Page 64 of The Night Movers: Season One

“I’m fine. Let me go,” Ridley snapped, shaking off their touch as soon as they loosened their hold. Ridley turned to glower at Vesper. “What do you want to know?”

“How about this?” Vesper said. “For every question of mine you answer, I’ll answer one of yours in return. The only caveat is, you can’t ask me where your sister is until the end. Deal?”

Ridley snorted. “How do I know you won’t just lie?”

“You’re clairvoyant, right?” Vesper asked.

How did he know so much?

“Are we playing already?” Ridley countered, gritting his teeth.

“If you want to know if I’m telling the truth, come touch me. You can control your gifts, yes?” Vesper asked, holding out a hand.

No. Ridley had no control over what he saw or when. He also had no idea how Vesper knew any of this. But all he could do was bluff. “I’m allowed to touch you?”

“Oh, I encourage it,” he said, holding out his hand and wiggling his fingers. “Come, come.”

Ridley startled as one of Vesper’s guards gripped him by the waist, then hauled him up, setting him on the stage.

Before he could stand, Vesper sank to the floor beside him, crossing his legs and holding out his hands like he expected Ridley to clasp them.

Ridley mirrored his posture, their knees touching.

Comfy?

Ridley gasped, his gaze snapping to Vesper’s. He hadn’t spoken aloud, but in Ridley’s head. What’s happening right now? What are you doing?

Vesper raised a brow at him, the barest hint of a smile on his face. Oh, good. It’s working. I thought she was lying. Or crazy.

My sister?

Mm, she was exquisite. I’m sure you know what a rare find she was. Red hair, blue eyes, those freckles.

Was? Past tense? Ridley tried not to squirm. He could feel the others staring at them in confusion. Is that how you know about me? You…what? Read her mind?

You see pictures in your head, no?

Yes. Can you?

No, I get…thoughts. Imagine everyone’s thoughts floating in the air above us. I can just sort of pluck them out of the sky when I’m close enough. And if I’m touching someone, like now, I can hear them with crystal clarity.

But how can I hear you?

Vesper tilted his head. That’s an excellent question. My guess is your gift and mine are…kindred. I suspected as much. Though, it’s clear you still have no idea the power you hold. But that’s okay. You’re young.

Is this what you wanted to show me? Is this what you wanted to ask? If I’m clairvoyant? Yes, I am. Did I use that gift to get those alphas to claim me? Yes, I did. Where’s my sister? Is she okay? Is she alive?

Vesper tore his hands from Ridley’s, pouting. “You’re not playing by the rules.”

“I don’t understand what you want from me,” Ridley cried.

“You would if you’d respect the rules of the game,” Vesper countered, holding his hands out delicately once more.

“Fine,” Ridley muttered, teeth clenched once more.

Ridley took Vesper’s hands. What do you want to know?

What happened to your chip?

What was Ridley supposed to say to that? I stole a pen knife from one of the New Guard and asked a little girl to cut it out for me. It hurt like a bitch, but she was the only one of us they hadn’t bothered tying up.

If you’re going to lie, at least be convincing. I know your alphas removed your chip. I just don’t know why. Tell me the truth.

I don’t know.

Last chance, then I end the game for good and you can spend the rest of your life wondering if your sister’s still alive.

Fuck. I… They… They… He turned to look at Titus and the others, then back at Vesper. They remove all of the chips of the omegas they buy. That way nobody can track where they’re sent. They don’t want other alphas poaching their buyers.

Vesper studied him for a moment. Ridley tried not to think of anything but the lie.

Very good. Thank you for your honesty. Now that I know you’re planning on telling the truth, ask your first question.

What was he supposed to do? He only had one question and he wasn’t allowed to ask it until the end. How long ago did my sister arrive?

Vesper shrugged. Three weeks, give or take. My turn. How did you get your alpha to agree to a collar?

That was Vesper’s question? The truth? They all do what I tell them. They have since I let them take my virginity during my first heat.

But why? Vesper persisted.

Nope. My turn. How did my sister end up with you?

I have scouts. Little birds that fly around and look for the newly presented. The diamonds amongst the weeds. Your sister was giving the New Guard such a hard time that they practically begged me to take her off their hands.

That sounded like Ren. What happened once you got her?

Uh-uh. My turn. Is the little one really your pet? Or a rescue? Do you have a savior complex, Ridley Christianson?

Depends.

Vesper arched his brow. On what ?

On whether you plan on telling my alphas or not.

Vesper laughed, delighted, startling the others in the room. Your secrets are safe with me, darling.

The alpha who won Rain in a match a few weeks ago—Rurik. He kicked me in the face for talking to him, another omega, even though I hadn’t violated any rules. So, I made an example out of him.

And your alphas just…let you?

Ridley ignored his question. It was his turn. What happened to my sister once she arrived here?

Are you asking me to explain my intake process?

Yes. Is it a secret?

No. Just lengthy, but I’ll try to sum it up.

When someone is brought to me, they’re stripped, their clothes burned.

That’s to prevent any scent tracking. They then undergo a physical examination in a sterile environment.

Their blood is taken for typing, fertility levels, DNA anomalies, and so on.

Their old chips are removed, and I give them a new one. Then I have them classed.

Ridley frowned. Classed?

Technically, Vesper could have chosen not to answer, but he seemed to like talking about this.

Mm, just because some lackey thinks an omega is a jewel, it doesn’t make it so.

But once they’re in my care, I still need to make a profit after all that testing.

The lowest class omegas are farm stock. They go to the breeders or the labs, whoever makes the highest offer.

The Performers—the ones with some key wow factor—we fix them up, make them worthy, then send them to the brothels.

The Collectors are where I make the bulk of my money—those are my omegas with rare features, behaviors, or even genetics—they go on the auction block for the elites to haggle over.

But the ones I’m always looking for, the true money makers are those like you and me.

The Mystics—clairvoyants, mediums, multiples, bonded omegas—those are the ones that are bought and sold to private collectors, the ones never seen by the public.

This sick fuck. Which one was my sister ?

Vesper tilted his head, a challenge in his eyes and a smirk on his lips. You really want to know?

Don’t play games with me.

Vesper tsked. But games are so much fun.

Ridley was going to kill this man someday. What did you do with her?

Vesper sighed. She was classed as a collector, of course.

Her red hair and blue eyes made her a true asset on the auction block.

I knew she’d sell quickly. But then we put her in the observation room.

That’s how we ascertain their temperament.

Our buyers like to know what they’re getting into.

Some alphas truly enjoy playing with the broken toys. You know?

What the fuck does that mean?

You’re not following the rules ? —

Fuck your rules. What happened to my sister?

Vesper rolled his eyes. Fine. She was a liability almost from the beginning.

When the New Guard said she was uncooperative, we had no idea they meant feral.

She was fine during the initial intake process, but once she was in the observation room, she…

devolved psychologically. If she wasn’t sedated, she was lashing out, attempting to mutilate herself and anyone else in her path, including my other little jewels.

Ridley could feel tears pricking the back of his eyes. What did you do with her?

Vesper didn’t answer. I was too hasty. It was only later, as I was reviewing her footage, trying to ascertain when she’d broken, that I understood her true value.

She babbled, sometimes for hours. Most of it was nonsense, but not all of it.

That’s how I learned about you. Her twin.

Her bonded omega. That’s why she was unraveling.

She’d severed your tie. She didn’t want me to find you.

She knew what I’d do if I did. But, by then, it was too late.

What does that mean? Too late? Did you…did you kill her?

What? Of course not. Like I said, she was still valuable. Most of my clients would never take someone as feral and damaged as her, but there’s one. He doesn’t care about that. In fact, he gets off on watching them struggle. She was a perfect match.

For who?

The Dollmaker.

Ridley really was going to vomit.

Who’s the Dollmaker?

Vesper gave him a smile that made Ridley’s insides grow cold. I’m afraid I can’t tell you that. But I can tell you what he does with them. But I don’t think you want to know.

Tell me.

It's exactly as it sounds. He takes the prettiest omegas and turns them into living, breathing toys. Completely helpless. Totally dependent. Fully aware, but unable to move. Pretty little dolls for him and his friends to use however they like.

Ridley was shaking now, trying to fight the breakfast clawing its way up his throat. Tell me where she is!

I’m afraid I can’t do that.

Ridley dropped Vesper’s hands, jerking away from him as he shouted, “You fucking asshole. You said you’d tell me where she is.”

Vesper rolled his eyes, getting to his feet in one graceful motion. “No, I simply said you couldn’t ask until the end.”

“Where is she?” Ridley snarled.

Vesper flopped back into his chair. “Save your ire, darling, lest you suffer a similar fate.” He looked at Titus. “I’m finished with him. Get him out of here.” Ridley tried to fight Titus’s hold as he pulled him from the stage, wrapping himself around him tightly, keeping his arms at his sides.

Vesper looked down his nose at them. “I’m not, however, finished with you lot. I have questions that need answering. But we’ll put a pin in it for now. It seems your poor omega is…overwrought.”

Ridley was still fighting Titus’s hold, tears streaming down his face. “Where is she? Tell me who you sold her to. You promised.”

Vesper shook his head, looking disgusted by Ridley’s display of grief.

“My god, you’re as tedious as she was. Your sister is beyond saving.

She’s been with him for days. That severed bond was likely her last gift to you.

Don’t squander it. The kindest thing you can do for yourself is forget she ever existed. ”

“Who is he?” Ridley shouted again. “You have to know.”

Vesper waved his hand. “The Dollmaker works through a broker, darling. Nobody knows who he is. He’s too elusive.

All I know is he’s very powerful and will kill to keep his privacy.

Give up on Ren, Ridley. It’s what she’d want.

You’ll never find her, and even if you did, there won’t be much left worth saving. ”

Ridley shook his head. No. No way. He wasn’t letting it end like that.

“You have to have something? Some records?” Ridley begged. “Something? You said she was chipped. Can’t you track it? Please?”

Vesper gave another long-suffering sigh. “Your sister never completed the intake. He bought her…unfinished. Her chip is intact, but inactive.”

“So, activate it!”

Vesper’s laugh echoed through the space, making Ridley shake with rage and Rain whine in fear.

“I won’t be doing that.” To Jensen, he said, “And don’t get any ideas about hacking my system either, mutt. You won’t find what you’re looking for.”

“Please, I’ll—I’ll do anything,” Ridley sobbed, becoming dead weight in Titus’s arms.

Vesper’s golden eyes lit up. He tilted his head. “Anything, you say? That’s…bold.”

“Ridley, don’t,” Titus growled in his ear.

Ridley ignored him. “Just give me something. Anything.”

Vesper shook his head, like Ridley was a lost cause. “Fine. Let’s just say this. You owe me a favor. One day, I’ll ask for something and you’ll do it. No questions asked.”

“Done.”

“Ridley!” Titus snapped.

“Shut up. I don’t care. I’ll do it. Tell me who he is,” Ridley pleaded .

“I told you, I don’t know. What I do know is that the broker he uses goes by Rook on the dark net. But he’s equally dangerous. Maybe even more so. He holds the lives of many powerful men in his hands.”

“Rook…” Ridley said, his lips curling around the vowels. He looked at Vesper. “Thank you.”

Vesper scoffed. “Thanking me for signing your death warrant. Cute.”

Ridley had stopped listening. He had a clue.

A path to follow. Something. He wasn’t about to let his sister continue as some living breathing sex toy for some rich alpha.

Not after she severed their connection to protect him.

Fuck that. He’d just needed a place to start.

And now, he had one. Even if he’d just sold his soul to the devil.

The Rook. One of the most powerful pieces on the chessboard. But there was one piece more powerful. One piece with the combined power of the rook and the bishop.

The Queen.