Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
ARMAN
A s soon as the women leave, Tony and Ed waste no time in talking business and I get the impression they are keen to carry on the arrangement they had with my father. It makes me feel a lot better and as business is my oxygen, I am happy to speak about it all night. They make no secret of the fact it depends on my loyalty and as Tony moves away to talk to Michael, Ed leans in and whispers, “Word of warning, Arman. They are setting you up tonight.”
“Excuse me.”
He turns so his back is to the other men and says with a grave expression, “Your father was an honorable man who did everything for the benefit of this club. He was allowed certain privileges because of his involvement in setting it up and I doubt they extend to you.”
“Privileges.”
Ed nods. “We are expected to leave our morality at the door to prove we are one of them. That is the reason for these quarterly gatherings. We bond over depravity and your father was the only man with a hall pass.”
“Why?”
I’m not surprised but curious and Ed whispers, “Because of his history with the founder of Burning Roses I guess.”
“Marsha Steele?”
Ed shakes his head.
“Marsha Steele is a figurehead, Arman. A front for the organization.”
“Then who is really in charge?”
My heart is beating fast because this is news I wasn’t expecting, and Ed shakes his head.
“You will have to ask Marsha Steele that question. It is not my information to spill.”
“Then why tell me at all?”
He shrugs. “Because I believe everyone deserves to know the facts before signing their life away. Do your research, but do it fast because your business is at stake.”
I am so frustrated because he is throwing warnings out like confetti, but nothing else.
I glance up as the women return and note the expression on Gabrielle’s face as she heads toward me. She has a determination in her expression that makes my heart sink, and I have a feeling this evening is about to descend into chaos .
“Ladies.” A loud voice booms out and we turn to see Joel commanding our attention.
“Please line up against the wall facing it. It’s time for our first game.”
The women don’t hesitate and do as he says, and Gabrielle shakes her head and hisses, “No fucking way.”
I sense the curiosity of the other men and don’t miss the steely gleam in Michael’s eyes as he smirks in our direction.
The vulnerable expression in Gabrielle’s eyes tugs on what is pretending to be a heart, and I whisper to Ed, “What’s happening?”
“I’m sorry. You should just go along with this.”
Michael says loudly, “Come on honey, don’t be shy.”
All eyes turn to Gabrielle and she backs away. “I’m um good thanks. Games aren’t really my thing. In fact, I could really use some air.”
“You don’t have a choice.” Joel adds harshly and fixes me with a meaningful glare.
“Arman, perhaps you should explain the rules to your delightful companion.”
For the first time in my life, I am backed into a corner and don’t know what to do. Business always comes first. Period. Gabrielle is expendable, but the business is not. This should be an easy decision.
My mind is racing and my heart is thumping as the men stare at me with anticipation. They are waiting for my move and I know this is a test to prove I am one of them. Then I see the hurt and fear in Gabrielle’s beautiful eyes and it would be like killing a puppy. An innocent in the world of debauchery, a sacrifice if you like.
“We are waiting.”
Michael says with a steely edge to his voice and Joel snaps, “Perhaps our guest requires a demonstration.”
He turns to the women facing the wall .
“Spread your legs.”
They do as he says and I watch in horror as he unzips his pants and palms his disgusting cock and approaches the girl on the end. Gabrielle’s gasp of horror echoes through my soul as he pushes into the girl from behind and fucks her against the wall. The other men watch silently and the girls say nothing and all we hear are the loud groans of the man proving what a bastard he is in full view of everyone else.
As he pulls out, he moves onto the next one and does the same. Hammering each woman to the wall as he tears away any morality they had left. When he reaches the fourth woman, he comes hard inside her, his roar of pleasure sickening to hear, and then he turns and fixes his attention to a horrified Gabrielle and says grimly, “I need someone to clean this off. Get on your knees.”
His gaze sweeps past her and the challenge in his eyes is apparent, and her stricken look causes something to shift inside my empty heart.
“I wouldn’t do this, Joel.”
My voice is calm and he hisses, “And why not?”
I sense the unease around me as I openly defy him.
“Because Gabrielle isn’t a whore. In fact, she accompanied me for a reason.”
Michael’s voice hits me like the lash of a whip.
“What are you saying?”
“Information.”
Gabrielle stands as if she is frozen and expectation hangs heavy in the air.
“I need a word in private.”
I angle my head toward the women facing the wall and Michael snaps, “Leave us!”
One by one they file out of the room and as Gabrielle makes to follow them, Joel snaps, “Stay where you are.”
She turns to me and I nod, and as she moves close to my side, I resist the urge to grasp her hand and squeeze it for reassurance.
As the door closes, the men turn and, from the distrust in their eyes, I may have just made a terrible mistake.