Brayden grabbed the photos from her hand and passed them to Delacroix, who stood silently off to the side.
“Hey,” she exclaimed.
“We’re going home,” Brayden said sternly.
“Are you insane?”
Anger had now replaced her sorrow, her fear. Why was Brayden pitching such a fit? They were undercover. They had deliberately put their lives in harm’s way. It’s what they did to catch the bad guy. It’s what they always did. Why was this any different?
“Are you?” he bellowed.
Karina actually flinched. “We baited him, Brayden. We deliberately did scenes to piss him off. What did you expect?”
“We baited him so that Delacroix could pinpoint where the anger was coming from, not so he could lay claim to you by writing your name on the damned wall. Using Janie’s blood, no less.”
“All the more reason to stay in this!”
Brayden put his hands on his hips and brought his nose close to Karina’s. She wasn’t sure she’d ever seen him this pissed, but she refused to back down and held her ground.
“All the more reason to get the hell out,” he growled.
“What is your problem?” she asked. “Why are you being so insistent about this? Would you be this way if it was Delacroix’s name on the wall?”
Delacroix snorted softly, but Karina ignored him. Brayden glared at her as he paced away. He ran his hand down his face in agitation, but wouldn’t meet her gaze.
“Brayden,” she said in frustration.
“Damn it!” he snarled. “I don’t want to lose you, all right?”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Brayden stared at Karina as her eyes went wide as saucers. Did she really not know? This wasn’t how or when he wanted to tell her. He wanted to wait until this was all over, take her somewhere warm. Maybe Fiji. Give her his mother’s ring for real this time.
“Brayden, we can increase the detail on her. The second he tries anything, we’ll catch him,” Delacroix said.
“Like you caught the guy who killed your girlfriend?” Brayden snapped, then immediately regretted it.
Delacroix’s eyes went dark, cold. “I didn’t know she was a target, jackass. I do know about Karina.”
Brayden sighed and glanced toward the floor. “I’m sorry, Nathan. That was uncalled for.”
“You’re scared. You have every right to be,” Delacroix murmured, but his look remained cold and distant. He glanced toward Karina. “And so do you. Even if you jump ship, he’s still going to come after you. That’s a given. We can protect you better if you stay here.”
She nodded. “I agree.”
“Take a look at the pictures. I know it’s not the same as being at the scene, but see if the Feds missed anything. From what I understand, you’re the best at CSI. You sometimes see things others don’t.”
Karina nodded.
Delacroix turned back to Brayden. “And you…relax.”
Brayden snorted softly. “Easier said than done.”
With a nod, Delacroix started for the door. “I’m going to send some flowers to Janie’s parents. I’ll see you guys at the club later.”
Without another backward glance, he left the suite, shutting the door behind him. Brayden felt terrible for what he’d said. He was sure all of this was bringing up enough bad memories for Delacroix. He didn’t need Brayden reminding him of his failures.
He looked over at Karina as she stared down at the picture of her name. She looked pale, scared. He wasn’t used to seeing her that way. He’d never seen Karina scared over anything. But this terrified her. He could see it in her eyes as she looked up at him.
Her lower lip began to quiver and he rushed forward, engulfing her in his arms.
“It’s gonna be okay, baby.”
“I know. I trust you.”
His arms tightened around her when she murmured those three words he knew weren’t easy for her. Trust was something she’d given up on, especially where men were concerned. But she trusted him, and he’d do everything he could to keep that trust.
“I want to kiss you right now,” she whispered. “But I just threw up and that would be so gross.”
With a chuckle, he buried his face in her neck and held her tight.
Karina strolled around the somber club. Tonight was slow. Everyone had already heard about Janie. A lot of the submissives had decided to stay home. They didn’t want to risk being the next victim.
She couldn’t blame them, really. Hell, if she wasn’t undercover, she probably wouldn’t be here, either.
She swept her gaze over every man in the room, submissive and Dom, wondering if one of them was the man they searched for. Some smiled. Some leered. Some just nodded. Most were standing in groups, talking with each other. There weren’t enough female submissives for them all, so they mostly just socialized.
A few Doms and subs had paired up and now performed scenes in the various play areas scattered about the large room. Nothing really seemed out of the ordinary, but everything felt wrong. It felt cold, quiet, dark. It was as though something deadly lurked behind every door, within every darkened corner, and something evil shone behind every pair of eyes.
Karina shivered and took a slip of her hot tea. She couldn’t seem to get rid of this chill. It felt as though the icy fingers of death kept brushing down her spine.
In some ways, she wished she could remember what her attacker looked like. She’d spent so many years pushing those memories to the back of her mind. They were buried so deep, she knew they would never see the light of day.
She spotted Brayden over by the bar, talking with a couple of Doms. No matter what he was doing, Brayden always kept his eyes on her whereabouts.
They hadn’t discussed what he’d said earlier, which truthfully, wasn’t really anything. So he didn’t want to lose her. He hadn’t said he loved her. But then neither had she. She wasn’t sure she did or that she could even say it. All she knew was she didn’t want to lose him, either.
She wanted to go home, date him, sleep with him. Hell, maybe she did love him. Okay… Yes, she loved him. But did she dare say it first?
Good grief, Karina. Get a grip. Since when are you such a damn chicken? It’s just three little words. Just say them.
Brayden tilted his head and gave her a look of concern. She’d been staring too long. Shaking her head, she gave him a soft smile and mouthed, “Bathroom.”
He nodded, and she headed to the main bathroom just a few feet away. She walked into the oversized women’s bathroom and sat down on the round couch in the center of the room. A chandelier above her head cast soft light on the gray tile that lined both the floor and the lower part of the wall. Dark red walls went from tile to ceiling, decorated with black iron accents.
Delacroix had such a dark taste. She wondered what his home looked like. With a sigh, she walked to the black framed mirror and stared at her tired reflection. Going to a BDSM club once a week was fun. Going more than four nights a week was rough and starting to wear on her. She needed sleep.
She needed this to be over.
Using the tip of her finger, she brushed at the mascara that had flaked below her eyes. She needed to get some new stuff, but this one washed off so easily. It also flaked easily.
Giving herself one final look, she grabbed her teacup just as the door to the bathroom opened.
“I’m done,” Karina said without looking up. “If you need the mirror.”
“No, pet. I think I’m good.”
Karina gasped at the deep male voice just before the sharp sting of a needle pressed into her neck. She glanced wide-eyed toward the mirror and stared in numbing shock at Gary’s grinning face.
It was Gary? Sweet, soft-spoken Gary?
Delacroix paced around the room, keeping an eye on the few submissives who had attended tonight’s games. People would start dropping out of the clubs if they didn’t find this guy soon. Someone had leaked to the press that the last two victims had been taken from here.
<
br /> He spotted Josh over by the patio talking with a cute red-headed submissive named Colleen. Brayden was by the bar. He waved to Josh before heading over to Brayden.
“Where’s your pet?” Delacroix asked as he strolled up to the bar and nodded to the bartender for his usual.
“Bathroom,” Brayden replied.
With a nod, Delacroix took the beer and twisted off the top, tossing it onto the bar. It landed with a soft ping, that normally he wouldn’t have heard if the bar had been its usual capacity. Right now, it was downright dead.
“Things are slow, tonight,” Brayden said.
Delacroix shrugged one shoulder. “It was expected after that news cast earlier.”
“Wonder who leaked it?”
“Someone from the local police force, I think.”
Brayden snorted. “Figures.”
“Yeah, we’re not real popular with the police chief, so my guess is he had a little something to do with it.” Delacroix grinned. “He thinks we’re some kind of a cult.”
“No,” Brayden said, returning his grin.
They both shared a chuckle.
“He and my father are pretty like-minded. I just ignore him,” Delacroix said.
“What about your dad?” Brayden asked.
Delacroix sighed and took a sip of his beer before answering, “I ignore him too.”
“Any brothers and sisters, or do you ignore them also?” Brayden asked.
Delacroix stared at the label on the bottle. “I have a twin.”
“Really? Paternal or maternal?”
Delacroix’s lips lifted slightly. “Identical.”
“I bet I know a few submissives who would love to be sandwiched between you.”
Brayden’s lips quirked in amusement as he lifted his bottle of beer to take a sip.
“I know a few that have been.”
“So, is he a sadist too?”
Delacroix shook his head. “No. He’s the normal one, as my father calls him.”
Before he could elaborate any further, a sharp pain ignited in his neck, making Delacroix wince and lift his hand to where his skin still stung. “What the hell was that?”
Just as the words left his mouth, he began to feel lethargic and cold. A feeling of dread washed over him as he braced himself against the bar. His legs were barely able to hold up his weight.
Son of a bitch.
“You okay?” Brayden asked. “You went white as a sheet.”
“Where’s Karina?” he asked, his voice sounding drunk even to his own ears.
“Bathroom,” Brayden said, as he stared at him in concern.
Delacroix blinked, trying to keep his gaze on Brayden but failing miserably. He couldn’t keep the man’s head in focus. “Get Josh,” he slurred. “Find Karina. Now.”
Chapter Thirty
Karina slammed into the cold concrete floor and could do nothing more than moan softly as she flopped to the side, unable to move. A few seconds later, Gary followed, landing next to her on his feet. She gazed drunkenly at the laundry chute she’d just slid down. Her body and face were covered with cobwebs. Her shoulders and hips burned from the scrapes caused by the metal and screws. From the corner of her eye, she could see at least two spiders crawling on her, but couldn’t raise her hands to push them away.
Her heart would’ve raced in fear if the drug wasn’t keeping her calm and half-unconscious. Was he really going to try and sneak her out through the basement? Would his plan work?
Apparently, Gary believed it would as he bent to lift her over his shoulder. Karina tried to raise her hands to fight him off, but they wouldn’t move. Blood trickled down his arms from the cuts on his shoulders. How he’d made it down at all was a mystery to Karina.
He stopped and stared at her face. With a snort, he wiped at her lip. “Aww. Look at that. Pretty little sub is drooling. That anxious to be with me, pet?”
Karina wanted desperately to jerk away from his touch, but could do nothing but stare. Her body just wouldn’t move. Where was Brayden? Where was Delacroix?
“Come on, bitch,” he snarled as he lifted her. Her ribs slammed into his shoulder, and she whimpered at the pain. “Stop whining. Later, I’ll tell you what I want to hear. Right now, let’s get you to my playroom.”
Gary began to make his way through the basement. Where he was headed, Karina wasn’t sure. All she could see was the concrete floor and the pile of dirty towels off to the side that housekeeping hadn’t gotten to yet. With a sinking heart, Karina sagged against him.
Brayden’s heart raced with fear as he and Josh searched every room in the club. Delacroix had one of the butlers search the camera feeds, but they saw nothing. This was insane. How did she just disappear?
“We’re going to find her, Brayden,” Josh said as he placed a hand on his shoulder, giving him a comforting squeeze.
Brayden shrugged him off. “I promised her I wouldn’t let this happen.”
“Come on. Let’s go talk to Nathan.”
Brayden followed him down the stairs to Delacroix’s office. Delacroix leaned heavily against his desk, his arms shaking.
“Anything?” Brayden asked.
Delacroix shook his head, but didn’t look up. “Wherever she is, she’s drugged.”
“Is she hurt?” Brayden asked, but not sure he wanted to know the answer.
Delacroix shook his head, then sighed. “Not sure. If she is, it’s minor. Right now she’s scared and angry. And it’s dark.”
“Car trunk, maybe?” Josh asked.
“That would be my guess,” Delacroix murmured.
The two FBI agents that had been assigned to protect Karina came into the office. Brayden’s anger surfaced again. “Where the hell have you been?”
Both men came up short and glared. “If you’ll recall, we’re not required to tail her while you’re at the club. She has you three. Where the hell were you?”
“Stop with the fighting,” Delacroix slurred, but even half-drunk off the drug, he still sounded menacing.
“What the hell is the matter with him?” one of the agents asked.
Josh rolled his eyes and ignored the man’s question. “Nathan, come here and sit down.”
Delacroix moved to one of the chairs and dropped heavily into it. His head dropped back, and his eyes closed. He looked pale and a little green around the gills.
“You’ve never connected like this,” Josh said softly. “How close was your bond to Karina?”
“Closer than usual.”
“As close as it was with the last serial killer?”
Delacroix nodded.
Josh let out a breath and wiped his hand over his mouth.
“What the hell is going on?” Brayden demanded.
“When Nathan connected with the serial killer, the one that caused him to leave the FBI, he could feel everything the killer felt. He fought the connection, and for a time, was able to tune it out. That’s when he got Nathan’s girlfriend.”
“I knew that,” Brayden said as he began to pace.
“When I say he felt everything, Brayden… I mean everything. When the killer was shot, Nathan felt it.”
“Was he killed?” Brayden asked.
“No,” Delacroix replied. “He’s still alive, but I’ve learned to tune him out. I feel nothing from him now. But Karina. I can’t tune her out. It’s as though she’s not letting me. So for now, I feel what she does. It’s muted, which is why I’m able to move and she’s not, but I still feel it.”
“Can we use this to find her?” Brayden asked.
“Maybe. She’s a smart girl. She knows I’m connected to her. She has to figure out a way to tell me what she needs to tell me.”
Brayden stepped forward and glared at Delacroix. “Tell her that!”
Delacroix raised his head and yelled back, “It doesn’t work that way!” With a sigh, he let his head fall back. “Only I can read her, but I believe she can get a message to me if she concentrates hard enough. She just has to know to do it.
”
Karina moved her arms and legs as much as possible in the trunk of the car, testing just how well she could maneuver. The drug was wearing off, but she was still too sluggish, too weak. Gary had apparently misjudged her weight and not given her enough.
She was heavier than she looked because of her muscle tone, but since she wasn’t bulky like a muscle builder, it wasn’t obvious. At least she had that to her advantage.
What else did she have?
She could fight, but was still too drugged. She would have the element of surprise, but what could she do with it without a weapon?
There was also Delacroix.
He’d said he could read her, that he had a connection to her. But what did they mean exactly? How deep did that connection go? She’d never worked with a registered psychic, so she had no idea what they were capable of.
If she thought about something hard enough, would he be able to hear it? It would have to be simple. Something short.
The car came to a stop, and Karina braced herself to keep from rolling against the back seat. Every second that passed made her a little stronger, but she wasn’t strong enough yet. For now she would pretend to still be drugged and weak. If she was lucky, her perfect moment would arise.
She heard his footsteps outside as he walked around the car. She never heard the door shut, so was it still open? Was this just a temporary stop?
The trunk popped open and she squinted against the streetlight just over his shoulder.
“We’re home,” he murmured, then leaned in to pull her from the trunk.
She let her legs go limp as her feet landed on the ground. With a grunt of frustration, he lifted her over his shoulder again and headed across, what Karina now knew, was a parking lot.
An empty one.
She glanced around as much as possible. A lake. An empty marina. Empty except for one small houseboat. How far away from the club were they? She didn’t remember passing this lake on the way there, so it must be farther outside Atlanta than the club was. Would Delacroix know about an abandoned Marina? Would he be able to hear her?
It was her only shot.
Topping the Domme (Crime and Punishment) Page 19
