Chapter 336: Killing a king (1)
Later in the day, as night fell upon Lockwood, Victor sat in his brothel, looking over the earnings from his workers for the last few days.
"Have I been kind as of late?" Victor wondered, puzzled by the numbers he looked at. "I must have been so kind that they have been slacking. I earned far less than I did ten days ago. It must be that I am feeding them far too well."
Victor could only see the money he spent on keeping his workers fed and putting a roof over their heads as the reason he was losing money.
"Jonas," Victor called to the man he instructed to watch over the women. "Have they been eating well?"
"They’ve eaten what you have allowed, sir. I can drop their rations when you are ready," said Jonas.
Victor tapped his hand on the table before him. "I see no reason for a woman or man to eat well if they can’t put forward their fair share. I’ve marked who hasn’t earned enough," he said, pushing the paper back to Jonas. "Don’t give them any food."
"Sir, you wanted to feed them well because you have to send more ladies to the party for Mr. Monroe," Jonas reminded Victor.
"Right," Victor said, annoyed. "He’s already paid me for their company. He’s so bold to think he can help me run the brothel. Are you certain we don’t know him? He’s not a previous customer?"
"I spoke with all the ladies, and they have never seen him before. He might have been at one of the gatherings you attended. For now, he doesn’t seem to be much of a threat. He’s been doing business with all kinds of men around the town," said Jonas.
Victor thought of what Quinn could be up to. It wasn’t every day men came making offers in the brothel.
Victor leaned back in his chair. "Perhaps he might be able to make me rule this place. It’s always nice to have a few wealthy friends. I can’t send him all my good women. Leave a few to work here and don’t give any food to the others. I need money."
Victor couldn’t afford to go another few days without earning money.
How was he to force the other owners out of business when his brothel wasn’t making any money?
"Bring someone in here. I need to relieve myself," Victor said, finding himself in an awful mood. "While you’re at it, look at the new girls we just bought. They’ll need to be trained to work tomorrow night."
Jonas nodded and picked up the paper to carry out Victor’s orders.
Jonas hadn’t made it far out of the room when a group of men entering the brothel caught his attention. He slowly made his way back to where Victor sat.
"Jonas, have you lost your mind?" Victor asked, both puzzled and angry by Jonas’s not leaving. "I told you to bring me a woman."
"There’s a visitor here to see you who requires your attention. Prince Tyrion Castro and his knights are filling the brothel," Jonas said, keeping a close eye on Tyrion.
Victor laughed, believing Jonas was toying with him, but the lack of laughter on Jonas’s end made him realise it was serious.
"A royal stands in my business? The former crown prince and the one married to Penelope?" Victor asked, needing Jonas to be certain.
"Yes, that-"
"Send him in, but only him. Keep an eye on his knights and be ready for an attack. Oh! Have the girls get to the knights. Maybe they’ll be lucky to earn a little more and earn themselves some supper," Victor said, clapping his hands.
The night had suddenly gotten better.
"What are you standing around waiting for? We must show the prince that we know how to welcome someone of his status. Bring him and bring some drinks," Victor said, eager to have a royal sitting before him.
Jonas remained still, not thinking it was a good idea to be alone with the prince. "What if he knows about your interest in his wife?"
"Jonas, every man in town has some interest in his wife. She’s a pretty young thing who’s never had a man caress her body as it should be. A little delicate flower out of reach of men like us. I don’t care what he knows," Victor said, wanting to see Tyrion.
Jonas still thought Victor should let other men stand in the room, but if he questioned Victor any longer, it would be his head to roll tonight.
Jonas exited the room once more and made his way to where Tyrion made himself comfortable. He was stopped by knights, placing their swords against his chest so he wouldn’t get too close to the prince.
"If you’re here to see Victor, he’ll see only you. Your knights will have to remain out here, and they will have to spend money. It is the rule for everyone who sets foot in the brothel. Move your hand," Jonas said, looking up at Aiden.
Aiden pressed his sword further against Jonas’s chest. "Make me move it," he said, awaiting a challenge.
"Now, now," Tyrion said as he stood up. "We didn’t come here for a fight, Aiden."
"I’ll need to check you for weapons. You don’t have a sword, but there’s no telling if you have a gun," said Jonas.
"Is your boss going to come out here and show that he doesn’t have any weapons on him?" Tyrion asked, then waited for Jonas to come up with an excuse
"You are walking into his place of business. He doesn’t need to show what he has to you," Jonas replied.
"Very well. Then, I’ll walk," Tyrion said, ready to leave.
Jonas gritted his teeth as he thought of Victor releasing his anger on him for Tyrion’s leaving.
"Wait!" Jonas called before Tyrion reached the door. "It’s fine as long as your knights remain out here. Being a prince won’t save you inside of here. A sword or gun won’t care about what fancy title you have, so please, don’t do something foolish."
"End the advice and take me to your boss before I lose interest," said Tyrion.
Jonas wondered if all royals were as foolish as Tyrion was to walk into a brothel belonging to Victor and think he would get out unharmed.
For Tyrion’s sake, Jonas hoped the prince was only here to ask for a few women behind his wife’s back.
Jonas was the first to walk through the door, and he was relieved to see Victor had placed his gun on the table.
"Prince Tyrion, meet the king of the red light district," Jonas introduced Victor in the same manner as he did with other important guests.