Chapter 21 Bar Hopping

Nicholas

Dressed as they were, no one would mistake them other than what they represented. Two outside, sprawled on the dirt, hair a mess, shirts, and pants had seen better days, caps lowered on their faces, people's lips curled in disgust from the smell, making a beeline to avoid being close from their drunken form. Not one noticed their sharp gazes, one bright blue, the other forest green, observing, taking notes of the comings and goings of the shady bar's patrons.

The place where he was supposed to meet an informant was not the usual drinking establishment he frequented. Here, the unsavory converged with the corrupt. The women prowling, mostly sex workers infected with STDs. Some would try to sell their children with just a packet of cocaine. The buyers were the targets for the night.

The club wanted to know where the deals were made. Plus, they needed to track down a certain lord who had taken Lucifer's son. That was the main mission. They needed the location and they needed it fast. Having enough evidence to prosecute the man, he won't be endorsed to the proper authorities, his punishment will be dealt with by the mafia leader.

He located two more comrades, both had women on their laps, drinking pints of ale while exchanging stories of wild adventures, blending in with the crowd.

Scanning the room, the viscount located his informant. Tall and bulky, skin browned from too much sun, brown eyes hard, untrimmed beard, and a permanent scowl on his sharp angular face. Nothing had changed. Face impassive, he took the vacant seat across from the old smuggler.

"Another pint?" Nicholas asked, eyeing the empty mugs on the table.

"Nah. I'd like to be a wee bit sober when I set sail." He shifted on his seat then pointed his chin forward. "Not losing their touch, I see. Thought you'd be rusty by now." His chapped lips lifted.

"Well, you know us. The Alpha always keeps us in line." The viscount answered. Referring to Cerdic's leadership.

"Yeah. I still owe you lot for rescuing my men from pirates a few years back."

"It was our duty. But I have to say, right now, we need to collect." The boy they were looking for was no more than five and the child must be receiving the worst kind of abuse there was. To say they were desperate was an understatement.

"Aye. My crew and I love to visit a certain brothel in Orion Street. Young girls, you know. Eager to please. All legal and clean, don't you worry. You should try to look for a certain miss with yellow hair. She's an old lord's favorite. Barely eighteen. Petite and delicate. Might even say she looked like a wee boy in the dark. The man likes it kinky, she told me. Kept bragging about a harem of boys and girls. The lecher has an estate North of here. Lord Tanning, his name was. He was absent last night. Said he was preparing a new toy." The captain's lips twisted. His face was grim.

Fuck! They have the bastard at last. "Thank you, captain. Lucifer will contact you soon."

The old man leaned forward. "You know the devil?"

"Yes, we do. You are doing him a big favor." Nicholas reached deep in his pocket, producing an envelope. "As a sign of my gratitude. Buy something for your wife and kids."

"My thanks. Let me know if you need more men. Best get going now. I got yer back. Tell Lucifer, I'd be in the Thames in a fortnight." Nicholas nodded.

"One more thing. Keep an eye on any dealings in the docks, will you?"

"Will do, lad. Hate those type of business, too. Just be careful. Heard the leader has very important people on his payroll. Not knowing who he is, well, let's say he is very dangerous. Anyway, see you around." The captain tipped his hat and exited the bar.

Nicholas gazed outside the window. His fingers tapping rhythmically on the wooden table. He knew his coded message was being read. They were being followed. He had known it for some time and let them be. A group of amateurs compared to him and his peers. Despite their inexperience, they had to be silenced or they would run back to their leader.

From his peripheral vision, he watched Cerdic and Sandringham hefted the women from their laps, walked to the entrance with their cargoes squealing; they stepped out of the evening air. Supposedly going somewhere private with their ladies of the night. The viscount knew better. He smirked.

Time to get rid of their tail.

***

Whistling a merry tune, shoulders hunched, he walked lazily on a dark alley. His limbs lose, his gaits were straight.

About to veer around a corner, he stopped. A total of eight men were waiting for him. Nicholas almost laughed at the unfairness of the situation. Not for him. For the bastards surrounding him like he was fair game.

Leaning on the wall post behind him, he made a show of lighting a cigar, taking a deep puff, his other hand release a sharp knife, resting on his palm. "Which one of you wants to die first?" He murmured.

"Yer askin' lots of questions on 'ere abouts." The leader, big and burly, obviously not a local, approached him slowly. "Who'er you?"

Nicholas shrugged. "None of your business." He took another puff, threw his unfinished cigar, and straightened. His stance was relaxed, showing his agility.

"Then we'll have to kill ya."

"You can try." Without warning, he jammed the heel of his palm to the fucker's nose. His right hand shoved the sharp edge of his favorite knife to the man's armpit, directly hitting his heart. He was dead before he hit the ground. "Who's next?"

Two more approached him. Nicholas made short work of twisting their necks and slicing their throats. "Come on. Don't make it too easy for me."

Another brave soul tried to land a blow but Nicholas ducked and with quick precision, he jabbed his bloody knife in quick succession to his enemy's ribcage.

"Watch out!" A familiar voice warned. He dropped to the ground in time and a whizz ricocheted, disturbing the wind above him at the same time a gun went off.

Scuffles and grunts of pain filled the air. Then silence. Nicholas dusted his jeans while getting up. Made a salute to the sniper who had saved his life. Lucien was out there somewhere.

Eight men were lying on their pool of blood at their feet. "I got it covered you know." He jested like old times.

Huntley snorted. "You did. But I heard you promised a certain someone you will be coming home without a single scratch."

Nicholas grinned. "You are right. Thanks for reminding me." He nodded to Sandringham who was grinning crazily. Blood on his frayed shirt and hands.

"You are becoming rusty, Redington." He smirked.

"Coming from you, that's rich. Took you a while to read my fingers." He bantered. "And no offense men but you all smell like shit. We should head back to your place and take a bath before going out again."

The marquis had a nearby property they were staying in. His servants were discreet and loyal to a fault.

"Fuck, yeah. The alpha and the devil are waiting for us. Come on." Their people began to clean the mess, leaving no trace, making sure the bodies were burned on a deep pit.

It has been an interesting night so far.

***

Clean once more. Happy with Sinclair's sweet texts and photos. Determined than ever. Nicholas made his way to the library where the other men were waiting. Ready to venture into the night to rescue a boy.

Lucifer was only functioning with one kind of dangerous fuel. Rage. The tapes and documents they found from their last raid were of sales, descriptions of the products -they treated the children like livestock- the painful and animal-like orgies will make any sane man sick to his stomach to watch. In some of those videos, he recognized one of the kids. His long-lost son.

The club was only ready to help the mafia leader. If this had happened to any of their future children, they would move heaven and earth to have them back as well.

Tonight, they have the means to get Lucifer's son back.

Everyone was ready to venture out when Nicholas joined them. He was, too. In another black clothing, nondescript, he secured his knives and weapons under his black leather jacket. "I have programmed the directions to each of the SUVs' GPS. Estimated ETA will be thirty minutes. From the satellite image, your son must be kept in one of the sheds at the edge of Broxbourne Woods, which is west of Tanning's property. His estate is well guarded, I suggest we move in quietly. Where do you want us, Cerdic?"

"I want you and Mountford here." The duke pointed to a clearing on the hill overlooking the mansion's four corners, having the best view of windows and rooftop. "Lucifer and I will scour the area until we find that cottage. While Huntley and Sandringham will search the main house for Tanning. Be their eyes and ears. Shoot anyone not from our side. The rest of our men will take care of the guards surrounding the area."

They nodded. Faces intense.

"Thank you, my lords. I will be forever in your debt." Lucifer said in all seriousness and sincerity.

"Not yet. Let us go and save your son." Was their commander's grim response. Their actions were not made out of a sense of obligation. It was requisite to save humanity from demons plaguing society.

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Violent Scene 18+

Trigger Warning

Deep in the night, with tall trees surrounding the shed, muffling the noise around him, the boy with icy-blue eyes was huddle in one corner. One lamp illuminated the room, creating shadows at the four corners. Well-fed, dressed in clean clothes, free from fleas and body odor. All in all, a vast improvement from where he was bought. He should be happy and satisfied.

Except he was feeling far from such. He was livestock to his captor. He was prepared before a ritual of degradation.

For the past few days, he had heard the cries and pleas of the captives housed in separate boxes like his. The laughter and grunts of the monster, while he satisfied his perverted needs, made the boy's skin crawl. Escaped was futile no matter how much he had planned for it. His left hand and ankle were chained to a post in the middle of the concrete floor. Oh how much he had tried until he was chaffed and bleeding. When the master learned of what happened, he visited and caned the poor boy's back. Uttering over and over he was the only one allowed to use and damage his properties.

He fainted after the beating. Waking up in cleaned clothes, wounds bandaged. The old gentleman didn't return that night. And the next.

But, tonight was different. The boy of five was only given water to drink the whole day and he was bathed thoroughly by one of the caretakers. He knew the master would come for him. He shivered in fear. The knife he had hidden in one of the loose boards on the walls was tucked into his sleeve. He was ready to kill or be killed.

The heavy lock outside rattled. The master's here.

Knowing what was in store for him, the boy tried to make himself smaller when the door opened. The man's form was silhouetted by the moonlight, his evil grin visible while he excitedly licked his lips in anticipation.

"You are fresh and clean, pretty boy." He smirked cruelly. Approaching the small trembling form of the helpless kid. "You will be dirty soon enough." He added. Snickering.

The boy's bony face paled. Witnessing the depravity at such a young age during his stay at the cage, he knew what was about to happen. His skin crawled at the thought of the big man mounting his small body like an animal.

The old lord began to undress. Shrugging out of his red wine robe, leaving his upper body bare. He was wearing silk pajama pants underneath. He toed off his loafers while he picked up something from the deep pockets of his clothes.

It was a long metal stick buzzing with some kind of electronic charge. He hit a button and it cracked with a lighting white-like electric current. "You better behave, child." He warned. His steps brought him in front of his new toy.

The small pale face looking up at him with fear in the icy blue eyes made Tanning more excited. He touched the torture device to the poll where the chains were tied, the electric current passed through the cold metal swiftly and the boy cried out as it passed through his body. "That's just a taste of what's to come if you don't do as I say."

Tough for his age, he continued to stare at the monster. He never uttered a word since he was sold to the vile man. He was caned until he passed out, all he gave was cries of pain and nothing else.

This moment he knew what he would receive was ten times worst. He was right. As soon as the stun baton touched his thin shoulders, he convulsed on the floor, his mouth opened in a silent scream, thick saliva bubbled from his parted lips.

Lord Tanning chuckled, becoming more aroused at the sight on his feet. "Now, you know what I mean, pretty boy."

Two large beefy hands pulled the child up, placing him on his knees, his eyes shut close in pain. Still trembling, he remembered the sharp steel hidden in his clothing. He had to make the timing right.

Opening his eyes slightly, he felt bile rise to his throat. The master had pulled his pants down. While playing with himself, he moved closer. From the boy's experience inside the cage, he knew what the man wanted. He couldn't. "Come closer. I warn you, boy. No teeth or you will receive another higher voltage."

This would be his chance. Swallowing his fear, he crawled closer.

Losing patience, Lord Tanning pulled the boy by his thick locks, dragging the bony face closer to where he needed it the most. His lust clouding his judgment, his eyes on the small quivering lips aligned to his crotch. "Open." His gaze so focused on the helpless form with excitement, he didn't notice the blade until it was embedded on his balls.

Icy-blue eyes blazing with hate and rage, ignoring the pain on his scalp, fresh blood coating his small arms, and the howling screams of the master in front of him, the boy twisted the knife deeper, sawing his hands back and forth on the ugly genitals until a satisfying tearing sounds filled the four by four room. Until he was kneeling in the pool of blood squirting from the master's crotch.

This was his first kill and certainly won't be the last.

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Nicholas

The evening was hard for them overall. Especially for Lucifer and his son. The boy no more than five or six years had been found in a pool of blood.

Tanning was barely breathing from the castration. Huntley kept him alive for one purpose only. To torture information from the bastard. The mafia leader will take pleasure in pealing their prisoner's skin inch by inch until they could squeeze all to help their cause.

The Viscount knew they had so far only scratched the surface. For now, they had to lay low. Prowl the tons drawing rooms, seek those who wanted to harm the weak. Sinclair had a few more weeks before her graduation. He'd wisely use that time to introduce her more to his circle. Prepare his proposal and engagement party. His mother and sisters would be more than willing to help with his plans. After the three-month mourning period, they would be wed to the local church at Redington village in Kensington.

It was almost dawn. They would wrap up their mission at Sandringham's place then drive back to London later in the day. Hopefully, Sinclair would be home. He missed her so much. It had been two days yet it felt like months since he had last touched her. He made a mental note to check his phone when he reached his room.

God. He was tired. His only solace was far from him.

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