Page 23 of Dark Seduction

Chapter 14

Daniel

When the day managerreached me, I could see the years had taken a hold on him and wouldn’t let go. Mansfield as I knew him then didn’t have a last name. But everyone did, didn’t they? He used to be a man who cared about the way he dressed, and took pride in the type of clothes he wore, even if he was nothing more than a glorified doorman or bouncer. Looking at him now, he hadn’t kept up with the renovations in his own personal attire, which was little more than a black leisure suit where he could slip it on and off easily. The one he wore appeared as if he’d slept in it, shoes and all.

His hair had all but turned white, and he had a short beard to match. At the time I thought he was younger than forty-some years, and he probably was, but the years now weren’t kind to say the least. He was much older than I thought when I first met him. Now I didn’t know what his job had been around here lately, and since I didn’t see anyone besides him, I think he served all positions including the cook.

After taking a quick glance around the brownstone, and not hearing anyone stirring or crying out. I thought this would work for me, especially if I wanted to find Charlie, the little shit, as Cole called him, for getting himself in this predicament and I was left to clean up his mess to help Cole out. I could be taking care of my own business, and heaven help me if Ryan decided to bring Jay in to help him.

I could have asked Mansfield questions, but he wasn’t stupid, and he’d catch on to what I was about to do under his watch. He appeared to be here alone, but it all depended on what need was more pressing at the time, and whether someone had called in late. He was always there to answer the doors or prevent someone from getting too physical whenever he heard a scream. Other than that, you rarely saw him.

Years ago, Mansfield was Julian’s right-hand man and it appeared he was serving in lots of capacities now. Not because Julian couldn’t get anyone to replace him, but because he knew where Julian had buried the bodies, so to speak, and he thought it best to keep him close, just in case there were other bodies to bury. By accepting sexual suffocation into his business there were sure to be more bodies, and I hoped I could get to Charlie before it would be his.

“Can I help you.” The way he glared at me, his eyes wavering from my head to my feet, I thought he’d recognized me, but it was always dimly lit in this place and when he knew me then, I never wore a suit. When he stopped staring at me, I was satisfied he didn’t recognize me, and that was the way I wanted it.

“Who do you have this morning?” He looked upstairs. “I have a boy that’s willing and I could share him with you.”

“How old is he?”

“We don’t take anyone here unless they’re over the age of consent. Mr. Page don’t want any trouble.” If he didn’t want any trouble he should have stayed away from Charlie St. John. That boy came with a lot of hangups and baggage.

“What do you have in the basement?” He played with his beard, trying to decide if he should even tell me someone was down there. There was always someone there, and he knew it. Whoever reached the dungeon was being prepped for Julian or one of his rich friends or customers.

I tucked my hand into my pocket, when I pulled it out, I showed him hundreds in my palm to which he snatched them up quickly and looked around as if there were cameras. There might have been, but that wasn’t something Julian had favored in his business dealings. It was more to serve his customers who’d frown on being blackmailed or sued if someone got a hold on the pictures or iPhones. There were no phones allowed in, and because Mansfield never bothered to ask for mine, he probably knew if I had a key and was a card-carrying member I knew the rules.

Nevertheless, the place wasn’t like it used to be, even with a fresh coat of paint and the new furniture. I guessed nothing was or ever would be again, especially me or that young man in the basement.

“I’m going to the kitchen and make myself a sandwich.” He glanced down at an antique watch that perhaps his grandfather had given him, “You have an hour with that boy and that’s all.” I didn’t need that long, but Mansfield didn’t know or care. All Mansfield cared about was the hundreds I’d offered him, and he gladly took. Then he gulped the remainder of his alcoholic drink, grabbed another glance at me with a raised eyebrow, turned his back, and I headed down hurriedly to the basement taking two steps at a time.

I stood in the darkened cave, and memories grabbed me, holding me in one spot until I refused to think about those days and nights.

I opened the door, and I couldn’t see anything but a human form against a white wall. The body in a ball bent over, his head bowed, his legs on the dirty floor, his arms behind his back shackled, and his feet tied with ropes, and he was nude down to his hard little ass.

“Charles,” I called out. There wasn’t an answer. Had a customer been here before me and Mansfield turned a blind eye, left him with someone who may have... I closed my eyes, not wanting to think about what that individual might have done to Charlie. I blew out a large breath before I checked him. I didn’t want to think about it...abouthe could be dead. I measured my steps and reached Charles where I could see him better. I placed two fingers against his pulse in his neck, and then his breathing, and I was grateful I’d found him when I did. I turned around and the keys were where they always had been near the entrance to another door. That one closed, and with a two-way mirror for anyone willing to pay for a few minutes. It might have been too early for spectators. That usually happened in the evenings when the serious play started.

They would have to get someone else because Charlie wouldn’t be available for their sexual fun and games.

I rushed over to retrieve the keys to his handcuffs, fumbling to find the right one because I was nervous. Mansfield, tall and bulky, I knew had been the muscle in this organization, and I’d heard stories about how he dealt with Julian’s clients who didn’t want to pay and had hurt some of the guys who came here looking for excitement and a chance to live out their sexual obsessions.

Charles was shivering when I knelt near him, and I felt relieved that he was still breathing and perhaps could walk out of here without me carrying him. I knew Julian enough to know that after he’d helped Charlie with his sexual asphyxiation, he knew how damaged he’d been and he was rich and young, which was a good combination for him, and he’d preferred them young and rich. He had me believing he’d made an exception with me.

Once he’d discovered who Charles St John was, he’d sent him here for retraining.

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