“Yeah?”
“Call Maddox, tell him we’ve got a serious problem with David and the red zone, and I need some backup.”
She caught the phone that he threw her way, and found Maddox’s number. She relayed the message and waited.
“He says to hold down the fort. He’ll have backup to you in ten.”
“Take care of him, Lou. Is it bad?”
“Yeah. This is just, wow, it’s awful, Mr. Denton.”
“Maddox. You’re working with Jacob. You get to call me by name.” He hung up, and she stared down at the blank screen.
Charming man.
“I want you all to separate. Women, over there, men, over there,” Jacob said. “You, stay the fuck there.” He pushed David into a seat and stepped back. “Where is everyone?”
“The bitches are working,” David said. “We’re doing good for business.”
“You call this good? I call this a fucking shithole. This is not what we handed to you, David. We gave you the rules, and now we’ve got rumors of people stealing women. Not good.” Jacob kicked over a table that had lines of coke and straws. “This is not what we’re about.” He walked over to a woman that looked completely fucked. Her eyes were glazed over, and drool was coming out of her mouth. Jacob grabbed her face. “What’s your name?”
Slurring ensued, and Jacob let her go. She dropped to the floor and passed out.
“This is fucking disgusting. The women undergo health checks. They’re not allowed to take drugs, and so far, it looks like you’re breaking those rules. We offer them a life, a chance to make their way in the world.”
“They’re fucking whores!” David spat the words out.
Jacob grabbed a wooden chair and threw it at David, who then collapsed on the floor, screaming in pain. “They’re not fucking whores. You treat them with respect. They’re damn good workers, and we promised them respect. You’re fucking with our name with this shit.”
With each second that passed, Jacob clearly got angrier.
Lou stayed silent, watching the man at work. He looked terrifying.
“Who are you?” he asked, grabbing a man’s cheeks.
The guy mumbled something, and Jacob sighed. He looked totally disgusted.
“What did I miss?” Abel asked, coming up behind her. “What the fuck!”
Okay, she had no reason to doubt Jacob with the way Abel was reacting. Clearly, this was not how the brothel was supposed to be.
Lou left them alone, and curiosity got the better of her. Growing up, she’d always been told that her curious mind would get her in trouble. But no matter what, it never stopped her. She found a door going through to a kitchen. There were no one around, but then she heard a faint cry. Frowning, she moved a little closer into the kitchen, and the cry became a sob, and louder.
She found another door partially opened. “What the hell is with this place and doors?” Slowly, she opened the door a little wider.
“Please, stop, I just want my mommy. Please, ouch, it hurts.”
The cry tore at Lou’s heart, and without thinking, she stormed down the basement stairs. There was a young girl, dressed in a school uniform, who was screaming and crying to be released. A man, twice the girl’s size was trying to force his dick inside her, but the girl was wriggling. The man had a belt in his hand and was whipping her.
“I told you, cunt, you’re going to give me what I fucking want.” He brought the belt down on her, and the young girl kept on screaming for her mother.
Every protective instinct within Lou came alive, and she charged at the man, grabbing the leather of the belt in her hand, and tightening her fist even as it hurt more than she could have ever imagined. She didn’t have a clear shot of the man as both were moving, and Lou’s hand was shaking.
“Stay away from her.” She fought the pain in her hand.
The man turned, slamming his fist against her face, and Lou collided with the wall, screaming out in pain.
“Look, an older bitch. I’ll deal with you later.”