Darling Wildfire (Red Rabbit #2)

91

FLASHBACK

THERON

THE WARREN

Palmero’s island adventure had been a bust. It was nothing but a place for rich businessmen to legally act out their fantasies. I hadn’t seen any trafficking signs there and I hadn’t run into Palmero or Mahoney. Now, I was on my plane again but this time I was headed for the Warren. Nyx and Atlas had accompanied me on the plane ride and as we began our descent, I looked out the window at the vast expanse of forest.

“I guess that’s one way to ensure your business isn’t discovered,”

Nyx muttered. “Having it in the middle of the wild.”

Atlas looked up from his phone. “What’s your budget in there?”

“As much as it takes.”

Atlas ran a hand over his face. “This is going to be expensive…”

Nyx shrugged. “I mean, since you have to go in and act like you belong there, you might as well have some fun.”

“He’s going to be raping someone,”

Atlas said dryly.

“Wellllll,”

Nyx said. “I mean, the way T does it…at least it’s not violent.”

“You’re justifying this?”

Atlas asked, but he was trying to hide a smirk. “After everything all of us have been through?”

“Well, it’s not like he has a choice really—he has to make Mahoney believe he’s just like him. They have to become besties. And look, T is probably going to be the best thing to happen to some poor girl in there. I saw West’s notes on the Warren, I know what kind of dark shit he’s about to walk into,”

Nyx shrugged. “I’m just saying, he’s not going to beat his woman to death. Which, unfortunately, I saw is a kink in the brochure. This place has very few rules.”

Atlas chuckled. “I guess Red did have a pretty good time and you could consider that rape,”

he shrugged.

“Exactly!”

Nyx exclaimed. “What was it you said one time, T? Manipulate the body and the mind will follow?”

“Something like that,”

I chuckled.

Shortly after that we landed and I said goodbye to the guys. A sharply dressed man flanked by two armed guards was waiting for me when I disembarked the plane. A blacked out jeep sat behind them gleaming in the sunlight. I threw my aviators on as he walked over and extended a hand.

“Kraven,”

I nodded and shook his hand. “Welcome to the Warren. I’m here to show you to the facility and get you all checked in.”

He took my luggage and we all piled into the jeep which took off down a manicured dirt track through the trees. The drive was maybe five minutes before we pulled up in front of an iron door set into a cliff face. Beautifully crafted forest designs ran from top to bottom and two additional armed guards stood sentry on either side. I followed the man through the door and into a warm, welcoming reception area. He handed my luggage off to another porter and walked around a counter to a computer. A few clicks and he pointed to the counter in front of me.

“Extend your wrist for me there, please. This is a temporary tattoo which will serve as your access key to all necessary areas in the facility.”

I did what he instructed and he hovered a device over the inside of my wrist. A white tattoo of a running rabbit appeared. I raised my eyebrows at the man and he chuckled.

“You’ll find the owner of this establishment has a specific sense of humor,”

he said dryly. “Don’t worry, it will fade by the time you leave at the end of the week.”

He placed an ipad in front of me that had documents pulled up.

“You should have already received a copy of these and signed them, I’ve pulled them up for you to look over once more. At this time, I do wish to remind you, this place has very few rules and what you may see here could cross over any moral codes you may have. This is a safe place for our patrons to explore their desires without fear of repercussions. This includes accidental—”

he gave me a look like accidental was a loose term here. “—death of one of our rabbits. We assume you are here because of your own deviant desires but if this isn’t what you expected, now would be the time to back out.”

I gave him a look that had a grin ghosting over his face as though that was the usual response to his script.

“Very well. There is a reception dinner tonight and the auction is tomorrow morning. Is there a phone you wish to check in during your stay? Any device connected to the outside world is prohibited. There is a media room you may visit at any time to use it if you’d like but it cannot go outside of that room. We have jammers to ensure this rule is followed.”

I shook my head. I’d left my phone with Nyx and Atlas. The tracker I had in me would alert them if I was in distress or needed extraction.

“Everything is included during your stay—including drinks and food and use of all of our many facilities. We understand this place can be quite the maze to navigate so anytime you need directions, you can go up to one of the monitors on the walls and scan your wrist. It will pull up a menu with options on it, including navigation.”

He clicked a few more buttons. “It looks like your auction contribution is in the holding account. After the auction, you will sign over whatever amount you bid. If you don’t see something you like during the auction, we can select something to your liking from our inventory. We already have your STI panel results and general health screening. If you’ll just ensure all of the documentation is to your satisfaction?”

I scanned the iPad, signed and handed it back.

“You have access to your rabbit during designated times and while we do have an itinerary such as dinners, cocktail hours and such, you are more than welcome to pick and choose what to attend. However, I highly recommend attending some of the group events. Watching and sharing is encouraged. Finally, our staff already know who you are and have your preferences memorized as far as food and drinks go. Don’t hesitate to ask them for anything.”

He put everything away and fixed a customer service smile on his face.

“Any questions?”

I shook my head and he gestured to a door behind him. “Then if you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to your room.”

I walked into my room and discovered the porter had already neatly put away my bags. It was a modest room but with all updated fixtures, a large shower and king sized bed. It felt like a high end resort room, only without the view.

Following the directions the man left with me, I headed for the cocktail lounge. When I walked through the door, I would never have thought this place was underground. It looked like any upscale, dark and sultry speakeasy with black walls, charcoal furnishings and a deep mahogany bar that stretched across one wall with the alcohol bottles alluringly backlit. Soft modern jazz music was playing, providing a relaxed but not lethargic atmosphere. All the seating was comfortable couches, lounges and armchairs surrounding low tables of dark wood. Soft, dim lighting on the wall, interspersed among provocative artwork pulled the entire space together.

“Old fashioned, sir?”

The bartender asked.

I nodded and leaned back against the bar, looking over the men already in attendance. A boisterous laugh cut through the general low level of noise in the room. It belonged to a man with a buzz cut in a grey button down with sleeves rolled up and dark dress pants. He noticed my attention and excused himself from the group before walking over and stopping in front of me.

“Cooper,”

he said, extending a hand.

“Ah, you must be the one behind this white rabbit I have to have on my wrist for a week,”

I said, amusement in my eyes as I shook his hand.

Cooper laughed. “You know it’s funny—the Warren—rabbits—cute, huh? You’re Kraven, right?”

“Yes I am.”

My drink arrived and I grabbed it, taking a sip.

“I want to talk to you at some point about a possible contract.”

“You go through a lot of ammo here?”

I asked, fixing him with a skeptical look. He laughed again.

“God no, not here. I’m partnered with another company who is always looking for additional suppliers and they go through hundreds of thousands of rounds per month.”

“Sure, but I don’t make business deals on vacation,”

I said, winking at him.

He clasped me on the shoulder, that amused grin still on his face. “Of course, of course! Just wanted to put it in your head. We can set up a time to discuss later. What do you think of the place so far?”

“I have to say—having the staff know my preferences is great,”

I said, lifting my drink to him.

“Only the best for my clients,”

he chuckled. “And that extends to the product. I’m sure you’ll find something to your liking here.”

“I have no doubts,” I agreed.

“Come with me,”

Cooper said, gesturing as he turned. “I want to introduce you to some people. Part of the fun is networking at these things.”

He led me back to the group of three men he was originally talking to.

“Sorry to interrupt gentlemen,”

Cooper said. “I wanted to introduce you to Kraven. It’s his first time here so I expect you repeat offenders to show him the ropes.”

He pointed to a large man, more round than tall with a balding head and beady black eyes. “This is Paul Johnson.”

His finger jumped to the next man wearing an all black suit with black rings and tattoos peeking out on his hands and up his neck. There was a cruel twist to his mouth that looked permanent. I instantly didn’t like him.

“Roger Holdings,”

Cooper said. Then he pointed to a swarthy forty something man in a crisp suit and calculating brown eyes. “And finally, Greg Mahoney.”

The man nodded politely, his fingers curled around a martini glass as he studied me. “I’ll let you guys chat—dinner will be served shortly.”

“What line of business are you in?”

Mahoney asked.

“Weapons mostly.”

I took a sip of my drink. “Some contract work.”

“Ex-military?”

I nodded. “Yeah—emphasis on ex. Apparently I enjoy killing people too much.”

The men chuckled. “What about yourselves?”

“Finance,”

Johnson said.

“Imports and exports,”

Roger said. So drugs basically.

I turned to Mahoney. “I deal in people.”

There was no smirk, no underlying smugness, he was just stating a fact.

“Most of the product here is courtesy of Mahoney,”

Roger said.

“Some of the best in my opinion,”

Johnson offered. “Heard of the Red Auction? That’s his.”

“I’ve heard of it,”

I nodded. “Have to say it does seem intriguing.”

“Pretty exclusive,”

Roger said.

“Knock it off, Roger,”

Johnson said. “Greg is right here and can invite anyone.”

“I respect a man who’s tastes are as black as my own,”

Mahoney said. “But forgive me if I’m wary of strangers.”

“That makes two of us,”

I said easily. “I’m not asking for an invitation.”

“It’s not that—I just have to be assured you are who you say you are,”

he shrugged and took a sip of his drink. “Can never be too safe these days. But I’m sure after this week I won’t have any doubts.”

“You’re lucky voyeurism is a kink of mine,”

I said. Amusement flashed in my eyes as I turned on the charm. “I plan on taking my purchase out to the forest first. You’re welcome to watch the show.”

“The first meeting is always the most exciting,”

Mahoney chuckled. “I’ll take you up on that.”