Porter’s hazel eyes blazed when he saw the photo of his wife, Kenzie. “Does Sarah have any suspicions of who’s behind this?”
Dmitri shook his head. “Her boss is keeping the person’s identity a secret.”
Miles grabbed one of the photos. “Is Sarah in any of these pictures?”
“No.” Dmitri understood the implication. “But she brought the information forward. I doubt she’s involved.” He drew in a long breath, settling his rage, not wanting to accuse anyone who didn’t deserve it. “In fact, I can’t imagine anyone in Club Sin doing this to the members.”
Nods followed.
Porter cursed at the photo in his hand and then dropped it on the desk. “What about enemies? Anyone piss off someone lately?”
Of course the private investigator went straight to the motive of vengeance, Dmitri thought. As Dmitri watched each Master shake his head, even he couldn’t come up with a suspect. “The casino brings some heated conversations with my competitors”—that went hand in hand with being the president of one of Vegas’s top casinos—“but that said, I don’t imagine anyone would feel threatened enough by me to do this.”
Aidan brushed a hand across the stubble on his jaw and nodded in agreement. “I can make enemies in my line of work. But nothing that warrants this defamation.”
Kyler crumpled the picture of himself and his wife, Ella, before tossing it in the garbage can. “We all piss off someone in some way every day.” His lips thinned. “Christ, this could ruin us all.”
Aidan returned to the couch and dropped down on it. “If this gets out, Cora’s employer will fire her.”
That weight landed on Dmitri’s shoulders. He scraped a hand across his eyes, trying to ease the helpless feeling. He was well aware that Cora’s employer wouldn’t understand her BDSM lifestyle—she was a social worker and worked with teens. He was certain that many of the parents of those kids would object to Cora’s continuing to counsel them. Many in the vanilla world didn’t understand the BDSM lifestyle. Perhaps some people turned a blind eye, but others passed judgment. Hence the reason Club Sin members kept their lifestyle a secret.
No one needed a scandal.
“This will hurt us all,” Dmitri said. Including his submissive, Presley. Her parents didn’t need to know about her sexual preferences. “But it will also complicate my professional life.”
Miles frowned at Dmitri before he returned to his chair. “This won’t affect me on a personal level or a professional one.” Dmitri knew Miles had no ties. He’d recently sold his construction company to free up time for a personal life. Both of his parents had passed away many years before, and he didn’t have a submissive to protect. Miles crossed an ankle over a knee, his stern eyes focused on Dmitri. “If there’s a way to place this on my head, go for it.”
“I appreciate that.” Dmitri rested his elbows on the desk. “But I hope this doesn’t land on anyone’s head.” He steepled his fingers under his chin, considering his options. His members put their trust in him to keep Club Sin a secret and to maintain the club as a safe place to play.
Porter let out another curse and returned to his chair beside Miles. “We’re lucky that Sarah managed to get us some time.”
Dmitri nodded. “Let’s come up with some ideas about how to handle this mess. How about we meet tomorrow at the casino? Let’s say nine o’clock.” Once he received nods of agreement, he added, “At the moment, the safety of our members must be our priority.”
Kyler cocked his head, his eyes searching Dmitri’s. “What are you suggesting we do?”
“The only thing I can, to ensure that no other photos are taken.” Burning with anger, Dmitri pushed away from his desk and rose, facing the men he respected above all others. “Club Sin must close.”
—
“What’s going on?”
Presley Flynn frowned at her best friend and fellow submissive, Cora, who stood beside the black leather couch in the dungeon. Cora rubbed her round belly, only partly concealed by a purple teddy; she was in her sixth month of pregnancy. “I don’t know.”
Presley knew that Cora, too, felt the odd energy throughout Club Sin. The dungeon seemed darker somehow, as if it were in a state of confusion.
Most nights Club Sin opened its doors on Fridays and Saturdays. This Sunday night Dmitri had allowed attendance in order to celebrate a few birthdays of Club Sin members. Now Presley wondered if that had been a mistake, though she couldn’t figure out why.
Presley dropped down onto the couch near the bondage area, absentmindedly adjusting her black corset. An hour ago, she and Dmitri had been playing together when Sarah had suddenly interrupted their scene. One short private conversation later, Dmitri had pulled all the Club Sin Masters from the dungeon, saying nothing to Presley.
Cora lowered herself onto the couch next to Presley. Her bright blue eyes radiated the same concern Presley felt. “I’ve never seen the Masters leave the dungeon like that.”
“Yeah, I know. It was beyond strange.”
Presley scanned the dark dungeon. Without the Club Sin Masters in attendance, the dungeon lacked order; the members moved around, looking a bit lost. Something bad must have happened, she thought.
Swallowing her worry, she glanced around the room. The couches and chandeliers remained the same, as did the BDSM stations decorating the room. But the members were only chatting among themselves, refraining from playing. And that never happened.
“Do either of you know what’s going on?”
Presley glanced to her right, spotting Ella and the other pregnant submissive in Club Sin, Kenzie, dressed in a black lace bra with panties. Three months along, Kenzie hadn’t started to show in any significant way. “Nope, I haven’t a clue. But don’t worry, I’m sure it’s not that bad.”
Their anxious faces disagreed.
Ella, dressed in cherry lingerie, took a seat across from Presley. Ella had given birth to her daughter, Andie, nearly a year ago, and Presley noted subtle changes to her body: her hips were wider and her face was fuller, radiant with natural beauty. “I hope the guys come back soon,” Ella murmured. “Things are…tense.”
“No kidding.” Kenzie took a seat. “Everyone is on edge.” Her eyes scanned the crowd as she gathered her strawberry-blond hair in one hand.
Noticing the alarm in Kenzie’s hazel eyes, Presley attempted to stay positive. Nevertheless, one question lingered in the air: why had Dmitri called for a private meeting of the Masters during Club Sin hours?
Luckily, she didn’t need to wonder long. The dungeon’s steel door opened, and in stepped the one man who could make Presley’s heart flutter, even from a distance. Powerful and enigmatic, Dmitri entered Club Sin, his stride sure. Blond, tall, muscular, he was gorgeous.
The crowd silenced as Dmitri stepped onto the stage, gesturing the crowd to come toward him. Presley rose, unable to look away from her Dom, as the other Masters circled behind him. Her man had that authoritative power. When he walked into a room, either in the dungeon or in his professional life, he commanded attention. People respected him. They admired him. Presley loved him for those reasons and more.
She rose from her seat, moving toward the stage without thinking. The closer she got, the more evident the dark worry in Dmitri’s eyes became, causing her steps to falter. Because she knew him so well, she saw that when he glanced out over the crowd, he took a deep breath. It made her nervous, because she’d never seen him rattled before.
Just then, he called in a strong voice, “Friends, I have news that disappoints me.” His piercing blue eyes briefly flicked to Sarah, the submissive who had interrupted their scene, before returning to the crowd. “It’s been brought to my attention that an unknown source has captured photographs of the Club Sin Masters, their submissives, and a few other members, whom I will talk to separately.” Loud gasps cut into the air, and Dmitri inclined his head, acknowledging their concern. “These photos and our names have been sold to a tabloid magazine that intends to publish them.”
“Who would do this?” the Dom Max called from the crowd.
“I’m afraid I don’t have an answer to that.” As voices around Presley rose with urgency, Dmitri raised his hand, hushing them. “Believe me, we will find out who’s behind this.”
Presley’s heart went out to Dmitri as he lowered his head. He never averted his gaze from anyone. Ever. When he raised his head again, his face wore a wrath that she hadn’t known existed in him. “I’ve always promised you the highest level of protection, but this is out of my control. I will do everything in my power to ensure that those pictures are never published and your identities are kept safe.”
When those eyes that could arouse Presley with a simple look met hers, her heart sank further. His look was so disconnected that it shook her bones. No warmth exuded from him. No love was visible in his eyes. She swallowed the sudden tears prickling her eyes. He’d been something solid in her life. Yet now he eyed her like a stranger would, disconnected and drawn into himself.
Cold shock blasted through the room; Presley could almost feel the chill. She wrapped her arms around herself. Someone wants to expose us? Sickness rolled through her at the horror of this terrible reality.
She was startled out of her shock when the Dom next to Presley called, “Do you need anything from us?”
“Not at this time,” Dmitri replied. “For now, our only option is to close Club Sin. We must make sure no other photos are captured.”
“Close Club Sin?” a submissive squeaked in concern.
Presley hugged herself, reeling in uncertainty as she saw Dmitri’s jaw tighten. “I wish it weren’t so, but this is the right decision for now,” Dmitri said. Turning, he addressed the Masters behind him. “Anything you’d like to add?”
Each Master—all of them dressed in black, all powerful, all strong—shook his head. The haunted expressions on their faces indicated the gravity of the situation. Presley felt the weight of it with each slow breath she took.
Dmitri lifted his shoulders and faced the crowd again. “Please gather your things and go home. I’ll be in contact with you as our investigation continues, and I will inform you of any new developments.” His voice warmed slightly. “If you have any concerns, please contact me. I hope you know that I’m here for you.” When he saw nods from the members, he continued, “I promise you I’ll handle this matter with the greatest care possible. It will be dealt with immediately.” Then he narrowed his eyes and, lowering his voice, gave a Dom order: “Please go home.”
It took a moment for the crowd to respond, but soon they dispersed. Presley, however, stood frozen, unable to grasp what this meant for the future. Club Sin was an extension of Dmitri. What would happen to him if the club he’d built to honor Charles was gone?
Presley was jolted out of her reverie when Cora reached for Presley’s hand and exclaimed, “Oh my God! I can’t believe this.”
Presley twined her fingers with Cora’s, squeezing tight in an effort to hold on to some sense of normalcy. “This is awful,” she whispered.
“This could be really, really bad,” Cora said, her blue eyes wide.
An icy shiver sped down Presley’s spine. She knew most members didn’t have to worry. While a few submissives had teaching jobs, many of the others had standard nine-to-five jobs. Of course they wouldn’t want their private lives shared, but Presley suspected the tabloid would focus on the men who stood out in the professional world in Las Vegas.
Dmitri, president of Aces Casino. Aidan, a respected defense attorney. Porter, Vegas’s top private investigator. Kyler, the police chief’s son and a police officer himself. Ella, Cora, and Kenzie would be exposed, too, because they had married those men. Presley suspected she’d be thrown into the mix as well, since she’d been dating Dmitri for almost two years.
Tears filled Presley’s eyes as those scary thoughts and more overwhelmed her. The room had emptied, but she couldn’t find the strength to move. Not because Club Sin had to close for the time being but because of Dmitri’s desolate stare.
I need you. Come close, her heart begged.
He stared right through her, though, his eyes glassy. He was so withdrawn into himself that for the first time ever, he’d become blind to her emotional state and needs. When he turned to leave the dungeon without coming to check on her, Presley’s knees buckled.
“Aidan needs me,” Cora said, dragging Presley’s attention away from her misery and Dmitri’s despair. “I have to go. Will you be okay?”
“Yeah.” No, her mind screamed. She wasn’t okay. Dmitri wasn’t okay.
For the first time since they’d started dating, Presley had the oddest sensation that things between them weren’t okay, either.
Chapter 2
The next morning, just minutes before nine o’clock, Dmitri fastened the cuff link onto his white dress shirt, gazing at the beauty sleeping soundly in the king-size bed. Nestled under a white duvet and surrounded by more pillows than Dmitri thought necessary, Presley slept peacefully. He liked that, thinking in this mess she needed to rest. Her long blond hair draped over the pillow, the lashes of her closed eyes rested on her cheeks, and her freckled nose scrunched as she gave a soft sleepy moan.
Captured by her angelic innocence, Dmitri felt his cock flare with heat, swelling inside his pants. Presley lay on her side, the covers tangled between her legs, tempting him to return to her. An urge to rip off those covers consumed him, calling for him to settle himself between those warm thighs.
Not now.
He knew this situation couldn’t wait, and he hastily reminded himself that his members counted on him to make this right. Shoving away his selfish needs to feel better than he did now, he fastened the other cuff link to his shirt, taking in Aces’ Presidential Suite. Decorated with thick dark wood furniture, the richly designed space impressed him. The designer he’d recently hired had nailed his intent of giving the casino a more modern look, and the heavily detailed furniture gave the room a luxurious feel.
On one hand, he’d never been more proud of the casino and what he’d done for the company. On the other hand, he hated bringing Presley here. The thought that he’d had to bring her to the casino last night because she wasn’t safe in his house made him sick to his stomach.
His chest tightened as he turned to grab his jacket off the chair, knowing that his beloved club was burning around him. He knew he should wake Presley and talk to her about all this, but he didn’t want to talk about anything.
He wanted to fix the problem and make Club Sin safe again.
Determinedly he put on his jacket, giving Presley one last look before he left for the day. He sensed the distance between them now, but as much as he hated it, she couldn’t be his sole focus. It was his job to make her life easier. It was his duty to ensure the safety of the Club Sin members. Until he fulfilled his responsibilities, what he needed must remain off in the distance.
He drew in a deep breath, going to the inner place where he went to when dealing with business. Pushing away the emotion for Presley and the sadness coursing through his veins at his failures, he exited the hotel room, leaving her behind.
Within minutes, he made it into the elevator and whizzed down to the third floor, where the casino’s offices were located. The door chimed open, revealing the bright reception area with Aces in big black bold letters against a waterfall wall behind the reception desk.
On any other day, he might have been amused at his staff’s covert eyeing of the four men waiting in the reception area, inhabiting the space as if they owned it. “Let’s go into the meeting,” he said to the Club Sin Masters as they all rose to greet him.
Dmitri strode past the receptionist’s desk and headed into the boardroom on the left. It came as no surprise to see his assistant, Victoria, already in the room and placing the coffeepot next to the mugs on the thick oak table. “Thank you, Victoria,” he told her softly. “Please hold all calls.”
“Of course,” Victoria said with her usual sweet smile. “Is th
ere anything else I can get for you, sir?”
“That will be all.”
She bobbed her head in acknowledgment and then moved to the door, waiting until all the Club Sin Masters entered the room before she left, shutting the door behind her.
Dmitri poured himself a cup of coffee. As the other Masters followed his move, he took his seat at the head of the table. He took a long sip of the coffee, its warmth and hint of sugar comforting him. He lowered the mug, studying the other men sitting around the table. It seemed odd, bringing his personal and professional life together in his boardroom. All the same, it helped with the detachment. “Sarah didn’t call me last night, which I take it to mean she has no other news.”
Kyler added sugar to his coffee. “I’m not sure if that’s good news or not.”
Dmitri nodded and then turned to Aidan, who sat on Dmitri’s right. Dark circles rested under his friend’s eyes. Dmitri sympathized with his exhaustion; he’d spent most of the night on the phone with Club Sin members, trying to ease their worries. “Would a lawsuit against the tabloid help or hurt us?”
Aidan sipped his coffee, then gave an easy shrug. “While it could scare the tabloid enough to hand over the pictures, it could also cause the Streisand effect.”
Next to Kyler, Miles leaned back in his chair and blew on his coffee. “Which is?”
“If the tabloid is pissed enough about the lawsuit, they could take it to social media.” Aidan gave the rest of them a level look. “Which in turn will only give the photos and Club Sin more exposure than we want. It would be viral, everywhere.”
Dmitri agreed with a nod. “Not a chance we can take, then.”
“I don’t believe so.” Aidan’s lips pressed into a straight line as he tapped his fingers against the table. “I fear that it would only make the photos more visible, since the lawsuit would not only be part of the public record but possibly written up by TMZ or some rag, too.”
Dmitri sighed. “All right. Ideas?”
Kyler added another lump of sugar to his coffee before he began stirring. “Perhaps this idiot was stupid enough not to be careful and their fingerprints are on the pictures.” He raised his mug to his lips. “If any prints are found, I can run them through IAFIS and see if I get a hit.”
Mine Page 2
