The Massage Palace - Episode 10

The Massage Palace - Episode 10
The docks were a labyrinth of rust and shadows, the smell of salt and oil heavy in the air. MALIK moved like a ghost through the maze of shipping containers, his bruised ribs aching with every step. Kendra’s intel was precise, but the silence was unsettling.

He found Damian in a clearing between two stacks of containers, leaning against a luxury sedan, smoking a cigar. But Malik’s eyes locked onto the figure tied to a chain-link fence nearby. It was LIA. Her face was bruised, her cardigan torn, but her eyes burned with defiance.

"Malik!" she yelled, struggling against the ropes. "It’s a trap!"

Malik stepped into the light, his hands loose at his sides. "Let her go, Damian. This is between us."

Damian chuckled, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "You always did have a soft spot for the broken ones. You see, Malik, I tried to do business. I tried to be civilized. But you insisted on being a barbarian."

Damian nodded to the shadows. Three large men stepped out, blocking Malik’s path.

"Kill him," Damian said casually. "Then we see how much the girl likes my new spa."

Malik didn't wait. He launched himself at the nearest brute, the fight exploding into a whirlwind of violence. He used the environment, slamming a man’s head into a metal container, dodging a heavy punch that would have shattered his jaw. He was fueled by pure, distilled rage.

But there were too many. A heavy boot caught Malik in the stomach, sending him to his knees. He gasped for air, blood dripping from a split lip. Damian walked over, looming over him, a smirk on his face.

"Look at you," Damian sneered. "Just a man."
Malik wiped the blood from his mouth, a slow, dangerous smile spreading across his face. "No," he wheezed. "I'm the man who's going to take everything from you."

With a sudden burst of adrenaline, Malik swept Damian’s legs out from under him. The rival boss hit the ground hard, his cigar flying. Malik scrambled on top of him, raining down blows. Fist after fist connected with Damian’s face, until the man stopped moving, groaning in pain.

Malik stood up, swaying. He untied Lia, his hands shaking.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I am now," she whispered, burying her face in his chest.

"Get in the car," he said to her. "Go to the safe house."

"What about you?"

"I have business to finish."

Malik grabbed Damian by the collar and dragged him toward the edge of the dock. He threw him into the dirty water below.

"Stay away from us," Malik yelled over the splashing. "Next time, I let you drown."

He walked back to the warehouse where Kendra was waiting in the getaway car. He got in, exhausted, and looked at her, then at Lia in the back seat. The silence was heavy.

"It’s over," Kendra said, though her eyes lingered on Malik with possessive hunger.

"No," Malik said, looking at the city lights in the distance. "We rebuild."

He reached back and took Lia’s hand. She squeezed it tight. The Massage Palace was gone, but the fire remained.

Teaser for Episode 11:

In the explosive finale, Malik, Kendra, and Lia must navigate the wreckage of their lives. A secret is revealed that changes the nature of their relationship forever. As they lay the foundation for a new empire, lines are crossed that can never be uncrossed. Don't miss the final chapter of The Massage Palace.

Like, share, and follow for more! Your support keeps the stories coming. Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.