Thirty-Two
SCARLETT
“ Y ou’re going to get caught,” I whisper to myself as I reach the back side of the beach house, where Ace parks his G-Wagon. I hide behind it looking into the house, spotting him in the kitchen. He’s putting something in a large bag as he turns off the lights, vanishing completely from my sight.
“Shit! It’s now or never, Scarlett. You need to make your play.” I look up to the door handle of the trunk and realize this is my only chance. I need to sneak in before he comes out and sees me, or worse, drives off. I slowly and quietly reach up to pull the handle down praying to God, or whoever is listening, that it is unlocked. It clicks softly, opening, and I gently pull it up enough that I can squeeze my body through.
Quick but careful not to make a sound, I climb into the back pulling the trunk door closed once I’m inside and shutting it with a small thump. I close my eyes hoping Ace didn’t hear, when I hear a loud thud coming from behind me. I look up over the backseat and see him locking the front door before he heads over to the car. He loudly opens the driver’s car door as I crouch down hiding in the trunk.
The engine starts, and he vigorously pulls out of the driveway speeding to the upcoming road. A dial sound comes on over the speakers as the ringing of a phone follows.
“You better be on your way,” Bass says over the car’s speakers.
“Change of plans, there is somewhere I need to be,” Ace answers back as he takes a sharp turn.
Bass groans. “Ace, he won’t like it.”
“Let me worry about that.”
Ace is different today, even being short with his best friend so I know something isn’t right. “I hope it’s not to get some pussy from that gorgeous specimen you call a girlfriend. I mean pussy is sweet and all, and I can only imagine what hers tastes like, but this. The Horsemen, we trump all of that man.”
Disgusted by Bass’s comment I nearly sit up and give him a piece of my mind but I remember what Agent Servite said. Ave can’t know I’m following him.
“I’m not going to her. This is far more important than some pussy,” he snaps, and I instantly cringe. Far more important than me, huh? The way they’re talking about me should disgust me, but I only feel the pain of Ace’s harsh words. A warm pussy to keep his dick warm is all I am to him.
He hangs up the phone and keeps driving for what seems like hours but when the car pulls to a stop and I look down at my phone and I see it’s only been about half an hour. Ace opens his door and steps out, moving around to open the passenger seat and grab the bag he flung over.
I jump, as quietly as I can, out of the back of the G-Wagon, closing the trunk gently before he sets the alarm. I quickly run to hide behind the truck parked beside us trying my best not to make a sound. Ace turns back slowly, and I almost think he’s caught me, but he simply shrugs his shoulders and heads toward the building where a man standing at the front whistles at him .
The large concrete building, which resembles an abandoned warehouse of sorts, spreads out across the entire property. I slowly creep up to the front of the parking lot, remaining hidden behind the parked cars and notice there are two men dressed in all black standing at the entrance. They quickly step aside as Ace approaches and open the door for him to enter the building.
Though just as I am about to head over, I hear a group of people approaching. There are two men in the finest looking three-piece suits each with two girls dressed in mini-skirts, strapless tops, and no less than five-inch heels, draped on their arms. Their faces are covered in layers of makeup and their hair is practically flawless. I look down at my attire, ripped jeans, and a cropped hoodie. There is no way I’m getting in looking like this. I look around and see no one else approaching, so I decide it’s now or never.
“Okay here goes nothing,” I whisper to myself as I head to the front door. The two men eye me warningly as I approach them. “Good evening, boys,” I say in the flirtiest voice I can muster.
They both pull down their dark shades and glare at me.
“If you’ll excuse me,” I say, trying to walk around them.
“Where do you think you’re going, sweetheart?” asks the taller of the two men.
“I um,” I falter not knowing what to say.
“You working tonight?” asks the other. Bingo, that’s my in.
“Yes! Yes, I am,” I answer a little too enthusiastically. They look me over once more making me feel slightly uncomfortable.
“Never seen you around here before, are you new?”
“Yes, it’s my first day, actually.”
The taller one the two men lets out a loud grunt. “Well, rule number one sunshine, you never go in through the guest entrance. All employees walk in through the side door,” he says, nodding to a hidden metal door down to the right end of the building.
“Got it.” I turn toward the door but number two grabs my arm.
“Rule number two, the mistress hates it when you’re late,” he says with a wicked grin as his gaze roams over my body. I smile faintly, pulling my arm away.
They point me toward the employee entrance, a large metal door with a bright red handle which to my surprise opens easily when I tug. I would have expected it to be locked.
Inside the building is dark and I can hear loud music blaring from the speakers above. Bright lights flicker in the distance, the walls practically vibrating from the loud bass. The smell of smoke and liquor exudes through the walls, a cloud of smoke floating around the space like a thick fog.
Holy shit, this is some type of nightclub. Heading down a long corridor, hoping to find some stairs to take me to the top floor since I think I’ve entered through the basement of the building, a door to my left suddenly opens, startling me. A tall woman dressed in a long red dress appears, her hair a deep burgundy red combed up into a high ponytail, and heavy makeup flawlessly highlighting dark blue eyes which glare furiously at me.
“What the hell are you doing out here?” she shouts, both hands planted on her waist. “And why the fuck are you not dressed? Your shift starts in less than ten minutes so get in and get ready.”
I nod and follow her into the room she’s walked out of. Inside there are various changing stations with mirrored vanities all around. The room is filled with about fifteen girls all dressed in the tiniest pieces of lingerie I’ve ever seen, their hair and makeup flawlessly done. What kind of place is this?
“Cruz,” the woman shouts. “I found one of your girls out here wandering the halls. She’s not dressed and not ready. Get your ass over here and fix her before I fire her.”
“Don’t be so dramatic, Lacey,” a man says as appears from behind a long black curtain.
“You know the mistress hates tardiness and unprofessionalism,” Lacey, as he’s called her, says, turning to me and glaring like I’ve just done the worst thing. For a moment her eyes zero in on me as she watches me meticulously before turning back to the man in front of her, whom I assume is Cruz, dressed in a sequined dark blue suit. “And this chick doesn’t even look like she came prepared. I swear, where are you finding these girls? They weren’t like this in my days,” Lacey sneers.
“That’s because those girls are all married to Fortune five hundred billionaires, and have a litter of children they send off to boarding schools so they can travel the world and spend their days and nights at the country club having love affairs with the pool boys.”
She glares at him and walks away toward another group of girls getting dressed.
Cruz chuckles at her annoyance. “Don’t mind her, she’s just bitter that you’re a brand new, shiny toy, and she’s a chewed up, old squeak toy that’s had one too many squeezes if you know what I mean,” he says with a wink. “What’s your name, darling?”
“I’m,” I’m about to give him my real name but decide against it. I don’t want Ace to find out I followed him, and frankly this place gives me all sorts of skeevy vibes. “Serena,” I say, opting to use my middle name instead.
“Well, Serena, I assume it’s your first day, and you didn’t bring any supplies?” he asks, and I shake my head, answering no. “Why don’t I remember hiring you? A beautiful face like yours I’d never forget.”
“Actually,” I am about to confess I don’t really work here when Lacey calls out that we have five minutes till showtime.
“Never mind, we need to get you dressed and ready to go out there. Here, let me choose something for you and I’ll help you put some makeup on.”
Cruz leads me over to a large clothing rack filled with various dresses in all shades and other smaller lingerie looking outfits. The fabrics are luxurious, embroidered with beads in all original designs.
“Here, put this on,” he says, handing me a dark blue lace bodysuit with the sides cut out and just small patches covering the goods. The neckline cuts low, and the back is non-existent.
“I can’t wear this,” I say nervously.
“Of course you can, it will accentuate those beautiful blue eyes of yours and that killer body, now hurry, we don’t have much time.”
I see no other way of finding out why Ace is here, so I quickly change into the outfit and walk back out toward the vanity Cruz is standing by.
“Oh wow, you look ravishing. Way better than I was expecting. They’re gonna love you.” He pauses and gives himself a pat on the back. “I'm getting that holiday bonus.” I eye him curiously not understanding what he means, but he pulls me and sits me in a chair in front of the mirror. “I’m just gonna add a bit of makeup, you’re already drop dead gorgeous and unlike most of the girls here, you don’t need all this paint to make you beautiful. I think we can play off your innocence. They’ll love it.”
“Wait, what?” I blurt out, but he ignores me. He quickly applies the makeup, and twirls some soft curls in my hair, a few loose tendrils frame my face.
“One-minute, girls,” Lacey shouts again as she exits through a curtain hiding a staircase, I assume leads to the entrance of the club.
“Okay, last step, your shoes.” He hands me a pair of knee-length, high-heeled boots in a matte black color. They are at least five inches high and look almost impossible to walk in. Luckily, I’ve had some practice since coming here, attending the Saints and Sinners party and the Hallows Eve Masquerade. I quickly slip them on, stumbling a bit as Cruz pulls me toward the rest of the girls.
“Wait, Cruz, what am I supposed to do?” I shout as I’m guided up the stairs.
“Give them hell, darling, and a little shimmy,” he says before disappearing beneath the curtain .
The girls and I walk in a straight line up the stairs and toward another metal door I assume leads into the club. As we walk through the metal door, we reach another room, this one resembling a stage behind another dark curtain.
The music is rumbling through the room and I can see light flashing above. The club must be just behind the curtains.
They separated us into groups of three and sent us to separate parts of the stage. I’m paired with two girls both with dark brown hair, one in a pink halter two-piece ensemble, the other in a green strapless bodysuit. Looking closer at them I notice they’re identical twins.
“Where are we going?” I ask the one in the green.
“To the cages,” she replies nonchalantly.
“To what?” I ask shocked.
“You must be new. I haven’t seen you here before.” The one in pink, the friendlier of the two, says. “I’m Lex, this is my twin sister Remi,” she adds, motioning to the girl in green.
“Serena,” I answer. “What do you mean cages?” I ask, but suddenly I hear a loud clinking sound as two metal gates close in around us. They weren’t kidding, we’re caged in.
The stage rises as the curtains come down, revealing a large room filled with at least 100 people all dancing and drinking, and staring up at us. What the fuck did I get myself into?
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to The Gallows,” shouts a voice blaring through the speakers above.
I look to the bottom stage and recognize Cruz standing beside Lacey and another woman dressed in all black with her face hidden behind a black lace veil embroidered with red flowers.
My heart races as the man at the center of the stage speaks. I look around and see six cages like the one I’m in all around the top floor of the club. Each cage has at least three girls in it.
“I’d like to present to you tonight’s entertainment. These are the ladies of The Gallows.” Suddenly, a spotlight flashes on all the cages nearly blinding .
“Here at The Gallows, we believe in giving in to all our deepest, darkest desires. Temptation isn’t a sin but a way of life. This is a place where we can be our true unfiltered selves hiding away from the judgment and intolerance of the outside world. So please enjoy tonight’s entertainment and remember if anyone would like to place any orders, the bidding starts at ten thousand dollars.”
The microphone and lights at the center stage turn off, leaving only a bright spotlight on each of the six cages. I turn to Lex and Remi who begin dancing and swaying sensually to the music.
“What is he talking about bidding? What are they bidding on?” I ask, nearly hyperventilating.
“On us, duh. Now start dancing or we’re not gonna get picked. We need the money tonight, rent’s due and we can’t afford to miss it.” Lexi grinds against her sister moving to the beat of music. Us. This isn’t just any club, this is a brothel, a whorehouse. And it looks like tonight, I’m the one up for sale.
I take a few moments to snap out of the fear induced paralysis I’ve succumbed to. Panic courses through my veins as I stand here in a cage being auctioned off to who knows who, for who knows what. I need to find Cruz. I can tell him this was a mistake, that I don’t really work here. Or that I’m underage, I’m sure they don’t want the legal drama that will bring. Although, looking over at Lex and Remi and the other girls around here, they look to be my age, or younger even with all the layers of makeup. I look around the room for Ace, but I can’t seem to find him among the crowd.
“Seriously, Serena, you’re ruining it for us. Dance,” Remi snaps, as she turns to me.
I slowly sway my hips back and forth to the rhythm of the music. I usually love to dance but tonight, here in front of all these people, it just feels dirty. I close my eyes hoping to lose myself in the music and forget I’m here when suddenly they pull our cage back behind the curtain.
“It’s your lucky day, ladies. Record timing, you only lasted three minutes out there. Lex and Remi, you two are together as always, six thousand split in half, after the house commissions of course. And new girl, Selena, is it?” the man who was MC on stage asks me.
“Serena,” I answer.
“Yeah, well, you made quite an impression… ten thousand just for you, that’s already excluding commission.”
“Must be beginners’ luck,” Lexi sneers, an obvious distaste on the tip of her tongue.
“Ten thousand, for what?” I shout, but he ignores me.
“Luke, it looks like Cruz didn’t give this one orientation,” Remi says, looking over to the guy standing to our right.
“Ugh, I hate when he does that, then I have to waste my time explaining everything. Well, you two better get going, this one doesn’t like to be kept waiting. Room 5,” Luke says, handing them a key card.
“Good luck, new girl,” Remi calls out to me as she and her sister walk away leaving me alone with Luke.
“Well, new girl, looks like you’re coming with me.”
I follow Luke into a brightly lit hallway where I can finally see him clearly. He’s young. My age, if not a few years older, with shaggy dark hair and piercing green eyes hidden behind dark smudged liner. His bottom lip and right eyebrow are both pierced, and a small diamond stud fits perfectly in one ear. A modern-day pirate dressed in a black V-neck shirt and black leather pants.
“Look, there’s been a misunderstanding, I’m not really supposed to be here, I actually...”
“Oh, don’t worry, love, he only paid for a little fun, some sweet pecking, minor petting but nothing else,” he says with a wink. “He can’t touch you in any other way. He didn’t pay for that, well unless he wants to upgrade, then you’re looking at least four-grand extra.”
“No, I…”
“You’re in here, Room 2. He’s a bit of an addict, but easy on the eyes so there’s that. Don’t worry, I’ll be right out here if you need me,” Luke says, sliding the key card in the slot, opening the door, and pushing me inside. I nearly stumble as the door shuts and locks behind me. I can hear loud breathing coming from behind me, but I’m terrified to turn around.
“My, you are even more beautiful up close,” the man says, and I instantly recognize his voice. I slowly turn and find Professor Macallan standing behind me. “Who would have thought I’d find you here? I guess a girl from the wrong side of town always gets caught up in places like this. Tell me, is this your first night? You looked pretty frightened out there.”
“You, you paid for me?” I ask, stuttering slightly.
“Just for the company, and whatever else you’d like to give.”
“I… this… how?”
Macallan laughs slightly as he approaches me. He looks different, dressed in dark pants and a white buttoned shirt with the sleeves rolled up, his glasses are gone, and I can see his eyes are a light hazel brown. Not like the same man I see in class every morning. The way he’s staring at my body sends a shiver of fear through me. He gets closer to me as I back away until my back hits the cold metal door behind me. He has the look of a predator going after his prey and it horrifies me.
“You can’t do this, I’m your…” I say, but he shuts me up with a demanding kiss. I squirm and try to wiggle out of his grasp, but his lips are tightly pressed against mine. I taste something spicy, minty almost, and bite down on his lip hoping he’ll release me. He groans and pulls away.
“You bit me,” he says, wiping the blood with his finger then bringing it to his mouth to suck on. “You’re kinky, I like it.”
“Let me go!” I shout, trying to push him away, but my arms and legs suddenly feel weak. I look up at him, but my vision is slightly blurred. “What did you do to me?” I say as I sway in his arms.
“Just a little something to lighten the mood, make you more agreeable and get the real fun started,” he says, lifting me up and carrying me over to the couch, setting me down on him so I’m straddling his thighs. He caresses my arms and back, running his hands all over my body and it feels amazing.
“That feels so good,” I whisper against his lips. Why am I enjoying this? I try to push him away, but I can’t fight this feeling. “Don’t stop,” I moan breathlessly, throwing my head back as he moans into my neck.
“Oh, I don’t intend to.”
Macallan tries to kiss me again but stops when loud shouting comes from outside the door as it’s kicked open with a loud bang.