As If The Whole World Were Watching (The Dom's of The Cage Series Book 6)

by P Nelson

“Coffee.” He murmured studying the hostess as she nodded at them and walked away. Calla picked up the printed menu and stared down the list of breakfast offerings. “I don’t know about this.” Joe commented as the waitress came back with two coffees and a stack of tawdry romance novels.

  “These are from Delaney.” The hostess winked at Calla. She could only stare back in surprise. “She thought boredom would have blown your mind by now.”

  “What is the point of being the most feared Dom on the dungeon floor if you can’t keep your sub under control?” Joe’s tone held more than a hint of annoyance.

  “I don’t know.” Calla picked up the first book and read the description. Her mood lightened. This was just what she needed. Thank you, Delaney. Taking a sip of her coffee, Calla read the first page.

  &

  Flynn watched as his lawyers ripped into Alwen. He felt no satisfaction or triumph in watching the woman scramble to get control of the meeting. Chamberlain had described her as an up-and-coming prosecutor for the feds. He had claimed she hoped this case would be what she needed to move ahead in an office already loaded with talented individuals hungry for the next rung on the legal ladder.

  The woman in front of him was clever. However, she lacked the polish necessary to head a federal prosecution with as much at stake as this one. So, why the hell was she here in place of her boss?

  “Be that as it may.” Alwen half stood in her seat to get her point across. Flynn wanted to shake his head and tell her she was doing it all wrong. “Mr Banroch. They have accused you of some very serious crimes. You should understand evidence is stacking up against you. Do you have anything to say on the matter?”

  “Don’t answer.” Sophia snarled from beside him. Maybe it was time to get the muzzles back on the pack. They all scented blood. The problem was, they needed answers and the rabbit in front of them would not satisfy any of them for long.

  “No.” Flynn directed his answer to Alwen. “No I have nothing to say. Because I don’t know why we are here. In this room. Right now. Unless this is how you like to start your day? If so. Well done.” His tone held just enough mocking to make Alwen flinch. His strategy worked because she sat back down and squared her shoulders.

  “You have some very serious answers to give regarding money laundering and corporate espionage.” Alwen confidence grew with every word and Flynn realised she believed everything she was saying. “When this goes to trial. Banroch Industries will be no more. You will go to jail.”

  “Miss Alwen.” Sophia’s silky voice crooned from beside Flynn. “If you would direct us to the evidence you have, we will correct this whole misunderstanding. Mr Banroch is a respected businessman. His family started Banroch Industries generations ago. False accusations backed up by nothing but smoke and mirrors will not intimidate them. I’m warning you now, I will prosecute every single person connected with this investigation for slander when you drop the charges.”

  “He beats women and uses a sub group of society to explain away his abuse.” Miss Alwen’s voice shook. Understanding hit Flynn hard. “Mr Banroch is not an upstanding member of the business community. And he hides behind his money to cover for his vices.”

  “Produce the name of your whistle blower.” Sophia demanded not paying attention to the other woman’s rant.

  “I have no assurances their identity will be safe if their name hits the press.” Miss Alwen hid behind her previous defence.

  “Then we have nothing to discuss.” Sophia returned. “We categorically deny any wrongdoing. This is a circus created by you and let me tell you I have a long memory.”

  “Are you threatening me?” Miss Alwen asked. Sophia didn’t bother to answer.

  “Well it looks like I might get a round of golf in before lunch.” Flynn stood up from his chair and buttoned the front of the jacket. “Thank you for this less than enlightening meeting, Miss Alwen. In the future, don’t call a one on one unless you have something to say.” He walked out of the room.

  “Wait, we’re not done here.” She shouted, standing up. Flynn looked over his shoulder at her.

  “Oh, I’m sure my lawyers would like to pick over whatever’s left of this travesty.” Flynn gambled and decided it was worth the implied threat in his next words. “You will only have so long before you have to admit you’ve got nothing on me, or Banroch. You should consider what you’re going to do after this doesn’t go to trial.” With those parting words, Flynn walked out of the boardroom. Last to arrive and first to leave. It sent a message to his enemies. Flynn Banroch was adhering to the rule of the law. But he would control his response to the law.

  His secretary handed him another folder as he walked out the door. “It’s empty.” She said under her breath. “But you need to look the part.”

  “Thank you.” Too wound up to smile, so he nodded. It felt like he had just scored a big win. And why not? Flynn had learned a hell of a lot more in that room than the prosecutor had about him. Arthur was standing at the elevator doors. They had kept Arthur separate from the prosecutors. It was safer for him to appear separate from Flynn’s business.

  “Well?” He questioned.

  “In the elevator.” Linkin murmured punching the down button. The nervous energy coming off of Arthur nearly dampened his mood. The doors opened and Flynn walked through first.

  “Stop fidgeting.” Flynn demanded once the doors were closed. “You practically jumped up and down out there.”

  “You weren’t in there for long. That’s a bad sign right?” Arthur’s question was high pitched.

  “No. We’ve had the best piece of news since this whole farce started.” Flynn looked at Arthur. “It’s just as we suspected. They’ve got nothing on us and at this point I’m wondering if there is even a whistle blower.”

  “It would explain a lot.” Linkin nodded his head. Flynn respected the man’s intelligence. Hell he was the smartest guy Flynn knew.

  “What next?” Arthur asked just before the bell for the elevator sounding announcing their arrival back at reception.

  “We play golf and have lunch.” Flynn stared at his brother. “Do you have golf shoes at the club?”

  &

  Between keeping her nose in one of the raunchy books Delaney had sent her through her friend and checking the news every hour for anything about Flynn, Calla got through the rest of the day. It wasn’t easy. The closer they travelled to Vancouver, the more Joe spoke on his phone. She tried to listen in, but Joe was as adept at hiding his conversations as he was at evading her direct questions. She had always liked Joe. Not that she didn’t now. But Calla would never look at him the same again.

  “Not long now.” Joe remarked. The train had slid into the greater Fraser Valley an hour ago and they were en route to the main via the rail station near False Creek.

  “Nope.” Calla had packed her bag and checked around the small cabin many times to ensure she had left nothing behind. “Where is Flynn staying?” Calla asked. She had seen from various news reports, after being incognito for the last few days, Flynn attended a meeting at the Banroch offices downtown before golfing and having lunch at a popular restaurant in town.

  “There’s something I need to tell you.” Joe’s tone was grim.

  Calla’s heart sank. “What?” Fear crawled up her spine and her throat closed over. “If it about Flynn. Just say.” With shaking hands, Calla reached for her cell. Anything that would have happened to her master would all over the news.

  “He’s safe, Calla.” Joe reassured her. His gaze flicked away. For the first time since they started their journey, Joe appeared worried.

  “Just tell me.” Calla demanded.

  “Flynn’s not staying in Vancouver.” Joe let the words sink in.

  “Not in Vancouver?” She whispered back before she shook her head. “No. No. Nope. I’m not getting another fucking train Joe. Or on a plane. Or or.” A sob escaped Calla and all the stress she held pent up inside her released.

  “Hey.” Joe tried to soothe her
, but Calla shook her head. All the stress and worry from the last few days causing hysteria to rise in her chest. She couldn’t breathe. “Stop.” Joe commanded. Calla peered up at him. Her body shook. “You’ve done so well, Calla. You’ve only got a little farther to go. Flynn is so proud of you.” The mention of her master’s name immediate turned her panic into boiling anger.

  “Wait until I get my hands on him.” The last a threat making Joe wince. “Halfway across the province and back down to Vancouver on a train. Not to mention a fishing boat that’s smelled like cigarette smoke and fish! They were all nice men. But ugh.” A tissue appeared before her face and Calla took it. “I’m a person.” She blew her nose hard. “Not some package to delivery all over the place.” Calla grumbled.

  “A car will wait for you at the station.” Joe informed her. “The ride to Whistler isn’t far. You’ll make it.”

  “Whistler?” Calla’s lip came out. “But I saw him all over the news today in Vancouver. He played golf. Out with his brother and some business associates having lunch on Robson. Why would he go all the way back to Whistler when he knew I was coming?” The last words came out on a shriek.

  “He was thinking to spare you the press, Calla.” Joe’s tone reasonable. “Use your head. Any woman he is seen with right now will come under a shit ton of scrutiny. Do you want that for your moms?” The reason and the question were both sensible, but Calla didn’t want to be logical or sensible right now. She was tired and wanted to see Flynn so she could yell at him. Not for anything else.

  The train slowed down and the whistle sounded. Calla looked out the window even as she accepted another tissue from Joe to blow her nose again.

  “We’re here.” Her mood dismal at the prospect of the drive up to Whistler. She enjoyed the trip. The scenic highway along the ocean and through the mountains one to savour. But her need to see that Flynn was ok in person, over rode all her previous happiness about being back in Vancouver and seeing him again.

  “You know the drill.” Joe’s mouth tight. He searched the station out of the window of their cabin. The sound of people pulling and pushing their luggage in the hallway outside pulled Calla’s attention around. Joe pulled the door open. Joe greeted the passengers waiting to disembark. He closed the door. “We’ll wait five minutes, let the crowd rush ahead. Our ride is waiting out front.”

  “Fine.” Calla sat back in her chair, arm over the pack next to her. A flashing red light made her jump up in her seat at the same time a ping and the sound of shattering glass burst through the cabin. Joe and Calla reached for each other at the same time several more pings rocketed through the cabin. On the floor Joe lay on top of her.

  “Are you hit?” he shouted the question even as she felt him move. His cell to his ear. “We’re under fire. We need a bus.” He pulled the cell from his ear. “Are you hit?”

  “No, I don’t think so.” Calla heard blood pumping in her ears. She remembered Nick bleeding out. Blood covered her. Calla wriggled around underneath Joe, she held a hand up to her face. “Oh God. Oh God.”

  “Stay where you are, Calla.” He barked the order and let out a long breath.

  “You’re bleeding.” Her mind went blank. “You’re bleeding. I need to help you!” Calla screamed, unable to contain the panic inside her. Legs and arms moving of their own volition, she scrambled to get out from under Joe. He needed her help.

  “Dammit, Calla.” Joe yelled at her when she got free of his bigger body.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Drive.” Linkin held fingers to his ear while instructing the driver of the black Mercedes van.

  “What the fuck?” Flynn sharp question punctuated by chaos erupting out the doors of the train station. People were running out of the station, luggage forgotten. He reached for the back door of the van, the flowers and chocolate he purchased for Calla forgotten on the seat beside him.

  “We got a sniper. Stay the fuck in the van. Cass will drive you to our secure location. Wait for me to contact you.” Linkin opened his car door and jumped out. Flynn’s gaze swung to the front of the station, the door-opening let the cacophony of noise from the panicked people into the van. Calla was somewhere in the melee. She was so delicate. Fuck. His heart pumped overtime and the familiar sensation of adrenaline erupted through his system.

  “Fuck you.” Flynn lunged for the door and got it open before the driver peeled away from the curb.

  “Get your ass back in the van.” Linkin ordered not looking at Flynn. He used the van as a shield against his back, Linkin’s gaze searching the roof of the buildings nearby. “You’re the target.”

  “Not from where I’m standing.” Flynn jumped out of the van and mimicked Linkin’s posture against the van after shutting the car door.

  “Fuck. You are a pain in the ass.” Linkin muttered. “Worst client I’ve ever had.”

  “Stop complaining and tell me what we’re facing.” Flynn stared at the entrance to the station. It appeared most of the crowd had evacuated. The doors were open, and an alarm rang inside. Sirens sounded from not far off.

  “You shouldn’t be here for a lot reasons.” Linkin told him. “After everything we’ve done to get the press off your back.”

  “The woman I love is in there.” Flynn stabbed a finger at the still railway station. “I’m getting her.” The declaration forced Linkin to pause in his complaining.

  “Joe’s taken a bullet. We’ve got a bus on the way. It means the cops will be here too.” Linkin shook his head. “I will do a sweep of the station, but I can’t be here. They still think I’m the sniper from the Reverend.”

  “I understand.” And Flynn did. Linkin was the best security guy in the world. It meant he operated in the grey area between right and wrong. He used everything at his disposal to get the job done.

  “We’re going in.” Linkin took a handgun out of his jacket and nodded at Flynn. “You will stick to my ass so hard Martin will get jealous.” Flynn nodded at him. “Fuck. Let’s go.”

  Flynn followed orders. He followed Linkin around the front of the van. They stopped while he scanned the roof of the building. The sirens sounded closer. Linkin made a hand gesture and Flynn ran beside Linkin to the front of the building. They stopped in an open doorway. Flynn could see several security guards surrounding one of the train cars. There was a lot of yelling.

  “Nick’s finished his sweep of the roof. The shooter was never up there or long gone.” Linkin’s words faded into the background. Flynn was staring at the railcar. Movement caught his eye. A security guard pulling a woman from the train. From this distance he needed to make a second check because Calla never dressed in such a casual manner. Her hair gave her away. He’d recognise those beautiful locks anywhere. She was shouting at the man pulling on her arm, trying to get back inside the train car. The larger security guard was speaking to her, shaking her.

  There was no resisting the pull to protect his woman. Instinct bright and sharp pulsed in his brain, forcing his limbs to move before conscious awareness of the act forced his brain to consider whether it safe or not.

  “Dammit, Flynn.” He heard Linkin swear behind him. But it was too late. Flynn’s legs propelled him forward. By the time he shouted for Calla, Flynn was in a full sprint. He didn’t give a damn if someone was about to shoot him. The relief on Calla’s face was worth any bullet.

  “Flynn.” She screamed and stopped trying to get back into the train and tried to run towards him. The security guard decided he didn’t like the look of him because he tried to force Calla behind his back, not letting her go.

  “Let her the fuck go.” Flynn warned the other man. The expression on Flynn’s face must have been terrifying because the guard released Calla. She fell to the ground without the counter balance to support her. Flynn scooped her up from the ground and held her to his chest. Her body felt like panicked birds, thrashing against his chest. Her shaking arms wound around his neck, her face burying into his shoulder.

  “Flynn. Joe’s shot. They won�
��t let me back in there.” She screamed lifting her face from his shoulder, accusation flung back at the security guard.

  “There’s two people with first aid training taking good care of him.” The guard defended his actions.

  “I have medical training.” Calla let go of Flynn and stood in front of him. Flynn could get a good view at her. Covered in blood and glass, she looked like a mess, but his sub would toe to toe with a man twice her size.

  The entrance of the building became flooded with the deafening sounds of the sirens. Linkin had disappeared just before the police swarmed through the doors and the security guard walked towards him. No doubt Nick had disappeared too.

  “Come on.” Flynn was exposed, searching the empty building. He pulled Calla towards the train.

  “The first aiders need space to treat your friend.” The other security guard informed them.

  “You don’t mind if we watch.” Flynn’s stared the other man down and helped Calla back onto the train. With one last search around, Flynn let out a frustrated breath. He hoped Nick and Linkin could find something because he did not understand what he was looking for.

  “It’s just like Nick.” Calla repeated repeatedly.

  “I’m not like Nick.” Joe’s gruff voice came from inside the cabin. “Nick is lucky to be alive. The bullet almost blew his heart apart, damaged his lung.” Joe sounded exasperated for a man who possessed a bullet hole in his hide. “I’ve taken two slugs to the upper shoulder. More like bee stings.” He winced as one of the first aiders finished cutting his blood soaked black t-shirt.

  “You see baby.” Flynn wrapped his arms around Calla’s trembling body. “He’s still a sarcastic asshole. Means he’ll be up and pissing everyone off in no time.”

  “Sure will.” Joe grinned before wincing as one of the first aid attendants poked one of his wounds. “Just patch me up and I’ll get myself to the hospital.” Calla clung to Flynn. Despite the blood and her shock, Flynn’s relief at having her in his arms again was palpable.