Ark

*Joseph*

We walked around the path after learning that Jay indeed wanted to join my inner circle. We are back to four. I do believe Mason would be happy with my choice of a new brother. I was very pleased he accepted my offer. I held my Sunshine as we walked. I kept asking her if she was okay, but she was enjoying the cool air. I enjoyed watching her enjoy herself. She laughed while she talked with everyone again looking more free than she did before we left that room. I need to get her back to the country house. We turned around to the back of the house. When I glanced over to the back, the gardens that use to sit there were gone. Two garage-looking buildings were sitting where they once were. The day of the celebration party when Ark was opening his North office, When I promoted him to territory leader. "What the hell is he doing up here?" I felt my anger rising. Everyone stopped. "Jay take my Sunshine back to her room please." I smiled down at her kissing her forehead. "I'll See you in a little while beautiful," I whispered in her ear watching as she shivered. I winked at her as Jay walked her back towards the house. I looked at the others telling them it was time for a tour. They nodded as we all started walking towards the first garage. There was another champion standing in front of the grey door. He didn't budge. "Do you know who I am?" After I asked he looked me up and down shaking his head no. "My name is Smoke. All of this," I waved my hand around to say everything around us, "belongs to me." He told me he was told not to let anyone in the door. I looked at Zeus, "Call Ark, Now." I was trying not to beat on the man just doing his job in front of the door, so I walked away from him a short distance. A lot of people didn't know exactly who I was. It was rare that I was seen. Zeus walked over to me, "Boss, He seems shaken. He said he would be out here shortly." I looked at both he and Henry telling them to watch to make sure no one tries anything. They both walked towards each garage pulling a gun from their pants. I walked out in front of both waiting for Ark to walk out of the house.

About 10 minutes later I saw him coming with one of his guards. *Why is he coming guarded, He is up to something Jo.* "How can I help you boss?" I wanted to smack him, I know Zeus told him what I wanted. "I want to check out your new garages here, I didn't realize you had covered the gardens." He looked from me to both buildings. "I didn't know landscaping was one of the rules, sir." Brave little shit was getting snarky with me. "Open the door Ark." My monster was coming out slowly. He walked slowly to the door asking the guard to open it. The smell when the door opened was rancid, like ammonia or cat urine, He was cooking meth in this building. I grabbed him by the throat slamming him against the wall. "You stupid mother fucker!" He was trying to breathe. His guard went to grab me, but Zeus changed his mind quickly with a gun to his head. The other guard didn't move either. "Where is Henry, Keep him out of here!" One of his addictions was to meth, I wanted to break Ark's neck just on principle. "He smelled it, boss, He called for Jay, and is going to go keep an eye on Sunshine." I looked back to Ark, who was still struggling to breathe. "I gave you an opportunity Ark, I grabbed you off the streets and made you successful, and you make this poison to repay me, you get greedy?" I let go of him and tell Zeus to walk him to the other garage. I sent Mrs. J a message to call my clean-up team, adding to bring Hazmat. The guard at the door was told to stay to be sprayed down. We stood outside for a minute to get some fresh air, I looked over at Ark trying to figure it out. He was such a bright kid when I found him. He had been beaten by his stepfather and tossed out on the street. The brotherhood took him in, cleaned him up, fed him, and taught the asshole how to run this house in the north. We got revenge on his stepfather together. "Explain it to me, Ark, Why?" He looked down to the ground. "Smoke, I, I, I was trying to make more business. I knew you wouldn't agree with this arrangement... So I didn't bring it to you and the other leaders. I assure you we all do things you don't know about." I walked up to him punching him as hard as I could in the face. He went down instantly. Jay came walking back around the house telling me that Henry was sitting with Sandra. They were both okay. He had also placed another guard at the door.

"Open the other door," I said to Ark coldly as he got up off the ground. We walked up to it as he unlocked it. When I walked in behind him there was little light. I could see chains on the wall and a small bed with straps. Then I saw a board with locks. It looked like head and arm holes carved into it. There were cameras placed everywhere. My stomach started to turn. I told Zeus and Jay to hold him to the wall. "What the fuck is this for Ark?" I hit him hard in the face again. He looked up at me with tears in his eyes, I am guessing from fear. "It's a dungeon boss, I heard how much money Luca made with this operation and I wanted to try." I lost my head when those words came out. I just kept hitting him. "Smoke, I don't think he is conscious, Smoke Stop." I heard Zeus' voice faintly before Jay grabbed me. "Chain that fucker up," I yelled as Jay held me back. I all but ran out of the building vomiting around the corner of it. *what the fuck is wrong with people?* After about 10 minutes I walked back in the door. Zeus had woken Ark up, he was questioning him, "Do you make these women do this? With who?" Ark looked dazed from the beating but answered him slowly. He told him he hired the girls from the south hotel a lot. Dime drives them up to him for a price. Then he pays them well to go in and play the part. The men pay him for a session, and then everyone leaves no questions asked. "I would never force a woman to do this Boss, they are paid very well, they want to do it." I walked over to the wall where he was chained. I started yelling at him telling him no woman wants to do that, they are strung out and desperate enough to do it. Zeus told him we wanted a list of the women's names. He started to list names and my heart sank when he said Candy. We left him hanging in the building till we could talk and decide what to do with him. I had known him since he was barely an adult, and I didn't want to see him killed. He is done with the brotherhood though and will be thrown out of his position regardless. His second in command will gain that seat once he is properly trained to do so.

I know Henry will want to take him out. I know Zeus will want to throw him out and cut him off completely. I don't know where Jay will stand, and I will ask Sandra as well. Her opinion matters more to me than she knows. I couldn't shake the things that he told me. I pulled out my phone and looked up her number. Mason would be lost over this. He loved her. The phone started ringing until she answered. "Hello Candy, I need to talk to you."