Out of the Ashes (Trust Book 2)

by A M Raulerson

  “What the hell are you doing!” Lucas roared.

  “I-I’m sorry! I was t-told to g-get his statement?”

  It wasn’t too hard to show fear. Lucas had scared the shit out of me when he’d flung the door open. I sat there cowering before Dom Lucas.

  “I’m telling you there isn’t a case! Whoever said you had to interview this man is wrong. That man child asked for it, now he’s lying and saying he was abused.

  “There’s no case to begin with. You should have come to me immediately, Boy. You know better, and we will discuss this at home. Now, you will leave this to me, Boy.”

  His contempt was almost palpable. The tone of his voice sent a shiver down my spine as I slunk right back out of the room. As soon as I was out of the interview room a shiver wracked my body as I ran to watch Lucas. A camera was in the corner recording the entire interview. I hoped this worked but you never knew with perps. This guy was so full of self-righteousness that it might just get us in. Lucas was going to play this to the max it seemed. At that moment Sam came running up waving a stack of papers.

  “The guy does have a record! Andrew Duggins, thirty-eight years old, he’s got multiple complaints against him but no convictions. It seems that the victims refused to testify, so the man slipped from four different cases. He’s a serial abuser, but we just had nothing to make the charges stick. What was your feeling from the guy?”

  “That man is no Dom. He has contempt for anything and everything he thinks is beneath him. Lucas was right, now we just have to wait and let him work his magic. I’m not looking forward to this op, that’s for sure. The guy gives me the creeps. I know that Lucas wouldn’t let anything happen to me, but this guy is fucking freaky. Bad, slimy and obnoxious too but he might just be stupid enough to let Lucas in on this “Osiris Circle”.

  “It seems, with his record that he’s convinced he can talk his way or weasel his way out of everything. I hate to say this but the fact that he’s never actually been prosecuted may work in our favor. He’s never been held accountable for his crimes, so he’ll think he’s all good with Lucas. Let's watch The Master at work.”

  Sam and I chuckled as we walked into the viewing room where all the cameras showed what was going on in the interview room.

  *************

  Lucas

  Watching Alexi scurry out of the room made me smile. Using it, I turned to this man.

  “They’re like children. You have to tell them what to do, when to do it, and how.” I scoffed at the man.

  Just before coming in Sam called me with the man’s name and police record. I knew this perp would react well to the idea that I agreed there was no case. Coming around the interview table I began to take the cuffs off.

  “This was completely over the top. Who put you in these shackles? Boy?”

  Andrew shook his head, then cocked it to the side like he was trying to figure me out. As I released the cuffs I made eye contact, showing my dominance and command. Not to him, but at the little twink I’d sent running from the room. He apparently saw whatever he was looking for, and by the smug smile on his face he thought he had me figured out.

  “He yours?” Andrew asked.

  “Yes he is. He can be a brat out of scene and when he thinks I’m not looking. But trust me when I say that no matter what, I control him. It shows by his immediate compliance to my order, and I bet it was Sam who told him to come in here. That little subbie doesn’t know what he wants yet. That’ll be taken care of too, as soon as I get Alexi in line. He’ll be punished for this though, don’t doubt that.”

  Shaking my head, I sat across from him. Listening to his chuckling, it disgusted me to play the abuser, to act like this man. It was necessary of course, I needed to be like this man in order to reel him in.

  “You have to stay on top of brats like that.”

  He watched me for a minute contemplating and thinking about me, I would guess.

  “So the charges have been dropped? Am I free to go?”

  “Yes you are. There’ll be no case to drop. I hate it when they get the ‘morning after’ bitching. If he didn’t want it, he should never have agreed to it in the first place.”

  I said, letting my disgust of him come out in my voice, as if I was directing it at the victim.

  “Yes, that can be a problem. They want it, but get scared of what people will think of them. It’s pathetic. I wonder if you might want to meet up later? I can repay your dismissal of this… problem. You seem to feel as I do so...”

  Well that worked rather quickly. I gave him a look that said I don’t trust you yet. Haughty, but looking like I might be interested. Listening to him chuckle again made me want to smack him. His self important smile showed just what type of person he was.

  “Yes, I believe you might like what I have to offer you. It’s very different from the local clubs, but that’s as much as I’m willing to say right now. I’m free for lunch tomorrow, if that works for you?”

  He looked up at the camera in the corner, letting me know he’d seen them and wasn’t going to take a risk. Giving him another look, I sat back, acting like I was considering his offer. After a minute, I replied quietly with a lecherous grin.

  “Yes, I do believe I can make lunch tomorrow.” Looking up at the camera, I nod again. “I just might be interested in what you have to say.”

  I tried to wear the same disgusting look on my face, as if I was just the same as him. I could do this, I’d been undercover before and knew how to play people. As much as I hated this man on sight, he would be the in I needed. It was happening so fast I was a little concerned.

  Would it be this easy? How had they managed to remain hidden for this long if they were this trusting? I needed this chance, and getting it so fast was a little concerning, but maybe because they had gotten away with it for so long... they may have started to think they were invincible. I mean Andrew had taken Mason to a club, for everyone to see.

  Standing up, I ushered Andrew out of the door, saying we could meet up at Five O'Clock, a bar that Andrew owned. It was a small out of the way building nestled in between a bank and a clothing boutique. Agreeing on the time, he turned back one more time as he moved out of the door.

  “Bring your... Boy, did you call him? Bring him if you want. It might make it more interesting,” he chuckled, as he walked out.

  Returning to the conference room, I found Sam and Alexi just as I expected, sitting on pins and needles, wanting to know what was talked about off camera.

  “Well? What happened?”

  Alexi was always impatient, drumming his fingers on the table. Sam was sitting across the table looking through papers and still not willing to make eye contact.

  But, like I said, Alexi is my problem now. Making sure the door was closed, and the cameras in the corners weren’t on, I turned to Alexi. The look on my face when he looked up at me said it all. I wasn’t happy and he knew it!

  “Alexi, don’t you think I should be able to sit down before you start with your inappropriate tone and questions! Do you want to rephrase that?”

  Alexi’s eyes grew bigger when he realized I was in Dom mode. This started here and now. I had to put my foot down and show Alexi I was the boss from now on. Here in this room and outside of it too, he would learn quickly that I controlled everything.

  “We start now, Boy. You’ve put yourself in my hands and I won’t accept anything but complete submission. It’s the way I work, and it’s the way it will go until I say.”

  Turning my head, I start speaking to Sam. He had a look of shock on his face that I might have laughed at before, but I was in a different of state of mind now.

  “Sam we’ll need to arrange a meeting place and some kind of code in case things go sideways. Burner phones, stuff like that. You know what we need. Alexi, we have time to get your stuff before the meeting at Darkfall. Let’s go.”

  The confusion on Alexi’s face was rather cute. He saw that I was completely serious. He got up from the chair, and hes
itated before he walked towards the door. Reaching around him, I grabbed the door handle before he could. I pulled the door open and ushered Alexi out with a hand on the small of his back.

  We’ve never played inside or outside a club before, so he didn’t know me or my demands. We played around each other with others, watched each other, but never played together. What he didn’t know is that I’m a very possessive person, and now that he’s mine I plan to take care of him. All of him, all of the time.

  “What are you doing, Lucas? And stop touching me! People can see.”

  Alexi was shaking with fear, confusion and heat was running through him. I stopped him, turning him around to look straight into his eyes, standing in the front lobby of the police station. He needed to know exactly where he stood with me. I wouldn’t say it loud enough to broadcast it, this was no one else's business, but I wouldn’t stand for his disrespect.

  “You will not talk back to me like that, Boy. Are you in charge? No. You’re not, and you’d better get used to it. I am your Patron and what I say goes. We have to be suspicious of everyone. A cop watching us right now may be involved. That man might be right outside this building, and I expect we’ll constantly be looked at by the other members of this circle. Watched, to make sure we really are like them.

  “You will listen to me. I make the rules, and even if we aren’t being watched, we continue this. You will be my Boy to take care of, and you will not contradict me. Now, I will open this door for you and you will do as I say. We’re going to get in my car and drive to your house. You’ll get the things you need and then we’ll be going to my house. You’ll be staying with me from now on. If you need anything you tell me, I say whether or not you can have it.

  “You don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into, Boy, but that doesn’t matter. You are mine!” My voice was deep and low.

  Reaching for the door again, I placed my hand on the small of his back, steering him to my car and opening the door for him. When he was seated, I reached over and put his seatbelt on for him, closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side.

  Alexi was nervous, and I felt the need to comfort my Boy, but that had to wait. I wouldn’t have this conversation while driving. When we got home I would let him know what I expected of him. I needed to be looking into his eyes, but the need to comfort him wouldn’t go away. As we sat at a light, I turned my upper body and looked at Alexi.

  “Are you scared of me, Boy?”

  The no nonsense tone of my voice had him even more on edge. I didn’t like that he was afraid. It wasn’t what I wanted at all, but I couldn’t have this conversation here. Turning back to the road ahead of us, the light turned green.

  “I’ll explain everything when we get your stuff.”

  Alexi looked like he wanted to ask me something but was too afraid.

  Sighing, I drove to the small duplex he rented with two other guys, it wasn’t far from the Police Department, so it only took a minute.

  When we got there he started to take off his seatbelt. I stopped him, making him sit until I came around the car and took the belt off myself. Holding out a hand to help Alexi out of the car, I was trying to show my feelings. Showing that I cared enough to take good care of him. I showed my affection the only way I knew how, really.

  Taking the keys from Alexi’s hand, I opened the front door, ushering him in and heading for the couch. This was going to be a difficult conversation. Making sure no one else was home, I looked at Alexi.

  “Are you going to wipe my ass too?”

  Alexi froze when he realized he’d said it loud enough for me to hear.

  “Sit.” I told him in an un-amused voice.

  “I’ve been watching you, Alexi. Not in a creepy stalker way but I’ve watched as you and Chase tortured each other, and not in a good way. Alexi, you try to hide your pain, but I see what you’re going through. It stops now.”

  I watched as Alexi struggled to hold himself together. He had to have known people saw his pain, but, having it brought up right in front of his face was altogether different. I had to make him see that I wouldn’t let him be hurt like this anymore.

  “It gets bad sometimes, yes. But I have it under...”

  “Stop! You don’t have anything ‘under control’ with Chase. You both throw insults at each other like it’s nothing. He flaunts his conquests in front of you, and you in front of him. How is that control, Alexi? How is slinging hurtful things and actions at each other ‘control’”.

  Holding his hands, I watched a tear fall down his cheek. He was trying so hard not to cry, but he just couldn’t control it anymore. He wasn’t sobbing, or hysterical, Alexi was too reserved emotionally for that. Tears were just silently falling from his eyes. He couldn’t hide the pain from me, but he still tried. Grabbing and lifting his chin gently, cupping his soft cheek and caressing his chin, I looked him in the eye.

  “It’s okay to be hurt, it doesn’t make you weaker. I’ve seen the pain you hide from others with that fake, glittery, twink act. The fake Alexi, not the real one.”

  Yeah, Alexi’s a brat and always loved attention. Causing problems was what he did best, but in fun, not this hurtful, spiteful crap. His true sparkle was fading.

  “Alexi you're allowing him to hurt you, and I will not permit it to go on. We do this undercover all the way. I’ve wanted you for a long time, and now it’s my turn. I get to show you how it feels to be my Boy.

  “I’m not like Chase, or any other Dom from the club for that matter. I’m your Patron, your Master, and I will control everything 24/7. At least until we take these people down. I won’t say what will happen after, that’s a conversation we’ll have when you're ready. When you have the choice to be with me willingly and without a case pushing us together. I can promise you one thing. You’re mine now, and I treasure what is mine.

  “Now, you’ll listen to me. I want your complete obedience. And not just to get into this ‘Circle’. You’re mine. Do you understand that? Alexi, you have to tell me what you're thinking. Boy, what is it?”

  The look on Alexi’s face almost shattered my heart.

  “Why? I know we’re going undercover and things will happen between us. I’m good with that. But you… there are so many other… more obedient subs. Shoot, there are slaves at Darkfall that would love to be yours. Me? I don’t follow orders very well, and to tell you the truth I don’t see what it is you want from me. Why me?”

  The confusion on his face told me just how much damage the fighting with Chase had caused. He’d been losing that bright and bubbly sub self of his, forcing it in front of people like he wasn’t hurting. His sparkle dim and painful to see. It wasn’t a dramatic change, but you could see it if you’d been watching him like I had.

  “I don’t want them. I want you… Brat and all. You will follow my orders, Boy. I’ll help you get your sparkle back.

  “Now, let's go get your belongings. Make sure to get some of your club things. We’ll come back and get the rest later, but for now, we’ll pack for a week.”

  Standing up, I walked towards the hallway. I could almost feel the anger radiating off Alexi as he stood.

  “I can’t just skip out on the rent and leave my roommates to cover it! I won’t do that to them!”

  The indignation and sparks shooting from Alexi’s eyes thrilled me. There he was. I knew he was still in there. He was battered and bruised, but Alexi’s real side was trying to break through the hurt.

  Walking straight up to Alexi, I barely brushed my chest against his. He immediately dropped his gaze and clasped his hands behind his back. Widening his stance with my foot, I whispered in his ear.

  “Did I say anything about skipping out on your rent, Boy? Did you think your Patron wouldn’t know what you needed? I know you‘d never do that to someone. You are not to worry about that. Your Patron will take care of it, and you will thank me, won’t you?”

  Listening to his softly panting breaths, I leaned in closer, my lips brushing across his ear
and causing a shiver to run through his body. Leaning just a bit lower my tongue traced a slow warm trail from his chin, under his jaw, and up to his earlobe. Blowing softly on it made his whole body shiver this time.

  The hitch in his breath said it all. He wanted this and so did I. No, we hadn’t gone over ground rules, or discussed hard limits and needs, but he would learn soon enough that I was there to give him whatever he needed.

  Leaning back I tilted his eyes up, looking at the glassy film of pleasure coating them dreamily. He wanted this, needed this, to center himself and heal.

  “Don’t you want to thank me, Boy?”

  The quick and strong nod of his head was all he gave as an answer.

  Well, that wouldn’t do at all, no it would not. Leaning back in closer, I growled my displeasure in his ear.