Even the most awful things become routine with time.
As much as Logan knew this he was surprised how quickly he became used to seeing
Remy in his straps and restraints. He soon became a regular at the club, habits known, credibility established. It seemed he could bear anything, even this.
There had been a bad moment, the second time he came when Remy stood after Logan had removed the chip.
"Can you stay a little longer?" The kid wouldn't look at him, but stared fixedly at the wall by his side. "I mean, if you�re able. They'll let me alone if I have a client, you see."
Logan felt rage rush up, threatening to overwhelm him. He wanted nothing more than to loose his claws, to tear down this horrible place, to slice open the scum who would dare do anything other than let Remy alone.
Remy seemed to sense Logan's reaction. He took an apprehensive step back. Logan forced himself to smile. It felt unnatural in their situation. "Of course I can stay. Why don't you get some rest, I'll keep watch."
On another visit, when he saw deep bruises on Remy's wrists where the kid had been tied, he felt the red tide wash over him again, but he was more careful to hide his anger.
The kid had enough to deal with. He didn't need to worry about Logan freaking out on top of everything else.
Two weeks later, when he saw the dark bruise on Remy's cheek, he couldn't help himself. "Somebody hit you?" His voice was little more than a growl. Remy flinched. Logan quickly remembered to lower his voice, so as not to be heard by the bugs.
"It's fine Cher. It happens. Some men like to play rough." Logan could hear Remy trying to keep his voice light. But lightness had gone out of the kid. Looking at him closely Logan could see that Remy had lost even more weight, his skin was pale and his hair had lost its sheen.
Most disturbing were his eyes. The light was fading from them like something was dying inside.
"This isn't working." Logan said abruptly. "The information we've gotten, the raids we've made, they help, but nothing is worth your life. Fuck finding the source. We have to get you out of here."
Remy smiled bitterly to himself. Logan was wrong. These things had to be worth his life. They had already cost him his life. There would be no point stopping now. He tried to be convincing, tried to think of the words that wouldn�t let Logan see the emptiness inside him.
"No, Logan." He grabbed the other man�s arm. "Not yet. Listen to me. The source is a man named Samuel. Karmike has set up a meeting. They don't know when yet, but Samuel is going to give them the exact time and place soon. It's the key we've been looking for. I can't go yet. I can't let this all be for nothing. Just give me a few more days."
Logan wanted to pull the kid against him, to tell him that it had not been for nothing, that Logan loved him and would protect him. He wanted to kiss Remy, standing there, his face bruised from his Johns. All at once the stupidity of the situation was overwhelming. He could never have Remy now. How could he want what all those other men had
wanted? To hurt? To humiliate? How could he want to damage Remy in the same way?
It's different. Said a small voice in his mind.
<No, no it isn't.> He shook himself and moved his gaze away from Remy's mouth.
"One week." He said. "One week and I'm taking you home even if I have to bring this place down around our ears to do it."
"Oui, a week then." Remy turned to face the wall. "You will need to come back soon though. Day after tomorrow. Hopefully by then I can tell you what you need to know."
Thursday night Logan was even more tense than usual. As he walked up to the front door his muscles were so tight he was amazed he could even bend his legs. The sight of his usual assistant hurrying towards him did little to ease his tension.
"Sir I am so sorry. There has been a little mix-up. The lad you prefer is not yet available. Perhaps you would like another? Or care to wait in a private room?" The man was ringing his hands, looking at Logan as if afraid of what the older man might do.
"I'll wait. Thank you." Logan tried to sound smooth. He was escorted to a small room, like any of the ones he had been in before, exotically furnished, with a thick, soft bed. He looked around. Now what? How long before Remy arrived? He was anxious to hear what the kid had found out. Anxious to get the hell out of here as well, though he wouldn't leave the kid alone through the night.
He lay down on the bed, trying not to think of what was keeping Remy �unavailable�. He couldn't nap. It wouldn't do to let his guard down. He was so tired. Tired of this whole sordid, disgusting mess. He just wanted it to be over. He wanted his kid back, whole and complete.
The problem was that now he had seen the results of Aphrodisiac. The problem wasn't as easy to dismiss as it had before. He was coming to understand what was driving Remy and Scott so hard to find the bastards responsible for this. He might not agree with what they did, but he knew why they did it. If there was pure evil in the world, this drug was close to its embodiment.
A nap was sounding better and better. He yawned. Maybe just a short one. Remy would be here soon after all. They wouldn't have had him wait otherwise. He felt his eyes began to close. The room was very, very hot. Which was odd. It had never been hot before.
Suddenly sensing that something was wrong he pushed himself upright. The room spun around him. There was something in the air. He had to get out side. What had they done with Remy?
He managed two steps towards the door before he collapsed, unconscious to the floor.
Logan didn't know how long he was out. When he finally came to he was cold, bound naked, spread eagle. He cautiously cracked his eyes open. He appeared to be in some sort of warehouse. There were crates and boxes stacked up near the walls. Beside him, three other men, of various ages were chained as he was.
At the far end of the room lolled four guards, playing cards and keeping half an eye on the prisoners. Logan cautiously tried his bonds. No luck. They were adamantium, fastened on each side with a few good sized padlocks. He wasn't collared, which was a small blessing, but he didn't really see that it would do much good. <Where the hell
am I? Why?>
By the door there was a small flurry of activity, the guards abruptly hiding their cards and leaping to attention. Through the door walk six more guards, all in matching uniforms. They flanked a middle aged man of medium height and brown hair wearing an off-the-rack suit.
The man crossed to a table near Logan and sat down.
"Is everything ready?" he asked.
"Yes, Mr. Samuel." said one of the guards that had been playing cards.
"Send them in."
The guard went to the door and returned with a group of several men. The leader was Karmike, who Logan had seen occasionally at the club. With him were two guards, somewhat scruffier than those of Mr. Samuel, Bromly, and � Logan's heart leapt into his throat� Remy. He steeled himself not to react. Remy's glazed eyes wandered over him. Logan marveled at the kid's acting. If he hadn't known for certain that Remy was not on
Aphrodisiac, he would never have guessed it form the boy's behavior.
"Mr. Samuel," Karmike pushed himself forward self importantly. "I am delighted you have found the time to meet with us. I assure you sir, that putting your faith in us a wise action. We will be able to vastly extend the reach of Aphrodisiac in the Midwest."
"Vastly?" Samuels looked coldly amused.
Karmike seemed to sense that he had overstepped and back pedaled as far as he could. "Well of course guided by your expertise....."
Samuels raised his hand. "Relax Karmike. I would say that a celebration is in order. Should we have a drink to celebrate this new partnership of ours?" He nodded to one of his men, who produced a bottle of expensive Vodka. They toasted, then Samuel turned a lazy eye on Remy.
"New piece?" he asked casually, as he ran a proprietary hand down Remy's leg.
"No, actually. Had him for a bit. But he is a favorite. Oozes class I think."
"Mind if I have a taste?"
"Please help yourself."
Samuel gestured to a nearby chair. "Have a seat." he said to Remy. Remy slid bonelessly into the chair. Logan pulled on his bonds and fought the urge to growl. Samuel rubbed the back of his hand over Remy's arm. Remy took his hand and began to suck on his fingers slowly, one by one pulling them deep into his mouth then running his tongue around the tips of them.
"Do you like your work?" Samuel asked him softly. Remy nodded. "Good. I think you're probably good at it. Do you like being good at what you do?" Again Remy nodded. "Say it."
"I like to give pleasure." Remy's voice was husky.
"Do you? Good, that's what we like to hear. You know when I was developing Aphrodisiac I was thinking of boys like you, sad, beautiful boys with no purpose save the enjoyment they could give to others. Now I have given you a way to share that pleasure with as many people as possible. Are you grateful?" Remy nodded eagerly. "I am grateful too. All these beautiful young men surrounding me, only wanting to give me pleasure. But still sometimes I miss something."
Samuel took his hand from Remy's mouth and caressed the younger man�s fingers. "Sometimes, I miss hearing them scream."
Their eyes met over their hands and something passed between them. Remy was out of his chair like a shot, scrambling for a weapon, but Samuel's guards had been waiting for him. One slammed him hard across the face as the other brought his knee up into Remy's stomach. He went down, gagging. The guards hauled him up and pinned him to the wall.
In the silence that followed there came the sound of clapping. Samuel walked towards Remy applauding. "I must say, young man, you were very, very good. I congratulate you. If I hadn't known that you were our mole I would have had no idea you were faking."
He didn't turn to the gaping Karmike as he said, "Karmike, you are a fool. Your carelessness in introducing a spy into our midst has almost been out ruin. Consider yourself fortunate I do not kill you now. You may go." Karmike sent one stricken glance towards Remy and departed.
"You should have been more careful boy. Little slips, an increase in raids corresponding to the date of your arrival, frequent all night guests, your presence in Karmike's office. These things add up. I am a master at spotting patterns you know, that's what makes me so good at what I do. Don't suppose you're going to tell me who you're working with?"
Remy remained silent.
"Well I thought I'd ask, for politeness sake. I�m glad you won�t say. I get to have more fun this way. Over the chair should do nicely." He said to the men.
The men forced Remy over the back of one of the chairs so hard the breathe rushed from his body again. Samuel began unbuckling his pants. "I'm going to give you a special treat, boy." he said. "I am going to give you the opportunity to not enjoy sex for the last time in you entire life."
Remy tried to struggle, but he was groggy from the blow to the head and the men were holding him hard.
<Not in front of Logan. Please God I can bear anything but that. Please don't make him watch this.>
Samuel tore down Remy's pants and spread his butt cheeks apart. He gazed at the boy with a connoisseur�s eye. "Wonderful," he murmured, then jammed his cock into Remy up to the hilt.
The pain was terrible, it felt like he was being torn open. But Remy had felt this pain many times. It paled in comparison to the pain of feeling a pair of blue eyes watching his degradation. As Samuel pounded into him again and again, Remy stopped struggling. It was pointless anyway. Logan knew everything about him now. There was nothing left to conceal.
Eventually Samuel stopped banging away on top of him. �Now.� He said, buttoning his pants, �it is obvious you�ve had an accomplice. In fact, I know who it is. Like I said, I�m very good at working out patterns. I knew that the only person who could transport information for you would have to be one of you johns. A regular, in fact. So I know it�s one of these men.� He indicated Logan and the others tied up beside him. �Now you�re going to tell me which it is. I don�t suppose you�d tell me if I asked nicely.�
Remy spit in his face. �You�re joking.�
Samuel wiped the spit from his face. Then he backhanded Remy against the mouth, hard. Remy felt the blood trickle from his lips. �Yes,� said Samuel. �Actually I was.�
The men holding Remy jerked his arms painfully behind him and slammed his chest down on the table so that his face was pressed flush against the wood.
Samuel reached into his pocket and pulled out a syringe, filled with a pink liquid that glimmered faintly in the neon light.
�Say a prayer boy.� Said Samuel. �It will be your last thought that doesn�t involve screwing.�
Remy struggled, trying to pull himself free of the men who held him The veins stood out in ridges along his neck as he tried to squirm away from Samuel�s hand gripping his chin.
But Samuel was well practiced in giving the injection. He calmly pushed Remy�s head harder into the table, stuck the needle into Remy�s neck and pushed down the plunger.
In seconds it was over. Remy stopped struggling. He went slack against the table. At a nod from Samuel the men released their hammerlock. Remy did not move. Then, after several seconds he raised his arms and pushed himself upright. His eyes were utterly vacant.
Logan felt his world crumble around him. It was over, he had failed, and Remy was gone.
Samuel smiled. �You�re horny, aren�t you boy?� Remy nodded mechanically. There was a strange gleam in his eyes. �You want to give someone a blowjob?� Another nod. �Well good. Where to begin? Ah. I know. Why don�t you suck off the man that you were passing information to. Wouldn�t that be fun? You do know which man it was, right?�
Without hesitating Remy walked directly to Logan. Samuel smiled. �Excellent.� He murmured.
Remy was so close that Logan could feel the kid�s breath on the side of his face. For an instant Remy paused and Logan felt a stab of unreasonable hope. Then achingly slowly, Remy closed the distance between them and brought his lips to Logan�s.
Logan struggled not to cry out. Remy�s mouth burned against his skin. His kisses were delicate and passionate, and Logan, after wanted nothing else for more than three years now wanted nothing but for Remy to take his mouth from his own.
<I didn�t want this. Not like this. Oh God, please. Not like this, I won�t be able to bear it.>
Remy did not stop. Instead he moved lower, kissing and nipping Logan�s neck, his chest, and then lower still until he had taken all of the man into his mouth.
It was terrible and exquisite. He felt himself getting excited, heard his own ragged breathing. Logan thought he could not hate himself more than he did in the moment when he realized that some part of his body was enjoying Remy�s ministrations.
But when he came inside his friend�s mouth and felt Remy swallowing his come, he knew he was wrong. He leaned his head back, closing his eyes in despair, cursing his body. How could he have done that? What sort of monster got turned on by their friend�s destruction?
Samuel smiled even more broadly. �Excellent. Come here boy.� He gestured to Remy. The kid walked meekly back to the shorter man. �You have done well. Now turn around.� Remy obediently turned his back to Samuel. �Good. Kneel.� Remy dropped to his knees. From his jacket Samuel produced a small gun, �Go get the car.� He said to his men. �I�ll clean up here.� He aimed the gun at the base of Remy�s skull.
<Everything is over.> thought Logan. For the first time in his life despair overwhelmed him. He couldn�t think of a plan, had no idea what to do next, or even really knew if he cared what happened to him. <Remy�s gone.> he kept thinking. <We�re only left with some sort of shell. Now I won�t even have that.> Nothing else in his life seemed of the slightest significance.
It was only at that moment that Logan noticed his chains had been unlocked.