Dark Redemption

by Barron, Melinda

  “So, we have a warrant?” Pablo asked.

  “Don’t need one,” Vince replied. “Tatum’s uncle was the renter, and when he died, she inherited everything.”

  “Good enough for me,” Pablo said. “If you’ll give me a minute, I’ll print the lock and the clasp on the mechanism. Then we can open it up and see what we got.”

  Tatum admired the way Pablo made quick work of taking fingerprints. He seemed very competent.

  “I guess you work with the Santa Fe PD often?” She lifted her eyebrows at Vince.

  “Some. Actually, Knox and I met Pablo at Jaguars, where he was helping train some new subs.”

  Pablo turned a wicked grin on Tatum, and she blushed furiously.

  Knox pulled her into his chest and chuckled evilly. “You’re surrounded.”

  “So it would seem,” she replied.

  When he was done with his work, Pablo took the key from Tatum and removed the lock, placing it in an evidence bag along with the key. He lifted the hasp and pushed the bar open, allowing him and Vince to raise the door.

  Tatum stared inside in astonishment.

  “It’s empty. We drove an hour for an empty storage unit.” She stepped inside and walked toward the center, her hands on her hips. She heard movement behind her and knew the three men had followed.

  “Um, baby?” Knox’s voice held a tinge of excitement. “Look behind you.”

  Tatum turned toward the door. There, taped on the wall near the door was a large manila envelope, with her name written across it in bold, black lettering.

  Chapter 12

  “What’s taking him so long?” Tatum chewed on her thumbnail and tapped her foot.

  “Stop that.” Knox pushed her hand away from her mouth. “Relax. Pablo’s doing it by the book.”

  “I want to read whatever’s inside.”

  “You can’t read it if you faint from hyperventilation,” Vince said, smiling at her. “Knox’s right. Relax.”

  The sound of tape being pulled off the wall made her straighten her shoulders. Pablo walked toward them, the envelope in hand. When he was near, he handed Tatum a pair of gloves.

  “I really should open it, but I guess we can forgo protocol just this once.”

  When Tatum’s hands were gloved, he handed the envelope to her. She took Knox’s pocketknife and slit the seal, blowing the envelope open to peer inside.

  She pulled out a single sheet of paper and started to read. Seconds later, her eyes welled with tears and she handed the sheet to Pablo.

  “You read it.”

  He nodded and cleared his throat.

  “Sweet, Tatum. I’m so sorry it had to come to this. I thought I could handle what I found out, but if you’re reading this, I was wrong. Do you remember the trip we took when you were twelve? You and me on one bike, your mom and Pat on the other. Go there now, Tatum. I’ve left something for you. Don’t let them get away with it. All my love, Craig.”

  “Where, Tatum? Where did you go?” Knox asked.

  “Chama. We went to Chama, but I don’t remember the cabin exactly. It was Patrick’s cabin, and I will never be able to find it again.”

  “We can call Patrick.”

  “If you can find him. I talked to him after Craig’s funeral. He was so pissed that Craig didn’t leave him his bikes he threatened to sue. Then he fell off the face of the Earth.”

  “Tax records,” Pablo said. “Call the county offices. You can find the cabin from there.”

  “True,” Knox said. “Patrick must still own it if Craig went up there not even a year ago.”

  “Okay,” Vince said. “We’ll find it from there and head up that way tomorrow. It’s a little over three and a half hours from Santa Fe.”

  “Only two and a half from Albuquerque,” Pablo said with a laugh.

  They closed the storage unit and Pablo put the letter and envelope in separate plastic bags.

  “Tatum, it was a pleasure to meet you. Hopefully we can all meet under more pleasant circumstances sometime.” He winked at her and gave the bags to Vince.

  The three of them loaded into Knox’s truck and went to the gate, then exited onto the busy street.

  “I’m hungry,” Tatum said.

  “Burgers? Fries? Tacos? Soft drinks?” Vince asked from behind the wheel. They decided on burgers and pulled into a small restaurant with an outdoor eating area.

  While Knox and Vince went inside to order food, Tatum sat on the bench and put her head in her hands. Things were moving so quickly that she felt like she was shooting through space.

  She’d finally let Knox inside, admitted to him that she needed him. That was something she hadn’t done in quite a while. It had been so wonderful to have him there last night, holding her as she cried about Fred. She’d felt protected and safe, even if she had still been frightened half out of her wits.

  The image of the intruder flashed in front of her. Whoever it was hadn’t planned on killing her. If he had, he wouldn’t have bothered to cover his face. It was hard to imagine one of Craig’s friends doing something to harm him, much less kill him. And it was harder still to think that Craig had discovered something illegal and not gone to the police about it.

  It seemed as if that would have been the first thing that he would have done. Craig had always been honest about everything. What had kept him from disclosing what he knew? Had he been involved in whatever activities had gotten him killed?

  Tatum shuddered at the thought. The Craig she knew wouldn’t have done anything illegal. Of course the Tatum she knew wouldn’t have flat out lied to someone, either. Yet she’d done it not twenty minutes ago when she’d told Knox and Vince that she didn’t know where the cabin was. She knew exactly where it was, could remember every detail of that trip because it had been one of the happiest times in her life.

  She and her mother were actually taking a vacation with a man that her mother seemed destined to stay married to. Destined until three months later, that was. Still, the trip was etched on Tatum’s brain, and she knew that she could find the cabin easily.

  She just had to figure out a way to get past Knox and Vince. Guilt tore at her heart, and she hadn’t even done anything wrong. Yet. But she knew she would, tonight. Somehow, she needed to find a way to distract them so she could get away long enough to start for Chama without them knowing about it.

  Tears welled in her eyes. She knew that when she did this, it would forever break any chance of a relationship with Knox. He would never trust her again. Could she give all that up? Maybe she should tell him now that she’d lied, and they could start for Chama right now, see what they could find together. After all, they were an hour closer here in Albuquerque. They could be there before nightfall.

  Knox’s approach pulled her back to the present. She shook her head to clear it. She had to do this, for Craig. He’d always been there when she’d needed him. He’d left the letter for her. He’d expected her to right the wrongs that had resulted in his death, and she planned on doing just that. Alone.

  * * *

  The idea came and went quickly, then came again. Tatum wasn’t sure it would work, but she had to try. They were on their way back to Santa Fe. This time, Knox was driving, but she was still sandwiched in between them, their muscular thighs pressed against her own flesh, solid from years of riding motorcycles.

  When they were a ways out of Albuquerque, Tatum called the vet to check on Fred. She laughed happily when the vet said he was doing better, then riled the dog up enough so that he gave a hearty bark.

  “He’s going to be fine,” she said. Both Knox and Vince expressed their relief.

  Tatum knew, though, that she had to put her new plan in motion. She pushed away the regret she felt over what was about to happen, then put her fingers on the bottom of her skirt and started to inch it up. Vince noticed first, his eyes widening before he gave her a curious look.

  When the skirt was almost to the juncture of her thighs, she pushed her hand inside and moaned softly.
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br />   “What do you think you’re doing?” Knox asked, his voice low.

  “Playing with my pussy.”

  “So I see. Did I give you permission for that?”

  “I didn’t ask. I need an orgasm.”

  Knox let out an angry growl and Vince whistled softly.

  “Somebody’s being a bad girl,” Vince said.

  “Get your hands away from your pussy, Tatum. You’ll come when we get to Jaguars. Not before. I’m the Master, remember? You’re the subbie.”

  She continued to rub, watching Knox as he moved his glance back and forth between her thighs and the road.

  “Tatum, I’m warning you; don’t disobey me on this.”

  For an answer, Tatum pressed the ball into her clit, gently rubbed it back and forth over her hard nub and came. She moaned loudly as she rode out the waves of pleasure that ran through her body. She bucked her hips against her fingers and cried out Knox’s name.

  “Son of a bitch,” Knox said. “Tatum, you’re asking for a punishment. Dammit. I mean it, Tatum. Move. Your. Hands. Now.”

  Tatum continued to rub. Her second orgasm hit as quickly as the first. She put her left hand on Knox’s crotch and squeezed.

  “That’s it. Vince, please move her hands away from objects that have to do with sex.”

  “Sure.” Vince took her hands in his and placed them on his thigh. Tatum pulled her right hand free and licked her fingers.

  “Crap,” Vince said. “She is a vixen. I’m so hard right now I could hammer nails.”

  “Why are you doing this, Tatum?” Knox’s voice was full of anger.

  “I told you, I wanted an orgasm.”

  “I thought we had an agreement, you and me. It’s still a work in progress, true, but you’re the one who repeated the rules to me. What are the rules, Tatum?”

  “You’re in control, Master.”

  “Was I in control when you disobeyed me just now?”

  “No.”

  “How should I punish you for disobeying me?”

  “Take me home?”

  “Oh no. We’re still going to Jaguars. Vince and I will think of something to overcome this little bout of disobedience.”

  Tatum bit her lip. Shit. It hadn’t worked. She’d hoped that Knox would be so angry with her that he’d drop her at her house and tell her that he’d see her tomorrow. She mentally kicked herself in the butt for even thinking that he would do that. For one, her little outburst would have to be punished, quickly. And two, Knox would never leave her alone after the break-in last night.

  That meant just one thing, and Tatum knew that it could not only get her into trouble with Knox, but with the law. Right now, though, she didn’t care. Each minute that she stayed away from Chama was more of a chance for Craig’s killer to get away. She had to put this new part of her plan into effect as soon as they got to Jaguars.

  * * *

  It was almost one a.m. by the time they arrived at Jaguars. Tatum had insisted that they stop at Knox’s house so she could check on her cats. Knox had agreed, giving her time to go upstairs and make sure the animals were settled, and hadn’t torn anything up.

  Now, he was ready to get things rolling.

  “Room four.” Knox snatched the key from the sub manning the desk, then grabbed Tatum’s wrist, and led her toward the stairs.

  He was still angry, but he’d calmed down somewhat. He wasn’t sure what Tatum was up to, but he knew that whatever it was, he wasn’t going to like it. He figured it could be several things that had prompted her little outburst in the car.

  First, she truly did want an orgasm and just didn’t want to wait. He pushed that idea aside quickly. He figured it had more to do with the emotions that were running through her as a result of finding Craig’s note, and the attack. But that didn’t mean that she could just flat out disobey him and get away with it.

  Their relationship was tenuous enough. If he ignored it; that would probably be the breaking point.

  They entered the room, Knox stopping long enough to empty his pockets before they went into the main room.

  “Maybe I should let you handle this alone,” Vince said.

  Knox exhaled heavily and ignored his friend.

  “Tatum, I’m going to spank you. Not an erotic spanking, but a punishment spanking. A good old-fashioned, butt burning spanking. I can’t believe… I just. Shit.”

  He shook his head and looked at her.

  “Tell me why you did that.”

  “I told you. I just wanted an orgasm.”

  “You could have asked. I might have said yes.”

  “Let’s just get it over with.” She walked to the table, lifted her skirt over her hips and bent over.

  Knox’s anger flared back up. He undid his belt, taking it slowly from the loops. He made sure he was in Tatum’s line of vision as he doubled it over.

  Then, suddenly, he shook his head. Shit. The little vixen was topping from below, controlling the situation to her advantage. He took a step back and started to loop his belt back through his jeans.

  “No. We’ll do this on my terms. You will stay here, bent over like that with your bare behind in the air. I want you to think about why you decided you were in charge. Vince and I are going downstairs to get a drink. When I come back, I expect an explanation. A damn good one.”

  * * *

  Tatum waited for a few minutes after the door slammed before standing up and pushing her skirt back into place. For a moment, she’d been afraid that it wouldn’t work, that Knox would spank her and be done with it.

  She’d seen the look on his face the minute he’d realized what she was doing, and the minute he decided to take control again.

  After straightening her clothes, she put her ear against the door. When she was sure he was gone, she went into the anti-room and picked up the keys to his truck. They were lying next to his wallet, right where he’d left them.

  “I’m sorry, Knox,” she whispered to herself. “Please forgive me.”

  Then she opened the door and made her way toward the exit.

  Chapter 13

  “Every time I think things are getting better, she does something that lets me know she’s never going to let me in.”

  “She will. You just have to give her a chance.” Vince held up two fingers and the bartender nodded and opened two longnecks.

  Knox reached back and shook his head. “Shit. My wallet’s upstairs.”

  “So is mine,” Vince replied. He winked at the petite bartender. “Put it on a tab, little subbie.”

  Knox signed the paper the bartender gave him, then took a pull on his beer.

  “A chance? Vince, no matter how many chances I give her, she’s never going to open up. If I could find that ex-husband of hers, I’d beat the living daylights out of him.”

  “She’s been through a lot this week. She’s gotten a new Dom. She was attacked by a burglar looking for evidence that could probably prove he’d killed her uncle. Her uncle knew about criminal activity and tried to hide it. Her dog almost died. The list goes on and on.”

  “Are you saying I’m overreacting?”

  “No, because she definitely needs punishing. But I’m saying the two of you are still getting a feel for each other. I think you expected a bond to form too quickly. Give it time.”

  Knox took another drink. “You’re right. I just knew I had to get out of there earlier, or I would have done something I’d regret.”

  “True.” Vince looked over Knox’s shoulder and frowned.

  “What?” Knox turned toward the crowded room.

  “It’s Chad, and he’s got Nate in tow. They both look a little stressed, so something must be up.”

  Knox’s anxiety grew as Chad Gates, part-owner of Jaguars, moved toward them, elbowing away people who got in the way.

  “I’ve been looking for you for the last ten minutes,” he said to Knox. He glared at Nate.

  “Tell them.”

  “Master Chad, I…”

  “Tel
l them what you saw. You need to obey your Mistress, who ordered you to be honest.”

  “Tatum took the truck.” The big man lowered his head.

  “What!” Knox pushed away from the crowd and ran toward the parking lot. He could hear Vince running behind him. When he pushed open the door into the cool night air, he stopped in his tracks.

  The fantastic parking space they’d found near the front door was empty.

  “Fuck!”

  Vince joined him, with Chad and Nate coming outside seconds later.

  “Tell me everything,” Knox said to Nate. “When did she leave?”

  “She went outside about fifteen minutes ago. She told me she had to get something out of the truck. Another couple came in and I was talking to them. I saw her back out and leave. Master Knox, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know…”

  Knox held up his hand.

  “It took Nate awhile to find me, and for me to find you,” Chad said.

  “Which means she’s got a good fifteen to twenty-minute head start,” Vince said. “You know where she’s going.”

  “Fuck yes!” Knox ran his fingers through his hair and paced the area. “She knew exactly where that cabin was, the lying little… She set me up. The whole friggin’ afternoon, she was setting me up.”

  “What can we do to help?” Chad crossed his arms over his chest.

  “I need a ride to the house,” Knox said.

  “We need a ride,” Vince replied. “Listen, if she’s headed to Chama, she’ll have to take the main road through Albuquerque because of the truck. If we’re on the bikes, we can take the back roads and make up some ground. Less traffic. More speeding space. I can have someone wake the county clerk there and get the location of the cabin before we arrive.”

  “Nate will take you anywhere you need to go,” Chad replied. He stepped toward the man, who was several inches taller than him. “And then, you will come back here, so we can discuss this matter. Is that understood?”