Steven's POV:

"Marcus is going to hear about this." I dangerously warn Peggy. 

Not that I give a damn about who escorts hell cat to her room, I simply hate when people try to dominate me. Peggy's body physically stiffens by my statement, but she's quick to recover from it. This doesn't surprise me as I expect such a reaction from her. However, it's the next string of words that come out of her mouth that catch me by surprise. 

"Of course he will. I'm planning on telling him," she says with a fake smile and throws the file onto the table. Then proceeds to walk out with hell cat following her like some lost puppy.

I have to get to Marcus first... I warn myself.

If Peggy tells her version of the story, I'd be on probation for sure and I can't have that happening. I'll just tell him my point of view and everything else will fall into place. If not, well then fuck. What's the worse that could happen right?

I'm already responsible for the most obnoxious teenager to have ever been conceived. 'Our miracle baby', her parents gladly rejoiced on their Facebook account. Little did they know that they gave birth to a baby sent straight from hell.

I make my way to Marcus' office and knock on the half-opened door. A 'come inside' can be heard and I do just that. After closing the door behind me, I sit on the available seat opposite him. 

"What seems to be the problem?" Marcus questions as I attempt to make myself comfortable in a seat that should never have been manufactured.

Should have known that he'd automatically assume that there's a problem. Not that I blame him. The only time I ever approach him is either after collections or when there's a complaint to be made. "It's the nurse, Peggy. She's beginning to act out and I think it's because of that girl she has been assigned to."

Marcus sits up straight in his seat, suddenly interested in what I have to say. "Do elaborate. I can't figure out for myself what it is that she's done wrong," he says.

I hope this goes quickly. Peggy could show up here at any moment now then I'm screwed for sure. Not that I care, but I'm in no mood to bicker about. "Not only has she escorted the girl back to her room by herself, she never completed hell- Vivian's 'Triple E' program for the day." 

That should about do it. Now I just need to get out of here and find something else to do.

"And what exactly caused her to act this way?" he questions rather knowingly and I feel like smashing his face in. Don't ask me a question when you already assume that you have or know the correct answer. Rather say it out straight and I'll confirm or deny your accusation. Done. As easy as that, then we can move on.

However, I answer him nonetheless.

"I walked in on her discussing the new rules to the girl in the evaluation room. I must have caught her by surprise because that's when she lost it and dragged the girl out of the room." 

I know I left out a chunk of information, but so what? It's not like I'm breaking the code or anything. What good would it do me to give a full story anyway? Absolutely nothing. So fuck that shit. I have better things to do.

"Is that the full story?"

No.

"Yes," I reply while nodding my head. At that same moment, I realize that this is the first time in all two years of knowing Peggy that I lay a complaint against her by Marcus. Usually, it's Frank who takes care of this. "Okay then, I'll have a word with her. Thanks for informing me. We don't need any more problems occurring," he states.

I know all too well what he means by that. Hell cat cost us a damn fortune with that last little stunt she tried to pull off. The Boss wasn't too happy finding out what happened and demanded an increase in security as well as a stop to collections. An entire 6 months and no new victims. How the hell are we going to get enough money to pay everyone their fair share when auctioning off only 16 girls. Hell cat knows just how to fuck things up.

"Speaking about problems. You need to go and fix the one that you created..."

A problem that I created? Of course. Why am I not surprised. Four years of working in this shithole and everything is still either my fault or responsibility. Twenty-four other men in this damn compound yet it always manages to be Steven.

"That lieutenant you killed," oh that problem, "his wife is searching for Miss Marthis. She-"

"Miss Marthis?" I rudely interrupt. Marcus gives me a threating glare before shaking it off and continues.

"That was whats-her-name... Vivian's fake name on the documents," he says. I mouth an 'Ohh'  then wait for him to continue. "As I was saying. His wife's looking for her. A classic case of revenge. If she continues to pry around, she'll create an unwanted storm. I need you to go and sort it out," he orders.

Now his term of 'sort it out' and my term of 'sort it out' have two rather vastly different meanings. Why can't he just tell me straight. Steven, kill the psycho cop or Steven beat the woman to a pulp or Steven bring her in so we can add her to room 017. Instead, he leaves me to decide, and I always go for the easiest option. It saves time and creates less of a mess.

"And how would you like me to deal with it?" I ask, seeking clearance for once before it's all Steven's fault again. 

"With any means necessary," he confirms.

The easiest option it is then. Time to kill a cop. Well, lieutenant. Apparently, there's a difference in ranking according to Frank. Why am I even fussing over it? She'll be dead soon anyway. Her job description doesn't matter. "Say no more. I'm on it." With that, I get up from the seat and head to exit the office but Marcus decides to echo his voice throughout the room.

"Oh and another thing. The belongings of the latest collection. You have destroyed them correct? Especially since it's been over a week of their arrival."

Shit.

"Of course I have."

I completely forgot about those. If he finds out I'm-... screw it. I just have to go and sort that out quickly. I'm sure battery acid will do the trick after a sledgehammer.

"Good. We don't need anyone tracing those cellphones to this location."

I nod then leave.

As I leave the office, I notice someone hastily walking in my direction while looking down. It doesn't take me to long to realize that it's Peggy. I quickly sprint off in the opposite direction before she notices me. Once I'm a good distance away, I head to my car. Frank catches up with me and decides he wants to join. "No," is all I say and climb in.

"But I don't want to stay here. It's been too damn long since I was last on the road." Frank whines. A grown ass man whining like some toddler. 

"Listen, Marcus is sending me on an errand. He never mentioned me taking anyone with. Besides he might need you for whatever the fuck. So rather just stay," I inform him.

"For fuck sakes," he mumbles and I start up the engine. "At least tell me what you have to go do." 

"Remember that lieutenant?" he nods. "I have to take care of his wife. She's causing a scene." I explain and slowly begin to reverse out of my parking space.

"You mean take care of her as in-"

"Yes," I finish.

"That's not fair. Let me join!" he protests and I give him a blank look. Frank's not exactly the most tolerable person to deal with at times. "Fine fine," he backs up with his hands it the air. "Just bring me some McDonald's on your way back."

"The fuck do I look like, some delivery boy? Go get some yourself." with that I take off. "Technically yes!" I hear him shout in the far distance, but think nothing of it.

First stop, my house.

-₹៛₹៛¤៛₹៛₹-

I arrive at my place and lunge out of my car after parking in the garage. I enter my house and first thing I do is find the bag with the five girls items. Watches, purses, phones, bags, the works. Frank and I already took their money out their purses that first day we got them all. Now I just have to destroy evidence.

I head back to my garage with the items and begin searching for the tools I need. After I have them all in my possession, I remove the battery, sim cards and memory cards of each cell phone, then smash those to splinters.

Next, I smash the phones until they're all unrecognizable and throw all the broken pieces in the empty steel oil drum. I cut up their bank cards, ID's, license and throw that in too. Everything gets thrown in the barrel. Their bags, purses, everything. I pour in the battery acid and watch it all disintegrate.

I stay and watch until each and every single item has all but disappeared. Gone from a solid to a mushy liquid. Once that's completed without any problems. I clean up what I can and get ready to find that lieutenant. Before leaving my house, I open a couple of windows so that the toxic fumes can escape. The smell is enough to put me in a coma.

One problem down. A thousand more to go.

I lock the door that allows access between the garage and the house, after grabbing a can of beer, then climb into my car. I allow for the garage door to open while I start up the engine. Heaven only knows how long these things take to open up when you're in a rush. As soon as it's wide enough I begin to reverse out and onto my driveway.

"Where is she!?" a voice booms next to me.

I get such a damn fright at the unexpected guest that my foot slams down on the breaks and the car comes to a sudden stop. I slowly turn to my left to see who it is, only to see the lieutenant pointing a pistol straight at my head.

Shit.

It was suppose to be the other way around...