Chapter 17

Adrian….

Sitting inside my car, I wait as the guards on the front gate go through the security procedure.

When I had arrived, firstly, they had checked the golden envelope with the invitation card inside, then asked for my ID card. After inspecting my card, they asked me to wait while they confirmed my entrance with the security heads.

I make it a point to scrutinize their movements through my tinted windows. They can't see me, therefore I have the privilege to check out my surroundings.

It's just half past 7, which means I am half an hour early.

That's a good start.

Looking up from my watch, I catch a glimpse of one of the five guards stationed outside the iron wrought gates of the Grandiose Palace, which is well-known for being the glamorous and charming place for gambling, stacking, betting money, buying slaves, fighting, strip shows and other stuff like that.

That's why I had never stepped a foot inside this property after that one time, 3 years ago.

It was my first visit to London and I had wanted to get as much information about the local mafias as I could. And the invitation that I had received from The Great Carson, represented the best opportunity for me to get to know the underground world better. I had accepted the invitation, only to swear that I would never come back here, no matter how desperate I was.

The things I had witnessed there…. left me completely disgusted and horrified. I never knew a world like that even existed. And just like that, I made up my mind and chose what I have to do.

Right after leaving the ambiguous Palace, I made it one of my biggest targets.

Even though I had been appalled by the scenes from the starting, I didn't let my feelings get in my way. I took complete advantage and dug out as much information from the clubs as I could. And my first visit was a success, no matter the consequences.

I came to know a lot about the local gangsters, mob bosses and feared mafias, like Tax McLaren, John O'connor and Maria Waterfalls. I was a little surprised to find a 35 years old divorced woman leading a group of local gangsters. She had a dominating personality that helped her scare off other men and a whole pack of wild wolves on her side to fight her way up in the illegal market.

I was awed to see a female in the race of power-thirsty males, trying to beat everyone and claim her position. But she wasn't pure. She was just as dirty and corrupted as every other man there and that repulsed me and all the feelings of awe left my system forever.

Maria Waterfalls is one of the most dangerous gangsta ladies and an exclusive member of Carson's club. And to get where she is today, she had sacrificed a lot. But the sacrifices were only made of others, by her. She left behind everything, her life, her family, even herself…. Just to chase down her new dream, that was being at the top of the Underground world.

Her parents had tried their best to keep her away from the underground world but being a part of that world and hiding it while living under the same roof, is not so easy. Maria had caught the eyes of one of the higher levels of the mafia and married him. That's how she came to know about everything.

You just need one whiff of this world, the black money and the complete power, to get addicted and lose your mind like a drug addict. The same happened with Maria. Her Mafia husband loved her and lavished her with power and luxury, which got to her head.

After learning everything about the inner workings of the illegal market, she gave her Mafia husband divorce and took her daughter away. But the poor thing didn't survive long in that bithch's clutches and died soon after moving out of her dad's house. Maria had become what she wanted but she had forgotten what she was, a mother.

Nobody knew if Maria's daughter was dead or not. Either she had committed suicide or she had been killed, Maria never gave any official statement. And as the girl's body was never found, the truth hung precariously. Rumours said that her daughter had left Maria because she was very abusive and was a true whore, bringing a new man every other day. So her daughter left without informing anyone.

Well, I don't know about everyone but I never believed those rumors. I couldn't care less. It was none of my business, so I left that subject untouched. Until lately, when I had to dig deeper to collect some information on her husband, for entirely different purposes.

“Monsieur, you're good to go.”

Pulling myself out of my muses, I take the pass from the guard and give him a nod in acknowledgement. The guard steps back and bows deeply before waving me and my army ahead.

The gates swing open and I enter the long winding driveway, taking my time to absorb my surroundings and see if there has been any change after we had checked the last time.

Up ahead, I spot 10 guards standing on their assigned positions around the front side of the Palace, dressed in black and white uniforms with a rifle slung across their chests. Narrowing my eyes, I search in the shadows for the remaining 10 guards and spot them immediately. As I had predicted, they are lurking behind the tall trees which surround the Palace and spread out to the boundaries which decide the perimeter of the property.

So far so good. Nothing has come up to throw my plan off balance. Maybe we'll make it, after all.

Don't get so optimistic.

It'll only take one slip, a minor change in the coordinates of these armed soldiers and my plan is doomed…. and so are we.

Fighting with my inner pessimistic voice, I reach the front of the Palace. A valet scurries down to my side and I hand him my keys after slipping out of my car. I wait for him to drive away then throw a quick glance over my shoulder to check on my army.

They are following the valet to the garage, just as we had planned. It was the safest place for us to hide our weapon loaded van, the garage. Because there's no security and the space is too dark for the security cameras to catch my stealthy soldiers. I had also told them to dress up in simple black outfits, just to blend in the darkness more perfectly without any giveaways.

A smirk tugs on my lips.

I'm already feeling my excitement getting a kick out of sneaking in my weapons under these bastards' nose.

I check my watch one last time before wiping my expressions clean and slipping on the mask of intimidation and cold dominance. A confident and challenging smile touches my lips and I start off with the first phase of my plan.

Moving forward with long strides, I approach the fancy staircase. My eyes flicker to the side and I spot a security guard moving towards me. I pause when he has reached me.

“Sir, you'll have to come with me for a last security check up. It's really very important. I'm sorry for the inconvenience but it—”

“That's alright. Lead the way, soldier.” I cut him off without any effort.

His mouth hangs open as if he couldn't believe that I'm not threatening him with my position or giving him the lecture he had been getting from every single guest who had been asked to be checked, the whole evening.

He doesn't know that I'm going easy on him for a purpose. I want to get off of the suspects list after pulling out the biggest move in the criminal history of Europe and if I'll pretend to understand then there's some possibility that the soldiers won't suspect me.

“The auction is going to start in under 10 minutes. I don't have much time left to spare for these formalities. Either make it quick or I'm going in.” I say tightly, my eyes narrowing with a hint of impatience as he stands there, gawking at me.

I can't show him that I'm comfortable with this, either I'll be jumping right on the top of the suspects lists. I really like fucking with their heads and always keeping them up on their tip-toes while creating an illusion like they really know me where in reality, they know what I show them or tell them.

They don't really know.

They just can't.

The soldier recovers quickly and flashes me an embarrassed smile. “I beg your pardon, Sir. Please come this way.”

I follow the flushed soldier inside the fancy security check up booth, in silence. It's good to see that these guys have an alive glint in their eyes and the decicieny to express their feelings. Unlike the goons of Balthazar who are just the shells of the person they used to be.

It would be fun, shooting down Carson's men. They'll all be scared shitless and I'll be able to see the actual terror in their human eyes before putting the bullet inside their heads.

But instead of getting thrilled, I feel a pang of guilt.

These men are not the reasons why those girls' souls and body are on the stack today. Though they have helped in wrenching them away from their families and bringing them here to be sold.

I clench my jaw and step inside the confined walls of the booth.

I shouldn't think about that right now. It'll only get me off the right track.

Pushing those disturbingly infuriating thoughts to the back of my mind, I pull off my suit coat and stand with my hands stretched out to my sides. I wait for the soldier to glance at my coat suspiciously as I've taken it off without him asking me to do so. When the soldier doesn't even notice my coat, I let out an inaudible sigh and relax my tensed muscles.

Seems like I don't have to take them down in order to keep them away from my coat….yet.

Another soldier emerges from the back of the booth with a scanning device in his hands. When I meet his eyes, his mouth hangs open as something like recognition flashes on his slacked face.

“Master Black!?”

I go completely still.

Do I know him?

I stare at him with a blank expression and cold eyes, but he only gets more delirious and bows in front of me, deeply. Just like the guard had done, back there outside the front gate…

“I'm sorry. Have we met before?” I keep my voice leveled, just between cold and confused.

“Of course not, Maître!” He responds, sounding a little shocked and looking utterly bewildered.

“Then how do you know my title?”My brows pull down.

His eyes widen, dramatically and I temp down the urge to roll my eyes. Why do they have to give me such exaggerated expressions and responses to my every statement? It's annoying.

“Everyone knows you, Master Black! There's nobody in the underground world who doesn't know about the Enigmatic Dominant Master Adrian Black!” The soldier's eyes are shining with excitement, like he has seen something he had wanted to see since he was kid.

He bows to me again, this time the other soldier who has escorted me, joins him.

Wow…. I like the sound of that…. way more than I should.

But damn, It's good to hear my name spoken with such respect and amazement.

I allow my smile to soften, just a little bit and instruct them to go ahead with scanning or whatever it is, quickly.

“No, Monsieur. You're free to go. We aren't deserving enough to even exist in the same space as you. You please go ahead, I'll clarify your passage without any kind hindrance in the way. Please enjoy your evening here.” The slacked soldier gives me a wide smile.

Fucking amazing… If I had known that I would be treated like this then I would have never gone to such lengths to hide that device.

But I'm not complaining either.

“Why, thank you, soldier.”

I slide my coat back on and step out of the booth. The other soldier glances at me then back at his partner with an uncertain look.

Shit! He can blow off my chance at an easy escape.

“Do you want to scan me? I don't have any problem.”

He turns pale then starts shaking his head. “No. No, Master Black. It's perfectly alright and I'm sorry if I had crossed any line with you. I didn't have any idea about you.”

“Don't worry.” I stare at him for a beat longer, burning my impression on his soul before I let down the shutters and smile coldly. “My time's running out. I'll see myself inside.”

With that, I turn on my heels and make my way up the stairs.

Well, it didn't go as I expected…. But it wasn't the worst thing that could have happened. I just might have got caught and ended up with no other choice but to kill them.

I touch the inside pocket of my suit coat and feel the small earpiece press into my fingers. With a sly grin, I slip it out of the hidden pocket and in the cover of ruffling my hair, I put the transparent device in my left ear.

The tiny earpiece immediately activates when it comes in contact with my skin and lets out a quiet beep, as though yawning after waking up from a deep sleep.

As soon as the beeping sound quiets down, the static waves crackle in my ear and after a brief pause, I hear Bert's voice.

“What the hell did you do? They were practically worshipping you. It was so not what I had expected to see when I had rolled onto the cameras inside the booth. Even Lucas has no idea why those men were fucking bowing to you.”

A smug smile replaces the cold one and I chuckle lightly.

“Well, you shouldn't have underestimated me. But you know what, I'm just as fucking clueless as you are. The soldier who had appeared out of the back of the booth, told me that my name is very popular in the underground world.” I shake my head, smiling dryly. “I never had any idea how far my business had affected my reputation but guessing by what I have just witnessed, I think I have earned a lot of fame.”

“Okay, okay, enough bragging about your business skills. Let's get back to work.” Bert's terse voice gives away his emotions.

“Is that jealousy, Bert?”

“Fuck off, Rain!”

I chuckle again.

“Alright, fill me up with your progress.”

“Oh yeah, with pleasure brother. Now it's my turn to be smug.”

“No way. You didn't!”

“Yes, I did. I've hacked into their main server. I've got all the controls in my hand. Everything is clear and I think I've found Balthazar too. He's in the area where the Auction will be held but I don't see the Irish girl anywhere. I think he hasn't brought her out yet.”

He sounds confused because he doesn't know how Balthazar works.

But I do…. very well.

“Just keep an out on the security settings. I'll handle the rest.”

With that, I pluck out the earpiece and stuff it back inside my pocket. Climbing up the last step, I reach the front doors of the Grandiose Palace. The two guards stationed on either side of the huge oak doors pull it open for me.

I take a deep breath and step inside.

Time to start the second phase of my plane.

———————

After navigating my way through the maze-like structure of the Palace, I finally reach the huge ornate double doors. Two bouncers dressed in white and black eye me suspiciously as I make way towards them.

I totally ignore them while they inspect my pass.

After a moment, the black bouncer steps forward and pulls the door open for me. I take a deep breath, hold it in then let it go.

You can do this, Black, you can do this.

You're doing this for him, you're doing this for a good cause.

I put on an impassive expression then step through the open doors. The ornate doors slam close behind me, locking me in to face my own demons and come over the pathetic fear.

Steeling my will, I scan the infamous game room with shrewd eyes, where the International Auction for buying girls is held.

I am standing in front of the entrance which serves for the exit as well. The room is completely sealed ; no other way out. The huge black and white striped velvet curtains are draped over the windows to hide the outside view. There are five silver crystal chandeliers suspended from the paneled ceiling which wash the entire space in glimmering soft silverlight, giving the atmosphere a sensual yet glamorous look. Sitting tables draped in purple embroidered clothes are placed in the middle of the room for the guests who have been invited in this event. Near the wall across from me, there's a huge square platform which is raised from the floor to represent it as the stage. The drapes are still drawn, that means the event has yet to start.

My mouth has gone completely dry and all of a sudden, I feel like the room is closing up on me. Crap!

Before I can go into panic, I command my legs to carry me forward. I focus my mind in searching for my table. Carson is a great host and he likes to do everything in a certain way, with a set of rules to follow. I like that about him, his dedication to everything and complete involvement along with interest. I just think that it would have been even better if he had been channeling his potential to do something better than selling off innocent girls.

I have walked past all the tables and the only one left to check is the front one with only six chairs around it. Frowning, I turn the metal plates on the table to see the names and find my nameplate on the head of the table.

Hmm…. This was something pleasantly unexpected.

I turn the nameplate set beside me with another name and read it.

Maria Waterfalls.

Well, Shit!

This isn't what I need right now.

I turn back the nameplate and decide to find myself another seat.

There's no way in hell I'm going to sit beside that fucking whore.

“Master Black!? What a pleasant surprise to see you here! I thought you had stopped accepting The Great Carson's invitation a very long time ago.”

A light feminine voice, dripping with malice and fake enthusiasm, speaks up from behind me. I take my time before turning around.

“Soir, Maria.”