Page 126 of Hate Me

“He’s an ally, Caleb,” he hissed back at me. “A formidable one at that. There’s no threat here.”

“You becoming so close with him is the threat. It’s not the norm for you.”

“I already explained how that happened.”

I shook my head. “Nah, there’s more to it than that. On his end. I just… I can’t put my finger on it.” Not yet. I had feelers out already, so it was only a matter of time until I did.

“Everything copacetic over here?” Dante spoke, interrupting our conversation as he returned to the control panel, pocketing his phone in his suit jacket.

“Is it with you?” I bit back.

He didn’t so much as flinch as he responded. “Indeed.”

Urgh. Of course he was unflappable.

Just like Cas. Another thing they had in common.

He told Cas, “I have confirmation from two of our infiltrators that Elijah will be well occupied for the next three days. His continued failure to successfully come at King and the Mancini Syndicate, knowing that we have formed an alliance also is clearly weighing on him, along with the trouble that his brother is causing. He will be spending the next three days in the sub-level of his heavily-fortified compound releasing said stress, likely also trying to clear his head. Something he’s been known to do from time to time under periods of great strain.”

“Sub-level?” I asked, looking between them, and noting that Cas was showing no surprise and clearly already knew what Dante was getting at.

“Think of it as an expansive version of a pleasure room,” Cas told me.

“And pain,” Dante added.

“And pain,” Cas said with a nod.

“Like you with Obscura?”

“Certainly not,” Dante grunted with distaste. “What Elijah indulges in is a far cry from what Caspian does where there are rules and protocols that ensure everybody’s wellbeing and safety. Moreover, Caspian would not be fool enough to mix business with pleasure, nor risk destabilizing King by doing so.”

Wow.

So much for him being unflappable.

Not when it came to Cas being compared to Elijah Bane in any way, apparently. It seemed to be a definite sore spot for him.

“So, he fucks his own staff during this sex-fest, is that it?” I asked.

“He makes whores out of new employees or those wishing to become a part of Bane Industries and share in its success, become close to him,” Dante explained. “He has them all clamor to please him, kneel at his feet, and endure all the sexual degradation he unleashes on them during him locking himself down in the sub-level of his compound over several days.”

“Many have been known to emerge… damaged,” Cas said, grimacing.

“Jesus Christ, and you never told me this? Knowing the work I’m doing with my facilities?”

“It was merely rumor before, Caleb. Until now, we didn’t have people in place this close to him to be able to confirm it.”

“Moreover, even knowing this now, action can’t be taken to stop what’s about to happen,” Dante explained. “The compound is virtually impenetrable by conventional means.”

“We’d need heavy artillery,” Caspian added.

“Something we can’t employ yet, because he would see it coming,” Dante went on. “Soon, though, friend,” he told me. “Very soon.”

“What are we talking? A fucking missile strike?”

“Something along those lines,” Dante said.

“Not while civilians are present at the compound,” Cas assured me.

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