Two hours later Kate's finally at the Bovine Room, a sex club that Conrad Ford likes to visit often and is supposed to be at tonight. Her stomach is coiled into nervous knots, unsure of what she'll find inside, but once she starts strolling through the rooms she's surprised by how normal everything looks. There are couples walking around, some fully dressed with others in bathing suits and lingerie, groups of people laughing and chatting together. Just as she's convinced herself this place is like any other club, she spots a couple having sex in the opposite corner and her anxiety returns with a vengeance. Breathe, relax. She reminds herself to act like she belongs, that she wants to be here.
After checking the main floor, she heads upstairs to find Conrad. A part of her wonders if she'll even be able to capture his attention considering all the gorgeous women around but that's a bridge she'll cross once she actually finds the guy.
The second floor mimics the feel of a dungeon rather than the country club vibe of the first. There are people in cages, dominatrices sauntering around with human pets following behind them. Everything feels surreal, like she's in the middle of someone else's nightmare.
Walking into a viewing room, Kate freezes when she sees three people making love on the other side of the panel. The woman is straddling one man while the other thrusts into her from behind. Hands clammy, heart pounding, Kate stands transfixed, watching as the three move in unison, their bodies locked, intertwined, fitting together perfectly.
She should be disgusted, horrified; instead, she's riveted by the sight of them.
Seth's face flashes through her mind just then, the way he looked at her, his eyes dark, his gaze hungry, staring at her like she was the most beautiful woman in the world. Her knees almost buckle at the thought of his mouth against hers, possessive, demanding. And Richie. Oh God, Richie. None of the guys she's slept with over the last three years made her feel what Richie did tonight, how he made her come over and over again with his mouth and hands.
She gives herself a mental shake, telling herself to snap out of it. Her attention returns to the trio in front of her, except there are a lot more people in the room now. In fact, it's turned into an orgy. No longer beautiful, it's something ugly and vile, men grunting, women moaning, humping each other like livestock. Disgusted, Kate walks out of the room.
In desperate need of a drink for her parched throat, she heads to the bar. Shortly after, she finally spots Conrad Ford on the third floor. Grey-haired, heavy-set, he's an older man and a lot less distinguished-looking in person than his pictures suggest.
She takes a deep breath, and reminds herself why this is so important. He's the last thing standing in the way of killing Santanico. And once Santanico's dead, Kate will have avenged everything that happened to her family and be normal again.
Putting on her best come-hither smile, she walks towards Conrad, hips swaying seductively, eyes locked on him, her fingers deliberately playing with the cross around her neck.
He notices her immediately.
"There's no way she's in this fucking place," Seth declares, scanning the room for any signs of Kate. "What the fuck would she be doing at a sex club?"
"I don't know," Richie replies. "I just know she's in here somewhere."
"Woah, bro." Seth nudges him, almost giddy at the sight of a couple fucking in the corner. "They're really going at it."
Richie casts his brother an impatient glance. "Really? You're acting like a fucking twelve-year-old who's just discovered porn."
"Oh, please. Don't act like you're above this shit."
"Maybe I am, Seth. Maybe watching people fuck just isn't very interesting to me."
"Well it is to me. And you know why that is, Richard? Because I'm normal. I'm a normal red-blooded man who likes to watch beautiful women have sex."
"Congratulations."
"And if you weren't so messed up about Kate, you'd be enjoying this right now too."
Richie levels Seth with a cold glance. "Who's the one who got into a jealous fit over Kate and punched a security guard tonight? Thanks for getting us kicked out of the hotel, by the way."
"I wasn't jealous. I just didn't like the way his face looked."
"Face it, brother. I'm not the only one messed up about Kate."
Seth grabs Richie's elbow, forcing his brother to confront him. "There's nothing going on between me and Kate."
Richie quirks his eyebrow. "You're a terrible liar, especially when you're loaded." He turns around and starts heading up the stairs. Seth follows behind him, grumbling to himself.
Few minutes later they're at the top level of the club when Seth finally spots Kate. She's sitting on some geezer's lap, laughing and giggling, as if she's having the time of her life. Instantly, he sees red. His blood boils with anger, every instinct screaming at him to pull Kate away from the fat bastard. How dare that asshole touch his Kate? And what the fuck was wrong with her? Why was she flirting with him like that?
As if sensing his intentions, Richie immediately blocks his path. "Don't."
Seth sees the cold madness in his brother's eyes, and it reminds him of the time they were in the labyrinth where Richie didn't hesitate to slaughter anyone who got in their way. Richie may be acting calm, but it's just a facade. His brother is feeling the same rush of rage he's feeling. "What's the plan?"
Richie looks over his shoulder at Kate. "We're going to have a conversation with her. That's all."
"And you think that'll be enough to get her out of here?"
Richie meets Seth's gaze. "She's a smart girl. She'll make the right decision."
Before they can make a move, however, Kate notices them. She whispers something in the geezer's ear before standing up and walking casually towards them. Her jaw clenched, face flushed with anger, she glares at them with contempt as she draws closer. "What are you doing here?"
"Who's the asshole?" Seth asks, trying his best to keep his attention on Kate's face and not let his gaze slide down to her breasts, her beautiful, soft breasts that he'd touched and licked and kissed and... Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. He was getting hard just thinking about her again. Luckily, she was too mad to notice.
"None of your business, Seth."
"I think you should answer the question, Kate," Richie replies. "Or I may have to go ask the asshole myself."
"Don't," Kate replies. "Don't fuck this up for me. He has a ring, it's a family heirloom that's made with some special kind of magic that can take down Santanico. It's the last thing I need to kill her."
Instantly Seth sobers up, dread forming in the pit of his stomach.
"What ring?" Richie asks. "Seth and I've been researching this for a long time. There's never been any mention of a ring."
"Really? How can you not know about the ring?" She shakes her head with disbelief. "Are you sure you guys aren't working for Santanico?"
"I want her dead just as much as you do," Richie replies.
"I doubt that," Kate fires back.
"So what exactly was your plan, princess? You'd seduce the guy and he would just give it to you?" Seth prods, hoping the change in topic will be enough to distract Richie.
"I figured we'd go back to his place and I would look for it."
"Would that be before or after you fucked him?" Seth taunts, once again enraged at the thought of Kate with that prick.
"I don't have to explain myself to you."
Kate tries to walk away but Richie blocks her path. When she tries to retreat, Seth traps her from behind.
"What do you want from me?" she demands.
Richie's tone is cold when he replies. "Leave with us. Now."
"I told you I can't. I want that ring."
"And we'll get it," Seth answers. "Some way that doesn't involve you having to screw anyone."
Her heated gaze shifts back and forth between them. "Maybe I want to screw him."
"I don't think so," Seth fires back. He looks to Richie for support and finds his brother calm, too calm; instinctively Seth realises his brother is to very, very close to losing it.
"You don't own me, Seth. I'm not your property."
"If you don't leave with us right now, I'll rip that guy apart," Richie says, face covered in a blank expression, voice vicious.
Kate stares at him with disbelief. "You wouldn't do that."
Richie cocks his eyebrow. "Wouldn't I?"
"No, you wouldn't. Besides, Seth wouldn't let you."
Seth sneers, realising the threat's already working. "Don't confuse us for boy scouts, babe. Richie will do what he needs to do." He shrugs his shoulders non-chalantly. "I'll help in any way I can."
Her eyes soften with concern. "He's innocent. He hasn't done anything wrong!"
Richie leans down to meet her gaze. "He has his hands all over you. That's enough for me to want him dead."
"Well, so did Seth. But you don't seem to mind that."
Guilt floods through Seth and a part of him almost expects Richie to retaliate against him but his brother doesn't. Instead, Richie remains solely focused on Kate. "We're not going to talk about that here."
"Why not? Look around you. Everyone's fucking everyone else. This is the perfect place to discuss how you want to turn me into the Gecko family whore."
"Hey! No one is turning anyone into a whore!" Seth bites out, pulling Richie away from Kate. "We're leaving. Now. You either come with us, sweetheart, or the bastard's dead. You choose."
She glowers at them for several seconds before finally heading towards the stairs. He and Richie exchange grateful glances, following behind her.
