The Massage Palace - Episode 16

 The Massage Palace - Episode 16

The warehouse by the river was a skeleton of rust and silence, the perfect stage for a betrayal. MALIK, KENDRA, and LIA hid in the shadows of the mezzanine, watching the empty floor below. They were armed—not with guns, but with the element of surprise and heavy iron pipes.

"He's late," Kendra whispered, checking her phone. "Sasha confirmed the tip was sent."

"Patience," Malik said, his eyes scanning the darkness. "He’s arrogant. He likes to make an entrance."

But the entrance didn't come in the form of Damian's sedan. It came with the flashing of blue and red lights, cutting through the gloom like knives. Sirens wailed, shattering the quiet. Three squad cars screeched to a halt at the loading dock.

"We've been played," Lia gasped, her grip tightening on her pipe. "Sasha played both sides."

"Go," Malik ordered, shoving them toward the exit stairs. "Get to the car. I'll lead them away."

"No," Kendra said, stepping forward. "If you run, you look guilty. They have nothing on you. No drugs, no cash here."

"They have a call about an illegal disturbance," Malik snapped. "They will haul us in and tear our lives apart."

"Then we give them a show," Kendra said, her eyes flashing with a desperate, reckless plan. "I have a burner phone in my purse. One call to the Senator, and this whole scene becomes a 'private charity event' for an influential donor."

"Do it," Malik said.

Kendra dialed, but before the call connected, the warehouse loudspeaker crackled. It was DAMIAN.

"Looking for me?" Damian’s voice echoed, mocking. "I told you, Malik. I play to win. I tipped off the cops about a rave. Drugs, minors. You're going down."

Malik looked at Lia. She was trembling, terrified. He realized then that he couldn't drag her into a cell.

"Take the car," Malik said, shoving the keys into Lia's hand. "Go to the safe house. Don't look back."

"What about you?" she cried.

"I have to handle this."

Malik stepped out to the railing, hands raised. "I'm coming down! Don't shoot!"

He walked toward the lights, leaving the shadows behind.

The police held Malik for forty-eight hours. Without a warrant, and with Kendra’s frantic lawyer spinning a narrative of a business dispute and a trespassing rival, they had to let him go. But the message was received.

Malik walked out of the precinct into the gray morning light. Kendra was waiting in the town car, looking exhausted.

"We're clear," she said. "For now. Damian made sure the press got wind of the 'raid.' The papers are calling it a 'sex cult scandal.'"

Malik got in the car, leaning his head back. "Lia?"

"She's at the loft. She hasn't come out since she got back."

They drove to the warehouse district in silence. When they entered the loft, they found Lia sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the wall. She looked up, and the emptiness in her eyes terrified Malik.

"I can't do this anymore," she whispered. "The danger. The running. I almost lost you."

Malik sat beside her, taking her hands. "We are going to fix this. We are going to finish Damian."

"Not like this," she said, pulling away. "I don't want to be a soldier in your war, Malik. I want to be your partner. But you and Kendra… you thrive on the chaos. I'm drowning in it."

Kendra leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms. "She has a point. We are toxic."

"Then we change," Malik said, his voice rough. "We end Damian. Tonight."

"We can't go to him," Kendra said. "We have to make him come to us. And we need leverage."

Malik looked at Lia, then at Kendra. A dangerous idea formed. "We use the Senator. We ask him for a favor. A political favor. One that crushes Damian’s business interests legally."

"And in return?" Lia asked.

"In return," Malik said, pulling Lia close, "we give him the one thing money can't buy. The three of us. Together. The ultimate fantasy."

Lia looked at Kendra, then back at Malik. She saw the desperation in his eyes, the need to protect her at any cost. She also saw the heat rising between them all.

"Okay," Lia whispered. "One last time. Then we burn it all down and start over."

Malik kissed her, hard and deep. Kendra joined them, her hand sliding over Malik's chest. The alliance was sealed in the dark.

Teaser for Episode 17:

The final gambit is set in motion. The Senator arranges a federal audit of Damian’s finances, but he demands his payment upfront. The trio arrives at his penthouse for the most dangerous session of their lives—a night that could destroy them or set them free. But Damian has one final card to play.

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