He saw the men and women on street corners. Their clothes with holes, the way they twitched.
Random men and women approaching, wanting a good time. Willing to pay a cheap sum.
The next stop may upset Ava, but he really didn’t give a fuck. This was his business, and she would do as she was told.
Hunter took them down a back alley, heading toward an abandoned parking lot.
Climbing out of the car, Logan held the door open. Ava took his hand without another word, glancing around the street as she did.
“Where are we?”
He didn’t answer her, taking her arm, and leading her into the main building. During his time fighting, he learned what everyone wanted. Some wanted blood, the violence. Others wanted the power, money. Each person, regardless of their sex, had a weakness, a need, and it spiraled within them like a virus. No matter how much they tried to have control, to keep themselves in check, nothing would ever satisfy them for long.
Sex was one of the biggest tricks on the market.
The cravings would consume eventually, and this whorehouse he had, catered to the wealthy. The crime lord before him had had his hands in some very deep pockets and even darker network of human trafficking, but Logan had not been interested in that line of work. The women he had on his books, wanted to be here. They had no skill other than spreading their legs, and some of them, they loved the rush of earning money this way.
Again, so long as his women and men—this wasn’t just for women, as he had many guys on his books—behaved, all was well. All he required was a good work ethic and loyalty. Those who disrespected him and decided to take the easy route often found themselves dead.
As they entered the building, the heavy beat of music flooded through the walls. Sex never slept. There was always someone who wanted their dick wet. Day or night, any time they wanted, they could have it.
“What is this place?” Ava asked.
Passing down a corridor, Logan didn’t need to turn left or right to see what awaited them: men and women, scantily clad or completely naked, sex a promise within the air.
Louisa stood at the desk, and the moment she saw him, a smile filled her face.
“Logan, I’m so pleased you came.”
For many years now she’d been trying to get him to commit to her. To give her a chance at belonging to him, but he’d never been attracted to her. She’d been one of the fighters opposite him.
She’d been young and manipulated into the fight. At the time, she had thought it was easy money, but as he stepped into the ring, she’d been bloody, in pain, with several broken ribs.
One look at him, and she’d fallen apart. Boos had rung out. People had begged for him to hurt her, to kick her. Instead, he’d picked her up, carried her back to the locker rooms, and taken care of her. He’d never fucked her, even though she’d offered herself to him time and time again.
He had his arm around Ava, and Louisa noticed it, stopping before she embraced him.
“Who is this? Is she another girl you’re going to have working here?” Louisa asked.
“No. She’s my woman. Hunter, take Ava to the bar. Keep an eye on her. Make sure no one approaches her.”
He put Ava’s arm in Hunter’s and watched her walk away.
“She has no idea who you are, does she?” Louisa asked, a hint of jealousy in her voice.
The glare she sent Ava’s back had him smiling.
“Put those claws away.”
“I didn’t think you were for the innocent,” she said. “She looks like a little lamb, Logan. You want to hurt her?”
“Be careful, Louisa. If anyone was to harm Ava, I will hold you responsible.” He walked around her, heading toward the office in the back. “We have a full house?”
“Always, you know how people get. They try to avoid coming here, pretending they’re better than us, but they always come back. There was one incident while you were away,” Louisa said.
Entering the office, Logan stopped and turned toward Louisa.
“What was it?” he asked.
“Luke.”
He frowned. “Luke seems to be a problem nowadays. What is it?”
Louisa looked worried.
“Tell me, Louisa. I don’t want to spend all day here.”
“No, you want to go and pretend with your little precious.”
He stepped up and slammed her hard against the wall. “You want to act tough with me, learn how to fight. Remember I was the one to save you when all the room wanted your pathetic ass dead. You came to me, remember? Not the other way around.”
Louisa got up from the floor, brushing herself off. “This woman, she must really get under your skin.”
“I’m growing bored of this conversation. Tell me whatever it is you want or get the hell out while I do work.”