Behind the Lens (Behind the Lives) (48 page)

“This
is the Devil’s work,” Solomon said, his face both disgusted and fascinated at
the same time.

A
guard turned to them, a big bloke in his mid-twenties. “What are you doing up
here?”

Solomon’s
focus snapped to the man. “Saul told me to take the new guard to Ant’s room.”

The
guard’s eyes fell on Sledge, his expression sceptical. “Why? Ant’s into twinks,
and he’s clearly no twink.”

“Ant
wants to watch Ty do the new twink.”

“I thought
no one was allowed to touch that boy.”

“Saul
said Ant changed his mind.”

“Lemme
check first.” The guard pulled out a phone. A few seconds later he started
talking into it. “Saul, is the new guard Ty allowed in Ant’s room? Sure,
thanks.” He hung up. “Okay, go through. It’s the second room on the right.”

Heading
down the passage with Solomon, Sledge took one last look at the orgy, almost
tasting the sweat and spunk, the air thick with sex. A cry made him stop in his
tracks, the sound coming from a door on his left. The person cried out again, a
slap accompanying the pained voice. Terrified it was Corey, Sledge burst into
the room, coming to a sudden halt, the scene before him not something he’d
expected to see in a million years. An obese man, wearing only a cowboy hat,
had the cute redhead tied up and lying naked over his lap, smacking his arse
with a paddle, the poor guy’s abused flesh as red as the cowboy’s cheeks.

The
cowboy stopped whacking the redhead’s arse and looked up. “Do you work here?”
he asked, pointing the paddle at Sledge.

Sledge
nodded.

“Then
take off your clothes, while you,” the man pointed at Solomon, “go away, you’re
hurting my eyes.”

“But
I’m a guard,” Sledge said.

“Twenty
grand says you’re my stud tonight, so come here, I want to put this honey on
the spit.” The man smacked the redhead’s arse again, making him cry out.

“No,
I’m just lookin’ for someone.”

Dropping
the paddle, the cowboy grabbed some rope and shoved the redhead off his lap. He
stepped over him, his belly wobbling obscenely, his cock completely hidden by
fat. “Strip now, boy, before I decide to spit-roast you instead.”

Sledge
backed up quickly and pulled the door shut, then ran for the room that Solomon
had opened, closing it behind them. He leaned against it, shaking his head in
disbelief. “That wuz just—”

“—the
vilest thing I’ve ever seen,” Solomon said.

“Christ,
yeah, and that poor redhead—”

“—is
getting paid.”

“No
one deserves that.”

“He
does.” Solomon bent over and picked up a scrap of material off the floor, then
dropped it quickly. “Gross, it’s a freakin’ G-string.” He looked at Sledge. “Is
it your boyfriend’s?”

“Hell
no! Corey only wears boxers. And where the fuck is he?” Sledge said, getting
more anxious.

“Saul’s
probably gone to get him now.”

A
cheer went up; sounding like it was coming from the ballroom. Sledge pushed off
the door, not liking this—not liking it at all. Juliet may be out, but he was a
sitting duck here. He didn’t really know Saul; it was his brothers who did, and
look what that had resulted in for Dante: his brother made to fuck in front of
a crowd. Or was he being fucked? Another cheer went up, the words
‘Fuck him
harder’
returning from earlier. He hadn’t seen who was on the bed, and
they’d said ‘him’. But Dante was into chicks, plus he couldn’t imagine a guy
fucking his bro, Dante would rip their dick off. Shit! He opened the door,
praying it wasn’t Corey on that bed, because Corey had ‘Fuck me harder’ written
all over him.

“Where
are you going?” Solomon asked, following him out.

Ignoring
him, Sledge took off down the passage. This time he wasn’t affected by the
fucking and sucking going on, his sole focus on getting to Corey. He pushed
through the crowd, coming to a stop in front of the bed, immense relief washing
over him at finding another guy getting roasted.

Solomon
tugged on his arm. “We needa get out of here now.”

Sledge
turned, spotting two guards almost on them. The bigger of the two stopped in
front of them, his hard gaze flicking between Solomon and him. “What are you
two doing up here?” the man growled. “You’re supposed to be out front.”

“Ant
wants Ty to fuck the boy for a show, but he’s not in the room where Saul said.”

“You
talking ’bout the cute twink with the beanie?”

“Yes,”
Sledge cut in, barely able to contain himself at the mention of Corey.

The
guard frowned. “But I thought no one was allowed to fuck him.”

“The
customers are willing to pay to see it,” Solomon said.

“Yeah,
I did hear a few ask.” The guard’s gaze settled on Sledge. “Just be careful,
he’s a biter. He bit Mack.”

Sledge
thanked the guy then left, aiming for the bedroom again. He entered, ignoring
Solomon’s complaints as he pulled out his phone. “What’s Saul’s number?” he
asked, wanting Corey here NOW. He keyed it in as Solomon told him, then placed
the phone to his ear. “Saul—” He stopped talking, the sounds coming from the
other side of the line taking his breath away. Two women were screaming while
Dante’s voice hollered, “Let them go!”

“What’s
happening?!” Sledge yelled into the phone.

No one
answered, the noises on the other end continuing. Dante started begging, “I’ll
do anything, just don’t do this to them, please, don’t do this,” the last part
coming out as a sob. He heard Beth cry out for Dante, then Kara scream out
murder and curses, telling them her sister would cut their hearts out if she
died.

Sledge
shouted into the phone, “Saul, help them!”

“I
can’t, only you can,” Saul replied, then the phone went dead.

27

Dante

Mack and his mate were
holding Dante down, their large bodies pressed against his, stopping him from
getting to Kara and Beth. Saul had brought Beth in like a lamb to the
slaughter, Beth not knowing what was happening until Ant told her she would be
playing Russian roulette.

“Strip
her,” Ant said. “I want the loser to go out the way they came into the world.”

“No!”
Beth screamed, struggling against Saul, who still held her tight, not doing
what Ant had ordered.

“Strip
her!” Ant yelled. “Now!”

“That’s
not necessary,” Saul said.

“Of
course it’s necessary; it’s a porn party, so strip her before I decide to send
you in her place.”

“Then
do it.”

Ant
blinked, clearly not expecting that answer. “You’re willing to die over this
piece of fluff?”

“She’s
not fluff.”

Ant
snorted out a laugh. “You’ve fallen for her, haven’t you?”

“No.”

“Of
course you have, otherwise you wouldn’t have offered yourself up.”

“I
don’t want her
or
Kara to die.”

“Then
I’ll put you in Kara’s place.”

“Do
it then.”

“You’re
bluffing.”

Saul
pushed Beth onto the couch, then ripped his shirt open, the buttons popping
onto the floor. He shrugged the shirt off, letting it fall to the floor.

Dante
stopped struggling, shocked by the criss-cross of scars on Saul’s torso, the
man looking liked he’d been whipped numerous times. The guard with the afro loosened
his grip on Dante, the guy muttering, “Jesus Christ, where ja get those?” Saul
ignored him, his hand going to his fly.

Ant
shook his head. “You’ve got balls, I give you that, Saul, but I’m not putting
you in, my father wouldn’t allow it, plus you’re worth more than the women.
Kara’s of some value, but Beth’s worthless.”

“She
is not!” Dante hollered. “And your father promised me her safety!”

“I’m
not my father,” Ant said.

“He’s
the boss; he made an agreement with me, that’s why I gave myself over.”

“My
father is like the British when they first came to New Zealand, too concerned
with pretending to make everything official when they were planning to take the
land regardless. I’m not into pretences, and won’t make agreements when I
clearly don’t have to, so keep your mouth shut or,” he pulled out a gun and
pointed it at Beth, “she’s dead and your sister will be put in her place, which
will be a pity, because no one wants to see Juliet naked.”

Dante
looked back at Beth, who was crying on the couch, shaking like crazy. He wanted
to plead for her more, but instead clamped his mouth shut, knowing it would do
no good, if anything, his mouth would probably get both women killed.

Ant
turned back to Saul. “Strip her now or I’ll get Mack to, and he can fuck her as
well.”

“I
vote for that!” Mack said.

“No!
I’ll do it.” Saul reached for Beth, who instantly started kicking out at him,
screaming: “Don’t touch me!”

The
two guards, who’d arrived with Ant, grabbed Beth’s arms and legs, stretching
her out over the couch. She screamed and twisted, trying to avoid Saul’s hands.
He grabbed her blouse and ripped it open, then pulled out a knife, making Beth
go still. He sliced her bra up the middle, then cut the straps on her shoulders
and the sleeves of her blouse. He pocketed the knife and pulled the material
away, leaving her upper body bare. Beth kicked into action again as he unzipped
her jeans, trying to wriggle and squirm away from his hands. He yanked her
underwear and jeans down, making her go even more ballistic.

Dante
squeezed his eyes shut, the pain of seeing her abused, and not being able to
stop it, tearing him apart.

“Now,
fuck her, Mack,” Ant said, making Dante’s eyes shoot open, both him and Saul
yelling “No!” at the same time.

Ant
laughed. “I was joking; just take her to the gun range with Kara.” He handed
Kara over to the two guards who had held Beth down. Kara screamed like a
banshee, shouting out all sorts of threats, some including dismemberment.

Saul
reached down and grabbed Beth, hoisting her over his shoulder. Beth cried out
again, trying to fight him, but the man was too big.

“Don’t
do this, Saul!” Dante yelled, getting more panicked as the man disappeared
through the doorway with Beth, the two guards carrying Kara following him out.
“Lemme go, motherfuckin’ bastards! LEMME GO!” he hollered, spewing out a
barrage of curses, the words all blending together. “I’m gonna kill you, I’m
gonna fuckin’ kill you!”

“Boss,
you want us to gag him?” Mack said.

“No
need.”

Dante
got a hand free, and punched Mack in the side of the face. Grunting, Mack
jammed his knee down harder against Dante’s throat, making him gasp, the
pressure too much. Dante tried to push it off with his free hand.

“We
need to tie him up,” Mack said, grabbing the hand.

Desperate
to get the leg off his neck, Dante spat in Mack’s face. Mack swore, and grabbed
Dante’s hair, and slammed the back of his head against the floor, the pain
making Dante’s eyesight blank out for a second.

“Don’t
damage him!” Ant yelled.

“But
he won’t stop,” Mack said.

“He’s
one man.”

“A
fucking strong one!”

“Let
go, I’ll deal with him.”

As
Mack and his mate let go, Ant kicked Dante in the stomach, winding him. Another
kick made Dante curl up, gasping for breath. Ant pushed him onto his front then
climbed on top, putting Dante into a headlock.

“Tie
his ankles and wrists,” Ant said.

The
thugs strapped them with what felt like hard plastic. Once done, Ant yanked
Dante onto his back, then jammed a hand over his mouth and leaned in close to
his face. “You can yell and curse all you like, but it’ll change nothing: one
of those women
will
die tonight, and if you cause any more trouble I’ll
have both of them killed. Now, blink if you’re going to play nice for daddy.”

Dante
blinked rapidly.

Ant’s
expression grew more serious as his eyes roamed Dante’s face. “You look so much
like Ash it’s disconcerting. It’s almost as though I’m lying on top of him,
like I did back in high school. Now, you’re not going to head-butt me like he
did, are you?”

“No,”
Dante mumbled against Ant’s hand.

“Good
fuck-toy, and I’m going to enjoy finishing what I started all those years ago
with Ash, and don’t whine and bitch that you aren’t him, I don’t care, you two
look the same, and anyway, I have the power to do what I like and it’s you,
gorgeous. I want to do you so hard it’ll bring tears to your eyes, and you’re
going to beg for more if you want me to go easy on Corey, because he makes me
want to melt into him so badly. That little sweetheart might actually make me
happy, and if you or anyone else ruins that for me I’ll make everyone pay.
Blink if you understand?”

Dante
blinked.

“Looks
like you’re smarter than Ash.” Ant pushed off him, then reached down and hauled
Dante up with help from Mack, who took a hold of Dante’s restrained arms. “Cut
his ankle straps,” Ant said, “He won’t give us any more trouble, will you,
Dante?”

“No,”
Dante said. “Just put me in the game.”

“Hell
no, that’s never going to happen, because you’re going to make me obscene
amounts of money. Those offers tonight made me come. I knew you were worth a
shitload, but not that much. You’d think by the way those people acted you were
the most famous star on the planet, but I guess what the cock and pussy wants,
is what the cock and pussy will pay for.”

Dante’s
body tensed. “I can make more money selling drugs for you.”

Ant
sneered. “What you sell is a piss in the pond in comparison to the porn market,
and at least porn’s legal.”

“It’s
not porn you’re talking ’bout; it’s prostitution.”

“Which
is also legal.”

“There
must be sumpthin’ I can do to stop the game.”

“Get
Ash for me.”

“I
can’t do that.”

“If
you want both your bitches to survive you will.”

“I’m
not giving my brother up to you; he’s been abused enough without you adding
more.”

“Not
enough in my opinion, so get him here and I’ll spare the women.”

“I
don’t believe you.”

“I
give you my word.”

“Your
word means shit.”

“Then
Kara and Beth are playing the game.”

Dante
yelled out in frustration and anger, knowing he couldn’t risk Ash no matter
what, plus there was no way Ant would keep his word, the fucker a lying piece of
shit.

“You
sure you won’t change your mind?” Ant said, grabbing Dante’s cock, “because I
would love to see you fuck him.”

“NO!
You’re sick!”

“I
know. I’ve been told I’ve got a few screws lose.” Ant let go of Dante’s cock
with a smile. “Personally, I think I’m normal. Look what happened in your home
country.”

“New
Zealand’s my home country.”

“I’m
talking about the destruction of Yugoslavia. Supposedly normal people turned on
their neighbours, raping and killing them, reverting back to what humans are
really like without the structures of society fucking it up for the strong.
It’s Darwin’s way. If you’re stronger than someone, you impose your will upon
them.”

“It’s
not normal! People should protect the weak, not abuse them. You’re just a
fuckin’ warped psycho!”

“This
psycho is fully clothed, while you,” Ant tapped Dante’s forehead, “are naked
and defenceless. Now, I’d rather be the psycho than a soft sap who puts
themselves in danger for worthless bitches.”

“They’re
not worthless; you are, you fuckin’ animal!”

“I
know, and I’m going to eat your brother’s boyfriend up and lick him clean.”

“You
can’t touch Corey!”

“What
will you do about it?”

“I’ll
fuckin’ kill you!”

Ant
laughed. “And you call me the psycho? You’re nuts, Dante, you can’t do shit to
me, but I can to you. And don’t worry your pretty head, I’m not going to throw
Corey away, I actually want to keep that sweetheart, and surprisingly, I am
nice to my lovers.”

“It
doesn’t matter, he hates you.”

“He’ll
change his mind, plus there’s also something wonderful called Stockholm syndrome.”

“That
won’t make a difference if you kill his sister!” Dante yelled.

Ant
grabbed Dante by the throat. “He won’t know shit if he isn’t told, so shut your
mouth!”

Dante
wrenched his neck free. “He’s in the next room, he’ll have heard everything,
you fuckin’ moron!”

“So,
after I threaten to have both of your women killed, you continue to insult me?”

Dante
inhaled sharply, then started shaking his head vigorously. “No, no, I didn’t
mean to, shit, I can’t control myself, could never control myself, I say things
before I think,” he rambled, trying to find any excuse that Ant would believe.
“I’m bipolar, I haven’t been taking my meds, please don’t hurt them cos of me,
hurt
me
, hit me, you know you wanna, I piss everyone off, I deserve it,
I deserve all of this—”

“You’re
turning me on with your words,” Ant cut in.

“Then
do what you like to me, just don’t hurt them.”

“I
wish, but my father will be here any second.” Ant looked over his shoulder as
the door opened. “Ha! Perfect timing, I was just talking about you, old man.”

Craven
walked into the cottage with two guards, his eyes going from Dante to Ant.
“Don’t call me that, and what are you doing with Dante?”

“Containing
the violent prick.”

“Why’s
he naked?”

“He’s
just come from performing for your clients.”

Craven
glanced down at Ant’s crotch. “It looks like you’re getting ready to fuck him.”

“I’m
not; I was just waiting for you.”

“I
would believe you if you weren’t bulging out of your pants. You’ve got a job to
do, not Dante.”

Ant
scowled. “I am doing my job.”

“Good,
because you’re not allowed to do anything without my say so,” Craven said, his
eyes narrowing further, “unlike with Mr. Park.”

“We’ve
already been over that. Jade would’ve gone after Dante regardless, so what’s
the harm in taking money from him?”

“Money
I never saw, plus through your stupidity Dante found out about the filming. It
may have worked out, but you still allowed a vendetta to affect business.”

“It
wasn’t over a vendetta, Jade doesn’t take no for an answer.”