Chapter 30
Ryder
“Seriously? Another sex club?” Violet glanced at me, her cheeks glowing pink even beneath the early afternoon light.
She was so cute in her innocence.
It made me want to taint her.
“Why here?” she asked, playing with the end of her hair.
We’d spent most of the morning sorting through everything we had on her mum’s past: documents, photographs, scraps of half-stories… And the connection hit me.
What also hit me was that Violet couldn’t sit still to save her life.
Her mind fascinated me as much as it wore me out.
We’d barely started discussing one photograph before she was reaching for another, already halfway into a different thought, a new theory, a tangent that somehow still looped back to where we started.
Watching her was like trying to track a storm. Fucking chaotic.
“You’re gonna have to trust me,” I said, winking when her blush deepened and her eyes widened.
Christ, that single look dragged my mind straight back to last night. She’d been beautiful on her knees, mouth open, face flushed and eyes wet with tears as she struggled to take every inch of my cock.
What a shame beautiful things don’t last.
My mother was beautiful.
Until she wasn’t.
“Or not,” she said, dragging me from my inappropriate thoughts and back into the moment.
Oh, yeah. Atlantis. Sex club. Strange flower symbols on missing girls.
I remembered why we were here now.
“Don’t look so scared,” I teased, just to see if I could get her to blush again.
She did, which was a win for me. “I’m not taking you in here to ravish your body in front of a crowd.
” I dropped my voice, whispering against the shell of her ear, “We both know you prefer for me to do that in private.”
“Stop being a pervert,” she muttered, her large eyes lifting to the glowing trident above the door. “Do sex clubs even open during the day?” When I made an affirmative sound, she wrinkled her nose. “That’s weird, right?”
“You’re such a prude.” I patted the top of her head for emphasis, which earned me an eye roll in return.“Are sexual deviants not allowed out during daylight hours now? Do we have to slink back into the shadows until sunset? How very regressive of you.”
She swatted my hand away, but the laugh that burst out of her seemed to catch even her by surprise. It was like pure fucking sunshine: warm, honest, and impossible to resist. Even now, I felt my grin widening, pulled along by the sound of it.
“Are you done?” she asked once she’d calmed, her lips twitching as she fought a smile. “Why are we at a sex club?”
I dipped my head, letting my gaze drop, slow and deliberate. “Well,” I drawled, “it was either this, or we finally introduce your cunt to my cock. Seems overdue, don’t you think?”
With a somewhat dramatic sigh, Violet took a step towards the heavy metal door.
Atlantis was one of the most exclusive, invite-only sex club on the Isles, and somehow, I had access.
Okay, fine. Roman got me a guest pass. Which wasn’t weird at all.
…Alright, it absolutely was. But we’d both agreed to never acknowledge it because while I was happy to share as long as the ‘no touching’ rule was enforced, Roman didn’t share. Period.
He wouldn’t even watch, so when we visited together, he’d just sit at the bar while I went off to satisfy my kinks.
I only really came to Atlantis for one thing: to explore the edges of my desire in a space where I could hold the reins completely.
The girls I usually brought to my bed were fine, willing enough and eager to follow the rules.
But not many could handle being entirely restrained. Utterly at my mercy.
Women here were drawn to what I offered: submission wrapped in ropes.
I didn’t crave chaos, or loss of control. I craved order and the complete fucking surrender of power. The way their bodies bent beneath my hands, bound and vulnerable.
I’ve always had this need to have power over someone. Restraint gave me that. It was a high no other experience could touch, and I’ve had a lot of experience. A therapist once tried to unpack it as childhood trauma. I laughed, and then didn’t go back.
Why couldn’t I just like what I like without someone slapping a label on it?
Catching up to Violet at the door, I watched as it slid open automatically, darkness spilling out only to be broken up by quick flashes of red light. The woman at the reception desk glanced up immediately, recognition flickering in her eyes before she gestured toward the lockbox in front of her.
“Welcome to Atlantis, where your darkest desires are met with discretion.”
Violet frowned as I dropped my phone inside. The receptionist, who I squinted at because I was almost certain I’d fucked her before, snapped the box shut and handed me the key with a smile that bordered on invitation.
“Anything you need, sir,” she purred, gesturing toward the thick curtain that hid the main room beyond. “I’ll be here all night.”
Yep, I’ve definitely fucked her before.
If Violet picked up on the strange sexual atmosphere, she didn’t acknowledge it. Which was a shame, because I loved it when she was jealous.
Slipping past the curtains, I immediately scanned the room. It looked nothing more than a piano bar, including a small stage where the host would usually sing.
Except she wasn’t there.
Shit.
Violet hovered close beside me, probably surprised by the lack of whips, gimps, or whatever else she’d imagined went on in a place like this.
Instead, the room was elegant, with velvet booths, low circular tables, and a long, polished bar.
No poles or spectacle. This was the place where boundaries were agreed on first before anyone ventured into the rooms beyond.
One of the waiters passed us, topless with his dark chest covered in blue glitter. “Hey there, pretty lady. Can I get you anything?” he asked Violet, completely ignoring me.
Rude.
“Is Aeris in?” I asked him, rolling my eyes.
The waiter lifted his head, his smile trained but sincere enough. “In her office. It’s down the corridor, but your friend is welcome to stay with me.” He winked at Violet, so I grabbed her hand, ignoring the way my body instinctively stiffened when she tightened her grip in return.
Nodding my thanks, I had to force myself to relax before gently tugging her down the first corridor.
We were greeted with cries, moans, and the rhythmic slap of skin on skin.
Muffled, but unmistakable. The corridor was dark, nearly pitch black save for the lights coming from behind the floor-to-ceiling glass panels on the walls.
Which just also happened to be where the sounds were coming from.
Each window offered a different scene of unapologetic acts of depravity.
A delicious gallery of sin, built to tempt and seduce.
Violet slowed behind me, and I turned to find her watching a man fuck a woman’s throat almost violently. She probably hadn’t even realised she’d stopped, almost mesmerised by the way the man’s hips moved brutally as the woman gagged, tears wetting her face.
“Like what you see?” I whispered against her ear, keeping to the quiet rules of the corridor. “You cried prettier.”
Violet jerked to the side, eyes colliding with mine with a look of startling panic edged with… was that desire? Interesting.
“Come on, you can explore your voyeurism kink on the way back,” I teased, and Violet blinked, her eyes narrowing. Pulling her hand from mine, she stormed ahead, and all I could do was follow her as she tried not to look towards each window.
Aeris’s office was through a heavy wooden door, and after a single knock and no response, I opened it up.
“I told you to be careful,” a familiar voice growled.
I muttered a curse under my breath as Caden-fucking-Ackworth loomed over Aeris, Beast’s personal enforcer, gripping her jaw and angling her face toward the light.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Violet snapped, pushing past me into the room. “Get off her!”
I could practically hear my eyes roll. Violet saw violence; I saw foreplay. My point was proven when both of them turned toward her, looking like they’d been caught doing something naughty.
Aeris wasn’t afraid of Caden. Not even close. But the moment she realised she had an audience, the sincere heat in her eyes vanished, replaced by that polished seduction she wore like armour. She became the siren she was known for.
Caden stiffened, dropping her jaw like she’d burned him. They traded a few quiet words I couldn’t make out before he turned and stormed for the door.
I stepped aside, bracing for some kind of hostility, but he brushed past me without a glance. Like I didn’t even exist.
I can’t say I didn’t deserve it.
Violet frowned at me, her brows knitting together in question. I gave a small shake of my head. No point telling her I slept with one of Caden’s girlfriends, and that was probably the reason he hated me.
Good times.
Aeris turned toward us, gesturing to one of the two armchairs. “As you’ve already interrupted my meeting, you may as well take a seat while I make you tea.” She smiled, the motion pulling at the split in her lip until she winced.
“Are you okay?” Violet asked, closing the distance between them. “Did he hurt you?”
“Oh, Caden? No, he’d never.” Aeris waved off the concern with a soft laugh. “I’m fine. What I’d really like to know is why you’ve barged into my office. My time isn’t cheap.” Her eyes narrowed.
She turned toward the wooden shelving unit that spanned the wall, lifting a teapot and pouring three small cups with deliberate calm.
The shelves looked handmade, carved from driftwood, with each ledge uniquely uneven.
They were cluttered with crystals, strange trinkets, and even a single decorative fork that somehow didn’t look out of place amongst the rest.
I waited until Violet settled into the armchair before taking my place behind her. Aeris set three teacups on the small table between them as sweet steam billowed, untouched by any of us.
“So, how can I help you?” Aeris asked smoothly, her dark red hair draped around her shoulders. I’d never seen her this covered before, the purple crop top and jeans almost modest compared to what she usually wore on stage.
“I need to hire your services.”
Aeris shifted in her chair, purposely highlighting her curves. “What’s your flavour?” she all but purred, her voice a seductive tenor.
Seriously, there was a reason she was popular.
“I’m here for your other services.” Aeris may be the Mistress of Atlantis, but those that dabbed in the underworld like I did knew that she was more. She also traded secrets and rumours, but only if you could pay her price.
“My other services start at 50k.”
Fuck. Well, that wasn’t happening.
“Okay, some advice then.” I glanced at Violet, who carefully placed the photographs onto the table.
“Get out.” Aeris’s voice was sharp, her entire body going rigid. “I don’t deal in anything like that.”
“Anything like what?” Violet asked, leaning forward over the table, desperation sharpening her tone. “Please, we just need help.”
Aeris reached for one of the photographs, studying it for a long moment before flipping it over to reveal the faint pencil sketch on the back. “A rose,” she murmured.
Setting the picture down, she traced the delicate lines with her finger.
“They’re all like that,” Violet said quietly, flipping each photo to show the drawings hidden beneath. “My mum made them. We found them tucked away with old newspaper clippings. Some of the articles match these girls, but they’re decades old.
“From what we’ve pieced together, all of them came from vulnerable situations. Abusive parents, addicts… some of the girls were addicts themselves.This one,”—Violet tapped a girl no older than fifteen—“was in the system, on her third foster home before she simply vanished.”
“You recognise them?” I asked Aeris carefully.
She shook her head, lips pursed. “No.”
“Then why the strong reaction?” I pressed, noting the tension along her shoulders. “Because I’m willing to bet you’re thinking exactly what I am.”
Aeris’s gaze snapped to mine, her blue eyes darkening.
“Thinking what?” Violet whispered. “Please… my mum’s in trouble. Anything you know, please tell us. It might save her life.”
Aeris didn’t look at her. “If we’re thinking the same thing,” she said coolly, “why ask for my opinion at all?”
“Because this is your… speciality,” I said, choosing the word specifically to rile her up. “You know, the sex trade. I’m sure you can clear the details up for me.”
Aeris’s polished expression cracked for a second, anger flaring at the accusation before she smoothed it away.
She looked back down at the sketches, taking a moment before she finally spoke.
“A rose. A sunflower. A tulip. A daisy. A lily… and a dahlia.” She hesitated.
“I’ve never seen anything exactly like this, but there are… rumours.”
“Rumours?” Violet pressed, almost vibrating in her seat.
“Of organisations. Circles that sell real dolls. Men and women who are nothing more than sexualised toys. They catalogue them as letters, numbers, or anything to strip them of their name.”
“Wait, did you just say sell?” Violet shot to her feet. “As in living, breathing sex dolls?”
“To an extent. It varies depending on the buyer.” Aeris carefully stacked the photographs together, taking great care before holding them out. “The symbols dehumanises them, making them just products. Clearly in this case, they were named after flowers.”
“What do you think happened to these girls?” I asked, taking the pictures from her outstretched hand.
Aeris hesitated, her gaze softening. “You said the articles were decades old?” At my nod, she sighed. “Then they were likely sold to the highest bidder, or they were silenced.”