Open Doors (Suncoast Society #27)(29)

From that second on, Ed and Tony had made damned sure to follow Kaden’s instructions to the letter.

Tony still shuddered to think what would have happened—not might, but would—had he been napping on the couch, or had Ed been dozing in the guest room, instead of them being on guard like Kaden had ordered.

Seconds is all it would have taken.

Gooseflesh broke out over Tony’s arms. The look in Leah’s eyes when they’d locked gazes had told him everything he’d needed to know. The tone of her voice as she’d practically begged them.

Why won’t you let me die?

He owed it to Kaden to follow the man’s orders.

There was no way in hell he’d let him—or Seth and Leah—down.





Chapter Thirteen


When a crowd of people filled Venture, it usually meant boisterous talk, raucous laughter, music, and the sounds of people enjoying themselves and having fun interspersed with noisy implements being used on human flesh…and even noisier orgasms being moaned out into the depths of the playspace.

Not today.

Today, Tony helped Ed set up extra chairs, Derrick and Marcia soon arriving to quietly help them with that task. Then the caterer arrived. She was also someone in the lifestyle, a member of the club. She grimly set about her task, preparing the buffet Kaden had ordered and paid for ahead of time, awaiting only Ed’s notice for the actual date and time.

No one spoke, too wrapped up in their thoughts.

The owner of the company was handling this herself, dressed in black slacks and a black leather corset, no makeup, and wearing eyeglasses instead of her usual contacts, behind which she bore red and puffy eyes.

Tony could sympathize. When alone at home, he wouldn’t deny he’d shed more than a few tears of his own for his friend. Although while around Seth and Leah, he’d done his best not to lose it, to stay strong for them, to make sure they knew they could lean on him if they needed to get through this.

As people arrived, most dressed either in Sunday best or fetish finery, a low, respectful quiet filled the dungeon. Marcia had the forethought to stock up on boxes of tissues, which were liberally and strategically placed all around the dungeon, and getting a lot of use.

When the planned start time arrived, the dungeon was over its usual playtime capacity by triple, at least. There had to be close to two hundred people, standing room only, packed into the main room.

Ed walked over to the TV and held up his hands for attention, the room quickly growing silent except for the rustle of clothes and frequent sniffles. Next to him, on an easel, the picture of Kaden, Leah, and Seth had been propped up, much as it had at the public memorial.

“Hey, everyone,” Ed said. “Thanks for coming today. Well, this isn’t a day I’ve looked forward to, believe me. Some of you were at Tony’s yesterday. For those of you who weren’t, please don’t feel left out. Kaden planned everything, and he did it with Leah and her well-being in mind. And as you can see by the attendance here today, Kaden didn’t want Leah overwhelmed.

“The quick version is Seth and Leah got married yesterday. This is how Kaden wanted and planned it, so no shock or judgment about it, all right? If you’re here, then you should already be aware of how much Kaden loved Leah, and Seth, too. That being said, he made a video he asked me to play today for all of you.”

He nodded to Tony, who hit play on the DVD remote.

Tony took a deep breath as he watched the screen come to life, Kaden’s smiling face looking robust and full of vigor.

Not the frail, breathing skeleton of the control freak who’d finally let go and quit fighting barely two weeks earlier.

“Hey, everyone. I told Ed he could say something before the video played, and I’m sure he gave you the news about the newlyweds. They aren’t here today by my choice, not theirs. I have my reasons. If you care enough about me to be here today, then hopefully you care enough about me to respect my decision and not ask them about it. They know it’s happening, but I’m not putting Leah through it.”

He took a deep breath and looked down for a moment, as if composing his thoughts, before his gaze returned to the camera.

“Venture, and all of you people who inhabit it on a regular basis, have become such a large part of our lives. I can’t begin to express how grateful I am for all of you. I know people look to me as a teacher or a community leader, whatever the hell that’s supposed to mean. You guys know I hate titles like that with a passion. But I’ve learned far more from all of you over the years than I feel I ever imparted back in return.

“I feel like I’m letting everyone down by not being there now. We all theoretically talk about what happens when we give up the ghost, but it still doesn’t feel real. It’s not like—if we’re lucky—we’ll actually comprehend the moment we die. It’s the people we love, the people we leave behind, who bear the brunt of that heavy and harsh burden.

“I guess the most important thing I want to say today is to everyone I didn’t personally see or talk to in the months before…now, I’m sorry I missed that opportunity. It doesn’t mean you meant any less to me, but there came a point where my focus pulled in tightly on lasting as long as I could, and being there for Leah and Seth. Also, let’s be honest.”

He held out his hands, smiling, indicating his fairly healthy-looking body. “This is the best I’m ever going to look again, and there comes a time a guy is entitled to a little vanity when it’s about all he’s got left.”