Behind the Lens (Behind the Lives) (47 page)

Leather
Face walked up to Dante. “I have to take you and Kara for a cleanup.” He turned
to Corey. “Best take you as well, you spunky little bugger.”

Corey
shrank down. “The Samoan man said you’re not allowed to touch me.”

“Oh,
I can touch you, alright,” Leather Face said, walking around the table.

Dante
stood up. “Back off!”

“I’m
just going to carry him out.”

“I’ll
do it.”

Corey
turned to Dante. “After you put your pants on.”

“No,”
Leather Face said, “I’m carrying you, while Dante walks out naked, boss’s
orders.” He leaned down to pick Corey up.

Corey
yelled and hit out at him.

The
man held up his hands. “Everyone’s looking at you, so stop throwing tantrums
and let me get you out of here before the boss decides you’re the next one on
that bed.”

Corey’s
eyes shot to the bed, then around the room, horrified that Leather Face was
telling the truth, because everyone was staring at him like he was the encore.
Scared he would be made to perform; he held his arms up, flinching as the man
lifted him.

Grinning,
Leather Face looked down at Corey’s shorts. “You totally scored yourself.”

Feeling
humiliated, Corey covered it with his arm, hoping no one else noticed the cum
stain. Leather Face sniggered, then ordered Dante and Kara to follow. People’s
eyes went to Corey’s cast, the tablecloth having hidden it before. A few women
cooed at him like he was a cat or a baby, while one of the men who’d mauled him
blew him a kiss.

As
they walked through the crowd, Corey’s eyes widened. Two of the painted women
were on their knees, one blowing a man in a tux while the other tea-bagged him.

“This
ain’t happening,” he muttered.

“Close
your eyes,” Dante said, behind him.

But
he couldn’t. Instead, he turned his head so he could continue to watch. He
flinched as Ant stepped into view. Ant whispered something into Leather Face’s
ear, then caressed Corey’s cheek. Corey held still, afraid if he retaliated he
would be put on the bed.

“I’ll
be with you soon, baby boy,” Ant said.

Leather
Face kicked into gear again. They exited the room and descended the staircase,
following Afro Man and another thug into the main entrance, then out the back,
heading across a manicured lawn, through some trees and into a stone cottage,
where people were lounging on chairs, while others got touch-ups where their
body paint had smeared.

Leather
Face placed Corey on a peach-coloured couch. “I’ll go get your sponge bath
ready, jizzy.”

“No!
I’ll clean myself, and Dante should wash first.”

Dante
flopped down next to him. “I need a rest for a mo; I’m buggered.”

Grinning,
Kara sat down on the armrest and placed an arm around Dante’s shoulders.

Dante
pushed it off. “Don’t touch me.” He grabbed a pillow and covered his still hard
cock, glaring at one of the male workers, the guy shamelessly staring at it.

“But,
we just had sex,” Kara said.

“I
didn’t have a choice.”

“You
did too, you chose me.”

“Cos
I didn’t wanna fuck that bitch Sandra.”

“Don’t
be nasty, Dante,” Kara said, looking upset. “What you did meant the world to
me.”

“I
fucked you in front of a crowd, how can that mean the world to you?”

“You
didn’t use a condom, which means you love me.”

“I
already told ja I did.”

“But
you’re s’posed to love Beth,” Corey cut in.

“I
love them both, just wish I didn’t.” Dante’s attention moved back to the worker.
“What the fuck are you lookin’ at?”

“You
obviously,” the guy said. “You wanna fuck me?”

“Go
fuck yourself!” Dante threw the cushion from his lap at the guy, who laughed
and turned back to the woman touching up his body paint.

Dante
placed an arm around Corey and pulled him in tight. “We need to stick together,
cos we’re surrounded by perverted freaks, and if they take you away, remember
what I said ’bout puking.”

Corey
stared down at Dante’s cock, the way Dante was holding him making it hard not
to. “Um, you’re making me look at your c-cock,” he said, wishing he could close
his eyes, but not wanting to.

“Shit,
sorry.” Dante let go of him and grabbed another pillow.

The
door burst open, capturing everyone’s attention. Ant strode into the room with
two guards, Afro Man and Leather Face joining them. “Everyone out!” Ant yelled.

Kara
and Dante stood up, while the other workers shuffled out.

“Sit
back down Kara and Dante,” Ant said.

“No!”
Dante stormed towards Ant, the guards blocking his path. “Why the hell is Corey
here? He’s too young.”

“No,
he’s not.”

“He’s
seventeen!”

“Which
is old enough to fuck.”

Dante
lunged for Ant, both Afro Man and Leather Face shoving him back.

Saul
walked through the door. “Back off, Dante!”

“Only
if you take Corey home!”

“That’s
why I’m here; he’s leaving now, Craven’s orders.”

Ant
turned on Saul. “No!”

“You
don’t get a say, we’ve had complaints.” Saul sidestepped him, and picked up
Corey off the couch.

Ant
stepped in front of them as they headed for the door. “You’re still not taking
him.”

“Your
father doesn’t want Corey here, so move.”

“Bullshit!
He would’ve told me himself.”

“He
speaks through me.”

“Only
for the workers, and when I take over you’re getting the lead boot, unless you
start brown nosing my arse and take that boy to the bedroom now, because he
belongs to my dick!”

Dante
went for Ant again. The guards launched themselves at him, taking him down.
Dante punched out, trying to get free. The two thugs climbed over his body,
nailing him to the floor, Leather Face’s knee pressed against his throat. Kara
sprang onto Leather Face, the man screaming as her nails raked his flesh.

Ant
stormed over to her and dragged her off him, pinning her arms to her side.
“Look what you’ve done now!” he hollered at Saul. “You’ve caused these
fuck-toys to think they have a choice!”

“They’re
human beings, you fucking arsehole!” Saul yelled.

“Watch
how you speak to me!” Ant boomed, his face turning purple. He turned to Leather
Face as the man got to his feet, the creep’s cheeks bleeding from Kara’s
scratches. “Phone my father.”

Placing
a boot on Dante’s throat, Leather Face pulled out a phone, dialled a number,
then held it to Ant’s ear.

After
a few seconds, Ant spoke into it. “Did you tell Saul to take the boy home? He
said you did. What do you want me to do about it?” A grin cracked Ant’s face.
“I was hoping you’d give me the go ahead. It’ll be inside the gun range.”

Ant
hit the phone with his ear to get Leather Face to move it away. “You lied,
Saul, my father didn’t tell you to take the boy home.”

“For
fuck’s sake,” Saul said. “He’s a kid; you can’t do this to him.”

“Old
enough to fuck, old enough to butcher.”

Saul’s
expression turned vicious. “You’re fucking sick!”

“He’s
legal, so you can’t say squat.”

“I
can stop you if you force him.”

“How?
You going to attack me?”

Saul’s
jaw clenched, looking like he wanted to, but he remained still, holding Corey a
little too tight.

“I
thought so,” Ant said. “And what do you care about one boy? You’ve never
stopped me before.”

Saul
flinched, like it hurt him. “They haven’t been this young.”

“Oh,
yes they have. I popped Tyler’s cherry when he was sixteen.”

“You
did that without my knowledge, you sick bastard!”

“He
came to me willingly, and again, he was legal.”

“Corey
isn’t willing.”

“Stop
being a sap, Saul; ignore the boy’s big doe eyes, he’s not so innocent, he
willingly posed nude for me.”

“You
drugged me!” Corey shouted, then pushed his face into Saul’s chest as Ant’s
eyes latched onto him.

“You
begged me for those drugs, you lying little shit,” Ant growled.

“I
didn’t wanna pose nude,” Corey mumbled, too scared to face the man.

“You
still did it, then you let me fuck you.”

Corey’s
head snapped around. “I did not! I would have felt it.”

“Oh,
you felt it, you squealed like a piggy, and you’re sure as hell going to squeal
even louder tonight.”

“No!
I’ll chunder on you.”

“Which
I’ll make you lick up after you’ve finished rimming my hole.”

Corey
gaped at him.

Ant
smiled. “I fucking love the young ones, they’re so easy to shock.” He refocused
on Saul. “But I don’t like it when my employees answer back, and unless you
want a bullet in your fucking thick head, you’re not to interfere with what I
do with the boy. Put Corey in the room over there, then set up the Russian roulette
game at the gun range.”

Saul’s
brows shot up. “I thought your father vetoed that.”

“He’s
changed his mind, so in a little over fifteen minutes paying customers will be
getting seated for the show.”

Saul
looked down at Corey with concern.

“Don’t
worry your soft heart, Saul,” Ant said, “I wouldn’t let him play, he’s mine,
and I told you what’s happening to him tonight; so stop pissing around and take
him to the room, because I need to get things rolling.”

Looking
pissed, Saul headed for the bedroom door. He unlocked it, then turned back to
Ant. “Who will be playing?”

Ant
looked down at Kara, who was still locked in his arms. “This one, and by the
way, Kara, we’ll rename it Croatian roulette just for you.”

“No!”
Dante yelled out, trying to get the guards off him.

“And
Bethany Connor can be the other player,” Ant added.

“No!”
Both Dante and Corey yelled at the same time.

Ant’s
gaze moved to Corey. “Why do you care?”

“Beth’s
my sister!”

“Oh,
I forgot. Then maybe I’ll use Dante’s sister.”

“You
can’t!”

“Well,
I need one more female. Saul, you choose.”

“No
one!” Saul barked.

Ant
exhaled. “Just take the boy into the room, then come back. Hopefully, by then,
I will have decided who will be playing. And by the way, Dante, you’ll be
getting a front row seat, then the winner and our lucky clients will get to
watch me fuck you.” Ant’s eyes locked onto Corey. “Then I’m going to get me
some... How did that Texan put it?” He grinned wide. “Sweet cherry pie.”

26

Sledge

Sledge pushed off the wall
and glanced up at the row of windows above his head. “You absolutely sure
Dante’s fucking up there? Maybe he’s singing. I did hear music.”

“Sorry,
Ty,” Solomon said, “he’s definitely having sex, that’s what he’s here for.”

“But
Kara said all he had to do wuz sign autographs and shake hands.”

“That’s
only part of the job, and you heard the shouts. It sounded like they were
egging him on to fuck someone.”

“Then
maybe I should go up there to check if he’s alright,” Sledge said, turning to
open the door.

Solomon
blocked his way. “Not a good idea, unless you want to see him in the middle of
it, and it’s not like he’s being hurt, all he’s doing is having sex—”

“In
front of people.”

“He’s
done it before.”

“How
would you know?”

“I
saw the orgy.”

“What
orgy?”

“It
was at a sex club. There were about seven people going at it, and that porn
actress Sandra was in it too. That woman’s disgusting; she was all over your
brother, shoving the others out of the way to hog him.”

“You
were there?”

“No,
it was on DVD. Ant was watching it on Saturday. I went into his office to ask a
question, and he invited me to sit down. I didn’t want to, but he’s the boss,
so I did. And by the way, he has a thing for your brother.”

“No,
he has it for my other brother, Dante just looks like Ash.”

Solomon’s
face darkened. “Ash punched me in the face for no reason.”

Sledge
turned on Solomon. “What the fuck didja do to him?!”

Solomon
took a step back. “Nothing! I already told ja that. He thought I’d insulted
Dante, but it was the other way round. Dante blew kisses at me and made rude
gestures.”

“You
better be telling the truth.”

“I
am. And Ash had no right to punch me. I could’ve pressed charges over what he
did.”

Movement
in the driveway caught Sledge’s attention. He looked over at Nike. The guy had
stopped cleaning the Maserati and was openly staring at him. Sledge dropped his
gaze, regret playing across his mind.

“Are
you listening to me?” Solomon said. “I said, I could’ve pressed charges against
your brother, so you should be grateful.”

Sledge
looked back at Solomon. “And Dante could’ve pressed charges over what you did
to him.”

“I
apologised for that.”

“Not
to Dante.”

Solomon
pulled a face. “Can’t we just drop it? Kara made me pay for it.”

“Not
until you apologise to Dante.”

“Then
get Ash to apologise to me.”

“Ash
would never apologise, and I wouldn’t go near him if I were you, he’s
dangerous. You’re lucky you only got punched.”

“I
wasn’t lucky, it hurt like crazy.” Solomon touched his nose. “Still does; and
people can’t go round hitting people, it’s not right.”

“Like
sticking a gun in someone’s mouth is right?”

“I
was pissed off, okay, I wanted payback, but your brother just hit me out of the
blue. That’s psychotic.”

“He’s
not psychotic!”

“He
should be locked up in that psyche ward with the other loony tunes.”

Sledge
shoved him. “Watch your mouth! You don’t know what he’s been through. He wuz
fuckin’ kidnapped last week.”

Solomon
scrunched up his face. “You’re having me on.”

“I
wish.”

“But
it wasn’t on the news.”

“It
wuz. Those two cops near Waipoua Forest were killed by my stepfather. He’s the
one who took Ash. He also killed someone else in Claydon.”

“I
saw that in The Herald, but they didn’t mention your brother, and that was a
sexual abuse case. The article said the guy was found chained to a bed.”

“Yeah,”
Sledge exhaled, not wanting to think about what had happened to Ash, “which is
why his name wuz kept out of the papers.”

Solomon
shook his head, looking shocked. “Man, that’s just ... sheesh, no wonder he’s a
basket case.”

“Stop
insulting him!”

“I
didn’t mean to, I actually feel sorry for him now. No one deserves that.”

“Especially
not Ash, he’s had a hard enough life as it is.” Sledge breathed out, getting
more upset. “Shit always seems to happen to the people I love. I just want it
to stop.”

Solomon
placed a hand on Sledge’s arm. “You alright?”

Sledge
shook his head, his mind now going to Corey. “My boyfriend wuz sexually assaulted
too. That’s why I’m here.”

“I’m
sorry, but what’s that gotta do with you being here?”

“Ant’s
the one who hurt him.”

“As
in the boss?”

“Yeah.
The cops want Corey to have a rape test, but I don’t think he can handle it;
he’s confused and scared enough as it is. He’s also refusing to talk to them.”

“But,
he can’t let Ant get away with it.”

“That
rapist won’t get away with shit; I’ll make sure of that.”

Solomon’s
eyes widened. “You’re not going to attack him, are you?”

“Damn
right I am.”

“You
can’t take him down.” Solomon pointed at Nike. “He has hitmen.”

Sledge
looked at Nike again, narrowing his eyes as the prick indicated for him to come
over. “He’s not a hitman, he’s a chauffeur.”

“Who’s
being groomed as a hitman. That guy’s scary as. He looks at people like he’s
assessing whether they should live or die.”

“Bull,
he’s just Nike Shithead Daniels.” Sledge pushed away from the house, and headed
for him.

Solomon
followed. “Ty, don’t go near him, he’s armed.”

“I
know.”

Solomon
grabbed Sledge’s arm. “You’re not thinking straight, just calm down and get
back to your post.”

“No,
and stop following me if you’re too pussy to help.” Sledge pulled free and
continued across the driveway, coming to a stop in front of Nike. “What do ya
want?”

Nike
lifted his chin, staring at him coldly. “Why you here?”

“Got
a job.”

“You’re
not here for a job, unless you’re a clueless halfwit.” Nike sneered at him.
“Actually, maybe you are.”

Sledge’s
jaw clenched. “Watch your mouth!”

Nike
ran a finger down his scar. “Or what? You’ll slice me up again?”

“Tama
did that.”

“You
held me down, and by the way, karma is fucking your boyfriend.”

Sledge
stepped up to Nike, getting into his face. “What the fuck do ya mean by that?!”

Nike
remained still, not even flinching, the guy’s eyes hard. “I warned you to
protect Corey, but you left him alone.”

“What
are you on about?”

“Corey
and your sister are here.”

Sledge
went still. “What?”

“Guards
took them from your home; I wuz the driver.”

“You’re
lying to rile me up!”

“Then
call them, see whether they pick up, but they won’t.”

Sledge
pulled out his phone and keyed in Corey’s number, which rang for a while, then
went through to voicemail. He phoned Juliet next, followed by their home line.
When he couldn’t get a hold of any of them, he called Ash. “Have ya seen or
spoken to Juliet today?”

“No,”
Ash answered. “Why?”

Sledge
pushed a hand through his hair. “This ain’t happening.”

“What’s
wrong, Sledge?”

“Nuthin’,
I’ve gotta go, I’ll talk to you later.” He hung up, ignoring the phone as it started
ringing a few seconds later. He refocused on Nike. “If you’re lying—”

“I’m
not.”

“Then
where are they?”

“Either
in the main house or the cottage out back.”

Sledge
looked up at the large white mansion. People’s silhouettes shadowed the upper
windows, while music pumped loud, the earlier tunes now replaced by techno. He
turned back to Nike. “Gimme your gun.”

“Fuck
off.”

“I’m
not gonna shoot you, so gimme it.”

Nike
stared at him for a few seconds, then pulled out the gun, handing it over with
a stone-cold look in his eyes, practically daring Sledge to shoot him. Sledge
pushed it into the back of his pants, hiding it under the black jacket he’d
been given for the job.

“If
it’s any consolation,” Sledge said. “I beat up Tama and kicked him out of my
house.”

“Why?”
Nike asked, his cool exterior cracking.

“That’s
not important now, I needa find my loved ones.” He turned and headed for the
house. Solomon looked relieved as he neared the door, though it didn’t last
long, Sledge’s words, “I’m goin’ inside,” making the guy block his way.

“You
can’t.”

“I
can and I will,” Sledge gritted out. “The people I love are in danger, so get
the fuck outta my way.”

“But,
they won’t hurt Dante, he’s their money maker.”

“I
said
people.
They have my sister and boyfriend as well, and I won’t let
that bastard Ant abuse Corey again.”

“Just
calm down and take a breather, you need to think this through before you get
yourself killed.”

“Like
hell I do.” Sledge shoved him aside, and opened the door, barging into the
entrance. He came to a standstill in the middle of the foyer, a huge poster of
Dante on the wall shocking him.

“He
looks like he’s having an orgasm,” Solomon said, behind him.

Sledge
opened his mouth then closed it, not knowing what to say to that.

“I’m
really sorry, Ty,” Solomon said, “but I did warn you.”

Sledge
snapped out of the mind fuck he was having, and went for the stairs.

Solomon
pushed in front of him. “You can’t go up there. The upper level guards are
ordered to kill if any employee steps out of line.”

Sledge
pulled out Nike’s gun. “Not if I kill them first.”

Solomon
eyes widened. “No, Ty, put it away, I’ll call Saul to help us, he’s a good
guy.”

“Then
do it.”

Solomon
went to call, but instead turned around at the sound of approaching footsteps.
Sledge hid the gun behind his back as Saul emerged from the kitchen doorway,
the man looking like death warmed up.

“I
need your help, Sledge,” Saul said.

“No,
I need yours. Where are Corey and my family?”

“Juliet’s
in a room down the right passage while the other two are out back in the cottage.”

“Then
take me to the cottage, I’ll get Juliet on the way out.”

“No,
Juliet first, she’s not guarded. I’ll tell you were to go for Corey after she’s
safe.” Saul cut a glance to Solomon. “Ring me if any of Ant’s goons show.”

Solomon
nodded.

“This
way, Sledge,” Saul said.

Slipping
the gun back into his pants, he followed Saul to the room at the end of the
hallway. Once Saul had unlocked the door, he pushed past, anxious to see his
sister. She jumped off the bed and rushed over, giving him the biggest hug he’d
ever had.

“Did
they hurt you?” Sledge said, pulling back.

“No,
but they’ve got Corey, and I heard people chanting Dante’s name.”

“Stop
talking,” Saul cut in, “we’ve got to go.”

They
followed Saul out of the room. “Juliet, go to Nike,” Saul said as they headed
down the passage. “He’s out front. Tell him to hide you in the garage until we
can get the others. Also, tell him to get his gun ready just in case the shit
hits the fan. He’s loyal to me, so he’ll listen.”

“But,
I’ve got his gun,” Sledge said.

“He
always wears two, plus he has a spare in the car.”

Solomon
walked over to them as they entered the foyer. Juliet gave Sledge a quick hug
then took off out the front door, running across the driveway to Nike.

Saul
turned to Solomon. “Take Sledge to the room Ant’s staying in, that’s where
Corey will be taken. If a guard stops you, bluff your way in, say Sledge is for
a show, anything that will get the guards off your back.” The phone in Saul’s
pocket beeped. He pulled it out, frowning as he looked at a text message. “I’ve
got to go now before they come looking for me.” He took off down the other
hallway.

Sledge
headed for the staircase with Solomon, climbing to the second floor. At the
top, he stopped dead in his tracks, the scene blowing his mind. A painted man
and woman were blowing two men in suits. A few feet from them, a naked guy was
tied to a wall, getting fucked by an older woman with a strap-on while another
man did her from behind. Sledge glanced to his left, wondering what the men
around the bed were looking at. Someone shouted, “Fuck him harder,” giving
Sledge his answer.