Servicing the Target (Masters of the Shadowlands #10)(105)

And then there was the biggest change of all.

With a half-smile, she laid her hand on her stomach. I’m carrying Ben’s baby.





Since Travis’s visit yesterday, Ben had searched for Anne without results. Called the bail bond company. Checked the shelter. Used the Shadowlands membership list to check with her girlfriends…and the little shit, as well.

He’d come up empty.

At his monthly veteran’s group meeting, he lingered behind the others. “Talk to you for a minute, Z?”

“Of course. Help yourself to a beer; water for me, please.” Z squeezed his shoulder and walked out to say good night to the rest.

Ben grabbed a beer and water, took a seat at the iron-and-oak table, and…stewed. Where the f*ck could the woman have gone? Surely she’d have checked in.

Gaze on Ben, Z crossed the lanai and sat across from him. “What’s worrying you?”

Before he could answer, the door on the third floor landing opened. Jessica came down the stairs with Sophia asleep in her arms and spotted Ben. “Oops, sorry. I thought everyone had left.” She turned to go.

“Nah, Jessica,” Ben said. “No secrets here. I wanted to talk about Anne. Need to share some information and get some advice.”

“Okay. If you’re sure.”

“Here, little one.” Z rose and held a chair for her, before touching the baby’s cheek with gentle fingers.

Envy—and grief—filled Ben’s heart. With losing Anne, hopes had died that he hadn’t even known he’d created.

“Go on, Benjamin,” Z prompted, resuming his seat.

“All right. Last weekend in the Shadowlands, Anne and I planned to discuss our relationship.”

Z nodded, unsurprised.

“We didn’t.” Ben sipped his drink, unsure how much to say. “I saw her back with Joey and lost my temper. Told her I was done.”

Jessica’s eyes widened, but she didn’t say anything.

“That seems unlike you.” Gaze on Ben, Z pulled Jessica closer and put his arm under the baby for added support.

“Maybe. But we’d been…” Ben rubbed his unshaven face. “I’d told her a few days before that I wasn’t a slave. She wanted to think about it. We were going to talk that night.”

“Ah.” Z eyed him. “She said she was taking Joey back instead?”

“I didn’t give her a chance to talk—but yeah, that’s about right. Only now I think I might have f*cked up.”

Jessica’s snort sounded like a sneeze.

Ben glanced at her. “You got something to add, blondie?”

“She wouldn’t go back to Joey. He’s a heavy masochist and she…well, she’s not that sadistic any longer. She told me that.” Jessica shook her head. “Could you have misread the situation?”

When Ben had called, Joey hadn’t had a clue where Anne was. Had seemed surprised that anyone thought he would.

Did I pull the trigger without taking in all the details? He scowled at the table. No problem to bring up the image burned into his brain. Anne bending down to Joey, his chin cupped in her hand, looking into his face…for f*cking ever.

But that was all Ben had seen, really. A long look. Had his own insecurity made him read more into the body language? “Maybe I…was hasty.”

“If you made a mistake, you’ll talk to her, whether she wants to or not, even if you have to tackle her at her workplace,” Z said with no doubt in his voice. “I can’t imagine you doing less.”

“Roger that.”

Z lifted his eyebrows, silently asking what advice he wanted.

“There’s more information you need to know.” Ben felt his gut clench. “Earlier that night, she’d fought with her family and then quit her job, too.”

“Nooo.” Jessica shook her head. “She loves her job. And her family.”

“Yeah. And that’s the problem. No one—family or friends—has seen her since she left the Shadowlands that night. Have you?” He looked at Z.

“I haven’t heard from her, no.” Z gazed at the darkness outside the lanai. “She’s strong, but her heart leaves her vulnerable. How many blows can she take before breaking?”

A delayed realization dumped guilt on Ben’s shoulders. If she hadn’t taken Joey back, then…one of those blows could have come from him. What the f*ck had he done?

“And Cullen said…” Jessica pressed her hand to her mouth, tears in her eyes. “That’s not fair; she’s had too much.”

“Shhh, little one.” Z lifted his wife and daughter into his lap, pulling them close.

“What did Cullen say?” Ben asked.

Z shook his head. “Cullen apparently thought the same thing you did, that she’d left you for Joey. He was angry on your behalf.”

“Jesus, I don’t need help.” Had Cullen come down on her when she was hurting and pissed off? “Is that where she is? In jail for leaving bloody chunks of a dick-headed, dumbass Master all over the bar top?”

“Benjamin.” Z’s voice was dry. “Before Anne returns, you might work on the respectful language considered appropriate for a submissive.”

As long as she returned, he might do that.