Chapter 1
The music is loud, and its pulsating beat is making my already existing headache that much worse. Ignoring this, I continue searching for my target in the large crowd of the nightclub. I skim over the different faces of seedy politicians, escorts, and local organized crime leaders. Instead of the target I see a tall middle-aged man, with cold eyes, black hair, tanned skin, and a powerful demeanor, step out of the shadows, my father. Despite the hundreds of patrons, he immediately spots me and with a singular look I know I’m in trouble. Instead of allowing the fear that I feel to surface, I look back blankly, feigning apathy. He taps his watch, and I give him a slight nod before he moves back into the shadows, out of my sight. I kick my search into high gear, and finally find the man I’ve been looking for since my arrival.
Jacob Sayton, is a large man, a very large man, something that annoys me, because despite his obvious appearance it took me nearly 20 minutes to find him, 20 minutes that I will surely be punished for later.I begin my descent down the stairs and onto the dance floor, where Sayton is doing something that I can only assume is supposed to be dancing, with two tall women, women who were definitely well compensated for their time by the looks of it. I saunter over to them, commanding the attention of those around me, which is exactly my intention. Delicately placing one hand on Sayton’s back, I use the other to pull his face down to my own level, so I am able to whisper in his ear.
“Jacob, you’ve been a very naughty boy, blatantly disregarding one rule is reason enough for your expulsion from this company, but breaking three rules, doesn’t leave us with many options.” He turns to see me better, and recognition floods his eyes as he pales. “I di-“ the rest of his words come out in a gurgle, thanks to the blood from the thick slash I’ve put across his neck. He grabs at his throat trying to maintain life, but it’s too late, he’s already dead. I keep my expression black as I turn around, having made quite the spectacle most of the patrons of the club are looking directly at me, but no one dares to move to help Sayton, not even members of his own gang. The people here are used to violence, to death, and they understand that their membership status in my father’s company is far more advantageous than any allegiances they may have had.
The music has stopped, and I clear my throat before speaking. “Mr. Sayton seems to have forgotten his place; forgotten the blood contract he signed before being afforded the opportunity to be here with us tonight. You see Jacob here has abused these facilities, and he has broken the rules, the very rules which allow this company to exist. So let this be another warning to some of our newer clients, that we do not take kindly to the lack of discipline demonstrated by Mr. Sayton. Please excuse the mess, our clean-up crew while dispose of this momentarily, and as always please enjoy a drink on the house, for any inconvenience this disruption has caused.”
This company, my father’s company and the facilities under it’s control, have a set of rules existing outside of government sanctioned laws. Rules created by my father to ensure not only his place at the top of the food chain, but to create a haven of sorts for underground business transactions. The member’s contract has a lot of fine print, but there are five key points that lead to immediate removal of membership status and oftentimes death.
1.)You may not kill nor seriously harm any other members or staff of the company within company grounds.
2.)The only persons allowed within any facility are members, and staffers, the exception to this being company vetted escorts for personal needs.
3.)You will not divulge any information about this company or others like it to any third party.
4.)Each member will pay a sum of $500,000 per year for unlimited access to these facilities and the resources they provide.
5.)Any deals made within company grounds my members must be fulfilled, if either party refuses to comply with their already agreed upon terms, the company will be forced to become involved.
The breaking of any of these rules will be met with expulsion and/or extermination.
My father’s company is located in Las Vegas, and he is partnered with two other companies across the world, in Moscow and Sydney making them the most powerful conglomerate of all, but there are other locations in Rome, Tokyo and London.
Ending my speech I exit the dancefloor, and make my way to the elevators, that will take me the lobby of the hotel, and to my father’s office where I know he’ll be waiting. I knock on his door before pushing it open, seeing my father at his desk talking to a stocky and balding middle-aged man. “I apologize father, I was not made aware that you had company.” His cold eyes flash with a gleam of cruelty, and I know his intentions before he utters the words.
“Ivy," My father begins, using my alias. "This is Governor Johnson, he’s looking to become a client of mine, but it looks like he’ll need a little more persuasion. Why don’t you join him in his suite upstairs.” And with that my father waves me off, bored, and unbothered by the fact that he is pimping out his only daughter, and only living relative, something he does quite frequently. I take the governors sweaty hand and he eagerly allows me to pull him out of the office. As I reach to close the door my father interrupts, “Oh Angelina, a moment privately.” I kiss the governor on his cheek promising to be back and return to my father’s office.
