The Hot Zone
Chapter
25
Brad
Jennings studied
Zander Smith. The kid was
beautiful and possessed a raw sexuality that caught Brad off guard. He was
also stubborn as hell and he was a player. Something that was instinctive,
because in spite of himself, Zander Smith was a survivor. The kid knew enough
about the technique to let Brad make the first move. He did so as he pulled
the stool over to the bed and sat down. "Shall I tell you a bit about
myself?" he queried.
Zander
shrugged. "Tell me anything you want but...you know what? I listen much
better without these things on." He tugged on his restraints.
"Interesting," Brad stated, even as he leaned over and undid one
wrist. He watched Zander hide his surprise. Brad then stood up to free the
other wrist.
"That was too easy," Zander said flatly as he rubbed his wrists.
Brad
grinned at him. "Don't get too excited, Zander. I'm guessing I'll have to
put them back on before I leave. You're notorious for slipping out of the
hospital."
Zander's eyes narrowed. "What makes you think I won't leave now?"
"You could try," Brad allowed. "But you're in a weakened
physical state at the moment so it wouldn't be as easy as you think. Plus,
even if you were in top form, I'm taller than you and alot heavier. I was a
line backer in college. So you won't make it past me to get to the door."
"There
is that," Zander drawled, as he stretched his arms over his head.
Brad
cleared his throat. "Now...let me tell you about myself and why I became
a psychologist."
Zander was surprised. "You're not a psychiatrist?"
"Nope. No medical background. Is that a problem?"
"Not for me. I don't give two shits about you either way. You're just
another person trying to get inside my head."
Brad nodded. "True. And you don't want me there."
Zander smirked. "You don't want to be there. Trust me."
"Dark and scary place?"
"Whatever."
Zander plucked at the bedspread.
Brad
knew that the kid was agitated but trying to play it cool. Zander really
didn't want anyone too close. He was hiding things he wanted to keep hidden.
Brad had talked with Gail, Nikolas and Jason and had read Zander's file. The
kid was a mess. He needed help and Brad was determined to give it to him.
"I might be the one person who understands what you're going through,
Zander," Brad declared.
Zander looked up at him. "Yeah? How do you figure?"
"Because I was raped." Brad made the announcement and carefully
watched Zander for a reaction. The hazel eyes opened wide, but then they
shuttered. Zander wasn't giving anything away if he could help it. But he knew
he had surprised him. "It happened in college and I changed my major
because of it."
"I'm happy for you." Sarcasm oozed from Zander.
Brad
took a moment to consider his next move. He had learned one thing about Zander
Smith from talking to the people who knew him best. Zander was extremely
direct. He was all about getting in a person's face and calling them on their
shit. He was honest to a fault, not caring if the truth hurt. Even when it
hurt himself. But Brad also sensed that people had often kept the truth from
Zander. That he had been battered with lies for too long. And that he had
learned to lie to himself. It was time to be blunt. "Do you like
sex?"
Zander snorted. "Who doesn't?"
"Do you prefer sex with men or with women?"
"What
difference does it make?" Zander shot back. "The end result is the
same."
Brad shook his head. "Not really. Not for you. When you're with women you
fuck, when you're with men YOU get fucked. Big difference."
Zander glared at Brad, then he shook his head. "I get what you're trying
to do, okay? Shock value. I'll save you the trouble. Sex with women is
amazing. Sex with Nikolas is great. Getting fucked I can live without."
"What about being raped?"
"Excuse
me?"
Brad
leaned in and spoke slowly and clearly. "Did you enjoy being raped?"
Zander
jerked as if slapped then caught himself. He ran his fingers through his hair
then shot back, "Did you?"
"No. I didn't like it," Brad replied, without hesitation.
"Three guys held me down while another guy shoved his cock in my ass. And
they did it on a dare. To get into a fraternity. Omega house to be exact. They
were stoned and stupid and I paid the price."
"Why you?"
Brad could tell that Zander was surprised at himself for asking the question.
"I was the big jock on campus. They scored more points for raping me.
They were the geeks."
Zander went back to plucking at the blanket. "Are we done now?"
"When
you answer the question."
"I'm
an exotic dancer. I'm available for a price. It's all about sex. It's
fucking…plain and simple."
Brad
reached out and gripped Zander by the chin, forcing him to look at him. He
felt Zander pull away, but the hazel eyes locked on his face. "If you
wanted it, then it's sex, Zander. If you didn't, it's rape."
Zander laughed, a cold sound without humor. "Men pay me to have sex with
them. They pay me for the privilege of shoving their cocks up my ass. Get
it?"
"So you like it?"
"I
like the money."
Brad
stood up and slid the stool off to the side. "You don't strike me as the
monetary type, Zander. Or the type to make a living as an exotic dancer."
Zander smiled. "You don't know me. If you did you'd know you can't judge
me on appearances."
"I guess you're right." Brad reached out and grabbed the straps for
the restraints.
"Please
don't."
Brad could hear the desperation in Zander's tone and he could guess what it
had cost him to beg. "Can I trust you?"
Zander shrugged. "Probably not."
"Tell you what. Take a chance on me and I'll take a chance on you."
"What the fuck does that mean?"
Brad
grinned. "You promise to stay put and I won't put the restraints back on
and I'll tell the staff not to put you back in them when I'm gone. Deal?"
Zander
made a face then nodded. "Fine. I'll stay. For now."
"Good.
I'll see you later." That said, Brad left the room. Once outside the door
he moved to lean against the wall. It had been an interesting session. Brad
liked Zander. But the kid was broken. Lucky for him, Brad liked to fix things.
And he had the patience needed to put all the pieces back the way they
belonged.
*
* * * *
Sonny
was more than a little surprised to see Alexis on his doorstep.
"Something I can do for you?" he asked.
Alexis
pushed him aside and strode into the penthouse. "You bet. You can tell me
what the hell you're doing to Zander."
"I
don't know what you mean," Sonny replied. Although he knew all too well
what she was getting at.
"Don't
you lie to me you little bastard!" Alexis was in a full blown rage.
"I know that you are the reason Zander works at Hot Zone. He never would
have become an exotic dancer on his own. And ever since he started working
there for you, his life has fallen apart. He's a mess Sonny. And he's scared.
And he's never going to get better and be able to have a life with Nikolas, a
life he deserves, unless you let him go."
Sonny
smiled at Alexis. He was angry that she was getting in his face, but he would
let it slide. To do anything more would arouse more suspicion. "Zander
chooses to work for me. It's that simple."
Alexis shook her head. "You made him do this."
"I offered Zander a chance at making alot of money. Way more money than
from working at my warehouse. He was surprised by the suggestion at first, but
I told him to give it a shot. I knew he had potential."
"Potential
for what? To be a whore?" Alexis was disgusted. "I'm sure he makes
you alot of money, Sonny. But you do realize that while other people are
raping his body...you're raping his soul."
Sonny
sighed. "You don't know what you're talking about, Alexis. But this
conversation is over. I have work to do."
Alexis headed for the door. "I'll go, but this isn't over, Sonny. Not by
a long shot. I will find out everything, believe it. And when I do...I will
make you pay." With that warning, Alexis yanked open the door and stormed
out.
"Fuck,"
Sonny whispered, as he watched her go. Alexis was in full Cassadine mode now
and Sonny knew that meant trouble.
