Page 145 of Remi's War (Four Dark Horsemen 2)

I’m a monster.

Why the fuck, then, did I dare touch a princess?

Penelope

A raspy breath escapes me when Santiago pulls his car into the dark alley, a few stray cats strolling through the perimeter while darkness and deception float in the air. It makes me shrink into the leather cushions, hating how it took us almost forty minutes to get here, as this club is apparently located in a God-forbidden place.

“Not too late to change your mind,” Florian says, turning to me from the front seat and lighting up his cigarette.

I don’t bother to reply; these two already tried everything under the sun to talk me out of attending, as if their friend becomes a beast in there or something.

It can’t be worse than what I’ve seen in pictures of the dungeon, right?

Grabbing the handle, I get out, followed quickly by the guys, and instantly cover my nose at the rotten smell polluting the air and something akin to… urine?

The double, metallic doors are located a few feet away, and vibrate with heavy rock music blasting from the inside, and that’s when Santiago motions for me to walk. “Let’s go, Penelope. Stay by our side always.”

“And whatever you see, do not scream. He’ll go ballistic.”

With this little piece of advice, Florian punches a code on the door panel, and it opens, letting us in where a muscled bouncer greets us, holding a bowl full of cash. “Oh. The Dark Horsemen.” He jerks his head. “The fight has started.”

Florian drops a couple of hundreds into the bowl, and I barely have time to think about it as we get to another door, and this time when Santiago kicks it open, my eyes widen and a gasp slips past my lips as the interior comes into view.

Because I’ve never seen anything so raw—and dirty.

The spacious place is packed with people, countless bodies pressed against each other, occupying the various chairs, stools, and dancing to the beat of the music, pumping their fists upward. Servers go through the tables, holding plastic trays and wearing tight tops and shorts that barely cover their ass cheeks.

They have polite smiles plastered on their faces, but I don’t miss how one of them glares at the man who tries to cop a feel and even slaps him, and he instantly raises his hands in defense, resuming his drinking.

Which speaks volumes about the owner. If his workers feel safe enough to object, he probably isn’t so bad. Not something I’d expect of anyone owning this establishment, as even the walls in here reek of vices and filth, as if darkness resides and rules in here, dictating to everyone how to behave.

Uneasiness washes over me, and I rub my arms, suddenly feeling chilled, especially when a man unzips his fly and wraps his hand around his dick as he watches a stripper swirling on the pole. She’s flashing everyone her breasts and bare ass while the men all try to give her money.

“Gross,” I mutter at the man and then see how another bouncer grabs him by the neck and drags him toward the exit, so I guess that’s not allowed.

The bartender busily pours drinks into glasses, all while men demand shots, and some even manage to fuck women in darkened corners, if their motions are anything to go by.

The scent of alcohol tickles my nostrils while smoke floats in the air, making my eyes water, and I really wish to run back outside to breathe in some fresh oxygen. However, I glue my feet to the ground.

Any display of weakness right now will not be well received.

Santiago and Florian put me right in the middle of them as we start to move, protecting me from whoever tries to come in contact with me. People naturally part for them, allowing us to push through the bodies easily, not that it brings me any relief.

“Don’t look around. We are possessive creatures,” Florian advises, and I give him a baffled stare.

“I hardly care for these men!”

“Well, some of them have their dicks out, darling. Remi wouldn’t appreciate that.”

Admirable how they have each other’s back, however this is completely ridiculous.

“They are disgusting.”

Santiago sends a wry grin my way. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

My stomach flips as dread fills my every cell, and despite being afraid of what I might uncover soon, I still make myself walk toward our destination.

Three more steps and we reach a dead end, so my brows furrow in confusion.

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