“You’re not…”
“Don’t even say it, Lucy. Have you uttered your safe word? Hmm? Do you want out?”
Lucy shook her head furiously.
“Then hush. But I’m warning you, Lucy. This is it. You pull another stunt like this and I’ll whip your ass. And it’ll have nothing to do with Master/sub, and everything to do with good old-fashioned discipline, which you are sorely lacking. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes,” Lucy said softly.
Eric walked up and winked at Lucy. “Hey, car thief. I brought my handcuffs.”
“Good,” Lake replied. “We’ll need them later. Now, where are these caves?”
Lucy’s heart beat painfully. He wasn’t pushing her aside. She’d done about the worst thing she could do to Lake. She’d lied to him, stolen his car, and he was still standing by her. Did people like him really exist? All her life people had left. Her mother had always been there, until she’d found a new husband or boyfriend, then she’d let Lucy languish by her side until the man was gone, only to push her aside again when a new one came along. And they always did.
“The caves?” Lake asked, interrupting her thoughts.
“Over there.” She pointed toward the north. “There’s about three of them in the side of a mountain.”
“Let’s go,” Eric said. “I’ve convinced my captain that I’m searching for evidence on Lucy’s break-in today, but he has no idea where I’m at. I need to get my ass back to Albuquerque by the end of shift, which is in seven hours. And it’s a three and a half hour drive.”
“You can take the truck,” Lake said. “Lucy and I will ride the bikes.”
Lake walked back to the bike and retrieved two water bottles, and they started into the woods. It didn’t take Lucy long to find the caves.
“No footprints,” Eric said, bending down in front of each cave. “We’ll have to search them all.”
They explored the first cave for an hour before giving up after finding nothing. During a break for water, Lucy rolled her head from shoulder to shoulder.
“Maybe somebody’s already found it, or maybe he never made it up here to leave anything.”
“He did,” Eric said. “There’s evidence somewhere about something illegal. The person who attacked you knows that. And they want it.”
They’d been inside the second cave for about ten minute when Lake’s voice broke the silence.
“Something tells me this isn’t an Indian artifact.” He held up a black backpack. It seemed very flat.
“Where did you find it,” Lucy asked.
“Buried under the large L painted on that rock,” Lake said. “Some people might have thought it was a lover’s mark, like carving your initials in a tree. I figured it was L for Lucy.”
He handed the bag to her and she opened it quickly. Inside she found a letter, and another key.
“To Lucy Travers, or to whoever finds this. I have stored evidence of a crime in a safety deposit box at Western Bank in Santa Fe. This key opens that box. If you are not Lucy, please take this key to the Santa Fe Police Department.”
Eric checked his watch. “It’s a two and a half hour drive, and it’s almost noon. If we left right now we could just make it before closing without having to go to the trouble of getting a warrant. We’ll go faster on the bikes. We have a friend who has a cabin not far from here. We can leave the truck there, if that’s OK with you, Lake.”
“Of course,” Lake replied. “The truck’s already been stolen once today.”
Lucy winced and bit her lip. She was rewarded with a grin from Lake.
“Let’s get going,” Eric said.
They parked the truck about ten miles down the road, then took off on the bikes, Lucy riding behind Lake on the Indian.
“Lucky you brought an extra helmet,” she said to him through her microphone.
“Luck has nothing to do with it,” Lake replied. “I always carry a spare.”
Lucy settled herself closer to him. He felt warm and secure between her thighs, and it had nothing to do with sex, and everything to do with security. She wrapped her arms around his waist, tightening her grip, and placing her chin on his shoulder.
He gently squeezed her left hand with his own, and Lucy felt his heat spread through her body. She was grateful to Margaret for introducing them, for knowing exactly what Lucy needed in her life.
“Shit! Margaret. And Marcy. And crap, Briscoe. I was supposed to be at work by eleven today.”
“You’re late,” Eric said with a laugh.
“What I am is fired. There is no way Briscoe will allow this. He’s such a hard ass.”
“I’ll call him,” Eric said. “Explain everything to him.”
“Great,” Lucy replied. “I don’t think Briscoe will let me keep my job just ’cause I have a note from my mommy.”
“I’m not your mommy; I’m a cop. I had you in custody for stealing a car.”
“Then he’ll really fire me,” Lucy said.
“Probably,” Lake replied. “But, you know, I’m late for work too, Lucy. We could both be out of a job.”
“Really? Oh shit.”
Lake’s laugh was evil. “Not really. I called a friend at ten and asked him to cover for me.”
“That was mean of you to scare me like that.”
“No meaner than what you’ve done today,” Lake said. “By the way, Eric, know any good punishments for a car thief?”
“You mean besides jail time? I’m thinking a whipping.”
“I’m thinking you’re right. A big one. In the public room at Tygers.”
Lucy’s stomach plummeted. “Lake, please, no public.”
“I’m sorry, Lucy, but this type of behavior warrants public punishment. I’m sure that Master Ty will want to punish you, too, for breaking club rules.”
“You would let him punish me?”
“Yes, Lucy, I would,” Lake said. “Do you forget that your theft had consequences for Chess, too? Master Ty has every right to punish you. He practically has to, so that people can’t think they can do things like that at Tygers. And, I guarantee you, everyone knows what happened.”
“I don’t want to…”
“You have to trust me on this one, Lucy. If it doesn’t happen this way I can guarantee you that Master Ty will never allow you back in Tygers, even if you’re with me.”
They’d entered the outskirts of Española, about an hour from Santa Fe. Lake’s words had been like ice water poured all over Lucy. She’d thought that Lake had forgiven her; that he’d punish her for a while and all would be well with them. Now she found out that he was going to hand her over to Master Ty for punishment.
Not that Lucy could blame him. What she’d done was a terrible thing. But still, knowing that she would be punished, and by someone other than Lake, scared her half to death.
“I want to stop and call Diego, ask him to meet us at the bank,” Eric said. “Then we can go to the SFPD and examine whatever we find.”
They pulled into a convenience store long enough to top the tanks, make the call, and get something to drink, then started back off. They pulled up at the bank five minutes before closing.
Lucy had been prepared to fight for the right to get into the box. She silently blessed Craig when she found out her name was on the lease, too, and the bank gave her no problem. Inside they found notarized documents and two DVDs.
At the police station, Diego popped the DVD marked “one” into his computer and they all gathered around to watch.
When Craig’s face appeared on the screen, Lucy began to cry. Lake pulled her backwards into him, the wall of his chest comforting to her as he wrapped his arms around her.
“It’s OK, baby. Think of this as his legacy. He’s going to right a wrong.”
Lucy nodded, and wiped at her tears as Craig started to talk. He gave his name, his age, and the date. The DVD had been made two weeks before Craig’s death.
“A little over a month ago, I found out that my boss, Alan
Malfee, has been operating a drug smuggling ring out of his package pickup service. I found out entirely by accident, and when I confronted him, he offered to cut me in on the profits. Then, he told me, even though I might not have known it, I’d carried drugs on more than one of my runs.”
Craig went on to discuss how the ring worked, how certain drivers would make trips on the books to cities near the Mexico border, make an unscheduled stop along the way, and load up with drugs. And on some loads, Craig said, drivers would pick up what they thought were legitimate hauls and not know that there were drugs in their shipment.
“I believe several of the drivers are in on it,” Craig said. “I’ve enclosed a list of names on the sheets provided, along with an affidavit of my statement, given to a stenographer that I know in Albuquerque. In two weeks, I’m scheduled to make another run down state. I’ve convinced Alan that I’m in on the plan. When I pick my load up, I’m going to check it on the open road, to see what’s there. If there are drugs, I’m going straight to the police station with them.”
“I’ve made this recording in case something happens to me. The other DVD is a recording I made of Alan and Rodney Baker unloading drugs at the warehouse.”
Lucy gasped. “Not Rodney. He was so nice to me when Craig died.”
“Nice Rodney probably killed Craig,” Eric said. “And, he probably attacked you, too, Lucy.”
“No, I don’t believe it.”
“Lucy, we checked on Malfee. Alan Malfee was with his wife, at a party, the night you were attacked. And, he was in Las Vegas the day Craig was killed. I’m telling you, Rodney is his lackey. He does the dirty work, ’cause I can guarantee you that Malfee isn’t getting his hands dirty with the physical things. That includes killing Craig, and ransacking your house to try and find the evidence.”
“Rodney was out of town that night. His wife told me so.”
“He said he was out of town,” Eric said. “I think he was just waiting on you, thinking he could find what they wanted, and then they would be in the clear.”
“Fucking bastard!” Lucy started to cry in earnest, burying her face in her hands. When Lake turned her around and gathered her in his arms she didn’t protest. She grasped his shirt in her fists and sobbed.
She could hear muffled words around her, then the opening and closing of a door. Lake held her close, then lifted her face to his.
“It’s gonna be OK, baby. I promise.”
“I miss him so much.”
“I know. We can’t change the past, but we can make sure they pay. It will be Craig’s final legacy, and you will have helped him fulfill it.”
“You and Eric, too.”
“Yeah, well, you’ll just have to think of a suitable way to reward us, won’t you?”
Chapter Fifteen
Lucy sat on the cold chair, naked except for the collar that Lake had fastened to her neck. In the other room, he waited along with Eric and other high ranking members and owners of Tygers.
In a few minutes, the door would open, Lake would come in, and then he’d take her into the room and give her to Master Ty for punishment. Lucy tried to control her breathing. Her hands shook and she tapped her bare feet against the floor repeatedly.
She and Lake had discussed it last night. Master Ty wanted to do the punishment as soon as possible. They’d managed to keep the incident fairly quiet, except for all the owners, and a few of the members who had belonged to the club for some time. Those people were the ones who would witness her punishment. Witness her flogging, for that was what Master Ty had decreed was needed.
“I’m scared,” she’d whispered to him. “Please don’t do this.”
“Lucy, you have to trust me on this,” he’d replied. “It’s a huge leap for you, I know. But it has to be this way. Do you understand?”
“Yes, but I don’t have to like it.”
“I’m not too thrilled with the idea, either,” Lake had replied. “But you have to understand Ty’s position.”
She’d nodded, and sighed. The discussion had come after an end of what had been a horrible day. After seeing the DVDs Craig had made, Lake had driven Lucy to work, where she’d fought hard with Briscoe, who agreed to give her a “trial” basis to prove once again that she was trustworthy. She’d made sure she was early to work that morning, had taken no personal phone calls, and had worked hard to make sure everything was done.
After work, she’d gone to see Fred, who’d thumped his tail in greeting. She’d cried as she laid her head on the dog’s shoulder and stroked his head. The vet assured her that Fred would be fine, but he wanted to keep him a few more days just to make sure.
Lucy had asked about the bill, and been surprised to hear it had already been paid, by Lake.
Today had been so much better. Until nine o’clock, when Lake told her it was time to go to Tygers. He’d taken her to the private room off the owners’ den, stripped her, and put a collar on her, then told her to wait.
Her hands were sweaty, and when Chess opened the door and motioned her out, she wanted to hug the big man, tell him that she was sorry that he’d been punished because of her. Instead, he’d given Lucy a sorrowful smile, and indicated she should step onto the platform in the center of the room. Large beams bracketed the platform, and Lucy knew she would be bound there. Lucy stood in place and looked at the audience. It wasn’t that big, really, only about fifteen people. Lake sat near Eric. Lucy was surprised to see Diego standing near the doorway.
She could tell by the look on Lake’s face that he wasn’t happy about what was about to happen.
Ty stood up, flogger in hand and Lucy fought the urge to turn and run. Lake was right. She needed to trust in him. If he thought this was best, then this was what needed to happen.
“Bind her, Chess.” Ty’s voice boomed out.
“Yes, Master.” Chess led Lucy to the platform. He attached chains from each of the beams together, then fastened a manacle around each of Lucy’s wrists and ankles, so that she was shackled in the center.
When he was done, Chess went and knelt next to Ty’s wife, Alexis, who gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
Lucy took a calming breath, then focused her eyes on the floor just below Lake’s feet.
“Lucy, tell the group why you’re being punished.”
“Yes, Master Ty. I disobeyed my Master. I stole his car from your parking lot. I’m very sorry.”
“And you accept your punishment now? You accept the fact that your Master has given you to me to flog, as the penalty for your crime?”
“I do.”
Ty stepped onto the platform, moving to within inches of Lucy’s body.
“You must care for your Master a great deal, to put your trust in his hands and allow this to happen. You know you can use your safe word and opt out of your punishment.”
Lucy bit her lip. She knew that she could, but then, if she did that, her relationship with Lake would be at an end, and she couldn’t allow that to happen. She needed him too much. She lifted her gaze to Lake and smiled.
“I care for him very much, Master Ty. And I trust him with my body, my mind, and my heart. I accept this punishment as sentence for the wrong that I did him, and you.”
Ty moved off the platform and Lucy lowered her head. The room was silent and she tensed up, waiting for the first strike of the leather against her body.
Breathe deep, breathe deep. Relax. It will be over soon and you’ll be in Lake’s arms. The silence dragged on and Lucy wanted to scream at Ty to “get it over with,” but she couldn’t. She wouldn’t embarrass her Master any more than she already had. He’d done too much for her. It was obvious he cared for her. How could she not trust a man who had proven himself to her over and over, even when she’d practically slapped him in the face?
Lake wasn’t Brandon. That fact couldn’t be any plainer to her. Lake was someone she could trust. Someone she could give herself to. Someone she could love, and who would love her back.
She lifted tear-
filled eyes to Lake.
“I’m sorry, Master. Please forgive me.”
“I do, Vixen.” He smiled at her, and then nodded at Ty.
“Very well,” Ty said. “Chess. Release her.”
Lucy jerked her head toward Ty.
“What? I don’t understand.”
“You won’t be punished, Lucy, at least not by me,” Ty said. “This little exercise was to prove to you what you’re feeling; to help you come to terms with it. You could not have done this if you didn’t trust Lake. You knew it deep down, but he tells me you’ve fought it. We just forced it out of you. What you do with those feelings are your and Lake’s concern.”
Lucy groaned as the chains were released. She rushed to Lake and knelt down, putting her head on his thigh. He gently stroked her hair.
“I think you might need this,” Ty said, handing the flogger to Lake. “And I believe room four is open for you. We just might have to rename it the Lake and Lucy room.”
Lake pulled Lucy up and kissed her forehead. They started for the door, stopping at the sound of Ty’s voice.
“Lucy, if you ever do something like that in my club again, you’ll be banned. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Master Ty. I’m sorry.”
He nodded, and Lake began to move again.
“Are you going to flog me?”
“Oh yes, I am,” Lake said. “And Eric’s going to watch. I believe he deserves to be part of this punishment, don’t you?”
“Yes, Master.”
When they were inside the room, Lake kissed her, gently at first, and then more demandingly, his tongue thrusting inside her mouth in long jabs.
“Who do you belong to, Lucy?”
“To you, Master.”
“And if I want to feed you?”
“I’ll eat.”
“And if I need to punish you?”
“I’ll take it.”
“And if I want to fuck you?”
“I’ll beg for it.”
He kissed her again, running his fingers through her hair, the strands of the flogger mixing in and streaming down her back.
“We were made for each other, Vixen. Soul mates, through and through.”
Sweet Vibrations Page 11
