I know I'm pretty late with the update but I've been swarmed with school and work. I barely had the time and when I did, I was exhausted. I do apologize for the delay, and I appreciate your patience with me. I love you all so much. Thank you!

Vote, comment, and share this story with your friends. ENJOY! ❤️

——————————————————

(Arie's POV)

          The last thing that swirled in my mind was the memory of the female doctor who upped the dose of the truth serum and injected it into me on Lawrence's orders. Everything after that was a haze until I woke up in this nice room. For a second I believed it was all nothing but a terrible nightmare. The king-sized bed I had woken up in had me sinking into the comfortable mattress. The covers were warm and soft. Light pooled down from the small chandelier above me. A silky pair of pajamas wrapped around my body perfectly. Gosh! I believed Leo whisked me away for the most amazing getaway, but the reality came crashing down immediately.

          Lawrence had been sitting on a recliner in the corner of the room, waiting for me to wake up. He had a cocky smirk on his face that I wanted to cut right off his fucking face. My name had rolled from his lips so casually which left me in trepidation. I didn't know what I had told him about myself under the influence of the drug. If he knew my identity, then he knew about my family which wasn't going to end well for me.

          It had been two days since and my entire body still ached. From my neck down to my lower back twisted with an odd ache. Even though I was being treated like a princess with great food at my service and a beautiful room, I was still Lawrence's prisoner. There were no windows in my confinement. He couldn't risk an escape. I was locked within the four walls, awaiting the storm that was bound to come, and it came in the form of Lawrence once again.

He stood at the door with two armed men and a smile. "Let's go for a walk, my feisty kitten." Grabbing a long coat from one of the men, he tossed it on the bed. "If you don't wish to be gawked at then wear it. Quickly now!"

          I swallowed my pride and slipped on the coat without a word. All my anger needed to be saved for the time when I'd have the opportunity to escape. Then I'd claw this fucker's eyes out and rip his throat with my bare hands. Just the thought of him lying lifeless and bloody beneath my feet comforted me oddly.

He escorted me out the door and down the nicely lit hall. It seemed like a hotel with multiple doors on either side that resembled mine. Guards patrolled past us, but they didn't keep a constant watch as they did in my previous shithole of a cell. With all the fancy treatment I was receiving, I decided to shoot my shot and interrogate a bit. The more I knew, the more advantage I'd have.

"Since you're treating me so well, you wouldn't mind me asking you a few questions, am I right?"

"Go right ahead," Lawrence said in a chirpy voice whilst leading me past a big metal door that was opened after he scanned his hand on a panel to the side.

Noises of sobs and pleading screams attacked my ears fiercely. Ahead laid my previous prison with a hallway of a cemented wall to one side and small cells on the opposite. I presumed we were on a different floor because I didn't recognize any of the girls in the cells. Thankfully, they were all clothed. Many were crying as expected in this horrendous situation, some were trembling with fear, and a couple of girls clung to the metal bars begging for mercy and freedom.

"How many girls do you have here?"

"For the auction tomorrow night, I had fifty originally planned. Ten girls placed on each of the five floors in this building." Lawrence cleared his throat and ushered me through another door that went back to the nice white walls and tiled floor. "Unfortunately, some just aren't worth the money."

Opening a door, he escorted me inside a dark room lit by a single bulb. However, that amount of light was enough to chill me to my very core at the sight before me. Four girls laid on the cold floor, hands tied behind their backs and ankles bound by ropes that were tinted with their blood. The same dried up crimson fluid was lathered on parts of their faces and naked bodies along with bruises that spoke of the beating they endured. Two of them were either unconscious or dead for all I knew. The other two squirmed with pain, but couldn't scream with the gags in their mouths.

"These girls were either too scarred to be sold or too much of a trouble to sell. I know my clientele and I know what they prefer, and these girls could never make the cut." He slipped a cigarette between his lips and sucked onto the cancerous stick as usual. "They'll just work as my whores here as many others that have come before them and live a long life if they wish to be good."

"You're sadistic," I mumbled, unable to tear away my eyes from the girls who were forever doomed.

"It's better than many that are going to be sold. You don't know of the monsters that hide behind nice, tailored suits, my sweet kitten. You don't know the world as I do."

"It doesn't make you any better since you're the ringleader behind this filthy business."

"Money, sweetheart." He blew the smoke into my face and cracked a smug smirk. "We all work for the money. The sin doesn't matter anymore. This world is up in flames like hell, and if you wish to have your heaven, then money is the only way to achieve it."

"How the fuck do you even look at yourself in the morning?"

"With a bright smile, knowing I have everything I need." His arm snaked around my waist, jerking me closer to him. "I wish I could keep you for myself, but you're my golden hen. A Bonferroni's whore like you will bring me millions."

My heart skipped a beat. Of course I revealed my association with the nasty side of the world. Fucks's sake!

"I put a word out about a Bonferroni whore. Now it'll bring the biggest names to the auction which means a bigger amount. The Bonferronis have more enemies than you realize."

"You should be thanking me then, right?" I snatched the cigarette from his lips and took a drag myself to watch that conceited smile appear on his face. "My connection with that family will be filling your pockets."

"Indeed! Thank you."

With a tilt of my head, I raised a brow. "Do you not fear the Bonferroni men coming for you?"

"Sweetheart, our current location is very remote. No one can track you here."

"The clients can always open their mouths about this place."

"They know what I do, not where I operate from. That part is confidential." He closed the distance between us a little and glanced at my lips. "The auctions are held at different locations each time. And fuck, you're making me rethink your—"

Before he could say anything else and inch his lips closer to me, I shoved the lit end of the cigarette right into his mouth, forcing him to choke on it. The guards that had accompanied us didn't waste another second to grab my arms which gave me the support to lift both of my legs and kick the fucker right in his face.

Lawrence was on the floor, puking up the cigarette and coughing like a pathetic old man with rusty lungs. He pulled out a small remote-like device and pressed on a button. I didn't know what I was expecting but it certainly wasn't paralysis. My body caved in within a minute and collapsed on the floor like a corpse. My mind was alert and my eyes were wide, but my body felt lifeless.

"Fucking cunt!" Lawrence roared and stood over me like the angel of death whilst cleaning his bloody nose. He then clutched my jaw and seethed, "I'll make sure you're sold to the worst of the bidders tomorrow. You have my fucking word."

***

(Leo's POV)

With the information Orel Pavlov had provided me, I found myself in a dingy club in the heart of Istanbul. The streets outside were mucky with rain and the inside of the booming club was a filthy wave of sweaty individuals. Mike and Eros followed me through the VIP area of the club toward a set of double doors guarded by two bulky bouncers. They stopped us as expected and asked for passes. Eros showed them the ticket that would get us in with the other high-ranking members of the society that came to divulge in sin.

"No weapons allowed inside, sir." One of the bouncers spoke with a thick Turkish accent. "I'm afraid you all may have to remove them if you happen to carry any."

I removed the guns from my holsters and handed them in. Mike and Eros watched me in surprise at my willingness to cooperate rather than shooting everyone dead and getting in regardless. This was untouched territory and I didn't need attention or more enemies at this time. My focus was Arie, and lowering my pride a bit wasn't a problem.

"Remove your guns," I snarled in frustration. "Don't waste my fucking time here."

They immediately handed their guns over. We then got searched for any other weapons we may have been carrying. Once cleared, they opened the door for us. A flight of stairs took us downstairs where the real criminals were. Compared to the pool of sweat and booze upstairs, it was much calmer down here. The wide hallway was nicely lit, a different kind of music pooling in from a distance.

Waitresses walked around in a bikini top and a long skirt with a thin piece of fabric covering their face, leaving only the eyes revealed.

"I haven't been to one of these in very long," Mike almost yawned.

"Athena would kill every last fucker in here," Eros huffed whilst motioning a girl to come over. "Do you speak English?"

The waitress nodded meekly. Her eyes were young. The innocence in them was a shame. It was given that soon she would lose it all in a place like this. For all I knew, she was just a little girl.

"Point us in the direction of Mustafa Reis," Mike demanded and the girl complied at once.

This private floor was for Turkish elites who came to enjoy other women and immerse themselves in booze, away from the media's eyes. We were led into an entertainment area where the men sat at round tables under dim lights and conducted hushed business whilst smoking, drinking, and gawking at the belly dancers. The loud music drowned any other noise around us. Some curious eyes raised but settled once they met mine. I was sure they didn't know me, but matching people's gaze with intimidation was bred into me.

          Around the back of the area, the girl took us into another hallway guarded by two additional men.

"You'll find him here, sir," the girl rushed the words out of her mouth then quickly walked away.

"She's being held here against her will," Mike mumbled under his breath.

"They all probably are," Eros scoffed.

"Can we help you?" one of the guards asked, keeping a hand behind his back which I assumed was over his gun, ready to attack if necessary.

"Yes," I answered for all. "I'm Easton Smith and these are my colleagues. We have a meeting with Mr. Mustafa Reis."

The guards exchanged a stoic look before one of them spoke up again. "Sorry. We have been informed of no such meeting. Mustafa Reis does not frequent such places."

Fucking lies! My patience was already running low by the second. Orel had given me the name of Mustafa Reis who had some information for me regarding Arie and Athena since he was given their pictures. The man supposedly knew about major sex trafficking businesses. I knew many myself, but we never meddled in it. It was forbidden for my organization. We were devils walking on earth with every bad deed under our names, but we were sworn against this one. For all I knew, this was a set up to ambush me, but it was a risk I was willing to take. Arie was worth it.

With a step in the guards' direction, I slid my hands into my pockets and sighed exasperatedly. "I'll only say this once. Go into that room and tell your boss I'm here to see him. Now."

The guards stood their ground, growing stiff with their hands on their weapons behind their backs.

"I see," I scoffed and waved my hand which prompted Mike and Eros to grab each man before they could draw their guns. As they swiftly and quietly dealt with them, I walked toward the room they had been protecting and twisted the handle to enter.

A woman was laying on a table while a man kissed her bare feet. They both jerked upright on my arrival in sheer surprise and horror.

"Sorry to interrupt, but turning down a meeting because of some foot fetish doesn't quite speak of professionalism on your part now, does it, Mr. Reis?" I stared the scrawny man down who began tucking his shirt between his pants and throwing on his suit jacket. The lady closed her silk robe and shot me a glare whilst mumbling something inaudible to the man who started sauntering in my direction. When I thought he'd stop before me, he walked right out and closed the door behind himself.

I looked at the lady stoically, not allowing the confusion to surface on my face. "Is he coming back?"

The woman lit a cigar and plopped down on the chair behind the desk. "You're here to see me." She carried a thick Turkish accent like the others. "Have a seat, Mr. Smith."

          "You're Mustafa Reis?" I sat on one of the chairs opposite her and watched the fire from the hearth light up her face. Soft wrinkles crinkled around the corners of her eyes and mouth. Makeup did a good job at hiding her age which I guessed was in the forties.

          "It's one way to make men listen by having a name worth listening to. Unfortunately, it's still a man's world." She blew the smoke from her mouth and laid her gray eyes on me. "Around here, they address me as Mehjabin Begum."

          "Pleased to meet you. Now, can we get down to business?"

          "Allow your friends to join us." She smiled wickedly, her eyes not ashamed to watch me, and I didn't hold back either. The woman had no inkling regarding who the fuck she was playing games with.

          When Mike and Eros finally joined us, they stood behind me as my guards. "She doesn't look like a Mustafa," Eros commented.

          "Hope you didn't kill my men out there." The woman smiled up at Eros and winked. "Won't end well if you did."

          "They're just sleeping for a bit," Mike jumped in. "Don't worry."

          "We're here to discuss the two girls. You said you had information." Time was precious here and I didn't have the patience to beat around the bush or delay the information any longer.

          "Ah, yes!" Her teeth held the cigar in place while she rummaged something out of her desk drawer and placed two pictures on top. "This one right here," she lifted Arie's photograph, "is most certainly in one of the biggest and impenetrable trafficking businesses out there. She is on the way to being auctioned off to the highest bidder out there."

          "What about the other girl?" Eros questioned, a hint of desperation lingering in his voice.

          "My sources got nothing on her. Either she was never thrown into the business or she's dead." Mehjabin pushed forth a case of cigars as an offering. "Death is most likely because once you're in there, you're never the same."

          "Speaking from experience?" Mike queried.

          The woman snorted, narrowing her eyes at the man standing behind me. "The only reason I know this is because I buy my girls and save them from a brutal life with monsters. I buy the girls they don't wish to sell to their clients. I have contacts. It's how I know about the other girl in there, and the price on her is..." Mehjabin clicked her tongue and inhaled sharply. "Too high for us common folks."

          "How high?"

          "Let's talk about my price before I tell you her price."

          "Name it," I said. "Anything you want, you'll have."

          "My price is high too. The woman you've asked for is a Bonferroni whore. From what I've heard, that clan is full of ruthless criminals who probably deserve this. Everyone wants to get their hands on her as revenge or leverage, so this information will cost quite a bit, Mr. Smith."

          The words from her mouth struck a nerve in me, but I couldn't lose my temper without having the information I needed. "Do you realize who I am?"

   Her eyebrow rose quizzically, a look of uncertainty crossing her face. "One of the Bonferroni stooges?"

   "Leo Bonferroni," I stated, watching her eyes grow fearful at once. "The leader of the ruthless clan. The more you delay giving me the information, the more patience I lose. Quickly name your price and spit out all that you know, sweetheart, or else neither your age nor your gender will save you from me."

          She gulped and straightened her spine. "Of course." She delved into a drawer and fished around for a bit. I didn't know what she was searching for, but one thing was certain; she was alerting someone. Now, I couldn't wait to get my hands bloody.

          Retrieving a paper and a pen, she wrote down her demands and slid the paper toward me. "Ten million US dollars, assassination of your competitors, and search for Noora Osman," I read it aloud and looked at the woman. "Who's that?"

          "My daughter." Mehjabin cleared the log in her throat, keeping her eyes low in my presence. "I had to give her up because of what I do. I don't have the resources to look for her."

          I hummed and nodded. "We have a deal. Now give me what I've asked for."

          As if on cue, the door behind me bust open and footsteps flooded the room. I didn't even have to look to know what exactly was going on. Mike and Eros cussed in unison as the woman in front of me swiftly pulled a gun out and trained it to my head.

          "Orel Pavlov never told me that a Bonferroni was visiting. I thought your organizations were rivals." Mehjabin stood from her chair and walked around the desk, waving her weapon at the two men behind me. "Go stand in the corner if you don't want me to blow your boss' head off."

          "I hope you realize you just dug your own grave," Mike taunted and followed Eros to the corner of the room by the fireplace.

          The cold muzzle of the woman's gun pressed against my temple. "I do apologize, Mr. Bonferroni, but your reputation precedes you. You cut out tongues for any disrespect and I know you'd have me killed for what I said, so I had to strike first. It's survival, nothing personal."

          "You just made it personal, Mehjabin Begum." I exaggerated a sigh and grabbed her burning cigar from the table, putting it to my lips. "I'll tell you exactly how this will go. My men are swarming this place as we speak and they got an eye on everyone. Your guards are being taken out as we speak, your high-profile clients are being sent home, and your girls are coming under my organization. Now you're going to drop your gun and beg for mercy. Maybe I'll decide to spare your life or maybe I'll just rip your head off like the monster that I am."

          I looked at the woman and blew the smoke up at her. The fear had started to settle in her with the shaky grasp, furrowed brows, and tiny beads of sweat shimmering under the light from the hearth.

          She looked to the side and waved her gun, motioning one of her goons to go out. That's where she made the mistake. Without allowing another second to pass by, I clutched her gun-wielding wrist and jerked her down to my feet. Putting my finger on the trigger over hers, I shot the head of the man who was leaving the room then aimed the barrel at her head. Thankfully, the music from upstairs and on this floor drowned the sound of the gunshot.

          Her remaining four guards immediately pointed their weapons at me as I started clicking my tongue. "Your sweet Mehjabin Begum's life is quite literally in my hands. Do you really wish to risk it?" Still sitting on the chair, I positioned the kneeling woman between my legs, forcing her to face the guards. "Now tell your goons to drop their guns and slide them toward me."

          Trepidation had her body shaking vigorously, but the woman still had the balls to not obey me. Admirable yet dumb. I wrapped my other hand around her throat and squeezed whilst lowering my mouth to her ear. "Tell them to drop it or I'll drop you. There's still a chance I'll spare you all. I just need the information you're withholding and we'll be on our way."

          She quickly ordered the boys to obey in Turkish. Each one slid their handguns to my feet and stood like idiots. Mike and Eros came forward and took the guns for themselves, directing it at the four men.

          "Now, tell me everything you know."

          Mehjabin pursed her quivering lips but didn't shed a single tear. "You will kill me regardless."

          Air left my nostrils forcefully due to the agitation burning inside me. Why was everyone so keen on testing my fucking patience? I raised the gun and had her shoot every single one of the men right between their eyes.

          "No!" She gasped in horror, her eyes watching the bodies drop like flies. Tears emerged quickly and rolled down her cheeks.

          I stood from my chair and made her sit on it instead. "Now, now." With the handkerchief from my pocket, I wiped her tears gently. "Be a dear and tell me quickly before I find out all about you and kill everyone you love. It will only take me five minutes to end the lives of your loved ones."

          The elegance and grace she carried in her voice and showcased on her face earlier were all gone. She was nothing but a whimpering mess now.

          "The auction is tomorrow night in this city," she sniffled, trying to control her soft cries. "It's an invite-only event, so you can't get in otherwise. It's secured by the police itself who have no inkling as to what happens inside. They're just ordered by politicians and high-ranking officers to patrol the area. It'll last no more than an hour and it's the only chance you'll ever get to buy the girl or even see her because the man she is with is highly experienced and no one knows where his base is."

          "Where exactly is this auction taking place?"

          She sucked in a deep breath. "At a private factory on the outskirts of the city."

          "And you honestly know nothing about the other girl?" Eros, as usual, asked about Athena. "Any bit of information about her would be helpful."

          Mehjabin shook her head. "Nothing. No one with her description has shown up anywhere where I have the contacts."

          "See, that wasn't too bad. You unnecessarily made it hard for yourself and got these fine gentlemen killed," Mike taunted, tucking the guns into the waistband of his pockets. "And our men aren't in this dump evacuating people so rest assured. We came in peace, however, you brought this upon yourself."

          "My men will come and clean the bodies up. Speak of this to no one because I will have my eyes on you now. Your every move, call, and even breath will be noted." I took the pictures of the girls and slipped them into my pocket. "Your demands will be met. You'll receive the money once I know your information is correct. If not, you'll face a brutal fate. And you are being watched now. Don't even mention meeting or seeing me."

          She nodded quickly, wiping her tears. "I won't speak of this."

          "Good."

          We stepped over the bodies and walked out. Finally, I had a proper lead. Everything needed to go smoothly now until I had Arie by my side. Then I'd take down the man who had her and burn his business to ashes.

          "I'm not giving up on Athena no matter what that woman said," Eros mumbled as we went back into the sweaty club upstairs. "Until I see her body myself, I'm not giving up."

          "Arie may know about Athena, so we need to make sure we have her before she's sold off." I shoved my guns into my holsters after getting them back from the bouncers. "Get our people here immediately. We are going to paint the city red tomorrow if need be."

———————————————————

Yay or nay?

This chapter wasn't as long as the previous one but I got something planned for the next one and that will probably be long.

What's up with the Arie's paralysis when Lawrence hit the remote?

Did Leo make a mistake by letting the woman live?

Will Leo get to Arie before she's sold off?

How do you think the next chapter with the auction will go? Like a scenario.

Thoughts on Leo?

Or Arie?

Further comments and questions are always welcome ❤️

HIT ME WITH THE THEORIES!

Follow me on INSTAGRAM @reetilicious for sneak peeks of the future chapters and fun question times.

Much love ❤️
~Reet