Chapter 196
Behind the Curtain
J
Damon
Theo and I stand outside the brothel on neutral territory. The outside of the large building doesn’t give away what the inside holds.
The place looks more like a small, roadside hotel from the outside. The walls are beige and the roof a standard blue shingle. There are no outside identifiers of the building which is a red flag.
We exited the car after three hours of outside surveillance. It wasn’t useful. Boring as shit and we saw no big named Alphas strolling in.
“Ready?” I turn to Theo, the main shifter I use for things like this. He is extremely observant and good at slipping in and out of places undetected. A master at gathering intel on the fly and getting shit done when it hits the fan.
He nods as I open the door and head into the building. The outside may not give anything away, but the inside is a different story.
Everything is red.
The carpet.
The walls.
The stage.
I fight off a shudder.
There are velvet couches. A full bar and numerous tables. I look to the right and observe a greasy looking Alpha spit on the floor. I have to leash the growl that wants to come out of me. I also feel like I’m going to vomit. I can’t stand it when someone purposely does something disgusting like that.
However disgusting this place is, it has everything necessary for our cover.
I think the carpet is sticky.
Imagine if I brought my black light….yuck.
I head over to the bar and Theo follows. We take a seat in the red velvet, high back bar stools. The bartenders are young females. Four of them and they appear healthy and pleasant for the most part. One looks all around bitchy, confrontational, and doesn’t want to be bothered by
customers at all.
The bar has a few shifters sitting. None of them register to me as a threat, but the night is young.
“What can I get for you?” A young she–wolf wearing next to nothing asks. She’s pretty but not on my radar. No, I think the bitchy one would know far more. She looks like she has worked here for a long time.
We’ll see. I am sure Theo, and I will take the bets on who can get what info from who. Betting is Theo’s favorite past time. I’m indifferent.
“I will take two Brother’s Bond bourbons on ice.” I decided to order top shelf and by name. It appears more confident.
“You got it.” I pull out some cash and sit it on the bartender to just tap into when we need refills. Not too many big bills to be suspicious, but a few mixed into the cash pile like they don’t matter.
“So, we are two Alphas that are from different packs meeting here to find a neutral scheming place to sit and plan out all of our evil endeavors and then we warm up to the girls and slowly build a rapport and somehow get them to think that we want to buy she wolves….” Now that I say it like that, it seems difficult to believe it will work.
“It will work. We will become on of them.” Theo whispers as the bartender returns with our drinks, and we nod at her while we sit and fake
scheme.
“How do you want to treat the girls? If we are too smitten with them, they won’t think we want any of the dark and gritty. If we are too cold and uninterested, we may not be introduced to anyone with power.” Theo swirls his bourbon around in this glass before taking a swig and smacking
Behind the Curtain
his lips, nodding to himself. It is damn good.
“I think we spend a few days uninterested because of our evil plotting but noticing what’s around occasionally. We go with the flow and take the opportunities when they arise. We just can’t be too suspicious.” I already have the exits clocked and notice the number of guards present and the heat they are packing.
“Their guards are heavily armed.” Theo murmurs into the glass of his drink as I pretend not to notice.
“So, what sort of evil plans are we conjuring up?” I ask, finishing my own drink and holding up my empty glass for the bartender to notice.
“Hmmm…well world domination seems like a stretch. Maybe we should use the time to think of the types of evil plans we could be involved in, in case we are asked.” Theo suggests as he finishes his drink, and the bartender brings us two more.
I need to make a mental note to tip her good for her prompt service. Too bad I saw how she washes these cups and now I have to fight to take another drink. They just dipped the glasses into the soapy water, moved them up and down in the water a couple of times, then dunk in cold water to rinse and then place on the counter.
Who is scrubbing the lip prints off the glass?
“Drugs and girls obviously but don’t offer it up front. They need to be trusted to get that info from us.” I state, taking in my surroundings. There are half naked she–wolves sitting on laps, stripping on stage and pulling me down halls.
So far, Alissa’s assessment of the girls shows that they are all here willingly and it seems legit.
“Yeah, but we can hint at what evil things we do as well.” Theo follows up, his gaze moving up and down one of the bartenders. I pray to the fates he doesn’t get himself mixed up with any of these she–wolves and fills our hotel suite with them.
We spend the rest of the evening talking nonsense in hushed whispers with small but dramatic affects. The pointing of the fingers into the top of the bar while we are whispering seems to draw attention.
We also draw attention because we are dressed as upscale businesses Alphas. I don’t even want to think about how much the suites cost that Thane put us in, but they make a statement.
Theo’s is a deep emerald green. It draws attention because it screams money, but it also is green enough to appear slightly sleazy. I’m in a navy blue fitted suite. The blazer long gone over the back of my chair. We make sure to roll up our button up shirts and open the top.
Two Alpha’s that have had a long day of scheming, needing a place to unwind, be secretive and bask in the glory of perversion with like–minded shifters.
So far from my almost non–existent personality that it is laughable.
We decide to turn around and drink and talk as we are in the early unwinding stage of our cover. The two of us are using the new position to observe the she–wolves readily available. They are all beautiful in their own ways. Some are laughing and genuinely seem like they are having a good time.
Some are performing acts in public.
I have to fight to recoil at the thought of sharing an unwashed chair one of these Alpha’s was serviced in.
“Gentlemen…. It is time for our main show tonight. I know, I know, hold your applause….” Some fat MC starts gathering the Alphas here for some show to start. Many shoot up from their chairs, letting the girls on their laps fall to the ground so they can make their way over to the stage.
“Most of you are here to see her perform tonight.” Loud whistles erupt and the MC has to quiet everyone down again. Now they have my full
attention.
Who is behind the curtain?
Omega Bound
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.