Page 41 of Never To Suffer (The Hollywoodland #4)

FIGURE IT OUT

ROYAL BLOOD

There’s a cathartic serenity that comes from the repetition and the sound of the needle as the artist goes to work. It’s a small piece, probably my smallest one aside from the stars Dani drew, but it’s as important as those doodles.

You. Deserve. Better.

When I go to pay, I’m surprised my card works and that my father didn’t find a way to freeze my personal accounts.

Although, he doesn’t know about this one since I use it for my money from the sex work.

I tip the artist and grab his card; there’s a solid chance I’ll be back for more therapy if I’m stuck in Japan much longer.

“So, uhm, does it mean something?” Oliver asks, finally loosening his tie when we climb into the limo.

The tattoo artist got a few shots of sake into him, giving him a red nose and a slight slur to his speech.

He shuffles around in his seat, reaching into the console next to him and pressing a button.

There’s a whirring, and a door pops open to reveal a mini bar.

Oliver grabs a small bottle before looking at me and gesturing to the bar.

“Whiskey. Neat.” I lean forward and take the glass after he pours what looks to be about six shots into it. Either Oliver wants me drunk, or he doesn’t drink and has no idea how any of this works. My headache has come back, so I rub my temples. Maybe I should have ordered my drink on the rocks.

“Oh my, you have them on your face as well?” He asks, gesturing toward my face with the bottle of pills for my headache.

“Hmm?” I check the glass and realize I’ve rubbed off the makeup covering my face tattoos. I shrug and take the pills, popping three of them. “Yeah. My girl drew them one night, and I went out and made them permanent. I need to tell her what happened. She’s gonna lose it.”

I dig my phone out and there’s still no service, so I shut it off to save the battery.

I haven’t been back to the hotel yet; sure my father has a team waiting on me.

Oliver said my aunt hasn’t been in contact either.

For now, my father’s threat stands, I can’t leave Japan.

I yawn, realizing the late hour and how much time has passed since we left for the office this morning.

Everything hits me at once and the adrenaline has run out. I’m exhausted.

“Maybe we should head back to the hotel and face whatever awaits?”

Oliver’s mouth curls into a devious grin that reminds me of the Grinch, and he leans forward, his elbow almost missing his knee all together.

He opens his mouth to speak, stops, and I’m worried he’s about to lose it all over the back seat.

I don’t expect it when he gets up and moves across to sit next to me.

I also don’t expect his arm to drape over me like we’re long-lost frat brothers.

“If I might be so bold, Xander. This poses a fantastic opportunity. Money, power, fame. But there’s one tiny problem.” He leans in too close, gripping my knee and squeezing until I wince. “I wanted that job. I’ve earned that job.”

“What? What job?”

“The one you turned down like a spoiled brat. Your idiotic self would run the company into the ground in days, if not hours. Ten fucking years I’ve worked for your family, learning everything I could about the company, them, you.”

“Take it! I don’t even want it.”

“That won’t work, my sweet, but far from innocent, boy.

You see, your father hopes it straightens you out.

Your whole life, a clean slate.” He smacks my leg and laughs.

“He thinks while you’re in Japan, you’ll find a docile wife, and stop puttering around with, well, everything else.

I should know better, though. That’s why a convenient illness took your original assistant, the one he’d hoped to find in your bed.

I, of course, volunteered in her place, and they had no other choice. ”

“Straighten—what?” My words are oddly thick in my mouth, sounding odd and slurred. “Are you kidding me? He wouldn’t do that.”

“Ah, yes, that part might be my fault. I’ve been slipping him hints about your sex scandals and elite families being dismantled by them.

Dismantled by you and your busy little cock.

Well, not little, I suppose. I’ve seen the website.

” He slides his hand up my leg and I struggle to push it away.

“Your father bought into the propaganda of the rise of homosexuality and how it ties into pedophilia. Your parents might have the riches, but my god do they live in a bygone era. Clueless about the world.”

I lunge, trying to get away from him, but he pushes me back into the seat and looms over me.

It makes no sense. I’m bigger than he is, but I can’t fight him off.

“I may have recently let it slip about your girlfriend’s trip to the clinic and how close they came to shelling out millions to keep the bastard child out of the headlines. ”

“You son of a… why?”

He holds his fingers up to shush me, but misses his mouth by a good four inches. I’m gonna throw up, I can feel it building. I stumble across the seat, somehow getting to the window and pushing the button. The cool night air on my face keeps what little I have in my stomach right where it is.

“I kept one last secret from him, though. Well, at least one. The one where you go around waving your cock at the camera for money. How the men you meet pay you for sex and leave you a battered mess in the gutter. My god, when I tell him about that! Show him his son in your true form, a pathetic whore and a punching bag?”

The air isn’t cool anymore. It’s ice cold, like the blood in my veins.

He holds his sides as he laughs, and I’m questioning if he’s drunk at all.

How long has he played me? Did his accent just slip?

He’s next to me again, his hand on my chest. “Don’t worry, love.

Dear old dad doesn’t need to know. We can keep it our little secret if you play nice.

I wasn’t very happy when you canceled all your dates here in the city.

I had several brilliant ones lined up for you to give myself some cover.

But you threw that option away. Or did you? ”

He gets on his knees in front of me, running his hand up my thigh.

“Get the hell off of me! What—what do you want from me?”

SMACK!

My cheek burns, and he grabs me by the jaw, squeezing tight.

“You will shut your whore mouth, listen to me, and play the good little son. I take care of the business and clean up the mess you’re about to be in.

We show your father you’ve become a team player, thanks to me taking you under my wing.

You pretend you’re now interested in the company and give me half your salary.

Oh, and you’ll be my own personal whore, keeping me satisfied every night.

Your father won’t need to know that part, and your aunt has already tried to push me in your direction. ”

“No—”

“Yes, Xander. And you’ll agree to my terms, so I don’t release the rest of the videos.” His hot breath on my face makes me gag. “Maybe I’ll keep your girl and that gorgeous looking doctor out of it, too. If you perform well enough on your knees for me, Baby .”

My ability to form sentences stops working, and I can’t do much more than stare at him and his dumb, freckled face I want to punch. “I’m not… I won’t do… Fuck you!” I’m not even sure if the words make sense or if they’re slurred noises.

“Oh, no. Not tonight. In fact, you wouldn’t be awake for it if I did. You’ve only got a few?—”

His voice drifts further away, which doesn’t make sense since there are three of him now.

The world goes black.

I wake up to living nightmares, or to a vague idea of what’s happening to me when I’m not awake.

Flashing lights, voices, Oliver, others.

I can’t remember what’s happening most of the time, nor do I want to.

I’ve yet to wake up anywhere familiar, but every time I do wake up, I’m in hell. Too many people. Too many hands.

I shouldn’t have come to Tokyo. I shouldn’t have left Dani. I should have stayed with Theo. Do they even know I’m missing? Does anyone?

“Oh, good morning, sunshine. How are you feeling? I hope Mr. Sato wasn’t too rough on you.

” Oliver’s voice drips with sarcasm the way the syringe in his hand drips with whatever he’s been using to knock me out.

I try to shake my head, to pull my arm away, but he’s stronger and not made of jelly.

“Now, come on, beautiful. Don’t fight. Do I need to remind you what happens when you fight me?

Who am I kidding? You shouldn’t remember a thing I’ve done to you since the limo. ”

The garbled moan that comes out of me when the needle pricks my skin doesn’t even resemble the words I’m trying to say. But I’m sure he gets the idea. He laughs.

“It’s a shame you don’t remember. We’ve had some excellent times together.

Well, I have, anyhow. And some of your clients, too.

” His laugh sounds strange, face distorted like I’m looking at a clown in a funhouse mirror.

“This isn’t going to knock you out, but don’t get any ideas because you’re not going anywhere.

Not yet. Not until we come to an agreement. ”

“Let go of me.” It comes out something like legfmah, and I can’t lift my head.

“Hmm, I may have used too much sedative earlier. Let’s stick to yes and no from you.” He smiles, slapping the side of my face lightly. “It’s my first go at kidnapping, you know. No, I don’t suppose you do know that. Oh, and good news, they’ve realized you’re missing! Only took them three days.”

He drops something next to my head. It smells like a newspaper, but I can’t tell. The world spins, and dips sideways when he picks my head up again, pulling open my eyelids like they do in the movies. He pulls a ski mask down over his face and takes out his phone.