Page 28 of The Collector

Mynx

As Mynx left Raven's office, the weight of her situation pressed on her. She was still reeling as she took in the two men standing rigidly outside the doorway as she exited; their fitted black suits lent them an air of refinement that barely masked their true purpose. They weren’t simply guards—they were soldiers, trained to detect danger before it struck and eliminate threats without hesitation. Their sharp eyes followed every movement, calculating, assessing, ensuring that nothing and no one passed without scrutiny. This was a world she barely understood, one that felt more like a battlefield than a place of opportunity.

Blind to the hidden dangers, she knew the first step would be to map out the terrain—identify the key players, determine where her focus needed to be. She had to be smart— pay attention to detail. One of the men gave a subtle nod to the other before stepping forward, wordlessly signaling her to follow. His expression remained impassive, devoid of warmth or personality—just pure, disciplined efficiency. His presence was asilent reminder that escorting her wasn't a gesture of courtesy, but a duty he executed without question.

Raven defied everything she’d imagined. His exterior masked a complexity that pulled her in, no matter how hard she tried to resist. He stood at the center of an empire built on blood, crime, and violence—a world that clashed with everything she thought she was.

She knew her flaws. She didn’t pretend to be clean. But getting involved with Raven wouldn’t just blur her edges—it would change her. Strip her down. Rebuild her into someone she might not recognize.

Do I really know who I am anyway? Maybe it’s time to consider my life from a different angle.

Some of these performers were unmistakable predators, vipers coiled and ready to strike the moment an opening presented itself, likeElanah.Still, it wasn’t them that unsettled her the most. It was the club’s members who truly concerned her—the real power behind this place.

Unraveling the layers of this complex web was now her top priority. If she hoped to make it through with both her body and soul intact, she had to understand the rules. She refused to let herself become a casualty of a situation she didn't create. Her stubbornness now felt like an undeniable asset. In a place where survival depended on resilience and strategy, her unwavering determination to keep her soul might be the very thing that kept her grounded. It was no longer just defiance—it was strength, a force that would shape her path forward.

Shelby was in her room when she arrived, seated in an armchair by the window, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she worked. The laptop balanced effortlessly on her knees. At the sound of the door closing, she paused, looking up with sharp awareness before shutting the device. Her gaze held anunspoken question, but she remained silent, waiting. When Mynx said nothing, she asked. "Well— How did it go?"

Shelby stood, setting her computer in the chair, smoothing the wrinkles from her skirt before walking towards Mynx.

"It went." She shrugged, collapsing onto the bed with a weary sigh. "I still have so many questions. There were things I needed to ask, but with everything—the pressure, the anxiety—I completely forgot in the moment to get the answers too. Some of the most important things just slipped my mind."

"Maybe I can give you some of the answers you need." Shelby moved to the edge of her bed and sat down gently.

Mynx studied her for a moment. Why was she being so kind— so friendly? She didn’t understand how it could benefit her.

"How long have you been working with the Cordoba Kings? — and why would you want to be associated with them?" Mynx asked.

Shelby tilted her head back, a soft laugh escaping at the question.

"I don’t just work for the Cordoba Kings—they’re family. Hector and my father are brothers, so I grew up with Raven. Our family has always been close. This lifestyle doesn’t exactly offer many opportunities for children to have normal lives. We’ve relied on each other from the very beginning. When Raven took on Blood Lust, there was never a question in my mind. I wanted to be by his side, helping him run it. At least not for me."

"If that's true, why doesn’t he just leave? Make a life of his own? There's no reason he couldn't do that, is there?"

"That’s easier said than done. Being born into the Mexican Cartel means carrying a target from the moment you take your first breath. Even if he were to walk away, he’d be a threat—someone who knows too much, someone who could challenge the wrong people. Leaving wouldn’t be freedom— just a different fight. Besides, Raven will be in charge one day. And his way ofrunning the Kings is much kinder than his father’s way or the Godfather’s. I want to help him bring that vision to life."

"And you're okay with what goes on here?

"Okay with it?" Shelby's expression hardened slightly, her voice steady but tinged with a quiet edge.

"It’s not about being okay with it—it’s about understanding the choices people make. Blood Lust offers a way out for some, a chance to take control of their circumstances, even if it’s unconventional. It’s not perfect, but in this world, perfection doesn’t exist. Everyone here is just trying to survive in their own way. It was far better than the first option Hector gave Raven, to sell people unwillingly on the black market. Here, they have a say over what happens. I think that is a far better option for everyone concerned. Don't you?"

She let Shelby’s words sink in. Maybe she could see herself with Raven. Shelby reached out, her hand resting gently atop her own in a gesture of reassurance.

"What about my mother?" Her voice trembled slightly, her vulnerability seeping through. "When can I see her and my sister? I need to know they’re safe— being cared for. I can’t focus on what you need from me here if I can’t see them." Her eyes searched Shelby’s, desperate for an answer that could quiet her restless heart.

"You won’t be able to see them for a while," Shelby said gently, her tone steady but sympathetic. "Privileges to leave the estate take time and trust to earn. But," she added, reaching into her pocket, "I do have a cellphone for you. You can call them — hear their voices. It’s not the same as seeing them, but it might help for now." She extended the phone toward Mynx in a gesture of understanding and reassurance. " Before you call and check in, let me go over the rest of today's schedule with you, so you can have privacy to speak to them."

Mynx took the phone, placing it gently in her lap. As Shelby outlined the plans for the afternoon shopping trip with Destiny, her words seemed distant, their meaning unable to fully take root. She nodded along with Shelby's words, her mind elsewhere, her focus locked entirely on the phone in front of her. All she could think about was calling Cyndi—hearing her voice, making sure she was alright. Everything else faded into the background, eclipsed by the urgency of that connection to her family. The conversation ended before she could fully grasp all the details.

Shelby extended a credit card toward Mynx, her name neatly embossed on its surface. With a final glance at her, she rose, gathering her laptop. Offering a brief farewell, she slipped out of the room, leaving Mynx alone with her thoughts and the phone resting quietly in her lap.

Mynx inhaled deeply. The crisp air outside the mansion carried the scent of fallen leaves and damp earth. It wrapped her in its familiar embrace. Sunlight spilled through the trees—something she hadn’t seen in weeks, maybe longer. Night shifts had stolen these hours, keeping her from the daylight’s quiet magic.

Now, autumn sunlight filtered through the trees in golden threads. Leaves rustled in the breeze. Birds called from somewhere distant. Red, orange, and gold flared across the landscape, and for a moment, she let it all in—like she was seeing it for the first time.

Ushered by guards, she moved toward the waiting car. The quiet stillness of the estate was almost suffocating—no curiousonlookers, no distant hum of city life, only the sound of her footsteps and the occasional murmur between the guards. She could only hear parts of what they were saying, and what she did hear made little sense to her.

The sleek, black vehicle stood parked at the circular driveway, its tinted windows absorbing the hazy glow of the afternoon sun, transforming it into a shadowed refuge. When the door swung open, she hesitated, the weight of the moment pressing against her chest. Then, with a slow breath, she stepped inside, the door shutting firmly behind her. Outside, the guards took their positions, ensuring nothing and no one disturbed the carefully orchestrated departure. As the car pulled away, the mansion loomed outside the window, its grandeur both mesmerizing and foreboding— a fortress that held its secrets well from the outside world.