9. Rolling In The Deep

~ Audrey ~

“I’ll kill him for you if you want. Just say the word,” Caspian cracked his neck and knuckles in a sadistic manner. He didn’t look like he was joking, and Audrey trembled a little just by looking at him.

“You’re not killing anyone,” Killian said sternly, his eyes fixed on Audrey. “No one is killing anyone,”

Caspian was pacing around the room, seething, while Killian was on the couch with Audrey, the first aid kit was right next to him. He was leaning down, assessing the severity of Audrey’s knee wound. It wasn’t a deep cut, he sighed in relief. Using a little bit of alcohol, Killian slowly and gently cleaned her wound. 

“So, what? We just gonna let it slide?” Caspian scoffed.

“We’ll do something about it. Just not manslaughter,” Killian replied.

“Ouch!” Audrey winced. The alcohol was stinging her torn skin.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. It’s going to hurt a little,” Killian said with a sorry smile. Audrey took a deep breath and nodded her head, allowing Killian to continue cleaning her cut. 

“That motherfúcker needs to be taught a lesson,” Caspian said matter-of-factly. “I told you, I knew something was off with that kid. I knew it,”

After bumping into the brothers in front of the elevator, they saw Audrey’s condition and took pity on her. They brought her up to their room and made her tell them everything that had happened. She told them everything, how she went to school and how everybody was talking about her behind her back, and how she overheard Ashton talking in the locker room. A part of her didn't want to believe it was true, but the more she recalled the event, the more it all made sense.

Of course, a guy like Ashton wouldn’t be interested in her out of nowhere. Of course, he would want something from her. Just like everyone else in the world, they all wanted something from her. In this case, he wanted the reputation. He wanted recognition for being the alpha male that successfully bedded the virgin princess. And he was even willing to film her for money.

It was a hard pill to swallow. Audrey trusted Ashton, she thought he was different from everyone else, but she was wrong. She felt absolutely stupid. She was always careful around people, she learned early on in her childhood that many people in the world would want to take advantage of her and her position, so she was always strict with letting people into her life. She only had two friends growing up, and she was never socially involved with the other kids at college. Ashton was the only exception because she thought that he genuinely cared about her. At least it looked like it for the past six months. Now she realized, it was probably just a big gigantic lie.   

“Guys, don’t worry about it. It’s not your problem anyway,” Audrey sighed as Killian finished putting a Band-Aid on her cut. “It’s whatever… I’ll just deal with it,”

“It’s not whatever,” Killian said firmly. “Caspian’s right. No one hurts Audrey Huntington and gets away with it. We have to send a message,”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about,” Caspian nodded in agreement.

Audrey looked to both brothers with a confused look on her face, asking, “What kind of message?”

The brothers exchanged a knowing look. It was like they were having a conversation with their eyes. Audrey was starting to think that the Vanderbilt brothers might have telepathic power. She eyed them suspiciously and asked again, “Guys, what kind of message?”

Killian broke his gaze with Caspian and turned to Audrey, saying, “…Maybe the kind where you ask him to meet you. Tonight. Say 9 PM… the suite at the Plaza,”

Caspian nodded his head ferociously.

“And why would I wanna do that?” Audrey scoffed. Meeting up with Ashton would be the last thing on her mind.

“Do you trust us?” Killian asked simply.

“Wait, what are you guys gonna do?”

“Do you trust us?” Caspian pressed.

She didn’t know what they meant by that, but their gazes were firm and demanding. Although she wasn’t sure, it felt like the right thing to do, so she nodded her head slightly.

“Call him,” Killian picked up Audrey’s phone from the table and handed it to her.

Audrey looked at the phone, then to Killian’s stoic face, and to Caspian’s fiery eyes. Audrey swallowed hard. With shaky hands, she then took the phone and scrolled for Ashton’s number.

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~ Ashton ~

Ashton was excited to get a call from Audrey.

Ever since their night together, he noticed Audrey had been a little distant. Honestly, he felt a little guilty. He knew he was being rough with her for her first time, but he couldn't help it. He was on a mission and he was too focused on getting another notch on his belt to even care about how was she feeling. 

He realized now that maybe he should’ve treated her better on her first time. But since it was too late to change the past, he could only do better the second time around. He had been thinking of ways to try and talk to her about it, but Audrey had been avoiding him for the past two days. So when she suddenly called and asked him to come to the suite room later that night, he was over the moon. Ever the opportunist, Ashton was eager for another shot. 

She wants more of this, he thought. He smiled smugly at his reflection in the mirror, admiring his own handsome features and toned muscles. Girls just could never get enough of Ashton Whitaker, he chuckled.

After a quick shower and a little trim, Ashton put on some cologne and got dressed to the nine. He was wearing his favorite pair of sneakers and an NYU basketball jacket. He was too proud of his team not to wear it every chance he got.

By 8.30 PM that night, Ashton had arrived at the suite room at the Plaza Hotel. Audrey had left a card for him at the receptionist and he came earlier on purpose. He staked out the room and looked for hidden places to put a GoPro camera. After trying out different spots, he finally settled with putting the camera on the corner of the room since it had the best overall view. He hid the camera behind a potted fern and smiled in satisfaction at his handiwork.

Checking the time, Ashton realized that it was almost 9 PM now. He thought it would be a good idea to get ready for Audrey’s arrival, so he stripped down to his boxers before lying on the bed. He checked his hair in the mirror a few times to make sure that he was looking his best. After all, this moment was about to be captured for eternity.

It was a little over 9 PM and Ashton heard the front door clicked open. A smile curved up his face as he was getting more and more excited. His hand was under his boxers as he was stroking himself for the past five minutes. He wanted to be ready for Audrey so that as soon as she came, they could get right down to it. Ashton heard footsteps nearing the bedroom and he started stroking himself harder and harder until his length was completely erect and ready. In one swift move, Ashton pulled his boxers down and threw them across the floor.

“Hey, babe—“ Ashton was expecting Audrey’s slender figure when he saw the bedroom door swung open, but instead, four tall big men in black suits entered the room. They all had stern and stoic expressions on their faces.

“Hey — what’s going on here?!” Ashton jerked up instantly. His hand instinctively went to cover his hard erection and he cursed the fact that his boxers were so far away on the ground.

“Ashton Mark Whitaker,” a loud booming voice spoke as another guy entered the room. He was holding on a file in his hand and he was saying Ashton’s name like he was reading from it. The guy was wearing a crisp white shirt and black slacks. Several of his buttons were undone and he was folding up his sleeves as he stalked inside the room. Tattoos ran down from his neck down to his chest and arms. Ashton was certain he had seen this guy before, but he wasn’t sure where. 

“Son of Charles and Ellen Whitaker, lived in 528 Price St, Savannah, Georgia. Your dad’s a software engineer and your mom’s a schoolteacher. Combined household income, around $200,000 after tax?” the tattooed guy continued reading in a mocking tone. 

Before Ashton could say another word, another guy stepped into the room. He looked a lot like the guy with tattoos, but he was more clean cut. He had no tattoos on his body and he was wearing an expensive-looking suit, different from all the rest. On his wrist was a watch that Ashton had seen on the I*******m pages of celebrities, a Breitling Mulliner Tourbillon that would cost more than his parents make in a year.

“Got into NYU on an athletic scholarship. Plays power forward and made captain of the team his junior year. Looks pretty good on paper, but do you wanna know your chances on making it pro?” The guy with the watch asked rhetorically.

“None, if it’s up to us,” The guy with tattoos replied. “You should know that we have some very powerful friends. Friends who own basketball teams. Friends who employ the people that will employ you. Or your parents for that matter,” 

“Who are you? What do you want?” Ashton found himself stammering. He was completely caught off guard by all of this. 

The two guys gave each other a knowing look before turning back to Ashton with glares that were sharp enough to kill. And with a sinister smirk on his face, the tattooed guy said, “We’re the fúcking Vanderbilt brothers,” 

“And you owe a friend of ours an apology,” the other one added.

Ashton’s jaw fell to the floor. He recognized them now, Caspian and Killian Vanderbilt. They came with Audrey to Jordan’s party the other day. Ashton swallowed hard instinctively. Of course, he knew of the Vanderbilt brothers, they were notoriously popular in New York City’s upper class social scene. They had the kind of lives that Ashton and his friends could only dream and fantasize about.

The brothers stalked closer to the bed with a menacing look. Feeling threatened, Ashton shuddered back until he was flushed against the headboard. His hands were still covering his manhood, which was now soft and limp. 

“W — what the hell are you talking about?” Ashton tried his best to remain calm and collected, but he was shaking in his boots. What would the Vanderbilt brothers want with him? And who were these four guys standing in the back?

“We’re talking about the end of your very short basketball career,” Killian responded vaguely.

Caspian took a more forward approach. In one swift move, he gripped Ashton’s right hand and twisted it behind his shoulder, causing Ashton to jerk and wince in pain. “Not so tough anymore, huh, big man on campus?”

“S — stop!” Ashton fought back with his other hand, but Caspian caught it with his hand he pulled on his wrists so far back, it felt like his hands were about to snap in two. 

When Ashton heard the sound of bones crackling and he felt a shot of pain on his fingers, he cried out, “H — Help!” but no one in that room even flinched. Caspian let out a devilish laugh, he was enjoying every moment of it.

Killian looked calm and unbothered. He tilted his head to the side, studying Ashton and sneering at his naked body. His eyes then scanned around the room, and he stopped at the potted fern on the corner of the room.

“P — please, why are you doing this to me?” Ashton whimpered as Caspian didn’t let go of his hand.

“Because you messed around with the wrong girl, pal,” Caspian shook his head in disdain, and it was at this moment that Ashton knew his fate was sealed.

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- - - - - To Be Continued - - - - -