12. Chapter Eleven
Chapter twelve
T he Next Evening
The rumble of the waves crashing against the shore fills my ears as I take a sip of my ice-cold beer.
Zeke leans back in his chair, gazing out at the moonlit ocean.
Skyler and Aidan also sip on their beers, enjoying the calm moment before the storm we all know is on its way.
After yesterday's meeting, we agreed to meet up today in an attempt to get to know each other. The co-leaders of our fragile little alliance—the Snakes, the Brixtons, and my team… I guess you could call Aria, Josef, Florian and I the Unknowns. Because we all have secrets. Double lives, if you will. Although I'm guessing my business is about to become front and center of the conversation.
"So, what's your line of work, Dimitri?" Zeke asks, turning his attention to me. I knew this question was coming. It was only a matter of time.
I can’t help but smile, because I don’t know if they’re prepared for my answer.
“I mean, other than the obvious? You must have a front for another business, at least. Laundromat? Convenience store?" Aidan asks, his nose slightly upturned.
I hesitate for a moment, swirling the beer around in my glass. Do I trust these men enough to reveal the truth? Or do I stick to my usual vague response?
Ah, what the hell. We're plotting to take down the most dangerous man on the island chain. I think it's time for some honesty between allies.
"I run an exclusive club downtown. We cater to a...particular clientele with specific desires. A club where we make people’s darkest dreams come true."
Zeke's eyebrows shoot up, but he doesn't interrupt.
Skyler almost chokes on his drink. "Wha—we have one of those here?"
Zeke’s eyes fly to meet mine. “You mean…” The rest of his words escape him.
Aidan looks at me with a blank stare, his brow furrowed.
"Yes, several actually. A collection of sex clubs. Our flagship is here, and we have outposts on every island. I'm looking at expanding to the mainland soon."
"Oh, so it's thriving then?" Zeke leans in, intrigued.
I smile and shrug. "Sex is an evergreen business. It doesn't matter if there's a recession, war, famine, general societal anxiety... people are doing it, people want to do it. They can't get enough. And in uncertain times when they're cutting back, well... they want more from clubs like mine."
Skyler whistles. “Really…”
"It started out many years ago as an underground spot for people looking to live out their deepest, darkest fantasies. No judgement, no shame. Just a safe place to indulge. Over time, word spread among certain circles. Now… well let's just say business is booming."
I take another swig of beer, letting that sink in.
Skyler leans forward, curiosity glinting in his eyes. "So what do you do there, exactly? Other than the obvious."
I chuckle. "Our services are broad. We've got private rooms for every taste. Costumes, props, you name it. We also have themed events, live entertainment. It's a full sensory experience."
Aidan shakes his head in disbelief. "And that actually pays the bills? There's enough people into that stuff here to keep multiple clubs running?"
"You'd be surprised," I reply with a smirk. "Let's just say, an island paradise like this, it brings out people's wild side. And we're there to facilitate it. And there's a mixture, too… people who live here and have made it part of their lifestyle, and visitors who like to let their hair down while they're on vacation."
The guys all look at each other, a mix of shock and intrigue on their faces. This conversation has taken an interesting turn, but I don't mind indulging their curiosity.
In our line of work, we take our thrills where we can find them.
I take a long pull from my beer, savoring their rapt attention. There's an art to spinning a good yarn, and I've had plenty of practice over the years.
"Like I said, we offer a judgment-free environment. Client privacy is paramount. We screen all our staff thoroughly and they're discreet as can be." I pause for effect, letting the anticipation build. I take a sip of my drink, the ice clinking in the glass. "Have you been to a club like this before?"
Aidan shakes his head. "Well, no..."
"We pride ourselves on discretion. It's why clients rely on us, why we've built such a loyal following."
Skyler nods in understanding. "That makes sense. So what kind of fantasies do you help fulfill?"
"We've got private playrooms for every kink—medical, dungeon, schoolgirl, you name it. Clientele can get trussed up in full leather and latex outfits. We've got equipment for suspension bondage, hot wax play. Anything to get the adrenaline pumping."
Zeke's eyes gleam with interest. "I could see how that would be entertaining for the right crowd."
"Absolutely. We cater to all sorts of fetishes and roleplaying fantasies. As long as everything is safe, sane and consensual, anything goes within our walls."
“What are some of the wildest things that happen there?” Skyler asks, his eyes gleaming with interest.
I smirk. I’m used to this level of intense interest in what I do. "We've got private dance rooms with poles, cages, even trapezes if you want an aerial performance. Our dungeon area is fully equipped for bondage, discipline, you name it. We host costume parties, have specialty nights like Schoolgirl Wednesdays and Leather Fridays."
I have their full focus now. Aidan leans in, eyes wide. I smile indulgently as the men barrage me with questions, their curiosity piqued about my illicit empire.
"Leather Fridays, huh?" Skyler nods thoughtfully. "I could see how that would be entertaining for the right crowd."
I take another swig of beer, licking the foam from my lips. "Like I said, sex sells. And we provide the ultimate adult playground. Our clients trust us to make their fantasies come to life, no matter how dark or taboo. We offer them an escape from the mundane."
“What does Aria think about all this?” Aidan quirks a brow. “Doesn’t she get jealous? You must see… all sorts of things in your line of work.”
I nod. “It took a lot of conversations to get to the point she was comfortable with it. Now, I can barely tear her away. She’s very involved in the operations of the business, and has helped our client list grow exponentially through her sheer creativity with discreet marketing. It turns out there’s a whole network of influencers specifically focused on this type of club, and I had no idea until I met her.”
Skyler whistles. “I can only imagine what Devon would think if we tried to open a sex club.”
Zeke laughs. “Right? I know she’d have a lot to say.”
Aidan smirks. “Angel, too.”
“You’d be surprised,” I say. “It’s one of those things where you get an idea of it in your head and it can come across as quite unsavory. Dirty. Gross. But in reality, it’s clean and professional. We’re providing a service, and everything is done on the participants’ own terms. General feedback is that it’s life-changing and cathartic in a way that keeps people safe, if anything. Once Aria wrapped her head around that, she became a super fan.”
The guys nod as my words sink in.
Zeke raises his glass in a toast. "Well gentlemen, I think we could all use a little escape from the mundane right about now. What do you say we pay this infamous club of yours a visit sometime soon?"
I give him a devilish grin. "It would be my pleasure. I'll make sure you get the VIP treatment."