skeptic-turned-believer!”
The crowd roars in approval, clapping and cheering.
“All right, fine. It’s not bullshit.” Foster looks up at Koen, his face flushed with embarrassment. “Now release me.”
Koen nods, stepping forward and lightly tapping Foster’s forehead. “There we go. Your feet are free. Go ahead, take a step.”
Foster takes a cautious step forward, his face still red as the audience laughs and claps. “Thanks for being a good sport, Harold.” Koen pats him on the shoulder. “Now, back in line, please.”
Foster shuffles back into place with his head bent, and Koen turns his attention back to the other two men, his smile widening. “Shall we continue?”
He moves smoothly down the line, then takes Blackwood’s wrist in one hand, gives it a sharp but controlled pull before he can protest, and taps his forehead. “Sleep.”
Blackwood’s body complies, and Koen steadies him until he’s sure he stands on his own. He repeats the routine again with Belmont, then Foster, and the audience watches in awe, the murmurs of disbelief and amazement swelling with each man Koen puts under.
“All of you feel good, you’re safe,” he commands to them all. “You love to be here, love talking to me, and everything that comes out of your mouth will be the truth.”
Veronica starts backing away, her smile gone. Levi tracks her, staying close and acting casual about it as he lightly rests his hand on her arm, sensing she’s preparing to bolt.
Koen steps in front of Belmont, and the crowd goes quiet, anticipation building for what he’ll do next.
“Richard, where do you know Veronica from?”
Belmont’s jaw works slightly. “We fuck.”
A ripple of shocked laughter runs through the crowd as Koen theatrically raises his brows. “Okaaay.”
“Fucking told you all along,” I muse before pressing my lips together, remembering to keep my commentary to myself.
Veronica actually looks embarrassed and tries to pull her arm from Levi’s grip, but he only holds her tighter.
“Did we just stumble over your confession, Veronica, love?” Levi asks with a grin, making the crowd chuckle until Belmont’s voice cuts through again.
“She used my casinos to launder millions of dollars. Cleaned dirty money through high-end clients. Made me rich. Made her richer.”
“Wow.” Koen whistles softly, shaking his head. “You guys really know how to network, huh?” His chuckle is light, but his eyes flick to Veronica, who looks as though she might combust on the spot. “That was so not what I was looking for. So, let’s try the next one.”
I snicker to myself.
Sure, it wasn’t.
Koen moves to Foster, and the crowd holds their collective breaths as he repeats the question. “Harold, tell us about Veronica Harrington. Where do you know her from?”
Foster’s voice is flat, devoid of emotion, but the words come out clearly. “I oversee the casinos for her. Manage the books, keep the profits flowing.”
Koen smiles at Veronica, who paints a smile back onto her face and looks almost a little relieved.
“That sounds fun. What else do you do?”
“I find the girls,” he replies immediately. “The ones who’ve got nowhere else to turn. I put them to work, and she takes the biggest cut.”
The crowd gasps, the sound rippling through the air like a shockwave.
Koen’s eyebrows shoot up, and he lets out a nervous laugh, glancing toward the audience.
“Well, that’s… unexpected.” He rubs the back of his neck as if genuinely uncomfortable.
He shoots Veronica a sheepish smile, his eyes probably catching the way Levi’s grip on her arm tightens even further. “Let’s move on, shall we?”
God, he’s selling this so damn well.
I almost forgot just how good both of them are under the spotlight. It’s been so fucking long since I’ve seen them like this.
It’s a shame there won’t be any more shows after tonight—no matter how this plays out.
Veronica’s mask is cracked, no pretend smile in sight as she tries to take another step away, but Levi tugs on her arm as he whispers to her, “Don’t. Stay.”
It sounds a lot like a command, and damn, she looks like she’s not giving a fuck about that as she narrows her eyes on him.
“Well, maybe I’m a little out of practice.” Koen’s laugh is light for the crowd.
“I’m sorry.” Levi’s voice is a soft murmur for Veronica, while his smile is still charming for the audience. “This wasn’t our intention. But it’s all right. We’ve got you. Give Koen time to fix this.”
Oh, he’s not going to fix it. He’s going to finish it.
She stays rooted, and I know it’s not because she trusts us, God, no, but because the game is still in play. Running now would confirm her guilt in front of everyone, including the press and the police who are part of the audience for more reasons than one.
Her gaze flicks to Blackwood, her panic sharpening as the realization dawns.
Blackwood is the nail in the coffin.
“I think we can all agree things have gotten a little… heavy.” Koen pauses for effect, gesturing toward the three men still frozen in their trances.
“And we can’t have that, right? Gentlemen, you’re all chickens now.
And when I snap my fingers, you’re going to show everyone just how much of a chicken you truly are.
” With a flourish, Koen raises his hand and snaps his fingers. “Wake up.”
Blackwood’s arms immediately shoot up to his sides, mimicking wings, and he starts strutting across the stage, clucking loudly.
The crowd bursts into laughter, shock and dismay replaced by pure amusement.
Foster joins him, flapping his arms and letting out a series of loud, ridiculous crows.
By the time Richard Belmont follows suit, it’s utter chaos as all three men strut, flap, and cluck like overgrown birds.
Fucking hell.
“Remind me never to cross you, Koen,” I murmur, catching the small smirk that forms on his lips in response.
Levi doubles over laughing, but when he finally straightens, he shakes his head. “Koen,” he chides.
“What?” Koen turns to him, his expression the picture of wide-eyed innocence. “Would you rather I had turned them into pigeons?”
The audience erupts into renewed laughter, and Levi smirks. “Obviously.”
Koen lets the laughter settle before raising his voice again. “Okay, enough of that. This is getting boring, don’t you think? I bet you’re all wondering what’s up with your card now.”
The crowd yells some yes and please, and he snaps his fingers again. The three men freeze mid-strut, and he’ll keep them frozen like this for the police to pick up later.
Levi leans in close to Veronica, his tone soothing as if this was just an embarrassing hiccup. “See? Everything’s fine,” he whispers. “Play along, and the crowd will forget all about what they said.”
She glares at him, her hands balled into fists. She didn’t believe for a second that we’d spin this back in her favor, and now, she doesn’t know what to make of it. But she nods anyway, clinging to the pretense because it’s all she has fucking left.
“I need your handsome son for this one, Veronica.” Levi flashes his trademark grin to the crowd again. “Would you be so kind as to lend him to me, please?”
She gives him a tight smile. “Of course.”
I fly the camera drone in front of Harrington, who looks momentarily caught off guard but steps to the others without protest, greeted by a wave of applause.
“Look at the good boy playing his part,” I mock, making Koen huff out a laugh and Nova snort.
Harrington moves with his hands tucked casually into his pockets as he joins Levi.
“Thank you, Nicholas.” Levi gives him a friendly clap on the shoulder before he turns back to Veronica, producing the deck of cards he used a few moments ago from seemingly nowhere.
With a flick of his wrist, the cards fans out.
“Veronica, I want you to look through these cards as I run through them. Tell me if you see that they’re all different. ”
She nods, her eyes scanning the cards as Levi flicks through them, holding them at eye level. “Yes, they’re all different,” she confirms.
“Perfect. Now, as I go through these myself, I want you to pick one card. Don’t say it out loud. Just think of it, hold it in your mind. Did you get one?”
Veronica’s gaze flicks toward the deck, and she nods. “Yes.”
Levi grins in approval as he pivots to address Harrington. “So, of all the cards in this deck, you have no idea which one your mother chose, right?”
He shakes his head. “I have no idea.”
“Amazing. Now, you’re going to pull one card from this deck, please.” Levi fans the cards out again and offers them to Harrington, who plucks a card from the spread.
“Veronica, dear…” Levi turns to her with an exaggerated flourish, “… can you tell us the card you saw? Say it out loud for everyone.”
“Ace of Hearts,” she announces.
“An Ace of Hearts, you say? Well, wouldn’t it be impressive if your son held your card right now?”
“It would be,” she agrees.
“All right, Nicholas, the moment of truth.” Levi gestures toward him. “Show everyone the card you have in your hand.”
Nicholas flips the card over, holding it up.
It’s a Three of Spades.
The crowd bursts into laughter, the tension breaking as Levi dramatically slaps a hand to his forehead. “Uh-oh.”
Koen lets out an exaggerated sigh, crossing his arms. “Nothing is going as planned tonight.”
The crowd chuckles but looks around at each other, believing that this is all a big shit show.
Which it is, but a planned one.
“I’m such a dummy.” Levi snickers, shaking his head as the laughter subsides.
“But wait, here’s the thing. Nicholas isn’t holding your card, Veronica.
” He grins mischievously, his eyes scanning the audience.
“Because everyone else is. Folks, check the cards you’ve hidden on yourselves.
Go ahead, pull them out. Do any of you have Veronica’s card, the Ace of Hearts? ”
There’s a ripple of movement as people dig into their pockets, jackets, and purses before shouts and gasps punctuate the air.
“It’s an Ace of Hearts!” someone yells, holding up their card.
“Mine is too!” another voice joins in.
“Ladies, gents, and nonbinary friends, please,” Levi beams, raising his hands. “Hold your Ace of Hearts up high! Show me your cards!”
The audience bursts into chatter and laughter as dozens of people hold their cards aloft, each one an Ace of Hearts, and I let the drone fly over the sea of them.
It’s fucking impressive.
“And that, my friends, is what we call magic.” Levi grins. “Please keep the card up in the air. Don’t put it away. Can you do that for me?”
The crowd is eating it up. To them, it really is magic.
But it’s a fucking chess game, every move calculated, every piece carefully placed.
They’re laughing, cheering, blissfully unaware that the true target of tonight’s spectacle isn’t them.
It’s the woman standing next to Levi, looking not as nervous as she did moments ago but still somewhat aware that this night has gotten out of her hands entirely.
Alaric’s voice crackles through the comms. “I’m in position.”
I tap my earpiece. “Hold.”
A soft thud from Jinx’s crate has me glancing down and muting my mic to talk to her. “Patience isn’t your strong suit, huh?”
She gives me a judgmental look like I’m dragging this out for fun.
“Yeah, yeah.” I smirk. “Go ahead and tell me how you’d run this better.” Another lazy blink before Jinx levels me with a look of the kind of silent superiority only cats and Levi can pull off.
Glancing back at the monitor, I watch the crowd waving their cards like banners, and I feel a flicker of satisfaction.
This is only the first crack in Veronica’s foundation.
And by the end of tonight, we’ll make damn sure it crumbles.