The Men with the Golden Cuffs (Masters and Mercenaries #2)(24)

“She’s having lunch with a Bridget and a Chris tomorrow.” Adam glanced down at the photocopied pages in his hand. They neatly detailed the rest of Serena’s week. Her office came with a handy copy machine. If only all clients were so easy to deal with.

Liam had a ready answer. “Bridget Slaten and Chris Roberts. Both writers. And yes, Chris is a man. He writes romance as a woman, though. His pen name is Cherry Sparks. Who comes up with this shit? And Bridget writes as Dakota Cheyenne. Do you think they just go to a local strip club and ask for names?”

“So she’s close to these other writers?” Adam asked.

“As far as I can tell, they’re the only people she has regular contact with besides the police.” Liam leaned against Ian’s desk.

“Lara said Serena plays it close to the vest. She lost most of her friends from before the divorce. Bridget and Chris are clients of Lara’s, too. They met at a party and have been tight for almost two years. Bridget took Serena under her wing.” Ian passed two folders their way. “That’s everything we have on those two and on the ex.”

“You need to check into some * named Master Storm.” Jake flinched a little as he said the name.

Ian stopped as though waiting for the punch line. “Are you f*cking kidding me?”

Adam rolled his eyes. “She’s researching BDSM.”

“Did she find a Douche-Bag Dom site and ask for a mentor?” Ian asked. “Tourists. Bring her to Sanctum. It might be a good way to keep track of her. But she comes in on your leash, Jake.”

Jake’s head shook and the scaredy cat actually took a step back. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. She can come in with Adam.”

“Adam doesn’t have Master rights at Sanctum,” Ian pointed out. “He’s never completed the course.”

There was a reason Adam hadn’t completed the course. Ian taught it. He had to take Ian’s shit eight to ten hours a day. He didn’t need to go to a club and take some more. Ian was notoriously hard on Doms. But he liked the idea of taking Serena to Sanctum. It was a place where Jake felt comfortable. Serena would be thrilled to walk into an underground club. She would be forced to rely on Jake, and Jake would be forced to take care of her. It was perfect.

“Jake can have official control,” Adam said. “You’re right. It’s a very good way to keep track of her and observe her behavior. You can watch her for yourself, Ian.”

Ian seemed to consider the idea. “I’ll watch her carefully. You can tell a lot about a sub during a scene. She wants to research BDSM? Push her limits. She’ll learn quickly whether or not it’s really for her. In fact, why don’t I run a scene with her?”

“No.” Jake practically barked his answer. “If she comes in with me, I’ll run her scenes. No one touches her except me and Adam.”

That was what he wanted to hear. When Jake turned into a possessive caveman, it meant he was engaged, whether he liked it or not.

“Fine.” Ian sat back in his chair, and Adam suddenly realized that Ian had been testing Jake. Sneaky, manipulative bastard. “Make sure she’s properly dressed. I don’t allow tourists in my club.”

Adam sighed. Little Serena would be in fetish wear and no shoes or she wouldn’t get the knowledge she sought. She would do it. It would be far too much temptation for Serena. And he intended to make sure that Serena was too tempting for Jake.

“I’ll handle everything,” Adam promised smoothly as he got out of his chair.

“I just f*cking bet you will,” Jake said under his breath, his tone assured retribution.

Ian ignored them. “I’ll let Eve know you’re ready to pick up your charge. Somebody call and give me a report on how the meeting with the ex goes.”

Jake held up a hand. “I’ll do it. Adam’s going to take her to the meeting with her agent.”

“Liam, go with Jake as backup.” Ian sat up, his body straightening. “And someone figure out who this Master Storm is. I need a last name, and it can’t be Limp Dick.”

Liam gave Ian a sarcastic salute. “Aye, aye, boss. I look forward to it. I don’t get why everyone’s all upset about the possibility that this girl is scamming her ex. He sounds like a f*cker. I look forward to screwing with him.”

Jake got up and sighed. “Great. I get the insane Irishman. My dream is complete.”

“It’s everyone’s dream, boyo.”

Despite Jake’s anger, Adam was utterly upbeat as he went in search of Serena.





Chapter Seven


“Do you think this is your ex-husband?” Eve St. James asked.

Serena was deeply aware that there was so much more going on than a couple of simple questions. She was the one being profiled. Oh, Dr. St. James might say she was asking so she could get a feel for the man stalking her, but there was something underneath each question. McKay-Taggart Security obviously wanted to make sure their client wasn’t lying.

In some ways, finally getting murdered would be a relief. She was totally putting “I Told You So” on her tombstone. “I think my ex would love to see me fail. He wants my money. I don’t think he wants much more from me than that.”

Eve’s perfectly manicured fingernails tapped against the wood of her desk. “You were married for a long time.”