Page 36 of Believe In Us

“Then where are we headed?”

“Into Dalton’s territory. Boys were paying my father’s casino a visit. We’re going to The Nova down in Galen Grove.

The drive down to GG was short and uneventful, although it’s Thursday night, which here is the start of the long weekend, the roads were pretty much vacant. I guess no one travels down here in mid-March. My father’s casino,The Nova, isn’t far fromThe Gallant HotelwhereTormentis located. I’m not sure what it is I planned to do once we came down here, but I for one need to figure out more about Kane’s involvement with my father, and his interest in Jade. Though the guys don’t know the last part, and I plan on keeping it that way.

“This place is phenomenal,” Alek slurs, as we step foot into the top level of The Nova, located under the City Hall. All around us, blues, purples, grays, the iridescent specks of stars across the galaxy, a total contrast to the bright greens and golds of The Moxy back in Hillcrest. The Silver drapes across the ceiling entwined with flickering white LED lights contrasting against the midnight blue ceiling are truly remarkable.

“Daddy’s outdone himself,” Alek mocks, grabbing a couple glasses from a cocktail waitress parading around in a silver, metallic bodysuit, with a pair of coil antennas.

“Looks like he took the whole space theme a bit seriously,” Ace snickers as we look around and see all the staff are dressed inmetallic silver uniforms, wearing the exact pair of antennas as the waitress.

“Must be his investors' influence. Kane seems more like the showy type whereas this must be a gift for my father.”

“So what is it we’re here for Sebastian?” Ace asks, and I’m not sure what the answer is.

“We’re here to ask around, see if anyone has any idea what it is my father and Kane are doing here.”

“What do you mean, it’s clearly a casino,” Beck says, motioning around the room.

“You think it’s a front?” Ace asks, and it’s like he’s in my fucking head.

“I know it is. Kane is more than just his security, I think he’s running his human trafficking ring from right inside these doors. The sale of drugs is just to cover up the true sale of women, foreign women he smuggles into the country, primarily from down south in Mexico.”

“Holy shit!” Alek shouts, but we’re quick to shut him up, “I mean what the fuck is it with these fuckers selling women and shit.”

“It’s the rich man’s trade brother, especially in this patriarchal as shit world,” Ace says, throwing his arm over Alek’s shoulder, “These bigots have nothing else in their boring fucking lives to do than show those less fortunate that they have complete ownership over them, especially these women they treat like fucking animals.”

“Fuck, I can’t believe I used to believe this shit, it makes me fucking sick.”

“Yeah all of us are just as guilty Alek, we let it go on too far.”

“Well now we’re on the same page guys, and somehow we have to end this.”

We spendthe next two hours on the floor, talking to the various patrons, employees, and visitors, who all seem to be fucking clueless. Either that or they're all scared, threatened by Kane’s men who are guarding every inch of this place.

“Well, look who it is,” I hear Kinsley squeal in her usual pathetic, high-pitched shriek. Fuck, this is the last thing I need today.

I turn and find her standing behind me with Wynter, both of them dressed in metallic, strapless dresses, similar to the uniform the cocktail waitresses are wearing.

“What the fuck are you guys wearing?” I ask, turning to look at a waitress who offers me a drink from her tray. I grab the glass of whiskey, nodding to excuse her.

“Yeah that was unfortunate,” Kins says, admitting their matching outfits were unplanned and a mere coincidence.

“What are you doing here?” Wynter asks, glaring suspiciously at me.

“I could ask you two the same thing, Win,” I retort, not answering her query.

She flicks the sleek white hair off her shoulder, a typical pretentious rich girl gestures, “It’s Thursday, practically the weekend, you know we like to go out,” she says with a wink.

I shake my head at her playfulness. There has never been even the inkling of attraction between my best friend's twin sister and me. Of course Wynter is beyond gorgeous, the breeding that girl has undergone is impeccable, not to mention the perfection of her features, and the high-class energy she exudes from every pore. I see Wynter as a sister, someone who although she doesn’t need my protection, warrants it anyway.

Unlike Jade, who’s history and vulnerabilities make me beg to protect her, crave to save her, and ache to have her fix me.

I snap out of my obsessive thoughts of Jade, and back to the girls who watch me curiously. I look around the room at the packs of horny, dangerous, and stupid fucking rich men. “Then go toTorment, you girls shouldn’t be here.” I may not care for Kinsley's well-being, but I wouldn’t want Wynter caught dead in a place like this. Especially with her disposition of attracting older men.

“We could say the same to you, what are you boys up to?” Wynter asks, with suspicion.

“Surely there are plenty of stray cats out in the streets for you to continue finding homes for,” Kinsley sneers smugly, awfully proud of her retort.

---