Collateral Blood

32

The Vipers' headquarters was alive with a buzz of energy, the mood jubilant as word spread that Sloan had been recovered. Her father, Lucas, paced the room with a barely concealed grin of satisfaction, while Louis beamed with possessive pride. Sloan, trapped in the middle of this ecstatic chaos, struggled to keep her emotions in check. She had to play her part perfectly to get back to Harry.

Louis's excitement was palpable as he showered Sloan with affectionate gestures that felt more like aggressive claims of ownership. His kisses were enthusiastic and sloppy, his hands constantly finding new ways to touch her. Sloan forced herself to endure the onslaught of Louis's affection, each kiss leaving her feeling increasingly sickened and conflicted.

As Lucas and Louis celebrated, Sloan knew this was her chance to execute her plan. She needed to seduce Louis, to get him alone and extract as much information as possible about the Vipers' operations. With a deep breath and a steely resolve, Sloan began her delicate dance of seduction.

"You must be so proud," Sloan said softly, her voice dripping with false adoration. She reached up, her fingers brushing against Louis's cheek, tracing the line of his jaw. "You're the hero tonight."

Louis's eyes sparkled with ego and desire. "I'm just glad you're back with me, Sloan. It feels like everything's falling into place."

Sloan forced a smile, nodding. "You've done so well. I've missed you so much," she said, leaning in closer, her lips almost grazing his ear. "I was hoping we could celebrate in a more... private setting."

Louis's eyes narrowed with interest. "Oh? And what did you have in mind?"

Sloan took his hand, leading him towards his bedroom with an air of seduction. She kept her steps deliberate, her movements calculated, each gesture designed to keep Louis's attention on her and away from any suspicions he might harbor.

Once inside his room, Sloan closed the door behind them and turned to face him. She put on her most seductive smile, stepping closer to him. "I've been thinking about how we could celebrate properly," she said, her voice a sultry whisper.

Louis, clearly intoxicated by both the celebration and Sloan's attention, was already leaning in for another kiss. As their lips met, Sloan fought back the surge of revulsion, focusing instead on the task at hand. She pushed him gently towards the bed, her hands roving over his chest and shoulders, her touch carefully designed to excite and entice.

"Tell me," she murmured, her lips brushing against his ear, "what's the next step for the Vipers? I want to be involved in everything. I want to prove my loyalty."

Louis's breath quickened, his excitement evident. "You really want to know everything?" he asked, his voice low and filled with anticipation.

"Yes," Sloan replied, her voice barely more than a breath. "Tell me all your secrets."

As she continued her seductive performance, Sloan's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Every touch, every kiss was a calculated move to gain Louis's trust and extract valuable information. But no matter how deeply she immersed herself in the deception, her thoughts kept drifting back to Harry. The image of him, the feel of him, was a constant ache in her heart.

She imagined his anger, his frustration, and the way he had looked at her before she left. The thought of him, of their connection, fueled her determination to see this plan through. Every moment with Louis was a necessary step towards dismantling the Vipers and returning to Harry.

As Louis began to divulge more about the Vipers' operations, Sloan listened intently, her mind racing to piece together the fragments of information. She had to stay focused, maintain the facade, and keep her emotions in check. The stakes were too high, and the path to freedom and love was fraught with peril.

Finally, as Louis's revelations grew more detailed, Sloan leaned in closer, her lips almost touching his ear. She whispered, "We need to keep this between us. It's important for the future of the Vipers."

Louis, caught up in the moment, nodded enthusiastically. "Of course," he agreed, his voice husky with excitement.

Sloan managed to keep her facade intact, even as her heart ached with the knowledge that every step of this deception was pulling her further from the man she truly loved. The plan was working, but the emotional toll was heavy, and she knew that the real challenge was still ahead. She had to dismantle the Vipers from within and make her way back to Harry. The journey was far from over, but her resolve remained unshaken.