Page 8 of Taint My Soul

And he would do the same to me if he thinks I’m useless to his cause.

I’ll do whatever it takes, infiltrate whomever, just so I’m safe.

“If I do this, I’m free.”

His eyes squint, and he leans forward, elbows resting on the table. “You are not in a position to negotiate, Mason. Just do what I ask.”

“Yes, sir. I’m sorry.”

“Good.” he sighs. “Neo will take you to your new apartment in Kingston City. You’ll settle in and wait for some of my friends to meet with you. They need your blood samples to make sure you’re negative.”

“I am.”

He doesn’t give me a response; he looks at Neo, who gives a hard nod.

We leave the restaurant after Neo pulls up in front of the establishment in the black Audi 5. Streetlights smear into gold streaks across the windshield as we drive through the sleeping city.

In one night, I was taken from a town in Kingston to an illegal auction house in Queenstown, territory of the infamous Bishop Empire. I have never been the type who steers into darkness. I have always run in the other direction without looking back. I even had to spend the past seven years of my life turning down opportunities.

Jobs from high-profile companies. Invites to galas. All because I was terrified that the man who had ruined my childhood would come after me again.

And I wasn’t wrong.

He did.

He’s right here with me, sitting beside Neo as the car hums against the asphalt, bringing us to the new city skyline that gathers on the horizon.

I have always been a fighter. Always knew what to do next, but this. There’s nothing I can do. Not when the world is coming down on me and I’m forced to stand and watch the collapse.

What matters now is what Vincent wants. And every part of me wants to fight. But fighting means I get to end up with a bullet in my skull. I’ll do whatever I need as long as I come out of this alive.

The car slows down in front of a four-story building. I shut the door as I hop off. My boots scuff against the grey sidewalk. I lift my head, and a soft sigh spills through my nostrils.

“This is where you’ll stay. It’s already furnished with everything you need.” Vincent stares at the building.

“Everything I need?” I look at him, and he cocks his head at me.

Right. No questions. Just follow every fucking order because remember, you have no choice.

Nothing else matters except this moment and the days yet to come.

“I’ll wait in the car.” Vincent says and slips back in whilst Neo retrieves the apartment keys from his pocket and hands them to me.

He leads me through the double doors and we head upstairs via the elevator. The machine dings and opens into the hallway. Neo and I head over to the second door on the left. He inserts the key into the hole. The latch clicks twice, then he grips the doorknob and opens the door into the apartment.

I step into the living room, releasing a sigh as I take in everything. Though not extravagantly furnished, the place is much better than my former place, and it will suffice for the duration of my stay.

Unless he’s keeping me forever.

The idea of being indebted to this violently dangerous man for the rest of my life makes my spine go cold.

Then Neo turns around and shoves the key into my stomach.

“Look around the house,” he grunts. “I suggest you do exactly what my boss says unless you want to end up like that mercenary.” He slaps my shoulder and strides toward the exit.

The memory surfaces uninvited, but I push it back.

After the soldier leaves, I try to get into bed hours after I hear the engine of Vincent’s car speed away. But my body is still on full alert as everything replays in my mind. It’s only a few hours to sunrise yet I can’t get myself to drift into sleep.