Chapter 7

The Blossom stood tall and proud, the lights in the windows casting a warm, inviting glow onto the dusty street. The sign above the door creaked in the breeze, a silent sentinel watching over his creation. He knew the night ahead would be one to remember, the beginning of the end for the corrupt souls of Lawless Ridge.

Inside, the women were ready, their eyes gleaming with determination. They had each found their own strength in the face of adversity, and now they were ready to use it to bring the town to its knees. Ben looked at them, his heart swelling with pride. They were no longer just survivors; they were warriors, and together, they would change the course of Lawless Ridge’s history.

The sound of horses’ hooves grew louder, the jingle of spurs punctuating the night air. The first customers had arrived, and with them, the first whispers of what was to come. Ben took a deep breath, steeling himself for the battle ahead. The Blossom was open for business, and the town would never be the same again.

“Ladies,” he called out, his voice carrying over the soft murmur of their preparations. “Remember, your job tonight is to make these men feel like kings, to coax them into spilling their secrets.” He met each of their eyes in turn, the fiery determination in his own serving as a silent promise. “But don’t forget who the real queen is,” he added, his gaze lingering on Goldie, who nodded solemnly, her scarlet lingerie setting her apart as the crown jewel of his operation.

As the first patrons stumbled through the doors, Ben felt a thrill of excitement mixed with nerves. These were the men they needed to win over, the ones who had the information they sought. He watched as the women greeted them with smiles and batted eyelashes, their voices sweet as honey as they offered them drinks and a place to rest their weary bones. The air was thick with the scent of the apothecary’s finest perfumes, and the soft light from the candles cast a warm glow over the room, creating an atmosphere of seduction and comfort.

The men didn’t disappoint. They were rough and rowdy, their eyes devouring the sight of the women in their finery. Ben could see the greed in their gazes, the hunger for the illicit pleasures The Blossom promised. He knew that behind the bravado, they were all hungry for something more, something that could only be found in the whispers of a trusted confidant. And that’s exactly what his women would be.

He leaned against the velvet-covered wall, watching as the evening unfolded. The piano played a sultry tune, the music setting the rhythm for the dance of deception that was about to begin. The men’s laughter grew louder, their secrets slipping out with every sip of whiskey and caress of soft skin. Ben’s heart raced as he listened, his mind piecing together the puzzle of Lawless Ridge’s corruption. The walls had ears in this place, and every whisper was a clue to the town’s salvation.

The night was long, the hours stretching out like the shadows on the walls. Each man who entered The Blossom was treated like royalty, their every whim catered to by the skilled hands of the women who had once been mere pawns in the outlaws’ games. Ben moved among them, a silent observer, his eyes missing nothing. And as the moon climbed higher in the sky, the whispers grew bolder, the secrets more damning. He knew they were on the right track, that the corruption ran deeper than he could have ever imagined.

As the first light of dawn kissed the horizon, Ben retreated to his room, his mind racing with the information he’d gathered. He knew that the time had come to make his move, to strike at the heart of the town’s corruption. He called for the five women, their footsteps light on the stairs as they ascended to his chamber. The candles had burned low, their flames flickering like the embers of a dying fire, casting long shadows across the floor.

“Ladies,” he began, his tone serious, “I need your help to free some of the poor souls trapped in the clutches of the human trade.” The room grew still, their eyes locked onto him with a fierce determination that matched his own. “But to do that, I need funds. So, how much have we earned tonight?”

One by one, the women stepped forward, placing their earnings into a velvet bag that Ben held open. The sound of the gold coins clinking together was music to his ears, a sweet symphony of victory over adversity. As the bag grew heavier, so did the weight of their collective resolve. This was more than just a pile of gold; it was a symbol of their newfound power, a tool to strike back at those who had wronged them.

Before they could revel in their success, Ben spoke up, his voice firm but gentle. “Ladies, before you clean up, I need to check each of you for any marks or bruises.” He paused, allowing his words to sink in. “We can’t have any evidence of tonight’s ... extra-curricular activities. We must be vigilant in keeping our true intentions hidden.”

The women exchanged glances, understanding the gravity of his request. One by one, they began to strip, their fine lingerie pooling at their feet like discarded petals from a bouquet of deadly flowers. Ben’s gaze was not one of a lecherous man, but rather that of a general surveying his troops before a battle. He scrutinized each bruise, each scar, committing them to memory as if they were battle scars from a war long-fought. His heart ached for their pain, but he knew it was necessary to ensure their survival.

He started with Goldie, her skin pale and flawless in the candlelight. Her eyes held a silent strength as he gently turned her to inspect her back, his calloused hands moving over her body with a tenderness that seemed almost foreign in the harsh world they inhabited. She bore the marks of her past with a stoic dignity that made him swell with pride. Moving on to Beulah, he noticed the slight flinch as he checked her thighs, a reminder of the night she’d been brutally taken. He nodded at her, a silent promise to avenge the wrongs done to her.