Page 36 of Her Last Audition


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"That was very stupid," he says, and I let out a short, mocking laugh. Leaning forward, my voice lowers.

"Don't forget, Elijah, I'm one of you now. So fucking watch it, and don't go near the girl."

I don't turn back until he leaves, watching him with dark eyes as he descends down the hall. He turns and gives me one last sneer, slamming the door behind him. Snakes like Eli can never be trusted, though, and I know I'll be dealing with him again before long.

Sighing, I run my hand down my face and look back toward Kinsey’s door. I wonder if she heard all of that.

I debate going back in there, but shake my head.

This girl is getting under my skin when I need to focus, for both our sakes.

As I pass down the hallway, I notice for the first time the flaps at the base of each door and realize this place must be some kind of a brothel run by Iron Elite, a place to keep their stolen women. Are they all stolen, though?

Echo’s story comes back to me, the things she saw and equally went through. I can hardly doubt any of it now, not after what I’ve seen, what I am witnessing.

Revulsion fills me at the thought, but I push it down.

Because you don't do half an Iron Elite initiation, whether you approve or not.

That doesn’t mean I can’t have a fucking word with the asshole who led me on.

I get back to Ivor's office and find him waiting for me inside with Lucas. The two men look busy chatting, but stop once I enter, closing the door behind me with a thud.

"You didn't tell me you sell women."

Ivor raises a brow and gestures to the seat across from him. Lucas keeps his position, and I take a step forward, crossing my arms, but I don’t take a seat.

"I was never led to believe you were stupid," Ivor begins, sitting forward and putting his hands together. "Did you think we sold Girl Scout cookies?"

Lucas lets out a small ass-sucking laugh and my teeth clench, but I keep my attention on Ivor.

"You said you needed help running things and that to get protection, I need to be one of you, go through initiation.Nowheredid you fucking say that involved raping and selling women, which wasn't what I fucking signed up for."

Ivor frowns.

"Humans are one of the oldest commodities and one that is lucrative. Don't play stupid, Atlas. Don't pretend you had no idea or that you are blameless, without sin. We are a brotherhood, one that does many great things for the world. To do these things, we require funds. And men of the Iron Elite do not concern themselves with the blood of whores, which is why it is part of our initiation right.”

My jaw clenches at the mention of the wordwhore.

“Kinsey was no whore.”

The corner of his mouth turns up. “Now, she is.”

* * *

By the timeI leave and make my way down the dark LA streets, I know I’ve made a mistake.

In two days, I will complete my initiation. The mission Ivor has assigned to me is not something I look forward, to but there’s no way around, unless I’d prefer a slit throat and a worse fate for Kinsey. I at least managed to get them to agree to a few upgrades for her room. I won’t be able to see her until it's done, but at least she’ll be a bit more comfortable.

Fuck! I remind myself to stop thinking about that. Her comfort doesn’t matter, only her safety. And if I’m going to keep her safe, then I need to go through with this, go all the way.

When I started this, it never really occurred to me what that would mean, but now, it's clear and there’s no going back.

I need to become one of the Iron Elite.

21

Kinsey

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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