The Queen & The Butcher
The suite was quiet except for the soft rustle of fabric.
Leena stood in front of the mirror, unzipping her dress. The black silk slid down her body and pooled at her feet. She stepped out of it carefully, her movements slow, deliberate.
Behind her, Rider loosened his tie and shrugged off his jacket.
"Check my schedule tomorrow," he said. "Find a good time next week to meet with the Reeds."
Leena paused, her hands on the clasp of her necklace.
"The Reeds?" she asked.
"David and Sarah. From tonight." Rider unbuttoned his shirt, his eyes on her reflection in the mirror. "I want to have dinner with them. Somewhere private."
Leena's fingers fumbled with the clasp. She finally got it undone and set the necklace on the dresser.
"Alright," she said quietly.
Rider crossed the room, his shirt hanging open. He stood behind her, his hands settling on her hips.
"You were perfect tonight," he murmured.
Leena met his eyes in the mirror. "Thank you."
"Caldwell was impressed. So was everyone else." His hands slid up her sides, over her ribs. "You know how to work a room."
"I do what you ask."
"You do more than that." Rider's lips brushed against her shoulder. "You thrive."
Leena didn't respond. She watched him in the mirror, his hands moving over her body, his expression satisfied.
But something felt wrong.
She thought about the way Rider had looked at Sarah Reed. The way his eyes had lingered. The way he'd smiled.
The same way he looks at her.
"Rider," she said quietly.
"Mm?"
"What am I to you?"
His hands stilled. He lifted his head, meeting her eyes in the mirror.
"What do you mean?"
Leena turned to face him. "I mean—what am I? To you. What is this?"
Rider studied her for a long moment. His expression was unreadable.
"You're asking if you matter," he said finally.
"I'm asking what I am."
Rider's hand came up, his fingers brushing against her jaw. "You're mine."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only answer that matters." His thumb traced her lower lip. "You belong to me, Leena. You know that."
"But what does that mean?" Her voice was softer now, almost hesitant. "When you look at other women the way you looked at Sarah tonight—"
"Sarah Reed is a business opportunity," Rider interrupted. "Nothing more."
"You looked at her the way you look at me."
Rider's hand tightened slightly on her jaw. Not painful, but firm.
"Hela's gone," he said. His voice was low, controlled. "Do you understand what that means?"
Leena's breath caught.
"It means you're the Queen Bee now." Rider stepped closer, his body pressing against hers. "My Queen. The only one who matters."
Leena's heart was pounding. She wanted to believe him. Wanted to feel secure in her place beside him.
But the doubt was still there.
"Say it," Rider murmured.
"What?"
"Say you're my Queen."
Leena hesitated. Her cheeks flushed.
"I—"
"Say it." His hand moved to the back of her neck, his grip firm. "I want to hear you say it."
"I'm your Queen," she whispered.
"Louder."
"I'm your Queen."
Rider's lips crashed against hers. The kiss was hard, bruising, his teeth catching her lower lip. Leena gasped into his mouth, her hands coming up to grip his shoulders.
He pulled back just enough to speak.
"Again."
"I'm your Queen," Leena breathed.
"Again."
"I'm your Queen."
"Again."
"I'm your Queen." Her voice was stronger now, more certain.
Rider kissed her again, his hand tangling in her hair. When he finally pulled away, Leena's lips were swollen, her breathing ragged.
"Good girl," he murmured.
He released her and stepped back, his eyes sweeping over her body.
"Now go shower," he said. "You still have that old man's cum in you."
Leena's face burned. She nodded and turned toward the bathroom.
As she walked away, she could feel Rider's eyes on her back.
Queen Bee, she thought. Queen.
***
The alley smelled like piss and rotting garbage.
Bella stood with her back against the brick wall, her arms crossed over her chest. Beside her, Hela leaned casually against a dumpster, her expression bored.
Mara stood a few feet away, shifting her weight from foot to foot.
"This is fucking stupid," Mara muttered. "Why are we meeting in an alley?"
"Because he picked the spot," Hela said. "And we need what he has."
"He's late."
"He'll be here."
Bella's eyes scanned the darkness. Every shadow felt like a threat. Every sound made her tense.
She'd been on edge since Jack went missing. Since she'd seen Kain's men drag him away.
He's still alive, she convinced herself. That's what matters.
Footsteps echoed from the far end of the alley.
A figure emerged from the shadows—young, maybe mid-twenties, with a shaved head and a leather jacket. He walked with a swagger that didn't quite match the nervousness in his eyes.
"You Hela?" he asked.
"I am." Hela pushed off the dumpster. "You're late."
"Had to make sure I wasn't followed." The informant's eyes flicked to Bella, then to Mara. "Who are they?"
"Friends."
"I don't like crowds."
"Then you should've picked a better meeting spot." Hela's voice was flat. "You have information. We have money. Let's make this quick."
The informant smirked. "Money. Right."
Bella frowned. Something about his tone felt wrong.
"Where are they keeping Jack?" Hela demanded.
"Price first."
"Fine." Bella reached into her jacket, pulling out an envelope. "Five thousand. Cash."
The informant didn't move. His smirk widened.
"I don't want your money."
Bella's stomach dropped.
"What do you want?" Hela asked.
The informant's eyes moved to Mara. Then to Bella. Then back to Hela.
"I think you know."
Mara's face went pale. "Fuck no."
"Then no information." The informant shrugged. "Your choice."
"You piece of shit—" Mara started forward, but Hela grabbed her arm.
"Wait."
"Wait? Are you fucking kidding me?" Mara jerked free. "I'm not sucking his cock for information."
"Make that bitch do it," Mara said, jerking her thumb at Bella. "It's her boyfriend."
Bella's jaw tightened. "No."
"What?" Mara's voice rose. "You're the one who dragged us into this—"
"I said no."
The informant's eyes moved between them, his smirk widening. "So which one of you is it gonna be?"
"Not me," Mara snapped. "Let her do it. She's the one who cares so much."
"I don't care who does it," the informant said. "But someone's gotta, or you get nothing."
"Shut up," Bella snapped.
The informant took a step closer. "Come on. It's just a blowjob. Five minutes, tops. Then you get what you want."
Bella's hands clenched into fists. "I said no."
"Bella," Mara said quietly. "It's the only way—"
"I don't care."
"Jack's life is on the line—"
"I said no!" Bella's voice echoed off the alley walls. "I'm not doing it. Find another way."
Hela was quiet for a long moment. Then she turned to Mara.
"Do it."
Mara's eyes widened. "What?"
"You heard me."
"Hela, I—"
"We need this information." Hela's voice was cold. "And you're the only option left."
Mara stared at her. Then at Bella. Then at the informant.
"Fuck," she whispered.
She crossed the alley slowly, her movements stiff. The informant was already unbuckling his belt, his smirk widening.
"That's a good girl," he said.
"Shut the fuck up," Mara muttered.
She dropped to her knees in front of him.
Bella turned away, her stomach churning. She heard the sound of a zipper. A soft groan.
The informant's breathing grew heavier. Faster.
"Fuck," he groaned. "Just like that—"
Mara made a muffled sound of protest.
"Almost there—fuck—"
He came with a loud groan.
Mara jerked back, coughing. "You fucking asshole! Five minutes my ass! You didn't warn me!"
The informant laughed, zipping up his pants. "Oops."
Mara stood, her hand coming up fast. The slap echoed through the alley.
The informant's head snapped to the side. He touched his cheek, his expression darkening.
"Bitch—"
"Information," Hela said sharply. "Now."
The informant glared at Mara for another moment. Then he turned to Hela.
"Fine. Kain told Bron to keep watch around the butcher shop they own. East side, near the docks. If your boy's anywhere, he's probably there."
Bella's heart was pounding. "That's it? That's all you have?"
"You want more?" The informant shrugged. "Bron's got a secret lover… Kain's mother."
Hela's eyes narrowed. "What?"
"You heard me. Bron's fucking his best friend's mom. Has been for years." The informant grinned. "Only people who know are the ones completely loyal to Bron. I was her bodyguard for a while. Had to clean up after them. She threatened to cut my balls off if I ever told."
"Jesus," Mara muttered.
"They meet on Tuesdays," the informant continued. "Hotels, usually. Same three spots, rotating. The Grandview, the Belmont, and the Riverside Inn."
Bella stepped forward, her voice sharp. "That's not enough. We need more."
The informant raised an eyebrow. "More? I just gave you gold."
"We need details. Schedules. Security—"
"Lady, I'm a fucking grunt. Botton of the food chain. I don't have access to that shit." The informant's smirk returned. "But if you want more, I'm sure we can work out another arrangement—"
"Show us pictures," Hela interrupted.
"What?"
"Pictures. Of Bron and Kain's mother. So we can recognize them."
The informant hesitated. Then he pulled out his phone, scrolling through his photos.
"Here." He turned the screen toward them.
Bella leaned in. The photo showed a man in his forties—broad shoulders, shaved head, a scar running down his left cheek. Beside him was a woman in her sixties, elegant, with silver hair and sharp eyes.
"That's Bron," the informant said. "And that's Vivian. Kain's mom."
Hela took a photo of the screen with her own phone. "Got it."
The informant pocketed his phone. "We done here?"
"We're done."
He turned and walked back into the shadows, his footsteps fading into the night.
Mara wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, her expression disgusted.
"I need a fucking drink," she muttered.
Bella didn't respond. Her mind was already racing.
The butcher shop. Tuesdays. Bron and Vivian.
"We need a plan," she said.
Hela nodded. "We do."
"The butcher shop first. We confirm Jack's there. Then we figure out how to get him out."
"And Bron?"
Bella's jaw tightened. "We use him. If he's fucking Kain's mother, that's leverage. We find them on Tuesday, we get proof, and we use it to make Bron talk."
Mara looked between them. "You two are fucking insane."
"Maybe," Hela said. "But it's the only play we have."
Bella stared down the alley, her hands still clenched into fists.
Hold on, Jack, she thought. We're coming.