by Ivy Nelson
Michael stood, looking concerned, but she assured him she was fine. “I just need a minute. I promise, I’ll be right back.” He looked as if he wanted to stop her but to his credit he chose not to.
She pushed open the bathroom door and stood at the counter for a moment, taking a deep breath. A man walked in after her and she jumped, having forgotten this was a gender-neutral restroom.
He smiled at her. Something about him though gave her the creeps.
“Hey,” he said with a wave. “I’ve never seen you here before. I’m Damion.”
She just nodded and smiled before slipping into a stall where she locked the door and sat down. She pulled her phone out of her purse. A text was waiting for her.
You look good in red.
She gasped as she stared at the screen. This wasn’t a wrong number after all. Someone was watching her. She typed back,
What do you want?
The response came seconds later.
I’m glad we have your attention Adara. Your phone is about to ring. Answer it.
She felt the blood rush out of her face as she watched the screen. Sure enough, it rang. They had blocked the number.
“Hello,” she whispered.
“Don’t say a word. Just listen,” the voice on the other end said.
“We know you weren’t born in the U.S. You have forty-eight hours to make your way to the Israeli Embassy in Los Angeles unless you want us to hand your secret over to Homeland Security. I’m sure once they know your father is a terrorist, they’ll deport you. Maybe even arrest you.”
The phone slipped from her hand, into her lap. A terrorist? That wasn’t right. Her parents were adamant that she keep a low profile but terrorism had never come up in all their warnings. Her breathing had grown labored. She didn’t know what to do. With shaky fingers, she picked her phone back up.
“Still there, Miss Kent?” the voice asked.
“I’m here,” she whispered, trying to hold back a sob.
“Good. Tell no one. Especially not that cop you’re seeing. You need to leave town without attracting attention. When you get home, there will be flight information waiting for you in your email. We recommend you use that to get your ticket. Don’t try anything stupid. We’re watching you. We’re watching your friends too. Bradley and Darci Givens are heading to Italy, aren’t they? We can make sure they don’t come home if you don’t cooperate. And Detective Silas? It would be so easy for someone to kill him in the line of duty. You don’t want that, do you?”
Her hand flew to her mouth. Who was this? How did they know about her birth secret? It seemed they knew more than she did too. Talking to her parents would clear this up. But they were both in poor health and suffering from dementia. They were living in a nursing home.
The caller disconnected, and she sat in the bathroom stall frozen. How was she going to get out of the club unnoticed? Michael would be watching for her to come back from the bathroom. Making a run for it would be her only option. She just had to hope she was fast enough to get away without him catching her. There was no way she could face him with this burden and not tell him anything. Michael was a cop and he was very persistent when he wanted information. She would spill her guts in seconds if she talked to him now.
Pulling up the ride share app on her phone, she ordered a car. There was one just a few minutes away. Now to make her escape. When she opened the bathroom door a crack, Michael was engrossed in a conversation with Peter Mercer and his wife—Carrie was it? There hadn’t been an official introduction. Now was her chance. She dashed for the main entrance and didn’t look back.
2
♥♥♥
“Hey, isn’t that Adara?”
Michael turned his head in the direction Peter was motioning. Sure enough, Adara was running out the door in a flurry of red.
“What the fuck? Excuse me,” he said as he jumped up from his place on the couch to run after her.
A couple ending their play scene stepped into his path. He had to wait for them to cross the narrow walkway between play spaces before he could continue. Damn it.
He stepped outside just in time to see her stepping into a car. Jerking his phone out, he dialed her number. When she didn’t answer, he fired off a text.
Adara what’s wrong?
Thankfully, she didn’t make him wait for a response.
Nothing. I just needed to get out of there. I’m sorry. We’ll talk soon.
Fuck. He had scared her away. That was the last thing he wanted to do. He leaned against the side of the building. Unsure of whether he should go back in or go after her.
Let’s talk now. I’ll meet you at the diner up the road.
He hoped his plea was evident in the text message.
Not tonight. I need some space.
Her response was almost instant.
That certainly wasn’t a good sign. He had to respect her boundaries though, didn’t he?
OK. I’m sorry if I scared you away. I’m going to give you space. But just know we never have to come back if that’s what you want. I enjoy spending time with you. Don’t let this place ruin that please.
He waited several minutes for a response but got nothing. “Damn it,” he yelled aloud before going back into the club.
He told Peter what happened. “She seemed like she was having a good time. She was asking questions, even pointing out some things she might be interested in. She got a little overwhelmed when Gary pulled out the bull whip, but I didn’t think that would scare her off.”
“We can’t pretend to understand what’s too far for some people. Sara was screaming pretty loud when Gary got going. Might have been too much. Just give her a little time. She’ll come around.”
Michael nodded and slumped into the couch. This was not how he had pictured his night going.
He watched as Bradley concluded his scene with Darci. Bradley had sent her flying in ropes, something he was known for being an expert at. The tall dom scooped up his submissive bride and carried her to the couch opposite of him where they snuggled for a few minutes. Bradley fished his phone out of his pocket and frowned. Darci was perking up from her scene and it was clear that after care was over.
“Go bundle the rope and put it back in my bag please, pet,” he said a bit absentmindedly
“Yes, Sir,” she said cheerfully before planting a kiss on his cheek and turning to do as he asked.
Bradley then turned his attention to Michael.
“I just got a strange text from Adara. Is she OK?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure.” Michael recounted what happened. Bradley listened intently, concern marring his features as he spoke.
“She just told me she changed her mind about running for office and wouldn’t need me anymore. It’s not like her to handle something like that over text.”
Michael leaned forward in his seat. “You don’t think we scared her that badly, did we?”
“I sure hope not. Maybe one of us should check on her,” Bradley said slipping his arm around Darci who had returned.
“She asked for space.”
“Fair enough. But I think checking in would still be a good idea. Something isn’t sitting right with me.”
“Me either,” Michael agreed. “I think I’ll head to her place after I leave here and see if she’ll talk to me. If she sends me away, I’ll respect that. But this feels off. I’m going to push her a little to talk.”
Darci spoke up. “When Bradley was untying me, I saw Damion go into the bathroom. He came out before Adara. You don’t think he cornered her, do you? You know how he is.”
Michael watched Bradley’s face cloud at the mention of Damion.
“That’s a fair point. I’ll ask. I didn’t even see him,” he said.
“I don’t know why Gary keeps letting that bastard come back.”
Michael had to agree, but the man had broken no club rules yet. He just liked to zero in on the new girls, and he was known for being a hard ass as a dom. One who preferred to p
unish rather than praise his submissives. Darci knew that firsthand. She wore his collar for almost a year.
Darci tactfully shifted the subject back to Adara. “Go check on her Michael. I’m worried.”
Ten minutes later, Michael left the club. On the drive to Adara’s place he called her three times. On the third try, she finally answered.
“What do you want, Michael?” She did not sound happy to hear from him.
“Care to tell me why you told Bradley you don’t want to run for office anymore? Less than eight hours ago you were ecstatic.”
“I just changed my mind. Women do that. It’s not a good time.”
“That’s bullshit, Adara, and you know it. Tell me what the fuck is going on.”
“Please, Michael. Don’t do this right now. I have to go.” Her voice was trembling, but he didn’t have time to ask her about it because she disconnected the call.
Fuck
Her voice told him she was about to cry. She wasn’t being honest with him about something. Twenty minutes later, he pulled into her driveway and hopped out of his SUV. There was no answer when he first knocked.
“Come on, Adara. I know you’re in there. Just tell me what’s wrong.”
Still no answer. He pounded on the door again.
“Come on, Angel. I know something is wrong. Let me help you. Did Damion corner you?”
Finally, there was movement.
“Michael please, I’m begging you. Don’t make a scene. You’re making this so much harder than it has to be. Go home. Give me my space. I can’t talk about this right now. I have some things I need to handle. I probably won’t be seeing you for a while.”
“Damn it, Adara. Just let me see you, please.”
“I can’t. Go. Now.” Her voice was commanding and bitter. This was not the Adara he had come to know over the past few months. That Adara was playful, rarely emotional, and a hell of a lot of fun. This Adara talking to him through a door was cold and ruthless—determined to see him leave.
One more push, he decided. “Damn it, Adara. Open this door right now.” He used the voice he sometimes broke out when ordering a particularly bratty sub around.
It didn’t work.
“Leave. Now. I’m done talking, Michael.”
He dropped the hand that had been resting on her door and made his way down the driveway. It was time to go home for the night. He’d pushed, but he couldn’t keep harassing someone who had told him no. If she wanted space, he would give it to her even if it was hard to do.
The next day, work was hectic. They completed the finalization of his appointment as Chief of Special Investigations, so he spent most of the day with HR taking new photos for the website and press release. Midway through the day, he found some time to have lunch in his office. It was hard not to pick up his cell and text Adara. The phone on his desk startled him out of his thoughts. For a brief moment, he felt a twinge of hope that it was Adara.
“Detective Silas, I just saw the press release. Congratulations.”
It was Leslie Hanover. Disappointment flooded him despite the fact that he knew Adara would never call his office.
“Thank you, Mrs. Hanover.” What did she want?
“I’m so sorry to bother you at work, but I was hoping you could help me out by shedding some light on something.”
“I’ll do my best,” he said, tapping his pen on the desk.
“I got the strangest call from Adara this morning. First, she tells me she isn’t going to run which is obviously upsetting to me. But what’s stranger than that is that she asked me if I could take her dog for a while. Said she had a family emergency and had to go out of town. I don’t understand. I didn’t think Adara had any family that she was close to.”
Her dog? She loved that dog. Adara usually traveled with Hamilton. Something was definitely wrong.
“I’m afraid I’m just as in the dark as you are, Mrs. Hanover. But I’ll try my best to get to the bottom of it. I promise.”
He glanced at his clock. Darci and Bradley wouldn’t be leaving town for their Italian honeymoon for another couple of hours.
He picked up his cell and dialed Darci’s number.
“Hey, Mrs. Givens,” he said when she answered, just to make her giggle. It worked. “I need to talk to your husband for a minute. Mind handing him the phone?”
“You have his number. Why call me?”
“Maybe I just wanted to talk to my best friend for a minute. Jesus woman.”
She laughed. “Hold on a minute. He went to get us something to eat. We’re already at the airport.”
They spent a few minutes chatting while she waited for Bradley to return. Finally, she passed her husband the phone.
“Hey man, what’s up? Did you talk to Adara?”
“Not exactly. I mean she basically sent me away and wouldn’t open her door last night. Something’s off. And this morning it got even weirder. Leslie Hanover called me. Adara asked her to take care of Hamilton.”
Bradley whistled. “That is completely unlike Adara. She loves that dog. I know she’s asked for space, but she’s practically screaming for an intervention. I think you better check on her again. I’ll have my phone on in Italy. Call me if something is really wrong. I’ll do what I can from there, and as soon as we get back, we’ll be right there with you for whatever she needs.”
“Thanks man. I think I’m going to go back over there and demand that she see me. If she’s even home.”
The couple said their goodbyes, and he ended the call. Most of the details of his promotion were taken care of so after letting his new administrative assistant know that he was taking off for a couple of hours, he headed back to Adara’s house.
Her car was gone. He knocked on the door. No answer, but then, he wasn’t expecting one. Memories of the first time he’d spent the night came back to him and he made his way to the backyard. She’d shown him where she kept a spare key back there. Of course, he’d scolded her for keeping a key outside, but now he was glad for it. Counting stones in the flowerbed, he picked up the fourth stone from the right. Sure enough, the shiny piece of metal stuck up out of the dirt. He brushed it off and inserted it into the lock.
The living room and kitchen seemed normal when he looked around. Nothing was out of place and it was tidy the way it always was. Her bathroom was next. There he found her contact case and toothbrush missing. In the bedroom, he found it. On the shelf in the closet—where most of her clothes appeared to be missing—sat an envelope with his name on it. With trembling hands, he picked it up and pulled out the folded sheet of paper.
Michael,
I’m sorry it had to end like this, but I have to leave. After I caught a glimpse of who you really are last night, I just don’t think I can do it anymore. I’m not sure I can face Bradley anymore either, so I’m going to leave. I don’t plan to return. Just know that I enjoyed our time together. Please know that I’m doing what I think is best in this situation. Maybe I’ll go back to Arizona. Please don’t chase me. I need to do this.
Yours,
Adara
The paper wrinkled in his fingers as he clenched his fist around it. He read the note again. Arizona? That didn’t seem right. She’d gone to school there but he thought she mentioned her parents being in a nursing home near D.C. so she could keep an eye on them. Was she leaving him a clue? It was a damned odd one if she was.
Something was still off. She hadn’t seemed terrified or disgusted with his lifestyle at all last night. What had happened to change her mind? Had Damion in fact cornered her in the bathroom? His mind was running a million miles a minute as he tried to think of what could have possibly gone so wrong that Adara felt the need to uproot herself and leave town for good. The investigator in him was on high alert.
He surveyed the room one more time. On the bed, he spotted a DCMPD T-shirt she had borrowed from him once. This was her way of saying goodbye.
Bitterness swept in as he fingered the faded letters on the tattered shirt. This w
as it then. She was really gone. Maybe she really was disgusted with his lifestyle. He crammed the letter she had left him in his pocket and gave in to the anger that had been brewing since he’d read it.
Fuck it. Fuck her. Maybe he’d been a fool to pursue a relationship with her to begin with. One girl and settling down wasn’t his thing. At the club, he was popular with the unattached subs because he would play with them all, no strings. Exposure wouldn’t be open tonight, or he could go and find a sub to play with so he could forget Adara Kent for good. Maybe Jemma, or Ashely. They were always up for some no strings fun, maybe even together.
He stalked toward the front door and nearly tripped when his foot connected with the dog bowl. A small smile spread across his face. Hamilton had never been a huge fan of Michael when he’d spent the night, but he was a loveable dog who wanted to protect Adara. It made sense that he was so protective of her, she treated him like her child. Damn it. Something still didn’t feel right. But there was little he could do. Kicking the dog bowl aside, he slammed the front door and sped out of the driveway to head back to work.
• • •
Adara stood in line at the airport ticket counter clutching cash and a passport. A single carry-on suitcase sat in front of her. It felt like she had been waiting for hours. This was her second airport. After taking a late-night flight to Chicago and spending the night in the airport, she now stood in line to buy a ticket to Canada. Finally, the ticket agent motioned her up to his counter.
