11. Enzo #2
The door closes behind me plunging me into darkness.
“Well, well, well, Mr. Sabatelli.” The glow of the flashlight illuminates the holder who, as usual, appears from nowhere.
“Almost sounds as if you weren’t expecting me.” I keep my tone light, playful.
Her eyes meet and hold mine. “I knew you’d be back.”
“Can’t keep away.” I shrug. “Besides, you dangled the carrot. What did you expect me to do?”
She smiles. “I’ve never heard it called a carrot before. I’ll remember that one.”
It feels like she’s stalling, giving the people behind the scenes time to get into position. Well, bring it on.
I produce my credit card. “I’d love to stay and chat, but I’ve got people to see, places to be, things to do, you know how it is.”
I tap the card reader when she places it in front of me, slide my card back into my wallet and hand it over with my cell phone.
Ms. Flashlight holds out a mask like it’s a peace offering.
For one long, drawn-out moment, I think she has more to say, but then she relinquishes it, and the hands behind me that I no longer strive to see fasten the straps, tightening them like it’s a straitjacket for the face.
It still feels as claustrophobic as the first time, only now I’m here with purpose. I’ve had almost twenty-four hours to think about it, and I’m certain they’re using Nyx as bait, which is only one short step away from using her as a scapegoat.
I don’t care what they want from me. This is the life I was born into; I have contacts, access to weapons and money and technology. But if I’m right about Nyx, she’ll be here because she has nowhere else to go, and they’ll discard her the moment she hooks the fish they’re waiting to catch.
Me.
I barely even notice the springy carpet underfoot or the names on the doors as I make my way along the corridor to Nyx’s room.
I won’t be back. Now that I’m here, I understand that I’ll no longer be welcome after tonight; they’re allowing me access to Nyx one final time, perhaps to see how I play it, but then all bets are off, and different rules will apply.
No holds barred.
The green light above Nyx’s door is on as I knew it would be.
I feel strangely calm as I step inside and the door clicks shut behind me.
The dense darkness is the same. I take a few steps, and the seat appears behind me as if magically risen from a trapdoor in the floor. I sit down and wait for Nyx, for the sweet musky smell of her perfume, the sound of her voice.
Then, “Hello, Brian.”
Only it feels all wrong. This isn’t Nyx, at least it isn’t the Nyx I know.
“Where’s Nyx?” I’m on my feet.
“Sit down, Brian.” The voice is low, carefully seductive. “I’m Nyx. I’m right here.”
Panic courses through my veins. I’m too late. I don’t know what’s happened to the real Nyx, but I do know that she would be here right now if it wasn’t for me.
“What have they done with her?” I wait for the shock to travel through the metal bracelet, but it doesn’t come.
Not yet.
“Where is she?” I demand.
“I don’t know what you mean, Brian. I’m Nyx. I’m—”
“Stop saying you’re right here. I know they told you to step into Nyx’s character and act like nothing is going on, but you’re not the Nyx I’ve gotten to know.” I’m breathing heavily, and my hands claw at the straps at the back of my head, to no avail. “You’re not the Nyx who was here last night.”
“I am, Brian. It’s me. I think maybe you’re a little confused.”
“Okay, then tell me what happened.”
She hesitates. “You said you’d tried to see me, but I… wasn’t available.”
“And?”
“And then you asked if I was hurt.” She drops her voice as if afraid to say too much. “I’m not hurt, Brian. I’m alright, you must believe me.”
I catch the first hint of an accent. This woman isn’t Nyx, but it sounds as if she’s trying to tell me that the real Nyx is safe.
“Prove it.”
I’ll be the first to hold my hands up and admit I’ve been sucked into whatever is going on behind JADED’s doors, but I came here to find Nyx, and I’m a sore loser when I don’t get what I want.
“Shall we play a game?” she asks.
“Nah, I’m done with games.”
That’s how Nyx got hurt in the first place. I gave them something to hold over her, and they played it to their advantage. One-nil to the Bratva.
But not for much longer.
“I think you might enjoy this one.”
“You’re gonna have to sell it to me better than that, Nyx.”
“Are you playing hard to get with me, Brian?” She’s dropped some coyness into her tone just like the real Nyx would’ve done; she really wants me to play along.
“Yeah, you got me.” I sit back down and feel the tension physically ebbing from the room. This is what she wants. “Does this new game have any rules? Don’t forget this is my fantasy, not yours.”
“How could I forget?”
Maybe I’m projecting the Slavic accent onto the muffled voice after my conversation with Bianca, but I don’t think so.
“So, one rule,” she continues. “You have to guess where I am.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it. Easy, huh?”
I’m not sure where this is going, but if it even leads me partway to the real Nyx, I’m in. “What do I get if I win?”
“I’ll beg you to fuck me, just like you wanted.”