Chapter 75

ASHER

I leave Ebony in Tyler’s care, comforted by the knowledge that she’s not alone in her pain. I know my father will be there for her, coaxing her to share her feelings in a way only he can. I don’t tell him about her struggles or ask him to guide her through this difficult time.

If she needs his help, she’ll ask for it; if not, at least she’s not alone. As I leave her, I lead Maddison through the house and out into the fresh air of the driveway.

She sighs, taking a deep, shuddering breath as if she’s scared or hurting, and she closes her eyes, missing a step. I reach out to steady her, ensuring she doesn’t stumble, and she opens her eyes. The pain in them is palpable.

For a moment, I just stare, lost in the depth of her sorrow. Something’s wrong; I can feel it. But she’s so guarded, I doubt she’ll share what’s bothering her.

“Are you okay?” I ask her.

“Mm-hmm,” she hums, but I can tell she’s hiding something from me.

We walk, slower than usual, toward Sense. All I can think about is the fear she must be feeling, and maybe that’s why her eyes look so lost.

“Remember, you provide the information, and I’ll provide the pleasure in return…” I remind her of our previous agreement. I always keep my word, but she doesn’t know that, and I feel the need to reassure her in the silence.

“I know,” she responds, opening the door for herself and stepping into the massive building that houses my father’s business.

I lead us through the hallway and up the stairs. She glances around the first floor, but I shake my head, pointing to the second flight of stairs that leads to the top level.

“This way,” I tell her.

She bites her lip, clearly struggling with something, but she follows obediently as we ascend the stairs.

I knock three times on my father’s door. That’s when Maddison grabs my hand, pulling my arm behind my back awkwardly as I open the door to Dante and Callum, as well as a large man in a charcoal suit. We can’t see his face; his back is to us, but he’s older, with graying, peppered black hair.

He turns as we enter, Callum greeting us enthusiastically.

“Asher, Maddison. Meet Mr. Nichols,” Callum introduces the officer.

I try to walk further inside, but Maddison hesitates, her eyes on Dante. There’s a flicker of recognition in her expression, and I realize she’s encountered Dante before.

Has he been to the club? Is he one of the men who paid for the girls’ services? Does Nana Cathrine know?

That would make sense, considering he lives in the barn house with Cathrine. I pull Maddison along with me, making sure to sit between her and the officer—a buffer, if you will.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I mutter. It’s not; in every sense of the word, I wish I never had to meet this guy.

But here we are, and there he is.

“It’s lovely to finally meet you, Asher. Call me Fred.” He extends his hand to me, and I shake it firmly.

One thing Zach has always taught me is that a good first impression starts with a firm handshake. And I want Fred to know I mean business.

I’m not just some kid who stumbled upon these girls. I’m not the child my fathers think I am. I am a man—a man capable of helping these girls.

“Maddison,” Fred greets her, but she seems to be observing Ebony’s behavior. She’s quiet, meeting him with guarded eyes as she hides behind me and her hair.

“She’s nervous.” I explain her behavior, making it clear that this is not something she’s entirely comfortable with. Her hand, still in mine, tightens.

“That’s okay; how about we start with you, Asher? Tell me everything you’ve discovered since joining the team.”

I want to laugh; I didn’t “join the team.” I am my own team. Everything I’ve done was my own decision.

“’Kay, what do you want to know?” I ask.

“Tell me about the club; how did they manage their…extra activities?” he asks.

“Well, Maddison here would take each man back from the bar every half an hour. They—we had appointment times to stick to.”

“Where did you manage to score an appointment?” He quizzes me while my gaze is fixed on Callum. I hadn’t anticipated the level of discomfort I’d feel, being grilled like a kid in the principal’s office.

“I kept bugging Maddison until she got me in,” I explain to the officer.

He bombards me with questions. “What was it like inside? How many girls were there? What were their conditions? Where did you encounter the other two girls?”

“Slow down with the questions, man. Inside, it was like an extension of the bar, a stage for the girls to perform, like a strip club. The girls were out of sight until Maddison brought them to us, as per Fennick’s instructions. Fennick had them dance on the stage, slow music—the whole shebang. It was a genuine meeting; questions were asked, fantasies were catered to, even if they were pretend. The paperwork was already prepared… They even tested me for sexually transmitted diseases. They’re running a tight ship, all behind the facade of a legitimate nightclub.”

He straightens up, nodding at my responses, but there’s a hint of disinterest in his demeanor. It’s as if he’s heard this narrative countless times before.

He swallows, then swivels his chair sideways, the legs scraping against the floor, causing a harsh screeching sound. Maddison flinches, her grip on me tightening as she watches him from the corner of her eye.

Her gaze is still focused on Dante, but I’m not entirely convinced that’s where her attention lies.

“Maddison,” Fred acknowledges her.

She swallows hard, finally shifting her gaze to meet his.

“Yes?” she responds.

“How did you end up in Sanctum?” he inquires.

She remains silent, so silent for so long that I start to think she might back out of our agreement. It seems she’s taken a page out of Ebony’s playbook. Her silence fills the room, creating a palpable tension.

But then she speaks, her voice soft, her words raw. “My father sold me to the owner. I had outlived my usefulness to him, it seems.”

My gaze flicks from hers to my father’s, and finally to Fred’s.

~What the fuck?~