Page 43 of The Devil's Den

AIDA

I’m shrouded in darkness.It’s all around me. Like in my nightmares, the black dread skitters up my body. The pounding of my heart warns me of what’s to come. It hammers loudly, goose bumps zipping up my spine.

My legs race with a chill, and it’s not from the air conditioner inside my father’s SUV. It’s the fearful anticipation. The unknown. What am I stepping into and why do I need a blindfold to get there?

The car finally halts, his feet crunching until my door opens.

“Let’s go,” he snaps, grabbing me by the arm and pulling me out. As soon as he does, I stumble, my knees hitting the ground, tiny pebbles digging into my palms. “Are you fucking kidding me?” His anger sways the incoming hurricane brewing in my heart, the roll of the tide before I drown in it. I’m pulled to a stand, my knees burning with a raw ache.

“I—I’ve never worn heels before, Dad.”Especially on rocks. Asshole.“Where are you taking me?”

“Somewhere I should’ve sent you a long time ago, instead of—” But hecutshimself off.

“Instead of what?” My body tingles with nervous energy.

“Nothing. The point is, you’ll be working here when I need you to. It’s time you earn this family some money.”

“What are you talking about?” My stomach dips as he opens a door and we step inside, the air current changing into something warmer, draping me in false safety. Fear like I’ve never known slams into me full force instead, as though it’s right there, taunting me, knowing I can’t see it at all.

“We’ll be hitting some steps. Try not to fall this time.” He scoffs as I carefully maneuver myself around his hold on me, feeling for every slope downward until he tells me they have stopped.

Music drifts from everywhere, the simmered conversations bathing the room.

“Agnelo!” someone calls with laughter in his tone. “What have you got there? A new one?” His hand runs down the side of my body and I flinch with a gasp. “Been holding out on us, huh?”

“Yeah.” He chuckles. “Something like that. Is Faro here?”

“What is this place?” I ask, but I may have whispered it. Did he even hear me?

“Yeah, he’s in with two in a room. Doesn’t want to be disturbed.”

“All right. I’ll see you.”

“You coming to the show?”

“Wouldn’t miss it.”

A sudden coldness hits me at the core.What show?

“Cool. See ya, man.”

“Where the hell are we?” I shout at him. “Where have you taken me?” I yank the blindfold off, not caring that he warned me to keep it on.

But as soon as I do, I wish I hadn’t. Because this place, it’s ugly.

Cruel.

“Oh my God…” I plant a palm over my mouth, disgust riding up my throat as I take it all in. My father doesn’t say a word, his mouth rolling with a vile grin as I continue staring wide-eyed around the vast space.

Sofas line one side while rooms draped open, some closed, are on the other. Men, so many of them, but they’re not alone. Young children are beside them, on their laps. Naked. Scared. Women too. Looking just as frightened.

“What have you done?” The question hurls out of me with venom.

He comes at me, his clenched teeth nearing my face. “Whatever the hell we want. Your uncles and me, we own this place. We’ve owned it for years.”

A heavy feeling sinks into me. “You’re sick! I knew it all along, but now, I know for certain. You’re all monsters.”

“Call us what the hell you want, but you’ll be getting to know this club pretty well.”

---