When Derrick left the infirmary, he was deep in thought. He wasn't sure how that Ben boy would last. He looked so weak and terrified. That look would only get him killed faster.
The most he could do was talk to the boy and maybe put his boys on their toes to prevent getting Ben in trouble.
His boys….
He wasn't really sure about any of them right now. There was definitely a mole or more amongst them. People reporting back to the Demonic. The Texas' situation proved that above reasonable doubt and he was so busy he hadn't gotten round to smoking the moles out.
When they moved to Texas, Rolph discovered that even though Grandfather had given him things to do, he was still more of a puppet than a boss. Even worse off than his boys because he was not allowed to make any move unless grandfather ordered it.
First they silently got grandfather's spy out of the way using a third party. The gang was wiped out immediately to erase all traces. Then Rolph started to bring in his own men.
He first mixed them with the rest making it look like they were sent by grandfather but after grandfather had his stroke, Rolph gained more ground and was able to completely replace grandfather's people with his own people.
He was still using them but there was a group of guards totalling up to 500 that were totally loyal to Rolph and took orders from him alone.
That was the whole idea until Texas happened. Now Derrick wasn't so sure.
Some of these men were always in the shadows wherever Rolph went. And those were the ones occupying the kitchen of the club presently.
Actually, that wasn't the club's kitchen. That was Rolph's personal kitchen. His boys did his cooking and every other thing. With the number of hits on his head from the dark web, they had to be careful. If anyone wanted to get to Rolph without using a sniper or setting up an accident, it would have to be through these men. And there were lots of people who wanted Rolph dead.
Grandfather spoiled him to the point where Rolph was rude and inconsiderate of anyone except Hannah, Jolanta and Derrick. He didn't hesitate to kill and it got so bad, grandfather had to give him a list of families he shouldn't touch without grandfather's consent.
Grandfather wanted to create a monster, he succeeded and now it was Derrick's job to keep that monster alive.
When Derrick got to the kitchen and stepped out of the second elevator doors, he glanced at the men. His spirit sank. He wished there was a way to identify the moles just by looking. He signed and walked straight to the elevator that led to Rolph's lair.
The two doors were facing each other. While one set of doors led to Rolph's lair, the other led to the torture chamber which they refer to as "The pit", the infirmary and Rolph's meth and coke lab which even grandfather didn't know existed.
Right now, Derrick wasn't so sure if they still had secrets to keep. He was going to talk to Rolph about moving things around once things settles down a bit.
As he stepped into the second elevator, he took a second look at the men. Tonight, after they take off for Marfa, these men will return to Texas. They don't need them at the ranch. The security at the ranch was so capable, it could rival the total number of soldiers in the famous Marfa's army barrack.
Derrick would be taking just his elite guards of seven with him.
When Derrick got to Rolph's suite, Jolanta was no longer on the bed.
"Where is she?" He asked immediately.
"Loaded." Rolph replied.
"What have you found out?"
" She was kidnapped for sure but Grandfather wouldn't say by whom and why. He just ordered that we should bring her home."
Derrick heaved. He wasn't surprised. Grandfather had always been passive-aggressive like a woman toying with her love interest.
"Let's analyze what we have. First, she arrived in San Antonio four days ago with a double blindfold. One to blind her and the other to blind us." Derrick paused to make his point sink in. " Don't you think that is suspicious?"
"Hmmm," Rolph grunted.
" What is the second one?"
"The client who ordered a virgin must have recognized her. That was why he rejected the goods."
"I thought as much. Who would be stupid enough to do this?"
"The question should be, why would your uncle be stupid enough to buy her?"
"Hmm! I can't wait to see how The Demon will handle this. Uncle fucked up royally this time around." Rolph chuckled, very pleased with the situation.
"He is a sly fox. He will find a way out."
"That's what worries me." Rolph snorted
" Back to your analysis. If she was deliberately sent to us, why? …..This could ruin us if we can't prove that we had no hands in her kidnapping. What was uncle thinking?!"
"Let's not overthink it, Rolph. Just let The Demonic handle it. Everything should be fine."
'I hope so." Rolph replied.
He was taught never to acknowledge fear, never to show it, but right now, for the first time since he was 10 and made his first kill, he felt fear. He acknowledged it and he showed it to his brother and friend.
The person they might have offended was an anaconda beside their own rattlesnake. Adam Nowicki can swallow them without making an effort.
The door beeped and opened. Delvin came in, followed by four men with Ben in the cage, blindfolded.
"He is here, boss." Delvin bowed.
"Put him down." Rolph ordered and the cage was carefully placed on the floor.
Ben made sure to stay very still. He had been whispering to himself all the way to this room. 'Embrace the pain…..Embrace the pain.'
"Open the cage." Rolph told no one in particular but the four men went ahead to decouple the cage.
"Stand up Ben." Rolph addressed Ben gently.
But Ben knew that tone. He had heard it before and took it for a good sign. It was no good sign. The calmer this man is, the worst things could get. Without hesitating, Ben forced his body to calm down and stood up. "Yes sir."
"Come here."
Ben removed his blindfold and walked up to Rolph trying to be casual. It was impossible. His feet wobbled just as he was a few feet to Rolph and he was going to fall but surprisingly, Rolph caught him and gathered him up in his arms.
He even looked worried.
"Are you still hurting? Have you eaten today at all?"
Am I not supposed to be hurting? Ben mused but replied…."No sir. I have not eaten."
" Why didn't you feed him?! Didn't I ask you to take care of him?!" Rolph turned dark, sparkling eyes on Delvin.
Delvin felt a chill go down his spine and subconsciously did the sign of the cross.
"He was sleeping all day sir. The nurse said he needed to rest."
" Make sure to pack something for him for the trip." Rolph's tone was still aggressive.
"Yes boss."
"Leave!"
"Yes boss."
The men quickly packed up the cage and left with it.
Ben was relieved to see it go.
"Follow me." Rolph said to Ben with his caring voice.
"Yes sir."
They entered the closet.
Ben had never seen any closet like it. It was like their school lockers back in high school, with a narrow corridor but when you open it, it is filled with clothes instead of books and secrets. Plus their lockers were made of iron while these were made of wood. And the room smelled nice. It was soothing but the fear in Ben's heart made it impossible to enjoy the atmosphere.
"You like it here?" Rolph had noticed Ben's cautious reaction to his closet.
"I..I.."
Before Ben could come up with a response, Rolph opened a door at the last end. "Everything here is now yours." He said to Ben.
The boy didn't know how to answer.
'He is giving me clothes now!' He thought to himself.
Rolph rummaged through the clothes and brought out a purple, full length cowboy hooded sweat coat.
"This is my favorite. Wear it often, okay."
"Yes sir."
Ben was naked all day. He was covered with a blanket at the clinic and was covered with a shawl on his way here so he was grateful for the cloth he was about to receive.
"Go in there and take a bath. You smell of disinfectant." Rolph said pointing to the jacuzzi.
Ben hurried over and opened warm water on himself while watching Rolph pick some shoes. The water felt so good and Ben took his time.
By the time Ben was done, Rolph had settled for a white slip on, changed his own attire to a pale yellow short that stopped right before his knees and a green polo that hugged his body like a second skin.
Without saying anything, he towel dried Ben carefully, helped him into the hooded coat and dropped the slip-on in front of Ben to wear.
To Ben's dismay, Rolph then brought out a purple collar and a set of wrist and ankle cuffs.
He fixed them all to Ben, making him feel like he was wearing oversized jewelry.
After fixing Ben up, He nodded in approval of how Ben looked and started dragging him out of the closet like a dog going on a walk.
Ben followed milky. He was wise enough not to resist. He kept repeating …" Embrace the pain!!"..in his mind.
In the sitting room, Derrick gave Rolph a look of disapproval and Rolph rolled his eyes
"Isn't he cute." He stated.
Derrick looked at Ben worriedly.
"Don't worry. I like his dick."
Derrick shook his head and led the way out with Ben at the rear being dragged along by the collar.