The Flesh Cartel #14: Independence Day (The Flesh Cartel Season 1: Damnation)

Mat and Douglas s time as Nikolai s wards is finally drawing to a close. Though torn apart by Nikolai s machinations, their fates are still inextricably entwined: they ve been sold to the same cruel master, and are united in their desire to go home. But home means two different things to the brothers: for Mat, their little bungalow in Nevada, and for Douglas, a swift return to Nikolai and Roger, the only people he believes still love him.

But first they must survive their new master. Smythe Hall is a twisted island paradise where Americans affect British accents and slaveboys dress up as slave girls, all at the whims of the rich and megalomaniacal Allen Smythe-Kennedy.

Meanwhile, FBI Special Agent Nate Johnson can t let the case of the missing brothers lie. He knows it s a waste of resources to chase ghosts down a cold trail, but after admiring Mathias Stonewall Carmichael ringside and at countless afterparties where he was too shy to say hello, he s determined to solve the mystery and bring Mat and his little brother home.

Word count: 20,700; page count: 95

Reader discretion advised.