Whitlock (The Complete 24690 series)

by A.A. Dark

Everleigh Davenport. That had been her name. She’d been born to a wealthy man—a man Mr. Vicolette hated. But he hadn’t hated her. The sick fuck loved her. Even at the tender age of ten, when he’d had her taken and brought here—an act that almost had my father killing him. That wasn’t how we worked. We acquired our own slaves. We were responsible for their disappearances. No one else. Yet, my father pardoned him and allowed the girl to stay. He even had her parents killed at a hefty price to Mr. Vicolette. But it had to be done. There were no loose ends when you ran the world’s largest funhouse. Celebrities, politicians…they all took up residence here when they weren’t pretending to be someone else. We couldn’t afford the risk, not that I worried too much about the outside law. Our

pockets were deep, and my five Main Masters had influence and connections in all the right places.

“You ask all these questions, yet you’re afraid of the wrong people. Don’t fear your Master, slave. Fear the devil at your back.

Fear the reflection you can’t see staring back at you in the mirror. I’m everywhere. I see your every move. I’ve seen…for years. When and what I want of you, I will take. Fuck everyone. Let them try to get in my way. You belong to me when I decide the time is right. For your sake, you better hope that day never comes.”

“To happiness, West.” “To happiness.”

away, little mouse. Fast.

“You will not cower to death. You will not stir or cringe at the sight of blood or gore. Skinning and gutting your friend will be good for you. Attachments to anyone or anything is useless. Let this be a lesson, wife.”

You forget the bait that treads the water is usually the hook that kills the prey. Remember that.”

What I think you mean to ask is am I in love with you or West? The answer to that would be no. I love the two of you, yes, but you see, love only goes so far in my mind. I have no problems taking the life of a person I love.”

This was a kiddy ride in an adult amusement park.

And like the scared little mouse he thought I was, I ran to hide from the predator closing in.

“You will not escape this place. You will not have a happy life here. You will never marry. You will never have children. You are slaves and the majority of you will die within a matter of days. Some of you might be lucky to last a few years, but don’t count on it. Eventually, you’re going to meet your death in this place. I sure as hell have.” He paused, glancing right toward me. “Welcome to Whitlock.”

it cost me not only most of my board members, but the respect of the only person I loved: Everleigh, slave twenty-four-six-ninety.

You can’t keep a corpse and not expect it to rot.

“Bram Whitlock, you are under arrest for harboring and aiding in the escape of fugitives. You will go to the White Room, where you will await sentencing from the board. However long that should take. As of now, Martial Law will go into effect. Whitlock belongs to the guard. To me.”

fly. Be careful who you get close to. Trust slowly. Listen eagerly. Talk only when you believe in what you have to say, and only if you know it to be the truth. Never break your word to those loyal to you, but never believe loyalty is unbreakable. It is our friends that will be the first to hurt us. React gracefully. You’re a Davenport. Someone is always watching. The way the world sees you is a mirror of how you see yourself. Let them see nothing but love. Then, when they’re not looking…drop the match and burn them to the ground.”

I want their relatives, children, pets. Whatever they hold dear in their normal life, take it from them. Do that and head for Red Island on jet three. It won’t be detected. You’ll be safe with your brother. If you don’t hear from me by midnight, three days from now, start killing them until Derek sets Bram free. If he doesn’t, and I don’t surface…you know what to do.”

Three days, Luke, then start killing them. One a day until Bram is free.”

Flowers didn’t grow in the dark. Love didn’t flourish amongst evil.

“This is the beginning. No woman, man, child, or previous slave ever has to be afraid again. Whitlock

Enterprise has paired with Jane Doe Inc and has set up a very generous fund for those trying to escape trafficking. If you can’t escape, we will help you do so. If you know a location that you suspect is associated with these crimes, we’ll find you. We will stop you. We are all over the globe, and you better believe we’re coming. Expect us.”