I glowered at them. “You can’t keep me. My friends, my company’s lawyer will look for me. I am a public figure, a governor’s wife. I’m active in the community. People will notice. You can’t just keep me,” I told them, but even I couldn’t mask the uncertainty in my voice.
“Gia, listen to Dane. It’s not safe right now.” Elliott lightly gripped my shoulder. “Sit down and listen to us.”
I jerked away. “No. I want to go home. If you keep me, I’ll despise both of you.”
“Hate me,” Dane said before visibly swallowing. “Elliott is not the reason you’re mixed up with all of this. He tried to save you.”
I glowered at him. “What do you mean?”
“I will answer your questions,” Dane said as he moved toward me, but I took a step back. “I’m not going to harm you. I need to know if the guard hurt you. I wasn’t there when he first reached you.”
His kindness threw me off and I answered without thinking about it. “I wasn’t hurt—except for when Elliott manhandled me.” I glanced over at Elliott ruefully.
Dane’s gaze was unwavering, and if I hadn’t known better, I’d have thought he was concerned about me.
“What happened to you?” I asked.
Dane’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “Are you worried about me?”
I avoided eye contact. “I’m not,” I lied. I cared. No matter what happened, I didn’t want me showing up to be the cause of trouble, though what I really wanted was to go back home. “I need to know what’s going on here.”
Dane sighed heavily and sat down on the couch in the small living room area. “It’s time you know what I can share—”
“You can’t,” Elliott protested.
“I have no choice. The ship is casting off, so she’s a part of it now,” Dane announced. A tense silence filled the room.
It gave space for his words to sink in further. Panic like I’d never known before welled in my throat. I realized I’d been stupid to think Dane and Elliott were the good guys and would let me go.
“We will talk things through, Gia,” Dane said. “You will get back to your home, but you must first listen to me.”
I sighed heavily. What other choice did I have now? I was there, and I wanted what he promised. “I’ll hear you out.”
“I’ll go check on things,” Elliott said, leaving us alone in the room.
I took off my coat and sat down on one of the built-in couches in the suite. Dane sat down and angled his body toward me. I had a déjà vu moment of the two of us on his couch at the mixer at his home, and just like it had then, his proximity affected me, making my pulse pump faster. That wasn’t the only reason I was nervous. My gut said whatever Dane was keeping from me wasn’t good.
Dane clasped his hands together. “As you know, your involvement isn’t exactly coincidental,” Dane said quietly. “Your involvement is partly my fault, but it doesn’t start there. It starts with Angel.” He paused, his breath seeping out slowly. “Angel—Angelica Browne—she…was mine. She is also the reason I’m here in Seattle instead of New York City. She’s the reason I can’t let you go now.”
My gaze narrowed at him reaffirming his declaration of keeping me. “I don’t understand. I don’t have anything to do with your girlfriend or New York City. Is that where you’re from? I’ve never heard of or met any other Westbrooks in Washington, and I’ve lived here most of my life, besides college at Stanford in California.”
“I use my mother’s maiden name, Westbrook,” Dane explained. “I chose to do so after the scandal with my father, Walter Prescott.”
I stiffened next to him. I had indeed heard of Walter Prescott. He had gotten into financial trouble with antitrust litigation years back by forcing his competition out of business. Public pressure had made his companies finance some of the midlevel businesses they had pushed to bankruptcy. “So, like father, like son, you decided to take my company?” I said with blatant antagonism.
“No. I’m nothing like my father.” His jaw ticked. “We can talk about him later. That doesn’t have anything to do with you.”
I hunched my shoulders. He was right. I was getting off track. “Fine. I’ll do better at listening. Please go on.”
He gave a quick nod. “Angel came here to Seattle to visit a friend. Before she left, we had a fight. I wanted to move to a less open relationship. She didn’t. She wanted to bring in a sadist dominant. We both enjoyed pain when we had sex, but her desires moved beyond my own. She wanted something more extreme.”
“Did she hurt your back?” I couldn’t stop the anger from my tone. No matter the situation, I didn’t like to think of anyone in pain.
“She did, along with a few chosen friends, at my request, several years ago,” he continued, his lips slightly curved upward. “I was experimenting at the time. Needles, whips, hooks—nothing was off limits. I wanted a bigger high. I wanted to up the stakes, but then I found my life was turning to chaos. I sought change. I met a Domme, a good friend, who helped me come back. I wanted the same for my Angel, but she wasn’t willing. She came to Seattle on vacation and disappeared.”
My mouth went dry. Sure, people disappeared every day, but with his wealth, surely he could’ve gotten some leads. “What did the police tell you? Did you hire private detectives? I’m sure you could’ve had the media at your disposal.”
“That was what I thought.” He bared his teeth. “However, her clothing design company was sold to a larger company for a fair amount. She had, on occasion, expressed the desire to do so, and no one around her suspected anything, but I did. The Angel I knew would have never sold it. She loved her company.”
My mouth went dry. That was exactly how I felt about my company, and now mine was being financially mismanaged and bought out from under me.
“Her cards were still active and in use with no unusual purchases. The investigations concluded that she left.” His voice broke.
I clasped his trembling hand. “But you didn’t believe it.”
Dane sucked in air. “No, I didn’t,” he said. “She wouldn’t have left without speaking to me. Her friend gave me her belongings, but it took me a while before I went through them. What I found was an Agency card.”
Stunned and sickened, I couldn’t speak. I remained stoic as he continued to talk.
“You can call it an obsession or a need to know, but I couldn’t give up on finding her. I expanded my company and opened an office in Seattle under my mother’s maiden name. I made connections and became a member of The Agency. From what I’ve found the last two years, The Agency seemed to be more or less a matchmaking service. That was until your name came up.”
My pulse jumped. “How?”
“It took about six months before I was invited to an exclusive Agency party for elite members,” Dane said. “I quickly learned these men were the ones running everything. Your ex-husband had come for money. I’d say it was close to nine months ago. He offered favors, your company shares at wholesale, but that wasn’t what caught the elite members’ attention—it was seeing you in his profiles. Later that evening, I was asked to invite you to a party.”
I swallowed hard. My hatred for Patrick had reached new levels and revenge took root in my soul, but there was more, and I didn’t dare stop him.
His words came out fast. “I attended the fundraiser, the one I mentioned to you before. When the group asked me about giving you an invitation to join, I told them you refused, and that it would be better to leave you alone. Then a recent request came for you to join The Agency.”
I blinked back tears. “Liz.”
“Someone paid your fee before I could interfere,” he said.
A shiver went down my spine. Someone—he didn’t know who. “What did they pay, and did you have to pay for me tonight?”
“I did. The fees are one hundred thousand dollars,” he answered.
My stomach muscles twisted. So that was why there wasn’t a fee. Someone wanted me there. Besides Patrick, I didn’t have enemies
I knew of. “Do you know who?”
“I don’t, but I won’t lie, my interest wasn’t innocent,” he confessed. “I offered to host at my home in hopes of controlling what happened, but then you went to the room and you were everything I’ve missed these last couple of years. You were open, submissive, seductive, and beautiful. I couldn’t resist you when you went into the green mixer. I made an offer separate from The Agency.”
I lowered my head. “And I took you up on your offer for sex.”
His face softened. “Because that was what we both wanted. I tried to pull away to protect you, but I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I wanted to be with you again. I wanted to show you how good it can be when you let yourself go, but then I thought about Angel. I had shown her what freedom was, and I’d lost her. I wanted to warn you to stay away. I even called to set up a time to discuss the purchase of your company when I returned, but then you came tonight, right at the time I was finally invited to something more exclusive. I couldn’t refuse once I’d joined, and if I even tried now, I’d lose my chance at finding out what happened to her.”
I sank into myself under the weight of everything he’d shared with me. “I’m sorry for what happened to your Angel, but what does this have to do with me?”
“You came here, and they contacted the host,” he said. “If you leave now, it’ll be suspicious, and he may have you followed. I don’t want you in danger. At least here with me, masked, we can keep you safe, and as soon as possible, we’ll get you home.”
It was a lot to process. I didn’t want whoever was involved following me back, especially if Angel had disappeared, but I wasn’t comfortable staying with Dane. “How can I trust you? You kept all this to yourself until I was forced to come here.”
“I know,” he answered. “I planned to and will give you back your shares. I’ll pay off any legal fees you have or loans for your business, anything you need or want, but I need your help right now. I need you to go along with what is happening here.”
My brows rose. “What do you mean?”
His expression turned blank. “This cruise is pleasure and pain. You shared your limit is pain.”
I bristled immediately, catching on to his intention. He wanted to use me for sex. “You’re offering the return of what’s mine as long as I pretend to be your whore? I won’t do it.”
“And I won’t be with you without your consent,” he said with a sigh. “That leaves us with a problem. This pleasure cruise is where we test our new buys before what they are calling ‘the trade show’ mixer in San Francisco.”
My lips parted. “Trade show?”
“I’m guessing it has to do with changing partners,” Dane said. “Our host is keeping the details secret for now. As far as he knows, you are my chosen partner. They have all seen me with women and know how I am with them. Anything out of the ordinary will stand out and risk us all.”
I covered my mouth with my hands. I didn’t know what to do. I wasn’t a child; I could handle going along with the game, and even sex if it meant I could walk away in the end. However, I didn’t like how it debased me. I submitted to appease those on board in hopes of being let go.
He moved my hair off my shoulders, his hand lingering on my skin. The contact ignited an electrical charge between us. There was something there. It had felt real—until all this happened. He said the same. “We have been together, and when we were, it didn’t feel like it was forced. It felt like a beginning.”
I ran my hand over my arm. “It was a beginning. I wanted to explore and spend time with you, but not like this. How could I now, after you lied to me?”
“I didn’t tell you about your company because I didn’t want to risk them discovering the lengths I’ve been going to in order to try to protect you,” he said. “Angel disappeared, and she was just as connected and successful as you. We aren’t dealing with people who have no power. I will fight to keep you, but if you fight…you may be lost. I knew if I bought the shares of Perfetto, I’d return them to you. I’m now risking everything by telling you the truth.”
My throat closed. “Why did you?” I whispered.
“I believe at first a part of me saw in you what I at one time saw in Angel,” he said. “You both are strong, independent, and dedicated to your work. What I found on my own is that you have a willingness to take chances. When we had sex, I was drawn to your beauty and passion. We connected. I know you felt it too, and if I hadn’t pushed you away that night…”
“Yes, I would have wanted to see you again,” I admitted. He was right—I was genuinely captivated by him and had thought we’d spend more time together.
“I don’t expect to keep you after what I’ve told you,” he said. “But I needed you to understand what’s going on and how we can survive this.”
I flinched. Survive? This was dangerous. “For how long?”
“Five days, a week at the most,” he answered.
My eyes widened. “I can’t be gone that long. Astrid, my business partner, and Perfetto employees will be in distress after the Dalton announcement.”
“There is a business center on board,” he said. “We will work on a joint statement and I’ll get it out to my lawyers to continue with business as usual while we work with the investigation.” I went silent. Apparently, he had thought through this already, but it wasn’t just work. I had my father. “My dad…is ill. I need to make sure he’s okay. Astrid would need me to say something personal to her. She’s our executive director.”
“We aren’t far from shore,” Dane said. “You can text Astrid now.”
I sighed, took out my phone, and found the battery was almost dead. “I need a charger.” Although how many calls could I make away from land? I typed out a message to Astrid.
Gia: Hi Astrid. I’m checking on the situation with the company. I’ll be going to my dad’s for a few days. I’ll have something emailed to you about what our plan is for now. Just go on as usual. Stuart said we will be fine to operate. Sorry I don’t have the answers.
Astrid: It’s understandable! That piece of shit Dalton tricked all of us. Do you think your dad can help? Just tell me if you need me to do something here. Take as long as you need. I’ll keep you informed if anything goes on here.
He nodded. “I’ll have Elliott check on your dad for you.”
I frowned. I didn’t want anyone but me looking after my father. I didn’t trust Elliott. “How does Elliott play into this?”
His lips curved up. “He’s a good friend. He will protect you, and that is why he will be here. It may be too late for me since I’m so involved with The Agency now. Once we port, he will get you out. I’ll make sure he can help you and you have a way to reach my lawyer for your business.”
“But it can’t be too late for you, can it?” I stuttered. “What are you risking?”
He gazed at me deeply. “You still worry about me. It’s touching, but you shouldn’t. What I ask of you is necessary until we can get you away safely once we port in San Francisco.”
My jaw unhinged. I had completely forgotten San Francisco was where Liz had said she was going. “Is Liz here too?”
Dane rubbed the back of his neck. “Your friend made some poor choices, but I have been trying to keep track of her. I don’t believe she is on the ship.”
My stomach churned. “She’s not in trouble…is she?”
His face went blank, his body still.
“Help her,” I choked.
“I’m trying to help you, Gia,” he said solemnly. “I’ve told you what’s going on and now you will need to do what is expected of the men and women on board.”
“And what would that be?” I asked, though I knew the answer.
“You will have to behave as my purchase,” he said. He reached into his pocket and took out a black wristband with a lock on it. “You will have to be mine.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
* * *
I covered my hand with my mouth as recognition swept over me. It was the same
as the band Liz had worn on her wrist when last I saw her, when she warned me to stay away from Dane, Elliott, and The Agency. Was she also given a proposition she couldn’t refuse? “Why do I need to wear that?”
“The wristbands and locks are temporary,” Dane said, displaying a small key in his palm. “It’s engraved with my identification number and can only be unlocked by me. It informs any member that you can’t be touched without my consent. It tells them that you belong to me.”
My eyes flicked over to him. Something intense flared through his calm exterior and made a tingle flutter through my chest. The magnetic attraction I felt for this man hadn’t diminished. Being his had stimulated more interest, and that would be my undoing if things continued to go wrong. I needed to collect my senses and approach this situation with some perspective. Therefore, I leaned back into the cushions and lifted my chin. “I understand the seriousness of the situation, but I’m not your property.”
His nostrils flared. “To remain safe here, you will have to be. The men and women permitted on this cruise agreed to be kept by elite members of The Agency.”
I grimaced. “Liz had one of these on, and I know she wasn’t looking to be a ‘kept’ woman. She has her own business…” My voice trailed off. Just like me.
I got caught up in my thoughts and Dane waited. When I looked over at him again, his expression had turned thoughtful.
“Neither did Angel, for all I knew of her. I believe I’m getting close to answers. That means I need to follow their protocol and not do anything out of the ordinary. Until I can make you safe, you will need to be permissive.”
Permissive—the same word I had spoken to him what seemed ages ago. Too much had happened in such a short amount of time. Nonetheless, I knew I would submit to his proposed arrangement for nothing more than my own self-preservation. He was the devil I somewhat knew, and from all he claimed, he had been trying to help me. Besides, I wasn’t a child. I could handle following his plan, even sex. Hopefully I could handle getting closer to him and keep my emotions intact—and my life. After all, this wasn’t a game. Angel was gone and could be hurt or dead. I was going to do whatever it took to survive.
Indiscreet Page 12
