Behind the Lens (Behind the Lives) (35 page)

“Thank
Christ for that,” Sledge said, relief overwhelming him. “Phone my bro back, I
wanna talk to him.”

“I
can’t, Saul will get mad at me again.” She pulled away from the give-way sign,
heading towards the lights that led onto the motorway.

“Then
call Dante’s number.”

“His
phone’s broken.”

“Then
fuckin’ phone Saul back.”

“I
said, I can’t, Saul wasn’t happy I phoned him in the first place, and I’m not
getting pulled off the party because you want to speak to your big
brat,
”
she said, using the Croatian word for brother, although her emphasis made it
sound like the English meaning.

“Well,
you hafta,” he snapped. “He needs to know what Ant did to my boyfriend!”

She
glanced at him, her expression shocked. “You’re gay?”

“No,
I’m bi,” he said, feeling defensive.

“What
happened to your boyfriend?”

“He
wuz sexually assaulted, possibly raped, I don’t know yet, he wuz too off his
face cos that bastard filled him with drugs.”

“I’m
so sorry, Sledge, I had no idea.”

“Which
is why I need ja to phone Dante back, cos I hafta find out where Ant lives.”

“I
know what you’re thinking, but it’s best to wait until the party, where you can
take out the lot of them in one hit.”

“I
told ja, I’m not killing all of them, just Ant, and I don’t want to wait for
the party now.”

“You’ll
have to.”

“No!
Just call Saul back!”

“I
understand you’re angry, I would be too, but right now your lover needs you
with him, not dead from one of Ant’s hired guns or locked up in prison. Go to
him, look after him for the rest of the day, then come tomorrow take out Saul
at the warehouse, along with that guard, then get on the bus with me and we’ll
take care of the others at the party.”

“No,
I’m not killing anyone but Ant, you psycho bitch.”

“Then
I’ll do it,
mali
.”

“Don’t
call me li’l! I’m bigger than you, bigger than that guard, my brothers, and
even Saul.”

“Size
doesn’t matter in the game of life.” She glanced at him as they headed down the
motorway. “Only ruthlessness and,
mali
, you don’t have what it takes.
Stay home tomorrow, I’ll get revenge for your lover.”

“No,
it’s my job.”

“Then
make a decision, because we either take out the lot or no one at all. You’ve
got until tomorrow to decide.”

“I
want Ant dead.”

“Then
it’s the lot.”

19

Dante

Saul pulled up in front of
the large wrought-iron gate and opened the car window to speak into the
intercom unit. A few seconds later, the gates opened and they were travelling
down Craven’s long driveway. Dante wondered whether this was all a sick hoax,
that instead of being led to Beth, he was been driven to his death, but what
made it worse was he’d welcome it. The thought angered him, considering how
he’d lectured Ash on suicide. But it wouldn’t be suicide and, unlike Ash,
everyone would be fine without him. Sledge had moved out, Juliet never relied
on him, and Beth was better off with him dead, while he was better off dead
than being with Kara.

Saul
parked in front of Craven’s mansion and got out. He walked around to Dante’s
door like he was going to open it. Dante pushed it open before Saul could get a
hand to it, not wanting to be treated like some pathetic bitch who couldn’t do
things for himself, although he felt like one with the way he was being
controlled.

“Follow
me,” Saul said.

And
like a good little bitch, Dante did, heading through the large doorway and into
the too-grand entrance that was made from too-much money. Saul steered him down
the Green Mile to Craven’s office, directing him inside. Dante shrugged Saul’s
hand off his shoulder and slumped into the chair facing Craven’s desk, pissed
off that he’d fallen for Saul’s lie about not telling Craven, although he still
would’ve come regardless—for Beth.

Craven
gave him that shit-eating grin of his, and fuck yeah, it did look like Ant’s,
although it was the only resemblance between the two men, other than both of
them being bastards.

“I
hear you’ve found out about our little operation,” Craven said, not letting up
on that smile, like he was actually amused Dante knew.

Dante
bit back a ‘
Fuck you’
comment, knowing what he said could affect Beth.
“Yes,” he said instead, because it was the only thing he could get out without breaking
into a rant.

“Not
something I’d planned on you finding out about,” Craven added, “but we can’t
always take into account infatuated clients, now can we?”

Dante
guessed he must be talking about Jade, but kept his mouth shut.

“I’m
sorry for that,” Craven said, looking anything but. “It was so much easier to
keep it a secret, but this turn of events may actually work out for the best if
we can make a deal. You’re obviously aware that we have your lovely
girlfriend—or ex, I don’t quite know which one she is, but regardless of that minor
detail, I’m guessing you want her back safe and sound.”

“Yes.”
And you’re dead for touching her! And stop fucking smiling at me!

“You
surprise me,” Craven said. “Usually it’s Ash who’s the controlled one, but it
doesn’t matter why, other than you keep this facade up, because I would very
much like you to attend my party tomorrow.”

“I’ll
be coming.”

“Yes,
you most certainly will.” Craven laughed. “And if I’d known it was going to be
this easy to get you to change careers, I would’ve done so sooner, because porn
suits your talents so much more than drugs do.”

Dante
sneered at Craven. “I’m not doin’ porn, just showing up to the party, and the
only job I’ll be
doin’
is making music.”

“You
will certainly be making music—just horizontally, unless of course you want
Beth dead. So, what will it be: music or porn?”

Dante
gripped onto the armrests, wanting to rip them off so he could bash the bastard
to death. “Porn.”

“Good
man, and I’ll return Beth to her mundane life in a couple of days, but it
doesn’t mean I won’t take someone else you love in the future, which means that
you and your brother cannot quit working for me.”

“Let
Ash go and I’ll work for you without complaint.”

“Why
can’t I have you both?”

“He’s
too damaged; he’ll try to kill you regardless of what you’d do to him.” Dante
held up a hand at the angry expression taking over Craven’s features. “Do ya
know what my stepfather did to him when he wuz younger?”

Craven
nodded.

“He
did it again a few days ago, escaped from prison and kidnapped Ash.”

Craven’s
face coloured with surprise, no, not surprise, shock. “How did I not know
this?” he said, looking up at Saul. “How?!”

Dante
glanced behind him. Saul was fidgeting, his normal cool exterior gone. “I
wasn’t aware of it either, sir.”

“We’ve
got cameras in that house!”

“Only
in Dante’s room.”

“And
a bug in Ash’s car, plus what about that cop? He should’ve told you.”

“Ash
hasn’t been using his car, and the cop didn’t tell me anything.”

Craven
glared at Saul for an uncomfortable amount of time, then he shook his head and
refocused on Dante. “If Ash needs time off to recover—”

“He
needs the rest of his life,” Dante said.

“I
can’t give him that.”

“Why
the fuck not?!” Dante boomed, finally losing his patience.

“I
don’t let go of my employees, it’s an occupational hazard that comes with the
job.”

“You
never told us this when we started working for you.”

“You
were a child, Ash too, but your cousin knew full well the workings of my
organisation.”

Dante’s
mind returned to what Hunter had told them about not being able to quit. “Does
Hunter owe you three-hundred grand or is that all a lie to keep us working for
you?”

“Looks
like it. Your cousin obviously knew he had to use debt to keep you in my
employ. Clever really, just a pity it didn’t stick.”

“Why
can’t you just take our fuckin’ money, it’s not like it’s a piss in the pond?”

“It
is compared to the millions you can make me.”

“I’m
only one person.”

“And
a popular one at that. Do you know how many people are coming tomorrow, hoping
you’ll be at the party?”

Dante
shook his head, his fear returning.

“Fifty,
and each one of them are paying me a million a year to have the privilege of
seeing you naked and fucking.”

Dante
wished Craven would stop talking, because there was no way he was putting on a
live show. He’d done it in the past, not a show, just fucked in passageways and
clubs, not caring who saw, but this was different, WAY different.

Craven
continued, “And those people aren’t just from New Zealand. Yes, I never
anticipated on you actually being here, and as I said, my clients were just
being hopeful since you’ve never shown before. However, after Saul told me he
could get you, I sent out messages about your presence, and word has spread
like wildfire. The number is now over two hundred, and it’s still climbing,
which is more than I prefer to have in my home. So, I’ve started turning people
away, but they’re pulling out their wallets faster than I can say no, offering
me obscene amounts of money, of which I’m very happy to take.”

Dante’s
mouth went dry.

Craven
smiled that smile again, his eyes showing dollar signs that Dante didn’t give a
shit about. “So, it’s essential you do as you’re told.”

“What
do ya want me to do for your clients?”

“Shake
their hands, sign autographs, smile, smile and smile until your face doesn’t
know any other shape, and if someone wants to pat your arse or asks for a
kiss—allow and give, and...” he grinned, “fuck on demand.”

Dante
gripped the chair again. “Then will you let Ash go?”

“I’ll
consider it.” Craven’s gaze moved to Saul. “Take him to his quarters; brief him
on what’s required.”

“Yes,
sir.” Saul patted Dante on the shoulder. “Up.”

Dante
remained seated. “Let Ash go and I’ll do everything you ask without complaint.”

Craven’s
brows raised. “Absolutely
everything?
”

“Yes.”

“Including
gay pornography?”

“Fuck
no! I meant women.”

Craven
shrugged. “Then no.”

“Why
not?!” Dante yelled. “You’ve only filmed me with women.”

“As
well as a couple of men blowing you.”

“But
there were women in the room, and gettin’ a blowjob isn’t the same as fucking a
man.”

“It
doesn’t matter, I’ve given you my conditions; it’s just a matter of whether you
accept them.”

“Why
you doin’ this to me? You know I’m straight.”

“Simple.
Money. Gay men are willing to pay more than women, plus women also like to
watch men fucking each other.”

“I
don’t even wanna do normal porn.”

“You
did say
everything,
and I promise I’ll let Ash go, the first of my
employees ever to do so without dying. So, make up your mind before I lose my
patience and have your brother shot.”

“Yes!”
Dante yelled. “I’ll do it!”

Craven’s
smile widened so far Dante thought the top of his head was going to fall off.
Dante got to his feet, wanting to pulverise the bastard.

“I
know what you’re thinking,” Craven said, “but before you lose your temper, look
behind you.”

Dante
glanced over his shoulder at Saul, who was aiming a gun at his head. He
wondered whether Saul would be doing him a favour if he pulled the trigger. He
turned back to Craven. “You can’t go near my family and friends again if I do
this for you.”

“As
long as you keep to our deal. Now leave, I’ve got a lot of people to reply to.”

Dante
gave him the finger, then turned and headed down the corridor, his head
screaming at him to kill them all: Craven, Saul and Ant, and any fucker who
touched him.

“Beth’s
this way,” Saul said, climbing the staircase.

Beth.
God, this deal with Craven was the
end of them—for good, even more so than when he’d told her to never come back,
because he couldn’t fuck other people and stay with her, even if it was just
for work. She deserved better than that, deserved to have someone who didn’t
sell their body, who only gave it to her.

He
hung his head, barely taking in the opulent furnishings as he headed into
another corridor. He banged into the back of Saul as the man came to a sudden
stop. Saul grunted at him something unintelligible, then unlocked the door and
gave him a push inside. The room was filled with fancy furniture, the carved
rosettes and curves belonging to a different century. But the chairs and canopy
bed were empty, and there was no one standing on the plush red carpet.

He
turned to Saul. “Where is she?!”

“She’ll
be here soon, but we need to prepare you first.”

“Prepare
me?”

Saul
indicated towards a cabinet. “You have to take that.”

Dante
looked, not happy to see a syringe. “I don’t do needles, and why the fuck do I
need to?”

“Just
in case you change your mind and do something stupid.”

“I
already told Craven I’m willing, and I wouldn’t do anything to get Beth or Ash
hurt.”

“It’s
a requirement, not a suggestion; we need you placid, after all you are in
Craven’s home. Plus, you have a volatile temper and worse, you’re prone to
changing your mind. He can’t have you trashing his place, upsetting his wife
and causing general mayhem, which means you either inject yourself or I’ll
inject Beth, just with twice as much. Do you want your girlfriend to OD?”

Dante
shook his head. “Don’t you fuckin’ dare.”

“I
won’t as long as you take it.”

Dante
went over to the syringe and picked it up, along with the belt next to it, then
sat down on the bed.

“Just
one last thing before I get Beth,” Saul said. “Tomorrow, I’ll be back here at
eleven to give you a run down on the day.”

Not
looking up, Dante tightened the belt then tapped a vein, having done it plenty
of times for customers. “Sure, whatever, just get me Beth.” He picked up the
syringe, and held it up. “By the way, what is it?”

“A
relaxant, and you’d be surprised to know that it’s actually legal.”

“You
better not be bullshitting me, cos—”

“I’m
not, it’ll wear off by tomorrow, but in the morning you’ll be given something
else to help you get through the day.”

“What?”

“A
new drug that will take away your fear.”

“I’m
not afraid!”

“We’re
all afraid.” Saul put a hand on the doorknob. “Now, I’d suggest you make the
most of your time alone with Beth, because when she leaves here I’m guessing
that’ll be the end of your association with her.”

Dante
looked down at the needle, then pierced his skin, not giving a fuck what was in
it now.