Chapter 4: Truth Room.

“You are hurting me, Caesar”, his wrist was hurting from being held tightly by Caesar's strong hands.

Caesar dragged him through the penthouse underground ring before descending down a long metal staircase.

Caesar still has his hands on his wrist the whole time. His grib strong like he wanted break his fragile wrist.

“I got something for you”, he said, smiling oddly.

He opened a steel door.

“This is what I call, Truth Room. You are gonna love it.”

As Julian looked around. This room had blood on the walls, old, even the wall looked so old. He could tell terrible things have happened here.

Inside contained a surveillance screen for cameras all over the house, a one way mirror.

“I do watch you sometimes from here, sweetheart. I see you everything you do”.

Julian swallowed. He wondered if he would ever see outside of the penthouse or be free anymore.

“Have this, look into it.”, he shoved a black folder into Julian.

The folder contained three profiles.

“Each one of them was tied to your brother's death.”

Julian looked confused and scared.

"These were the men in your brother's orbit. One of them must be his murderer. Choose the one we go first for and I would bring him here before tomorrow morning.”

First profile: Luca Navarro - A slick club promoter, disappeared days after Patrick's death.

“This is my ex boyfriend, there's no way he would harm my brother”, he pointed to Luca.

“You are so naive. His last text to Patrick was: Don't drag me into this, you hear me?”, he read from a phone.

Second profile: Detective Ryan Graves - Family friend, officer who helped push Patrick death as suicide.

“You recognize him, don't you?. A close friend of Patrick, I hated him so much then. He's so corrupt and takes bribes to cover up cases.

Third profile: Mikhail Reznik - An eastern European, human trafficker rumoured to be walking under the mafia underdogs of the city.

“This one right here, worked for my father. I would get him for you if you want”

Julian doesn't know who to trust. Looking at the file carefully. He picked his ex, Luca.

Caesar smirked. “Good choice, he would be here by tomorrow. God knows, he might be innocent but I would punch his face in for being with you before me.”

“Makes me feel like I have shared my pet.”

“Goodnight, run to your room as fast as you before I lock you down here.”

He grabbed Julian's butt.

“Owhhh”, he ran holding his butt.

He was now upstairs, locking himself in the room.

“Imagine seeing Caesar torture my ex, I have to find a way to get out of here tonight”, he mumbled to himself.

Julian took a nap, woke up to look at the clock which says 11:20 pm.

Also midnight. He knew it was difficult to get out of here but he had to try.

Sneaking quietly, he was already in the hallway. Trying to remember what way he and Caesar came through coming back from the banquet.

He heard footsteps. It was just the guards. He hurriedly ran into a nearby room that was open.

After waiting a few seconds.

“That was close”, steading his breath.

The light in the room came on.

Caesar sat in an expensive leather chair.

“I was waiting for you, thinking about sneaking out.”

“I…wa….was..ju…st trying to get water”, he stood with his back against the door.

“I would be going, guess I can't find the kitchen”

“Don't you dare move, unless what I might do to you”, he said calmly in the way that made him shake.

He stood up walking towards him casually.

Julian was beginning to shake.

Julian tries opening the door with his hands behind him. But he was too slow.

Caesar already grabbed him tightly by his neck almost choking him

“If you run away tonight. You would miss the show by morning.”

Julian was running out of breath.

He let go, while Julian dropped to the ground coughing, tears in his eyes.

He walked out. Locking the door.

Julian knew what that meant. His punishment was sleeping in this room.

*****

The door of the room was opened. Julian couldn't see who walked in properly. His eyes ached badly. Not having enough sleep and being choked last night.

He was dragged out by two bodyguards. The was taken back underground, to the Truth Room.

Caesar was there, casually smoking a cigarette.

“You look awful. Call my personal doctor to come check him”,he said to one of the guards.

Julian looks towards the one way glass, see's Luca tied to a chair. Bruised, beaten, bleeding but still alive.

He gasped, shocked that he was tracked down and brought here so fast.

“Please just let me go”, he heard Luca from the other side.

“Come with me, pet.”, he laughed.

Luca looked up and saw Julian walk in.

“Julian, what are you doing here?”

“Tell them to let go of me, I didn't mean to leave you baby.”

Caesar punched him in the face.

“You don't get to speak to him”

“Julian, ask you questions. Boys, put him on the lie detector."

“He lies, and a finger comes off. Every one of them”, grabbing a knife off the table.

“Caesar, I can't do this. Please”, he felt sick to his stomach.

He grabbed Julian by the chin, tightly making him look at him.

“You don't do what I say and this boy leaves here in a body bag. Now, get to it”, he let go of Julian's chin forcefully.