Chapter 10

The Hard Bargain....

“I can not do this for you, Master Black.”

I put down the documents I've been studying and watch in silence. Balthazar paces back and forth in front of me, his face screwed up in discomfort and he winces slightly, every now and then.

I guess, he's still hurting down there. Miss. Danforth must have landed a really hard blow between his legs.

I have to stifle my urges to laugh, everytime the scene replays inside my head. But it's getting harder for me to control each time. I'm afraid I'll lose it again.

So instead of letting those thoughts get to me, I train my focus on Balthazar, who seems to be still in shock. And I'm sure, after what I've asked him for, he's only gotten deeper in his shocked state.

I shake my head imperceptibly and turn to stare out of the window, that overlooks the landscape behind his Jail.

We are in Balthazar's office now. We all came out of the basement together, after all the girls were branded and carried away by the red uniformed army for transportation.

Shit!

I didn't even realise it till now, how far away I've let myself get distracted. I'd forgotten all about those girls.

Shame on you, Black.

What the hell are you still doing here? You should have left as soon as the girls were loaded and locked inside the container and carried away.

But here I am, my sudden obsession with Miss. Danforth has forced me to stay back and not leave without her on my side.

Fuck!

Balthazar had led me down to his office before instructing Roma to take Miss. Danforth up in his private room. I'd managed to somehow get out her spell for a second to think about my plan and what I'd to do next, but as soon as Balthazar mentioned her, my mind snapped back to her. I had wanted so badly to intercept him and ask him to let her come with us but I couldn't. I didn't have any good excuse.

What the hell is wrong with me?

I don't know why that overprotective feeling came over me and made my blood boil inside my veins at the thought of Miss. Danforth, sitting on Balthazar's bed inside his bedroom.

This girl has fucked with my head…. Without doing anything and I know I should forget about her, should stop thinking about her…. And I will, once she's back to her family safely.

I had sworn that I would save every single girl from his clutches, if I could. So I have to save this girl too, no matter what, just for the peace of my mind.

Yeah, yeah…. Keep telling yourself that. Everyone knows how much you want to send her away…. An annoying voice pipes up inside my head, making me groan inwardly.

Shit! This is bad.

I have to do something about this. Maybe if I maintain a safe distance between us then everything will be fine. Yes, I can do that. I'll assign her to Tornado and take up the rest of the girls. I am attracted to none of them and that will keep them safe with me for the length of time it will take me in restoring their tethered spirits.

I bring myself out of my muses with a new conviction and study Balthazar, who's still pacing like a maniac. I know he's considering my demand and the price I've offered for it but there's something that is holding him back, something he's not telling me.

“Why not, Balthazar? She's just another girl, you said that she's not important then why are you stressing over her so much? What's the problem?” I ask, my voice dripping with suspicion and mistrust.

Suddenly, he stops pacing and turns to face me directly.

I shift in the armchair and put my left ankle across my right knee, showing him that I can keep this up the whole day. Now it depends on him if he can keep up with me.

Bring it on, Bastard.

I will take Miss. Danforth with me.

I'm not leaving here without her.

“I know that I said she's not important but you know Master Black that I have brought her here for a purpose and I can't just let her go without making her pay for her debts.”

“Her great-grandfather's debts.” I correct him coldly.

“Yeah, whatever.” He slaps it away like it's of no consequence.

His indifference towards Miss. Danforth is getting on my nerves now. I've got this feeling like he's testing me.

Sick fucker!

Both of my hands clench into fists and my jaw sets.

I want to reach across the wide desk and grab him by his collar. I want to shake him and ask how his conscience can allow him to do this to a young girl.... but then again, who am I to judge him when I don't have any good intentions for her either.

There's just something about Miss. Danforth, her innocent face and naivety, that calls to the dark cravings that reside in the hidden corners of my soul. I have my urges and desires but I've never felt them pushing at me with such a force, making me want to claim that girl here and now.

I have to figure out what it is.... Or I'm fucking sure I'll go out of my mind and ruin everything that I've worked so hard for.

I decide to use other tactic to get him to give into my demand. While reading the documents, I came across a quite obvious flaw in his whole debt story. Maybe I can hold up on his head and threaten him to expose the truth if he won't give into my demands.

I have to give it a go. I don't have any other choice than forgetting about her, which is not happening.

“Why are you so adamant about this whole debt thing, Balthazar? I can not understand if you're doing this for yourself or someone else. I mean, you don't have any family left to force you to do this and fill in the obligations like a good son. Tell me the truth, why do you want to make this girl pay now, after so much time has passed? You could have picked her up as soon as she was borned but you didn't. Are there certain limits and needs you're not telling me about? Do you have to go by some sort of rules or is it all just a charade, which you've started without proper planning? There are some serious looping gaps in your fucking story which are throwing off the validity of these documents.”

Balthazar goes completely still and his expression freezes. I can see all the colour draining down his face, leaving him deathly pale. The fear of being exposed is evident in his back eyes. He knows that I've already figured it out, I can read it, it's written all over his face.

It's all just a bluff. He can fool whoever he wants…. But not me.

That's not so easy.

“I know exactly what you are trying to do here, Mr. de Lucas. You don't have any proof of this debt and the paperwork you just showed me is invalid. Anyone can tell you in one glance that it's fake. I don't even want to know how her parents just handed her over to you without any investigation, but my best guess says that they must have charged you some solid amount of money. Anyways, I don't have any proof to prove you guilty in front of everyone. But you know what Balthazar?”

I move my hands through my hair before continuing.

“I don't want to deal with this debt thing right now. I'm leaving this country after this week. I'm done with this business now and well, you know why. I just want this girl. Give her to me and I'll go away quietly. I'm giving you an easy way out of this mess you have made and I'm ready to pay for her too.” I lean back and put my foot down, relaxing my tense body while staring straight into his black eyes. “You're risking a lot more than you think, for a single girl. You can choose to live as you have or you can choose for me to ruin your hidden sanctuary. The choice is yours.”

There's a moment of complete silence after my declaration, in which I see Balthazar struggling through a thousand emotions, all at once. I recognise some of them as they flash across his face in quick successions; fear, confusion, dread, loss, indecision and more things which I can't quite put my finger on.

I'm not a very expressive person and I've only suffered through tough feelings, so hoping for me to explain all that shit to you…. would only lead to disappointment.

I wait patiently for Balthazar to make his choice and when he's finally decided what he'd to do, the cold shutters come down on his face and hide his sufferings from me as he prepares himself to speak.

I keep my stance relaxed, I know that he'll coincide with me in one way or the other. I've left him no other choice after all.

“Fine. I'll put her out for business.” He grits out through his teeth, sighing defeatedly then pauses, seemingly looking for the right words to deliver his next sentence or maybe trying to think of a new trap for me. “But I have a condition.”

A trap, that is.

I don't let this revelation faze me and gesture for him to go on with a slight nod. He's tried to fuck with me many times, and every time I've beaten him at his own game. I'm not worried about what he's got in store for me but I'll have to take this one seriously, because this time, it's not only my life that is on stacks.

“You'll have to bid for her. I'm going to take her to this year's International auction at The Great Carson's Grandiose Palace and put her in the stand-alone category, it's a public sale, remember that. If you can come and be the highest bidder then she'll be yours and if you fail to be there, I'll sell her to someone else who can pay me the right price for her.” He smiles, his voice laced with smugness and malice.

I clench my jaw tighter.

Shit! He knows that I detest bidding, especially for a living–breathing thing and I never attend any of these auctions. I don't know who gave them the right to sell those girls in an auction for money. Every girl has the right to make the decision of her own life. Who are these fuckers to steal those choices from them and sell them off?

Either I have to forget about her or visit this auction.

Both the options make my stomach turn.

But at least now I know that there's no truth in this debt story. He must have made it up to get the girl. Though he's not admitted it out loud, I am sure. Because he's given up on her already.

Then again, what's so special about this girl that Balthazar wanted her so badly, he was ready to lie for her and he wouldn't even accept the amount of money I was ready to pay for her....

“It's up to you now, Master Black. I can give you some time alone so that you can consider your options but I need your answer today only.” With that taunting comment, he starts moving towards the door of his office.

I shake myself out of my muses.

I can't show him this weakness and considering so much for a girl will fuck up my reputation in the market for sure.

I can't have that.

“I'll come.” I blurt out before I can overthink my decision. I can do this.

Balthazar stops dead in his tracks and when the shock of my words wears off, he spins around to face me.

I give him a cruel smile.

That's right, fucker!

“I'll come to the auction and bid for her.” I get up from my seat, getting more confident in my decision by the second and walk over to stand inside his personal space, making him back away from me and cower under my wicked glare. “She'll be mine, no matter what.”

I take another step closer, towering over him like a dark shadow and stare down in his black eyes, which are now welling up with panic and fear. “I'll never forget this, Balthazar. I'm going to make you pay for forcing me to go against my own rules. You'll be so sorry by the time I'm done with you. You will be of nowhere.”

“What!? What did I do? Please don't do this, Master Black!”

“We both know what you were trying to do and you've brought this upon yourself on your own.” I give him a meaningful glare and he bows his head in acceptance of his fault and defeat. Good.

Now, I just have to make one more thing clear then I can get out of here without a heavy weight of insecurity on my chest.

“I want to make one more thing very clear, Balthazar.” My dangerously low voice probes him to look up at me and I give him a stern stare. “Keep Miss. Danforth safe and sound. I don't want her violated in any way. Fuck your debt. I'll check on her before the auction and bid for her, only when I'm sure she's in the same state I'd left her in and if anything happens to her…. I'll take pleasure in destroying your business day by day, piece by small piece.”

With that last warning, I slip out of his office and get the hell out of his Jail before I can change my mind and go back to slit his throat open, throw Miss. Danforth over my shoulder and burn down his kingdom to end it all now and here.... Like I have done so many times in the past.

These fucking Mafias think that they can get their hands on me, they can get under my skin. Well this time, I'll teach them a lesson which will keep them away from me for generations.

——————

Shrugging off my coat, I fold it and put it back inside my car for future use before making my way upstairs. I glance around myself while climbing up, taking in the serene atmosphere of my surroundings.

I've always loved it here, as much as I love it back in my territory. It's good to see that Bert is taking good care of his property.

Sometimes I forget that he's not a kid anymore, because he'll always be my baby brother.

Shaking off a faint smile, I reach the top of the stairs and move to open the oak doors. But before I can get my hands on the handle, the double doors swing open and a seething and huffing version of my little brother greets me.

Shit! He's angry….

“Hey Bert—”

“Hey yourself, you bastard! How many times do I have to tell you that you can't just go around threatening mafias like this!?”

Okay…. He's more than angry.

“Can we get inside and then talk? I don't think the entrance door is the best place for this kind of discussion.”

He looks around for a second then huffing like a bull, opens the door wider for me to enter. “Get inside.”

I suppress my smile before stepping inside.

He just looks so…. childlike when he's angry. It doesn't suit his delicate features.

“How do you know about the threat?” I ask after a moment of silence when the thought hits me.

“When you'd left his office, he'd called his Army Marshal to warn him in advance to be prepared for a war and tighten the security surveillance because you'd threatened his life.”

“Oh. Guess, I should have known. But honestly, I don't have any intentions of killing him.”

Bert throws me a "I don't believe you" look over his shoulders then continues his stalking in silence. I follow him while suppressing my urges to snicker.

I refrain myself from pointing out that he's almost panting like he'd been running for hours and his cheeks have turned rosy with fury. I know it will work him up into a nice fit, but it'll be worse with all this shit mixed up. I'll probably get myself banned from his house for the next seven months.

That realization helps me keep my mouth shut and control my snickering urges.

Bert leads me straight to the main area. We walk down a long corridor and take a few intersections, finally reaching the dead end after 15 minutes or so, where a tall steel and iron framed sliding door stands. Bert moves forward and goes to the left side of the door without a word to me and presses his left palm flat against the wall. A beeping voice fills the silence and a panel with keyboard and monitor slides out of the wall.

The wall appears like it is made up of bricks and cement but in reality, it's pure metal.

I watch, fascinated as his fingertips fly over the keyboard so swiftly that I can hardly make out what he's typing on it. After a moment, another small scanning device emerges out of the wall and scans his eyes. Within the second, the beeping noise goes quiet and the door slides open with a soft hiss to reveal a huge room, lined up with every possible gadget used in hacking and security systems.

“Why the hell did you do that? What are you planning to do now? Don't tell me you're not satisfied after taking the life of more than 30 people.” He explodes at last, without bothering to look back at me.

“Those were Balthazar's goons and those fuckers were already dead, emotionally. So they don't count.” I add, coldly.

He spins on his heels to face me as soon as we're inside his Den (He likes to call this space a Den) which he has especially separated from his personal space for business use. The whole cave-like room is soundproof and is under the best security supervision for safety.

There's not a single chance for anyone to get in here without Bert's or my fingerprints and eyes.

“You're a son of a bitch! You don't have to remind me that again and again. I'm perfectly aware of how much pleasure you take in killing those bastards. Nothing hides from me.” He comments with equal coldness.

Shit! He is pissed off at me.

“What is it, Bery?” I ask, moving my hands through my hair in exasperation. I didn't come here to set his mood off but it seems like I've done exactly that.

“I want to know why you did that. You never lose control like this. More importantly, you can't lose control like this.”

I let out a deep sigh, focusing my attention on my brother.

I guess, I can't avoid this conversation anymore.

My guts twist uncomfortably when I imagine Bert's reaction after I'll tell him why I had gone apeshit over Balthazar.

Will he refuse to help me in getting the girl out of that hell hole?

That's the only thought which is disturbing me the most. I need him.

“Listen to me first then judge me. I will tell you and I will accept whatever you'll decide but I'm not going to change my decision at any cost. Alright?” I declare.

“Why am I getting this feeling like whatever you're going to tell me, will make me want to murder you?” He glares at me then shakes his head and closes his eyes, looking tired and exhausted.

Fuck! I never even think about how much toll this business takes on him. Why did I ever think that bringing him in this world would be a good idea? It's taking away his innocence from him. He should be out in the world, exploring new things and places, fucking around with girls, making his own life…. He shouldn't be here in the first place.

I watch helplessly, feeling like shit, as Bert sits down behind his desk and rubs his face before signalling for me to start speaking.

The words catch inside my throat and my chest tightens. How much longer will he be able to take my shit? He would blow up one day under this pressure.

“Just say it, Rain.” A warm feeling blooms inside my chest when I hear him call me by that name. He usually uses obscene names for me. And using this name means that he's trying to understand me.

A half smile tugs on my lips and I shake my head.

How will I ever be able to make it up for everything I've put him through? He's still trying his best to consider everything from my perspective.

I feel like the luckiest bastard in this whole Universe.

Because I have him.

“This is very important for you to know that you don't have to help me in this. I need you, that's for sure but I'm not going to force you into anything you're not willing to be a part of.”

“Is it that bad?”

I can just nod.

“Spit it out then. Leave the decision up to me.”

I gulp then nod. but I can't stop myself from giving him a way out of this again. “I'm serious, Bert. You don't have to do this for me. I'll respect your—”

“For God's sake, Rain! Get it out already.”

“Fuck, fine!” I gather up all of my courage. He wants to know why I lost control back there, then I'll tell him. “I'm going to this year's International auction to stack money for a girl, who is Balthazar's property.”

“See? It wasn't so hard, was it? You just — Wait, what!? What did you say?” Bert launches out of his seat and stalks over to stand in my face. “You're going to that auction and stack your money on a girl!? Are you out of your mind? Have you been drinking? What the hell are you thinking, man? This is crazy! You're going against your own fucking rules by doing this, do you understand that?”

“I know, I know…. But I don't have any other choice.”

“You're going to risk all of this for a single girl?” He glares at me suspiciously, making me avert my eyes.

Shit!

He must be thinking I'm a pussy.

“You know that I won't leave any girl behind if I can save them all.” My voice is desperate, begging for his understanding.

“Fuck, man. This is something else. You want this one for yourself, don't you?” A smirk appears on my brother's face, taunting me for my weakness. “Is she that beautiful?”

“It's not like that, Bert.” I roll my eyes instead of smirking. I know he'll catch me within the second. His random guess has hit too close to the truth.

“Oh yeah? Why can't you meet my eyes then?” He chuckles at me when I give him a warning glare.

He raises his hands up in mock surrender, taunting me with his knowing smile.

“You in?” I ask, this time letting the smirk break out on my face.

If he's already figured it all out then there's no need for me to pretend but I'm not going to admit it either. He still might be doubtful.

“So eager, aren't you?” He chuckles lightly then puts his hand on my shoulder and shakes his head like he's feeling sorry for me. “You're in dipshit brother. I don't know what went down there and why are you acting all rogue but I have figured out this much that nothing's gonna stop you now. If I'll try to talk you out of this madness, probably your determination will only get more solidified.”

“You know me too well.” I grin, a little bit annoyed by the look of pity in his eyes.

“Fuck yes, I do.” He gives me his impish grin. “I'm in. To hell with the consequences, I don't give a negative fuck. Let's get that girl for you.”

“Come here.”

I pull my brother in for a beer hug with a big grin.

I'll never stop wondering, what did I ever do to deserve him?

We pull away with a pat on the back.

Now…. No one can stop me from claiming my ESCLAVE.