Lost (Beautiful Beast I)

Chapter-4

Nicholas

The night air was chilly when I stepped out of my car and walked towards the Vertex Bar.

The bar is run by my father's old pal, Stark. Situated at the north of Moscow, it has seen and witnessed many generations of mafia bloodline. Any problem, any work to be done, Stark is always there to get his hands dirty for the sake of my father. 

The guards at the entrance nodded in respect and one of them decided to come along with me inside. My eyes took few seconds to adapt to the bar lights. The place is crowded with people, making me suffocate and the guard made way for me to walk. Young blood grinding each other and drinking, getting their lives wasted. Most of them should be high on drugs too. I ignored the women who tried to get their hands on me and literally slapped a girl's hand when she tried to grab my crotch. I followed the guard to the backyard and released a deep breath when I finally was out of the messy crowd.

I dismissed the guard and walked further, my eyes scanning the yard. The fashion parade towards my right side is lit. The women and young girls wearing nothing but two pieces that barely covers their secluded area, bore a price tag on their shoulder like it's the greatest award they have ever received. Men in clean suits but dirtiest minds were putting forward their highest price to get the woman they need and thus, the auction went on.

I felt disgust seep through me as I passed that area and walked towards Stark who's currently busy with his friends with a drink in his hand and a smile on his lips.

His eyes lit up when he saw me. He stood up and his friends followed his motion.

'Nick,' he kept his glass down before engulfing me in his hug and gave a strong pat on my back 'Knew you would come to meet me tonight'

'You always know' I replied.

The rest of his friends went away quietly, giving us the privacy.

'Aron told me what happened,' he said while pouring me a drink and handing it over to me.

'I don't understand what made him do that' I shook my head in annoyance.

The Rhenish tasted sour in my tongue and suddenly I didn't like the taste of it.

'The cops, of course' he replied nonchalantly,which made me raise an eyebrow at him.

'It's we who threaten, Stark, not them'

'Trust me, son, the cops can turn worst then us. Their threatening doesn't just end with a man's life and his family. You should know that'

My hold on the glass tightened and I looked away, towards the auction. Stark's right, maybe he is but Zoran's not a person who would cower due to a cop. He's killed cops. He's been working for years, from the time father was in throne. He has two sons who are now orphan due to his fault.

I made sure his sons are still in dark and their parents death was nothing but a mere tragedy. They believed the doctors and what my cops had to say them. His disloyalty made me reluctant to even go to his funeral. I may forgive anything, anything but disloyalty.

I felt even more disappointed when I came to know that his wife, Andrea, was also the part of all this. I would have definitely spared her but after confirming that even she had a hand in his little operation, I knew I can't let her live on this earth. The bastard lied to me that she knows nothing. 

'What about his kids?' Stark's voice pulled me out of my reverie.

'They never knew their parents were part of mafia and that'll remain. The older one is doing his final year in business, the younger is in his graduation year. I've taken complete responsibility of them. They won't know it's me behind everything' I said.

'That's good. Children shouldn't pay for their parents actions' Stark said 'So, tell me what you're going to do about Backyard Brawls?'

I sighed.

'I heard you're exporting Cheornaya to US this weekend' he nodded 'I want you to do it on the day they come to cease my boxing club'

'Think it's done' he said finishing the rest of his drink in one go and went for another.

'It's two days from now. I'm sure the cops would want to stop you more than finding my boxing club. They'll make sure it doesn't leave the country, and let them do their job. I'll get more time to do something and make sure they don't cross my way again' I said.

'Anything else?' he asked.

I shook my head, stood up and shook his hand.

'Make sure you have a look at the collections I'm selling' He nodded towards the auction.

'Your collections are as old as you are, Stark' I smiled.

'Not at all. Drugs and women are always fresh'

'Sure enough' I replied and parted my way.

I gave a quick glance at the auction. Another new set of women have taken the stage, the old set sold and most probably being f****d right now, because the men who bought them couldn't hold onto their pants.

Drugs and women are Stark's business. The business is ever blooming and men from all states and countries approach him for both, although he sells women at a higher rate than drugs. All the bars he owns is actually a whoredom. This is no exception. I never spent money on women, never bought them too. I've always had other important matters at hand. One night or few hours of pleasure is what I've always seeked for and most of the time with work demanding all my time, I never got lost in dirty pleasure of s*x.

I was almost out when suddenly my eyes landed on a familiar woman and my feet came to a halt. The same woman I saw in the Bessey park a day ago.

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as I saw her standing their with teary eyes, watching the men down with fear. She's dressed in lacy black; black bra and panty molding her secluded parts perfectly. I saw the price tag on her shoulder. Among all the women on stage, her starting price is higher. I wouldn't blame it. She's indeed worth millions.

With sadness in her eyes and uneasiness in her body language, it's pretty sure she's being kidnapped. I never liked the fact that Stark kidnaps beautiful girls and sells them for his own business even though he has girls willingly ready to do the job. He says he can't help himself if he finds a rare beauty and I never interfered much in his business.

The auction went on as the men kept rising up money for a woman beside her. She started to cry, knowing it's her turn next. I took a deep breath and stared at her pathetic self. I tried to pull my s**t together and walk out the damn door I came from, but my legs wouldn't move. I can't take my eyes of the beauty on the stage.

I don't buy women and keep them as slaves.

I kept reminding myself the line but I can't find the courage to see her on the stage in front of those womanizers. Tears kept flowing down her cheeks silently. I can buy her. No ones there to question me and I can keep her too. It wouldn't matter to spend some money on her, I can imagine myself walking over there shouting the bid till everyone goes silent, hell I can f*****g climb on stage and drag her out without even paying a penny, no one would dare to question me, but do I want to? Is she worth it? Doesn't matter if she's worth it or not, the question didn't even pop up in my mind until I thought about it now. It's not her, it's me. Am I worth it, to buy her and keep her?

If her fate is to be sold to some old businessman, no can change it. Except her.

This time with much difficulty I turned away from her and walked towards the exit.