Dungeon Games (Masters and Mercenaries #6.5)(35)

Every instinct he had said the guy was in for heartache because he was being honest. But a good cop didn’t just follow instinct. If he was in this club, he was a suspect. He would need to figure out his last name and start a folder on him. Sean and Liam were doing the same thing. By the end of the night, they would have a list of people to research and a list of possibles to let Eve sort through.

“Well, good luck with that. Karina and I are going to just go with the flow.” Until he could get her out of here and back to Sanctum where they would be safe. And where they wouldn’t have a contract in place because he’d put an end date on their relationship. It had seemed like a good idea at the time, but now the thought made him grumpy. “Come along, gorgeous. We have a scene to perform in a couple of minutes.”

Will frowned his way. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? I’ve heard that all the girls who were killed had just performed heavy scenes. I’m keeping Starr away from that for a while.”

“Maybe you should keep her at home then.” If he was so worried about it, that seemed like the way to go.

For the first time Starr reacted, whimpering a little and grabbing her Dom’s thigh.

“Hush, baby. It’s fine.” When he looked back, he sighed. “She needs this. Besides, I have a lot of friends here and I want to make sure they’re all right. I specifically came to find Karina. She’s so kind to everyone. I couldn’t stand the thought of her being a victim.”

“Well, now you know she’s got a protector.”

“I know she has a Dom,” Will said gravely. He nodded toward Karina. “If you need anything, Karina, you know where to find me. Come along, Starr. Let’s find a place to watch the scenes.”

Karina’s head came up as they walked away. “It’s not him.”

“How do you know?” He really hadn’t liked the way the f*cker looked at his sub and offered her help. She was wearing a collar. She only needed help from the man who had put it there. Of course, it wasn’t like they’d had a ceremony. It had been perfunctory. He’d handed her the collar and she’d put it on.

Why hadn’t he put it on her? Why hadn’t he stood behind her and pushed her hair out of the way gently before clasping the collar around her pretty throat himself?

“Will’s a good guy.”

He felt his jaw go hard. “I ask again. How do you know? Have you played with him?”

Her hand came up to grasp his. “No, Derek. I’ve just talked to him. I’ve watched him carefully. He’s very good with ropes so I had him down as a suspect. I’ve gotten to know him and I really think his intentions are good. His sub, on the other hand, is a problem.”

His jealousy was going to be the death of him. He helped her up, shoving the emotion aside because it had no place between them. He didn’t have the right to get jealous and apparently no reason at all. He believed her. “How is she a problem? Beyond the cheating?”

“Well, that’s pretty horrible, but she’s manipulating him. The only time she shows any emotion is when she wants him to do something. I don’t get why he can’t see it.”

Derek did. “Because he cares about her. Probably thinks he loves her. He doesn’t want to see it. Sometimes it’s just easier to pretend that everything is okay. What do you know about his time in the lifestyle?”

“I’ve been careful about questioning him. I can’t ask directly. Everything I know I’ve figured out from our talks.” Her fingers slid through his, making a place for her hand, fitting together easily.

“Just give me your impressions.” She’d been a working PI for a very long time. She knew people. “Come on. We really do have to scene and I really am going to tear into your sweet ass with a paddle.”

Her brows came over her eyes in a deep V. “Why?”

He leaned over and kissed her. He could do that now. He could kiss her whenever he f*cking felt like it and he felt like it a lot. “Because you are a brat. And because we’ll both like it.”

He didn’t say the real reason. He would prefer to play with her privately, but they needed to work. They had to put her on display. He f*cking hated the idea and yet he got hard at it, too. Karina was going to make him crazy.

“I’m not a brat.” But she went on her tiptoes and brushed her lips against his. “But I will give you my impressions about Will. He’s fairly new to the lifestyle and like most newbies, he’s still infatuated with everything about it. That’s likely why he’s found someone like Starr.”

He started toward the scene space, a raised stage in the middle of the room. There were a couple of scene spaces, but he’d signed them up for the main stage. He needed to make her the center of attention. He stopped. “Why don’t we go home, Karina?”

She pulled on his hand and he turned. “I’m going to be okay, Derek.”

He nodded. It was stupid. He was behaving entirely unprofessionally. “Of course you are.”

She leaned in, hugging him. She always seemed to know when he needed affection. “I will because you’re here with me. You’re going to be okay, too. Now we have a couple of seconds while they clean up. Please tell me they’re cleaning up.”

“I have a box of antibacterial wipes in my kit.” He fully intended to use them.