Chapter 22
The Ball
Atlas
We parked among the rows of polished cars; valets guided guests toward the entrance.
From the outside, the mansion gleamed like a palace.
From the inside, I could already hear it…
the uproar. Classical music escaped the walls.
It wasn't too loud, but loud enough. Men laughing and jeering. The sound of women crying under it all.
"Remember," Jacob muttered as we stepped out. "Keep your cool, no matter what you see."
I pulled my mask lower, black and red angles hiding my face. "You have nothing to worry about. I didn't come this far to get us all killed."
Two guards barely glanced at our invitations before waving us in. No one patted us down; we just walked right past the guards standing at the entrance. The doors opened, and the sight hit me like a bullet to the chest.
The room was in chaos.
Masked men in tuxedos gathered near the stage, voices raised, loud laughter….hands everywhere.
On the platform under the chandeliers, the girls stood in line—white Roman slips half torn, bare breasts and shoulders glistening under the lights. They were being clawed, poked, and pawed as if they were animals at an auction.
I couldn't see where Kitten was because there were so many bodies surrounding the stage where the girls were on display. I scanned the room, taking in my surroundings, then turned my attention back to the laughter, whistles and jeers.
Jacob stayed right by my side as we moved closer to the commotion. The men in here were animals. Girls were crying and trying to pull away, but they couldn't go far because there were multiple guards throughout the area.
The orchestra still played classical music while women were being raped and forced to do unimaginable things with these masked monsters.
I continued looking for Kit. It didn't take me long to spot her. I moved in closer with Jacob right on my tail. It took all I had not to lose my fucking mind as I watched multiple men touch what's mine.
Her dress hung off her shoulders, skin marked red where greedy hands had mauled her. Her face was blank; her eyes glassy. Disassociated. I knew that look. My Kitten had gone somewhere else just to survive this horrific nightmare.
Something inside me snapped.
I moved even closer, my hand already twitching toward the gun hidden beneath my jacket.
"Atlas." Jacob's grip clamped hard on my arm, holding me back. His voice was a low growl behind his mask.
"Not yet. Don't blow this."
I shook him off, my chest heaving.
"They're fucking touching her. She belongs to me."
"I know." His tone cut like steel. "That's why you can't be the one to pick her. Hector would smell it all over you, and you'd lose your shit anyway. I'll take Kit. You take Becca. We keep the cover intact. Once we get them out, then you can shoot every bastard in this room."
Rage burned through me, but he was right. I couldn't save Kitlyn by exposing myself too soon. I forced my fists to unclench, and my breath to steady.
Hector appeared at the edge of the stage, arms spread wide, mask gleaming. "Gentlemen! My treasures for your pleasures. Rare. Exquisite. Priceless. Anyone interested in any of these precious trinkets?"
Jacob stepped forward first, slipping into character. His voice was smooth and calculated.
He fit right in with this crowd.
"That one," he said, nodding toward Kitlyn.
"The green-eyed girl."
Hector's head tilted, a smug grin curling his lips.
"Ah, my favorite. Very special. She has a lot of spirit, and she can take a beating." She doesn't come cheap. Seven hundred thousand firm."
Jacob hummed, pretending to weigh the words.
"Worth every cent. I'll pay."
I ground my teeth together under the mask, but I stepped up beside him, forcing my gaze toward Becca instead. My attitude changed drastically toward her since witnessing what she's gone through with Hector. My stomach burned when I saw the condition she was in.
Her dress tugged low, her arms trembling as masked hands slid away when Hector demanded space. She met my eyes for the briefest second, silently pleading for help. Of course she doesn't know who I am, but her eyes said everything.
I stepped closer, and pointed with casual detachment, like other buyers did. "And I'll take her. The blue-eyed one."
Hector's grin spread wider. "Wonderful, another prize. Broken, but she was also trained to obey and take much abuse. We even conditioned her to deal with cutting. She only goes to someone who is into knife play. She's five hundred thousand firm."
I nodded once, my voice flat under the mask.
"I love cutting. Let's call it a done deal."
The crowd jeered, some men shouting why they weren't able to buy the girls, but Hector raised his hand and silenced them.
"First come, first served. None of you stepped up and claimed these two treasures.
There are plenty of others to buy, so please look around.
Feel free to sample any of the girls on the platform.
These two are spoken for," he said, pointing to Becca and Kitlyn.
"My word is final, gentlemen. Step away from the product. Hands off now."
Hector ordered the guards to remove the girls from the stage. They looked disheveled and dazed. Thank God we found them. I don't even want to think about what would have happened if we hadn't shown up in time.
My pulse roared in my ears as the guards obeyed. They moved the girls, separating them from the others, preparing them for the next phase. Jacob shot me a look from behind his mask, warning me to hold steady and wait.
Hector ordered the orchestra to stop playing, snapping his fingers until the ballroom went quiet.
Guards shoved the men back, clearing a path for us.
He removed his mask before stepping down from the stage, his voice confident and authoritative.
"Gentlemen," he said, looking at me and Jacob with dollar signs in his eyes. "You have excellent taste. The green-eyed beauty and the blue-eyed flame. Come, we'll talk."
Two guards followed close behind, rifles hung over their shoulders, their eyes beady, but alert.
We followed through a velvet-draped corridor into a gentlemen's sitting room reeking of cigars and whiskey.
A table waited, laid out with contracts and champagne like this was a real business transaction.
"Seven hundred thousand for yours," he said, nodding toward Jacob. "Five hundred thousand for the other," he drawled, nodding at me. "Cash only. My treasures don't walk out of here until paid in full. Feel free to remove your masks. I won't bite."
Jacob lounged back in his chair, calm and confident, his wolf mask clinging to his face.
"Half now, half on delivery. The mask stays. I won't risk my identity."
Hector threw his head back and laughed. "Suit yourself, but do I look like a street peddler? Payment in full tonight, or no merch." He pinned his eyes on me. "What about you? I'm sure you don't want to have your identity leaked, and I get it. You gonna try to nickel and dime me too?"
I leaned forward, my voice icy. "We all work in high places, so discretion is a requirement. I don't know about him," I said, nodding toward Jacob, but I'd like to inspect the product before I dish out three quarters of a mill. No one drops that kind of money and goes in blind."
Jacob interjected.
"I agree. Cash tonight, in full after inspection."
Suspicion flickered in Hector's eyes. "You doubt me?"
Jacob's tone was smooth as silk. "Not at all.
But I think I can speak for the both of us," he said, pointing to me; "for that kind of money, I think a simple request of cleaning them up and us getting a little taste is more than fair.
You know, wash the sweat from their bodies.
I'd like to taste fresh pussy if you don't mind. "
Nodding, I went along with the ruse.
I was surprised he didn't demand that we remove our masks after we refused. I sat here looking like a demon, and Jacob's wolf had a permanent snarl on its face.
If this weren't so serious, I would have busted out laughing at the absurdity of it all.
Hector's grin spread, smug and diabolical. "Very well."
He snapped an order to the guards.
"Go fetch green-eyes and her friend."
Hector offered us a drink. We both declined. A few minutes later, Kitlyn and Becca were shoved into the room. Their dresses clung to them awkwardly. The straps were practically torn to shreds on both of them.
Kit had welts along her legs and arms. Becca sported a few bruises on her neck and arms, her cheeks streaked with tears. Kitlyn wouldn't even lift her head.
My fists clenched so hard my knuckles cracked.
My heart was pounding so loudly I feared the monster sitting across from me would notice. I was so close to having her in my arms. Keeping myself in check, I continued playing along. I nodded toward the girls.
"Bathroom. We want you cleaned up before sampling the goods." It killed me to speak to them like that, but I couldn't break cover. "We'll wait," I said patiently.
Hector gestured lazily to his two guards.
"Escort them. Make sure they don't try anything stupid."
The guards shoved the girls through the bathroom door, slamming it shut. They stood by, securing it as if they were protecting the gold in Fort Knox.
Their rifles were still slung over their shoulders.
First mistake.
Hector turned back to the champagne, smirking as he poured himself a glass.
Second mistake.
Fuck going out quietly. We had an opportunity to clean house, and we were taking it.
Jacob moved first, his 357 bullet flashing quickly and silently across the first guard's throat, blood spilling everywhere. I was on the second before he could blink, my silencer firing once; the lead tearing through the base of his skull.
Both bodies hit the floor with a slight thud, but the music drowned out any sound.
Hector turned, pistol half raised-
Too slow, motherfucker.
I brought the butt of my gun crashing into his temple, every ounce of my fury in the swing. He dropped instantly, the champagne glass shattering across the floor.
Jacob and I worked fast, dragging him to the corner, binding his wrists and ankles with the zip ties we hid in our jackets.
We gagged him with his own silk tie. For the first time since I laid eyes on him, Hector looked small and helpless.
The creep who bullied women daily was knocked off his throne, but we still had a lot to do.
The sound of muffled sobs leaked through the bathroom door. I pushed it open. Kitlyn stood at the sink, her hands trembling as she tried to splash water on her face. Becca clutched the counter beside her, eyes wide and terrified, shoulders shaking.
When Kitlyn lifted her head, her gaze caught mine through the mask. She froze. She didn't recognize me yet. Her voice cracked when she spoke.
"Wha..what are you going to do with us?"
She moved as far back as she could go, which wasn't too far before she hit the wall.
I ripped the mask off my face, smiling from ear to ear.
I finally had my Kitten back.
"Atlas?" Her voice cracked, the word breaking like glass. Her knees buckled, and she slapped a hand over her mouth, sobbing uncontrollably.
I rushed in and caught her before she hit the floor, pulling her tight to me, my face pressing into her hair. She shook violently, clinging to me for dear life.
"You're here….Oh God, you're really here!"
She repeatedly touched my face, making sure I was real.
"I've got you, Kitten," I whispered, burying my face deeper in her hair, inhaling her scent.
My throat burned.
"You're safe now, love. He will never touch you again!"
Becca's voice cracked. "This is Atlas?"
She said, pointing to me.
Kit nodded. "Yes!" She replied, still in shock.
Becca fell to her knees sobbing beside us. Jacob moved in, lifting her from the floor, wrapping a protective arm around her shoulders. His voice was rough, but gentle. "Easy, sweetheart. You're out of the fire and safe now. I got you."
The party outside the door raged on, no one the wiser, yet. The music was blaring, men were laughing and toasts were being done every two minutes.
I had my Kitten in my arms again, and Hector was tied and gagged on the floor, powerless for the first time in his miserable life. Now it was time to get the girls out of the house and link up with the agents waiting in the shadows to finish taking down Hector's whole empire.