Bellamy fidgeted nervously under Vesper’s arm as they approached the golden doors of the Downstairs, the chain hanging loosely from Vesper’s hand. They’d never come in together before. Not properly, as clients, at least. Before Vesper pushed open the door, she squeezed Bellamy’s shoulder.
“You good? Sure you still want this?”
Bellamy swallowed and squared her shoulders. “I still owe you,” her voice wavered. It had been almost a year since Bellamy had threatened to fuck Mazz. Vesper had honestly forgotten all about it until Bel brought it back up after Vesper had come home from an overnight mission with Mazz.
Vesper had actually been able to help the group Mazz worked with full time; they successfully cut all communications from their Embunuh branch to the rest of the organization in addition to terminating all existing contracts in the district. Cedar had—much to Bellamy’s chagrin—been instrumental in getting things taken care of so quickly. Only a few loose ends to tie up, and they’d be able to focus on the next collapsing branch
After that, who knew. Mazz had mentioned a few weeks ago that the Junuhara branch was close to falling and that they coulduse a hand. Vesper wasn’t sure how thrilled Bel would be about that though. It’d mean she’d be gone for weeks at a time.
While Vesper was off with Mazz, Bel had integrated well into her family’s company, making surprisingly good money for an Energy Designer, which was a relief because Vesper’s stipend was shit. Turns out working for a secret group, which doesn’t officially exist, does not pay well. Thankfully, they’d still been able to pay off Bel’s debt. Which meant Bel could finally make good on her promise to “get Vesper back for the whores”.
Bellamy took a steadying breath and opened the door, entering the Downstairs for her first time as a client—made obvious by the sexy little dress she’d put on before they left. Just see-through enough that the lingerie set was visible underneath. Vesper almost hadn’t let them leave the apartment.
One of the girls—one Vesper hadn’t met yet—stepped away from the group huddled in the foyer. Her eyes were on the chain in Vesper’s hand, but Sash grabbed her arm, stopping her.
“We don’t approach V if she’s got her girl,” she whispered. Vesper had to bite her tongue to stop from laughing. Bellamy tensed under her grip and she clutched the chain a little tighter, just in case.
“Hey, Sash,” Vesper said casually, an amused smile playing on her lips. Sash’s eyes widened, and she shook her head minutely, darting a glance at Bellamy. “Mazz around?” Sash nodded and Vesper raised an eyebrow. “She busy?”
Sash cleared her throat. “Um, back room.”
“Thanks.” Vesper nodded, leading Bellamy to the back room. She knocked gently on the door. Mazz quickly smothered her surprised expression upon seeing the two of them there so soon.
“Cypress is out with friends, and you don’t have another mission yet,” she said, clearly not having seen Bel’s outfit yet.
“We’re here for an unrelated reason," Vesper said with a smirk, jingling the chain loosely.
Mazz finally took in Bel’s dress, attention lingering too long. A slow smile spread over her face, and she gestured them insideand closed the door behind them. “Another type of business then.”
“We wanted to thank you, for all your help,” Vesper said, sitting in the same plush leather chair she always did. She pulled Bellamy onto her lap. Bel hadn’t said a word yet. Vesper couldn’t tell if she was nervous, excited, or maybe angry about Sash’s comment. She wrapped her arms around Bellamy’s midsection and pulled her closer, resting her chin on Bellamy’s shoulder.
Mazz raised a delicate eyebrow, leaning against the front of her desk. “And how do you want to do that?”
“How much would it cost for me to instruct Bel on how to fuck you?”
Mazz’s lip twitched briefly upward, and she tapped a dainty finger on her full bottom lip. “Depends,” she said innocently. “On if you’ll be participating, or just watching.”
“She willnottouch you,” Bellamy interjected, snapping the words at Mazz, who frowned and gave her a slow once over.
“But she’ll touch you, I assume.” Vesper nodded and Mazz continued. “And you won’t,” she paused, lips pursed and staring hard at Bellamy. “You won’t try to kill me again?”
Vesper snickered, and Bellamy shot her a glare over her shoulder. Vesper jingled the chain connected to Bel’s collar, which she still had a tight hold on.
“I’ll keep her in check.”
Mazz thought for a second then shrugged and said, “Two thousand for the hour.”
Vesper frowned. She’d expected it to cost more since there were two of them, but she wasn’t about to complain. She took out the notes she’d stashed in her pocket and handed them to Bellamy, letting her count and pass over the correct amount for Mazz to verify. Satisfied, Mazz stuffed the notes into her safe and led them to a room a few doors down the hallway.
A few of the girls lingering about near the door gave them odd looks before rushing off to, Vesper assumed, gossip.
Mazz snickered. “They’re jealous.”
“Sure they are,” Vesper laughed, placing a hand on Bellamy’s lower back and encouraging her through the door after Mazz.
She dragged a chair over in front of the bed and nodded when Bel shot her a nervous glance. Mazz gently took her hand and led her over, stopping just a little to the side of Vesper’s chair. Mazz settled on the bed, on her knees, and reached for Bellamy’s chain only for a wide-eyed Bel to smack her hand away.
Mazz froze and looked to Vesper, who chuckled. “Sorry, Mazz. That one is for me only.” She gave her an apologetic smile and Mazz raised her hands, sitting back on her feet.
