Chapter 10

West

Greed and jealousy had the power to do things to a man that even torture couldn’t touch. The two were a pain mechanism all on their own. They may not have injured the body, but what they did do was destroy and corrupt the soul.

My soul had been picked apart long ago. When all of your life you’re compared to someone you know you’ll never be as handsome as, or as rich or powerful as, the constant envy and hate take its toll.

I hated Bram Whitlock. He was everything I wanted to be. Even if I could have been half the man he portrayed, I would have been happy. But that wasn’t the case. I wasn’t born into a rich family. I wasn’t handed everything I wanted. Not in the sense he was. My father worked for his as the high leader. My mother, an absent drug addict who I hadn’t seen since I was four, while his mother was the world’s biggest socialite. I used to play at their extravagant mansion in my youth. It led Bram’s father to take notice of how me and his son got along. From there, I was sent to the same schools as Bram.

Where I excelled, Bram outshined me. Sports, academics, girls. He was always better in everything he tried his hand at. And he never cared for any of it. Not even the girls. What pleased him the most was proving he was the best. Then he was done.

But now I was going to have something he only wished for. Twentyfour-six-ninety was going to be mine. He loved her. The longing in his eyes while he hid behind that screen couldn’t conceal that. It was desperate and pathetic. Bram had never paid so much attention to a woman before. This one, this Everleigh, was different. Even for me. It was as if I could feel their connection. His yearning became my own. It corrupted me, warping my malicious mind. But even there, he and I were similar. Neither of us were good men. He just didn’t know it. To him, I was the good one. But there was no honor when I thought of the two of them together, or even her.

It all started with him leaving up her apartment on his screen. At first, I hadn’t paid attention to the old man walking around, but then there she was … beautiful, angelic even. Bram exploded when I asked about her. He didn’t want to talk about it, and that was enough to more than pique my interest. He wanted her, and that made me want her more. Then, a few weeks after he took his role as Master of Whitlock, the visits came. Numerous times we’d go by their apartment. It never escaped me how their eyes always found each other. And his reasons for needing to visit Master Vicolette were bullshit. It was her. It was always her.

Knock. Knock.

My fist connected a third time against the metal door and Bram opened it, his eyes still heavy with sleep.

“Got your coffee. Black with sugar, just the way you like it.”

He paused, swinging the door open and taking the Styrofoam cup.

“Thanks. What time is it?”

I walked in, taking notice of the blanket on the couch. The bastard never slept in a bed. Give him a couch or chair and he’d make due. Hell, even the floor. I never understood it with the money and luxuries he forever had at his disposal.

“It’s a little after six. I take it you didn’t get much sleep last night?” “Slept fine.”

He took a sip of the coffee, putting it down to head to the restroom. I waited for the door to close before I walked to his computer. One tap of the mouse and a cell came into view. Two women were sleeping on the small beds that lined each side of the room. From the dark hair, I knew which one was Everleigh, but the length was gone. Her hair, it was no longer than a few inches. If she was lucky it would come to her shoulders, but I doubted it. The sight made me curse under my breath. The routine was one I’d seen throughout my time here, but I hated that it had to be done to her. My fantasies of seeing her long hair draped around her nude body were gone.

Water turned on in the distance and I refrained from touching anything so the screen could black out again. Within minutes, Bram was walking back out, dressed in a suit that cost more than my monthly salary. And me, I was doing what I always did—waiting for his direction.

“You’ll take the chopper to the office today and make an appearance.”

“I went last time. You’re not going?”

Bram picked up the coffee, casting me with a glance as he headed for the computer.

“No. I have stuff to take care of here. You have it under control. I trust if there’s anything that needs to be done, you’ll handle it.”

I breathed through the anger. He didn’t have anything to do here. He just wanted to watch her, like he always did.

“Of course. Is there anything you need while I’m gone?”

Bram sat, glancing up at me as his focus went between me and the screen. “No.” He paused. “Actually, yes. There’s a doctor in Medical. I think she’s new. Dr. Cortez, I believe she goes by. Find out who she is. I don’t remember approving her admittance here.”

A smile tugged at my lips. “Because you didn’t. I did.” At his stare, I came closer. “It was a few months back. You asked me to go over the list and see who we needed for staff. She’s a surgeon. I had her taken from Baltimore. Her record is outstanding but not so much as to bring notice. She didn’t have much family or friends. It was an easy … kidnapping.”

Bram nodded, going back to the monitor. “She gave slave twentyfour-six-ninety something last night. Some sort of weapon is my guess. I was half tempted to have it removed, but I don’t think I will. The slave believes the guards will disobey my orders and try to get back at her for my punishment over one of their own. Let her see she has nothing to worry over. As for the doctor, I will leave it to you to punish her. This was your doing. She obviously hasn’t been taught the ways of our world. I think if you’re going to become part of it, even more, it’s time you took these sort of matters into your own hands.”

The challenging look was one meant to show me up. Little did Bram know, I wasn’t as good as he thought me to be. Truth was, he had no idea the man who rested inside.

“Done. I’ll go see her now.”

“Do that. Make it clear to her that she’s not to be encouraging these slaves. And in no way is she to give them weapons to hurt my guards.”

“It won’t happen again. You have my word.” I bowed my head, turning and heading to the door. With how early it was, I doubted she was in Medical, but the staff had residence not far from there. And I knew where she resided. I’d seen to the placement of her quarters, myself.

I shut the door, going in the direction of the long curved hall not far away. The guard stood erect, staring at the wall before him as I passed through the entrance. I was someone here. Someone they respected. Someone they were cautious over, which was good. They needed to fear me more than they knew. The ones I had on my side were a loyal few, but I knew to be careful.

After a good hundred feet, the hall intersected, and I turned going down even further. When I passed the next guard, I paused, looking over his face. He was young. Maybe mid-twenties. He’d want to prove himself.

They always did.

“I have orders from Mr. Whitlock. We have a situation and I need you to follow me. Call your high leader and have him send a replacement for you.”

“Yes, Master.”

“I’m no master. Not yet. Sir will work just fine.”

“Yes, Sir.”

The guard radioed in and I waited. Within minutes, three men in black uniforms approached. Although I wanted to smile, I held in the reaction to the power I felt.

“You stay,” I said, pointing to a shorter man just as young as the first. “You three follow me. We have a doctor who thinks it’s okay to pass weapons to slaves. Mr. Whitlock wants her dealt with accordingly.” I glanced back, taking in the way their hard faces stared ahead. When we turned again and approached the door, I gestured. “Open it.”

The thicker of the two took lead, not even pausing as he grabbed the knob. When it didn’t turn in his hand, he brought his foot up letting it shoot forward. Wood cracked from the frame and he threw his weight into the barrier, sending the door flying open. The guards rushed through and I let them take over as I followed.

“Doctor Cortez,” I said, loudly, walking straight to her room. Lights were already flooding the small space and dark hair was wild around her as she sat in the middle of the bed. Back and forth she went, staring at the guns trained on her. When she met me with panicked eyes, I lifted my hands for the guards to lower their weapons.

“What’s happening?”

“Something you’re probably not going to like. You were witnessed giving something to a slave who was under your care. A weapon. Do you deny it?”

The fear increased as she took in the men. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“No? Perhaps I should remind you. Men,” I turned, showing them my rage. “I’m sure you’re all aware of what happened last night. Remind Dr. Cortez what slave twenty-four-six-ninety was brought into Medical for.”

There was no hesitation, no pause, as the bigger guard brought back his fist and slammed it into the doctor’s face, repeatedly. Screaming filled the space as she tried to fight him off, but there was no use. Even slightly taller for a female, she was no match for the large guard. Fabric tore and I placed my hands behind my back as I let all three men rip off the white slip she wore. The cries grew louder as one flipped her onto her stomach and jerked at his pants.

“To help slaves is strictly forbidden. I do believe you were given this talk when you were brought here. Yet, you provided one with a weapon to harm the same people who allow you to live. Do you think yourself irreplaceable, Dr. Cortez?”

Sobbing wracked her body as she clawed and yelled into the blankets. She wasn’t fighting her attackers or the rape she was beginning to undergo.

“I asked you a question.”

“No!”

“No is correct. You are very replaceable. I thought you’d be a good fit, but I see I was wrong. You have a softness that I don’t have time to squash. You’ll join the people you pity. Welcome to your new life, slave.” I looked back at the guards. “When you’re finished, throw her in Slave Row.

If she gives you any trouble, kill her.”

I didn’t wait for their response. I turned my back, leaving the small room. My whistling filled the silent halls and I let a smile come. Today was going to be a great day. Once I returned, I would visit my slave. Let someone try to stop me.