Page 9 of Trapped By the Cartel

"Come," I said, extending my hand towards him. "Let's go home."

Stepping through the gates was like entering another world. It was far from the first time I was there, but it felt different every time.

The manicured lawns gave way to a sprawling complex of interconnected buildings, all constructed from gleaming white stone and adorned with intricate carvings. But it wasn't the architecture that stole Elliot's attention—it was the inhabitants.

There were a lot of them. And most of them were… naked. There was nothing surprising about it to me. But to Elliot, he was learning that I'd told him the truth.

Men, large and muscular, strolled casually through the gardens, engaged in animated conversations while completely unclothed. Some were sparring lightly, their bodies glistening with sweat. I could hardly contain my excitement, my dick hardening, but only slightly.

Others were tending to the vibrant flowerbeds, their backs bare and surprisingly graceful. It was a tableau of unapologetic masculinity, utterly jarring against the backdrop of refined luxury.

Elliot stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes widening to an almost comical degree. He stared, mouth agape, as if witnessing a particularly bizarre dream. Again, he was realizing that I was right. I hadn't lied.

Him learning that I hadn't lied was a good thing. I wanted him to trust me. He was going to stay here for a long time with me.

Elliot was needed. He was going to be useful.

"Are you… are you serious?" He finally stammered out, barely able to articulate the words.

I suppressed a grin, thoroughly enjoying his bewilderment. I had been waiting before, wondering what his reaction would be like. "Welcome to Nightshade Manor," I said, guiding him further into the grounds. "We're rather relaxed about attirehere." My voice was low, laced with amusement as I watched him try to process the scene before him.

I could tell he still couldn't believe it. Something in him kept telling him he was imagining everything, even though he was wide awake.

"Relaxed?" He repeated, his voice cracking slightly. "That's… that's an understatement. It's utter chaos!" He glanced around nervously, as if expecting someone to notice his complete and utter discomfort. "Why? Why is everyone… like this?"

Why was he still pretending he didn't like it? I could tell what he was thinking. He wanted to undress and walk around naked just like most people in here were.

"It's tradition," I explained casually, steering him past a group of men engaged in a heated discussion about… well, I couldn't quite make out what they were arguing about, but their intensity was palpable. "It's freeing. It eliminates distractions."

I could tell he didn't believe the last part. If anything, he thought that it was the polar opposite.

I paused, letting my gaze linger on his increasingly flustered face. "Besides," I added with a playful smirk, "it's rather difficult to maintain any sense of modesty when you're constantly surrounded by exceptionally attractive men."

He sputtered, his cheeks turning an even deeper shade of crimson. "I… I don't think that's appropriate," he stammered, attempting to regain some semblance of composure.

"Oh, lighten up, Elliot," I chuckled, nudging him playfully. "You'll get used to it. Or at least learn to ignore it." I paused and glanced over his shoulder. "Speaking of which," I said casually, pointing toward a particularly large man sculpting a marble statue with impressive skill, completely bare-chested, of course, "that's Rhys. He's our head of security."

Elliot's eyes darted to Rhys, then back to me, his expression a mixture of disbelief and horror. "Head of security? Naked?"

"Highly effective," I assured him with a wink. "Keeps everyone from the outside on their toes."From the outside,I specified, because people who frequented the manor often didn't find his nakedness unusual, of course.

Elliot let out a shaky breath. "I think I need to sit down."

"Nonsense," I said, guiding him towards a nearby patio overlooking the gardens. "You'll be fine. Just try to breathe. And try not to stare." Although, judging by his current expression, staring was proving rather difficult for him.

I preferred that he stared at me, by the way.

I settled into a wicker chair, crossing my legs and observing him with amusement. "So," I said, breaking the silence, "tell me, Elliot, do you think you'll fit in around here?" I smiled at him, enjoying his discomfort.

He swallowed hard, his eyes darting around the patio, taking in the scene of naked men casually lounging about.

Chapter 5

Elliot

The absurdity of the situation hit me like a runaway train, washing away any remaining pretense of calm. It was one of the most absurd things I had seen in my life.

I couldn't help but burst out laughing. Not a polite chuckle, not a nervous giggle, but a full-blown, hysterical laugh that echoed through the patio and drew curious glances from the lounging alpha pack members.

---