Why can't I just head back to my dorm? I demanded inwardly as the cool air caressed the bare skin of my caramel hued legs. I scanned the front yard. No sign of Griffin anywhere. My eyes scanned the dark vacant neighborhood. I couldn't see anything except the dark silhouettes of the homes. I gave the neighborhood another look. Nothing could be seen. I resisted the urge to stomp my foot. I walked down the front steps toward my car supposing it was time to leave when the loud resonance of an angered man's voice cut through the silent night.

It was clearly not Griffins voice. This voice was aged, older. It had a very slight hoarse tone to its fierce roar and above all it sent tremors down my spine even though the words were unclear. The voice seemed to be coming from the right side of the residence. I moved slowly toward the direction of the voice. As I moved closer to the right section of the dwelling, the indistinguishable words started to grow louder. I walked beside the vast shrubbery that bordered the huge house, in case I needed a quick escape. Just as I neared the corner. The voice grew maliciously louder.

"You ungrateful bag of shit." The voice hissed. "I have never asked anything of you. You have only one thing to do in your worthless excuse of a life and that's to marry Katherine Rose. Money marries bigger money." The man snarled. "There was silence on the other end. Without hesitation you will apologize to Kate, you will reserve a table at one of Los Angeles's most luxurious restaurants and take her there and beg for her forgiveness. Afterward, you better pray that she takes you back." He growled.

The man's frightening voice was followed by a loud hand striking someone's face.

"Do not fuck this up, Sonny." The man snapped the last word viciously trailed by the sound of footsteps moving my way. I did the only thing I could do. I lunged into the bushes.

Fortunately and unfortunately I plunged through the scratchy branches straight into the dirt. The man appeared not to have seen me and walked past the shrubbery. He was dressed in a high-class dark suit. His dark blond hair was slicked back against his head. His face was slightly aged only revealing diminutive wrinkle lines across his hauntingly handsome face. His eyes like Griffin's were glacier blue. Above all he looked frightening, a person who would kill for what he wanted. Was this man Griffin's father? The man walked toward a stylish sleek white hued Mercedes Maybach Convertible. The vehicle screamed wealth.

The man got in the Mercedes and drove off. Griffin walked past the bushes, toward a vehicle that must've been his. It was a dark steel hued Range Rover. It was sharp to say the least. Then in a swift motion he curled his hand into a fist and slammed his knuckles into the side of his car. The sound reverberated painfully off of his Rover. The reverberation was so harsh that it made my hands burn. He then got into his car and drove off.

What the hell is going on with this guy's life? Why is he taking abuse from his...father? I don't care if they are blood. No human can treat another human like that!

I watched as his Rover disappeared in the distance. I took out my phone, checking the time 12:10 A.M. A burning desire to go after him filled my chest. People did stupid things when they were in pain I would know. I had a tendency to overreact when I was hurt. Nevertheless, it was dangerous for an eighteen year old girl to be searching the streets of Los Angeles at midnight.

But, he was beyond hurt and...alone. In a split decision I sliced through the bushes and ran to my car and climbed in. Well, I was never one for listening. I smiled to myself as I put the key in the ignition and accelerated down the street. I drove down one of the uninhabited streets that bordered the campus searching for Griffin's grey Rover.

Luckily, the stoplight up ahead flashed red. I peered ahead finding Griffin's car toward the right of the lanes in front of a few other vehicles. Soon the light went green, and the steel car flew down the road. I trailed at a good distance from his vehicle.

My eyes widened as I examined the sleek edifices of LA that were lit up with vibrant lights. The sides of the streets were lined with tall palm trees that stood at attention like armaments. Billboards of those who had made it illuminated high in the night sky. My eyes moved to the lustrous glass windows of the structures to the posh clothing within. The city was a picturesque beauty that had a mystical voice if you could hear it. I never really went out at night in LA and at that moment I came to a conclusion. Everything was lavish in Los Angeles.

The streets were speckled with a few people here and there, who were still basking in the LA night life.

I watched Griffin take a turn right and I did the same. To the right a spectacular view of the Pacific could be seen. The fair full moon shimmered over the opaque water of the sea.

Bringing my eyes back to the street we were on, I watched as Griffin parked the car in front of a sleek obscure edifice. The structure seemed to have an immense dark pane toward the left area of the egress in front. Nothing on the inside could be seen. The tetragonal building was isolated for the most part. Dread stitched it's way into my skin as my eyes flew over a black emblem that stood over the front egress that read Crimson in a ruby shade. The parking area was filled with a wide assortment of upscale cars as well as men in pricey suits.

I watched as Griffin got out of his car sauntering past the other men, standing in front of the egress. He pulled out what appeared to be a slick black card and swiped it at a section of the access. The entry glided to the right and he walked in then the entrance shut behind him.

This is bad. I told myself grimly. I should just leave. He's fine in there. But, what if he isn't?
What if he is going to get himself...killed? What if you are the only one who can save him?

"Ugh!" I screamed slamming my hand into my steering wheel. I can't believe I'm doing this. I muttered as I parked my car, several cars away from Griffin's and stepped out of the car. I made my way toward the edifice ignoring the looks I was getting from the men in sharp business suits that stood near the egress. I felt their eyes bore deeply into my skin making me extremely uncomfortable. I watched as the dark haired Caucasian man in a expensive looking dark grey suit in front of me pulled out a slick black card similar to Griffins and swiped it across what seemed to be an access monitor. The egress opened just like before and the man walked in.

Another tall man which I assumed was of African American descent stood at the inside of the door probably to keep out anyone who shouldn't be here, like me. The guy was dressed in a solid black suit with a crimson tie. The man's dark eyes caught my gaze and his features turned into irritation. He walked toward me and I couldn't help but step back colliding into a hard clothed chest. I looked over my shoulder finding a six foot tall man.

His skin was a gorgeous caramel hue. He had thick black wavy hair. His eyes were a pretty mixture of dark emerald and auburn chocolate. He looked a handful of years older than me and looked as if he was of Spanish descent. He was dressed in a sexy lustrous black suit that clung to his body deliciously. His eyes met mine and then they moved down my body and I let them.

I need help.

"You are not a member here." The man condemned from behind. My eyes moved back to the intimidating man who towered in front of me. What can I say? I wasn't a member I don't even LOOK like a member.

"She is with me." The Spanish man from behind me said with a velvety smooth Latin accent. He moved in front of me revealing his own glossy dark card with a crimson inscription along its surface.

"Yes, Mr. Santiago." The dark skinned man continued respectfully. The Spanish man motioned for me to follow him. I hesitantly trailed after him in to the dark building.

The area took the appearance of a dark foyer with a concealed egress on the other side of the chamber only a few yards from where I stood on the plush black carpet. A Latina appearing woman sauntered toward the man who had saved my butt. I had no clue as to where she had come from. She had a bountiful bust and slim waist that her ruby hued lace lingerie enhanced immensely. Her legs seemed to never stop with the addition of her sharp devil red stilettos. The way she walked screamed sex. She whispered something softly in the man's ear. The man said something back causing the woman to look back at me. The man gave me a sexy smile then disappeared through another door that led out of the dark foyer we were in. I would not know for a long time why the man had helped me.

The woman with rich ivory skin walked toward me. She had on striking dark eye shadow that exposed her foreign jade feline like eyes. She had long wavy dark chocolate hair that was pulled from her beautiful face with a scarlet lace ribbon.

"You look lost Bambi." She purred as her eyes scanned my clothing.

"I'm looking for my... friend...He has...blondish brown hair...ice blue eyes, 6ft3 or 6ft4..." I explained softly not making eye contact.

"Oh Griffin..." She beamed knowingly. "He just came in. Follow me." She smiled opening the door and moving inside. The structure's interior was veiled in darkness with shadowy crimson illuminations glowing in certain areas. The air was spiked with sensual music that triggered lust in the senses. Women in red laced lingerie sauntered around.

Some poured drinks for men in suits, others sat on the men's laps, while the rest...danced sexually against metallic black poles. Crimson was an elite strip club.

The woman led me past men who's eyes hungrily took in the women's half naked bodies. Chills formed on my skin in violent caresses. I didn't want to be here. She walked me to another egress, placing a distinct knock on its sleek surface. The egress opened inward revealing a stunning dark chocolate skinned woman dressed in the same attire. The woman behind me gave the woman in front of me a nod.

"You'll find him in there, doll." The Latina woman replied. I moved cautiously into the area. The chocolate hued woman softly shut the door behind me. This section of the private club was a lot less sinful. It appeared to be a bar.

A sleek extended opaque counter stretched from one area of the dark space to the other side. Glass mantelpieces were positioned high above the dark counter. The clear ledges were filled with the widest assortment of alcohol I had ever seen. A red light illuminated from behind the glass projections and there at the bar sat Griffin taking shots of a unfamiliar ruby hued alcohol. By the look of the six other empty shot glasses I could see that he had drunk a considerable amount.

Two women stood on each side of him in similar lace lingerie like the rest of the women in this place. They ran their hands down his back, while whispering faint silky words in his ears making him smile and all I did was... watched.

I should've been shocked or appalled at the least as I watched these women, these tramps touch Griffin and whisper seductive things in his ears, making him bite his bottom lip in satisfaction.

I should have been disgusted but instead I stood in shameful envy. I was jealous of them. I wanted to be the one to make him feel better.

Why? I screamed at myself. He is a complete stranger who you exchanged a few sentences with.
Where did you expect him to go? Stupid tears burned in my eyes. I don't even know this boy and I followed him across LA, to a strip club, for what? To watch him enjoy his time with prostitutes.

Griffin didn't need me. It was time to leave. I moved away slowly, knowing that I shouldn't have come. I could not give him what they could, sex. They were gorgeous, tall, slim, had huge tits, tiny waists, and great asses and above all that they were experienced. I was an 5ft5 eighteen year old who wore B cups who was pretty at best. I couldn't compete with them.

I stepped back unhurriedly. I didn't want him to see me. Nevertheless, fate was against me. I tripped over my own feet and fell hard onto the cool slick floor, capturing everyone's attention in the bar including Griffin's.

His icy eyes widened slightly and then grew furiously darker. He mouthed an apology to the women then stood up to his towering height and walked heatedly toward me. I could tell by the pulsing vein in his neck and his balled up fists that he was MAD and I was terrified.

"Mickey." He growled quietly. The softness in his voice made me cringe. He lowered himself in front of me and whispered the most frightening words I had ever heard." Follow. Me. Now." He snarled through gritted teeth.

When I didn't move he grabbed my arm yanking me to my feet and pulled me toward an altered side of the bar in the direction of another obscure exodus. A huge Asian man outfitted in a similar black suit and crimson tie as the African American man from before stood at attention in front of the egress. The man watched intently as Griffin pulled out his card, his membership card I learned sadly. The man's eyes moved from me to Griffin.

"We would like a room." Griffin said gently.

"Cash or credit?" The man asked officially not even bothering to make eye contact with me again. A pit grew in my stomach.

"Charge it to the Marshall account." Griffin ordered darkly. He sliced his card swiftly across the dark access monitor. That's when the severity of the situation dawned on me.

"No..." I shrieked as the man gave him a sharp nod, and opened the door for him. The egress led down a dim hallway lined with rooms. He pulled me deeper into the passageway and my heart broke as the door behind me slammed shut and the sounds of bolts locking scorched at my soul.

Every door down the corridor was shut.

Unluckily, the noises gave a clear description of what was going on within. Moans and screams ricocheted off the walls. The sounds singed cruelly at my virgin ears.

Griffin dragged me further down the dark corridor. I tried to fight against his steel like grip. I twisted and squirmed trying to get his grasp to loosen on me. I wasn't going to let him do this to me. I did the unthinkable and sunk my teeth into his shoulder. Much to my demise, he didn't let go.

He halted in his movements then turned back toward me. His lips pulled into a sadistic smile and his eyes veiled over with malevolence. He closed the space between us and lowered his face to mine.

"Giving me love bites, now are we?" He whispered cockily and with that he sliced his card across an access monitor, threw open the door to my right, pulled me inward then shut and locked the door behind him.