Chapter Two
Taylor
“This is all we need. How in the hell is a manchild going to help when he can’t even decide if he’s a man or a fucking baby?”
Before I have a chance to react, Blaze has the idiot up against the wall with his hand wrapped around his throat.
A couple of my men jump to their feet, ready to interfere, and I simply relax back into my chair.
“Sit down,” I tell my team.
“Boss, he’s going to kill Ben,” Sullivan says.
“I would expect nothing less,” I say, raising my brows. “Are you going to tell me that what he just said didn’t piss you off?”
Shrugging, my men all sit.
“I’m only going to give you this warning once,” Blaze growls.
It’s not often that my old friend gets angry, but when he does, he’s damn scary. Ben will be one lucky bastard if he’s able to actually walk out of this building on his own.
“If you so much as look at him wrong, I will remove your eyes from your skull and offer it to him on a silver platter. Got it?”
“He’d hate that gift,” one of the women whispers, causing the other one to giggle.
Blaze drops Ben to the floor and walks towards the hallway we were warned about going near.
They said their friend was attacked last year and, as a result, is now afraid to leave their clubhouse. I don’t know all of the details, and it’s none of my business anyway, but knowing this man is a Little and was hurt makes me angry enough to shoot Ben myself.
I watch Blaze disappear, only looking away when the short, curvy woman sits on the floor between King’s parted legs and looks at me.
This must be Madeline.
“He has agoraphobia,” she says. “That’s the medical term for it. This is his safe place, and he might shut down when he sees so many new faces. Please, just be patient with him.”
“Be kind, too,” the other woman says from where she’s sitting on Venom’s lap. “Knox has the biggest heart I’ve ever seen. He’ll do everything he can to help with whatever you ask.”
“You have my word, ladies,” I promise. “I’m sorry about Ben. He’s a bit of an idiot.”
“He’ll be a dead idiot if he upsets Knox,” Ghost says.
“Agreed,” I growl, looking pointedly at the idiot.
The room falls silent as Blaze and Steel enter the room with their Head of Security tucked safely between them.
I know the bond my friends have with this man is strong. They’ve felt protective of him since they set their eyes on him years back. They’ve told me numerous times that Knox has always felt like their little brother, and they would protect the man with their lives.
I’ve never gotten the opportunity to meet him because the guys never wanted him to go to Obsidian Oasis. Vetted or not, there are some pretty sick fucks with some pretty sick kinks that come to scene with Subs. I can understand why they wouldn’t want him there.
I’m just glad they’ve moved the Little’s section to an area where they don’t have to pass the main area to reach it.
Little’s shouldn’t see things like that. Unless it’s something they specifically ask for, of course.
The trio stops several feet from where we’re sitting and turns to face us. Blaze and Steel stand tall and seem wider than they were minutes ago.
They’re doing whatever they can to make their friend feel protected.
“Everyone, this is Knox,” Blaze says. “Knox, this is our buddy Taylor and his club, the Dark Sentinels.”
Knox looks up, and I see him for the first time. He looks so sad. So lost.
And so fuckin’ beautiful.
“Taylor, would you introduce your club?” Steel asks.
I open my mouth to speak, but Knox beats me to it.
“No need,” he says shyly, looking at my chin.
He nods his head to each of my brothers as he speaks.
“Jacob Reynolds, thirty-three years old. Born April 13, 1990, to Bridget and Scott Reynolds. He was wrongly imprisoned for the murder of his sister, and upon his release, he sought and killed the man responsible when the police said there wasn’t anything more they could do.
Ryan Mitchell, thirty-nine years old. Born December 10, 1985, to Angel and Dan Mitchell. Orphaned from the time he was thirteen but eventually adopted by his foster parents. He spends his free time at the nursing home visiting patients with no family. For some unknown and crazy reason, he hates chocolate.
Nathan Parker, twenty-nine years old. Born March 24, 1995, to Sabrina Parker. Father unknown. I could probably find out with some more information. Nathan builds motorcycles from the ground up, but I personally don’t think he charges enough. When he’s not building bikes, Nathan likes to go camping.
Christopher Sullivan, thirty-one years old. Born July 1, 1993, to Connie and Frank. He has three older brothers, one older sister, and four younger sisters. He has a limp when he walks because of something that happened in his past that I don’t feel comfortable sharing without his permission.
Alexander Hayes, thirty-seven years old. Born October 31, 1987, to Cecil Hayes and Evelyn Bright. Raised by his older brother after his parents both passed from cancer three months apart.
Benjamin Shaw, thirty-one years old. Born October 25, 1993, to Marsha and Donnie Shaw. He once cornered a gay man in an ally and beat him until his face was unrecognizable because the man flirted with him. He was acquitted of all charges for lack of proof because the police suck at their jobs. I don’t think we’re going to be friends.
And finally, Anthony Taylor Jr, thirty-nine years old. Born June 19, 1985, to Anthony and Kathy Taylor. Quit the force after his partner was killed while on the job. Not only did he get his revenge, but he and King saved a truckful of women that were about to be sold. He’s president of the Dark Sentinels and owner of Sentinel Security.
Currently, each of you is a member of the Dark Sentinels and seems to be on the legal side of things. I know better. But don’t worry, I’ll keep your secrets.”
Holy fuck.
“Dude, you are scary as fuck,” Hayes exclaims.
“Not scary,” Knox says, looking back at the floor. “Just smart.”
“I didn’t beat that fuckin’ faggot,” Ben yells, jumping to his feet.
“You did, Benjamin,” Knox says to the floor. My fist clenches when I see that he’s pushed himself further behind the twins.
He’s scared.
But so damn brave.
“There’s no proof,” Ben yells.
“The police found no proof,” Knox says softly. “That doesn’t mean there isn’t any. Buffoons, the lot of them.”
I think it’s about time I do something about Ben. His time in my club has been on a timer, as it is.
“The man survived and is now happily married,” Knox continues. “I have no intent on messing up his life just to throw you in jail. I won’t be sending the proof to the police.”
Ben visibly relaxes.
“This time,” Knox finishes.
I couldn’t help the smile that spreads across my face even if I wanted to.
I like this boy. He’s feisty.
“I think you and I are going to be great friends,” Mitchell laughs.
“I doubt it,” Knox shakes his head. “You’re a monster. Who doesn’t like chocolate?”
“What if I change my ways?” Mitchell asks. “Could we be friends then?”
“Only if you share,” he answers after thinking it through.
“That I can do, buddy.”
Knox sits on the floor between his two bodyguards and crosses his legs. He looks up and meets my eyes for a split second before his whole face turns red, and he lowers his gaze once more.
So fuckin’ cute.
“Why are you sitting on the floor, little one?” I ask. “There is a comfy-looking sofa by the window behind you.”
Little one?
I need to slow the fuck down. Even if this boy wasn’t scared out of his mind, he couldn’t deal with the level of control I need.
“Safe,” he answers, reaching out to place a hand each on Blaze and Steel’s boots.
“I need to ask you a favor,” leaning forward, I stare down as he makes himself appear as small as possible. “But I want you to know that I won’t be upset if you decide you don’t want to help. Do you understand?”
He looks up and nods.
“Words, boy,” I demand. “I need to hear the words.”
“Yes, sir. I understand.”
“Good boy,” I praise.
Longing shines brightly in the young man’s eyes, and I’m sure mine is a reflection of his own. But I need to take a step back and remind myself that he’s been through shit, and I’m not the right person for him.
I lean back in my chair and study the boy, Knox, as he waits for me to talk. He keeps looking at the front door and back to the floor.
I have this overwhelming need to pull him into my arms and protect him. But that’s only because he’s a Little, and all Little’s pull at my protective side. It’s part of being a Daddy Dom.
“Hurry the fuck up, boss,” Ben sighs. “Let’s just grab the damn queer and take him back to your house. He can help there. I’m ready to leave.”
Knox gasps, and Blaze and Steel take a few steps forward. I quickly jump in front of them and wait for them to see me past their haze of anger directed towards Ben. It takes several moments before they finally look me in the eyes.
I wait until they see what I’m trying to convey. With a nod, they both move to the side.
Walking over to Knox, I stop a few feet away and kneel. The poor boy is on the verge of a panic attack.
“Breathe slowly,” I command.
“I…can’t,” he pants. “Please, don’t make…me leave.”
His eyes are closed, and he’s lying on the floor with his arms wrapped around his bent knees. He’s in a fetal position, and it takes every bit of self-control that I have not to sit down and rock him until his fear lessens.
“You’re not going anywhere, little one,” I say, sitting crossed leg on the floor as close as I dare get. “You’re having a panic attack, and I need you to try and focus. Can you do that for me?”
“How?” he whispers.
“Think about your body and where you’re at,” I start. “Tell me, what do you feel?”
“The…floor.”
“Good boy,” I praise. “What do you hear?”
“My heartbeat,” he says, his voice slightly raised. “It’s so fast.”
“What else, baby? What else do you hear?”
Baby? I need to get a grip.
“Your voice,” he answers more calmly.
“That’s good, baby boy. You’re doing so well. What do you smell?”
“The smelly cologne that Jax likes to wear.”
“Fuck you, Knox,” the man in question laughs gently.
“Open your eyes,” I order.
It takes several seconds, but his eyes finally open and land right on mine.
“What do you see?” I ask softly.
One blink. Another. Then another.
“Safety,” he whispers, not moving his eyes from mine.
Fuck. Me.
“Yeah, little one,” I say, hoping the absolute fuckin’ chaos inside my head isn’t showing on my face. “I’m a protector. I won’t do or ask you to do anything that will make you feel scared. Understand?”
He nods.
“Words, Knox.”
“I understand.”
“Good boy,” I smile as King’s woman helps him off the floor.
“How about you go and take a moment to regroup,” I suggest. “We’ll wait right here until you’re ready.”
“Oh. Uhm. That’s actually a really good idea,” he says, looking back down at the floor.
If he were mine, I would always demand he look me in the eyes like the fuckin’ King he is.
But he’s not mine, and my fuckin’ brain… and dick… need to remember that.
“Chin up,” I spit out as he walks away.
Yeah, I sound like a dick, but I can’t stand the look of defeat in his eyes.
Jerking his head up, he and the two women head down the hall he came from.
“He’s a submissive,” Blaze tells me quietly. “He can’t help but lower his head.”
“What Dom trained him?” I ask.
And why the fuck does the thought of another Dom training this boy make me want to spit fire?
“None,” Steel answers. “He’s naturally submissive. We’ve been trying for years to have him look us in the eyes for more than a minute.”
Images of Knox submitting to me completely almost pull my mind away from the task at hand.
I shake my head to clear my thoughts, which causes Blaze to laugh.
Fucker.
Turning to the rest of the people in the room, I smile and appear relaxed as I look towards the Obsidian President standing next to Ben.
“Isn’t it sexy as fuck when a man submits to you?” I ask.
“Wouldn’t know,” Ghost shrugs. “Not really a Dom. Also, not into men. Tell me, Taylor, is it sexy as fuck when a man submits to you?”
I can see the small smirk that Ghost tries to hide as Ben’s eyes widen, and he turns deathly white.
Fucker didn’t know I was gay.
Stepping towards Ghost, I smile.
“It really is,” I say before twisting slightly and punching Ben in the fuckin’ face.
I’m not a small man. None of my men are. We’re bodyguards for a reason. Ben doesn’t get a chance to even grunt as he hits the floor unconscious.
“Woah.”
Turning, I see Knox looking at Ben and then me. He leans into his friend and whispers something to her.
“It really was,” she sighs, fanning herself.
“Madeline,” King growls.
“Sorry, big guy,” she giggles. “There’s nothing wrong with looking, right?”
“As much as I appreciate your attention, I actually like breathing,” I tell King’s woman as she continues to ogle me. “Which is something I won’t be doing unless you get your man’s jealousy under control.”
I smile when she starts laughing at King glaring at me. But I’m not an idiot. Friend or not, that man will kill me with a smile on his face when it comes to his woman.
A pang hits my heart at what I don’t have.
“I’m ready,” Knox says, causing that pang to vanish completely.
Nope. Knox is not the one I want. He’s way too fuckin’ pure. I would drive him away within a week. Besides, right now, my full attention needs to be on the task at hand.
Ignoring the anger and fear in the back of my head, I start talking.
“I need help finding someone,” I say.
“Oh,” he says, jumping up. “Be right back.”
“Hayes, why don’t you and Parker take Ben back to my house and lock him in the basement. I’ll deal with him when I finish up here.”
“Boss, Titan hates Ben. He’ll attack him the second he walks through the door without you there to stop it,” Hayes reminds me.
“Do I look like I give a fuck?”
The men grunt as they do as they’re fuckin’ told.
“I mean this as no offense,” Sophie says. “But, if you own your own security company, why do you need Knox’s help finding someone?”
“Sentinel Security specializes in keeping people safe using our bodies,” Sullivan answers. “We don’t have a member that is smart enough to do what we need done.”
“So, all of you are part of the Sentinel Security?” Madeline asks shyly. “Is it part of your club?”
“It’s an extension of their club,” Knox answers as he retakes his spot on the floor. “They have an extension like we do with Ghost’s nightclub and the twins club, Oasis. Which is why this meeting had to happen in the first place. With two motorcycle clubs occupying the same location, it’s important to know if they will clash or meld.”
Knox licks his lips and coughs a couple of times.
Standing, I walk to the kitchen area and grab a bottle of water from where the case sits on the counter. I casually walk over and place the bottle next to Knox on the floor before returning to my seat.
“Drink it,” I order when he looks at me wide-eyed. “You’re dehydrated, sweetheart.”
“Oh,” he mutters, reaching for the bottle and taking a few drinks.
“Good boy,” I praise.
Blaze clears his throat, and I glance up into a knowing grin.
Fucker.
“Do we have club business squared away?” Venom asks. “We need to get back home and relieve the sitter. I don’t like being away from my kids for too long.”
“We’re good,” Ghost answers. “If anything else comes up, I’ll tell you about it tomorrow.”
“Let’s go, baby,” Venom taps his woman’s leg to get her to stand. “Welcome to the neighborhood, brothers.”
Sophie leans down to hug Knox on their way out the door.
“That man’s eyes often seem distant,” Sullivan says. “Almost like he zones out from time to time.”
Knox’s giggles have me smiling.
Something must be happening with their buddy that we don’t know about.
“You have no idea how right you are,” Jax answers.
“Alright, I’m ready now.”
Knox is looking down at a laptop that he must have grabbed from the other room.
“Tell me a name first, please.”
“Her name is Emily Taylor.”
“Your sister?” he asks, glancing up.
After his introduction, I’m not even remotely surprised that he knows that.
“Yes.”
“It says here that Emily moved to Canada six months ago,” he tells me. “But, other than that, the basic information on her is relatively quiet. What else can you tell me?”
“She didn’t move to Canada,” I say with barely contained rage. “Her husband told me that they were moving, but I haven’t heard a single word from my sister since the day before he mentioned it.”
“Her phone records show that she used to call you daily,” he says softly. “Six months ago, she called you, and you talked for twenty-three minutes and twelve seconds. That was the last call made on her cell phone.”
“That was the last time I talked to her,” I admit.
“Em wouldn’t just vanish like that,” Mitchell says. “Her husband has always given off a bad vibe.”
“Yeah, I can see why,” Knox says, typing away at his laptop.
“What do you mean, sweetheart?” I ask.
“He was into some pretty shady shit.”
“Language,” me, Blaze, and Steel all scold.
“Dang,” Knox whispers. “You say one bad word and get in trouble with three Doms. Not cool, guys.”
“What did you find on her husband, brat?” Blaze asks.
“Rude,” Knox says, smiling softly.
“Edward Thompson appears like your normal loving man and husband to the world, but he’s into selling skin.”
“What?” I yell.
“Dude, calm the fuck down.”
Steel’s angry growl grabs my attention, and I notice that Knox has moved from his spot and is hiding behind Steel.
“Shit, I’m sorry, little one,” I say softly, rubbing my hand down my face. “Please, don’t be afraid of me.”
It takes several moments for Knox to relax and retake his seat.
“It’s not your fault,” he mumbles. “I’m just messed up. Anyway, yes, big Eddy is a pimp, and he’s renting his women out under the guise of hired help, nannies, cleaning services, and other stuff like that.”
“How do you know that?” Sullivan asks.
“Don’t ask, man,” Blaze warns. “Sometimes it’s just better not to know how he gets his information.”
“Is your information legit?” Sullivan asks Knox.
The man in question looks up and simply stares at Sullivan.
I notice that he has no issues maintaining eye contact with my brother, but then again, Sullivan is a soft Dom.
I ignore the urge to punch my brother for getting my boys’ attention.
“You’re growling,” Knox says.
Only then do I realize everyone is looking at me as I glare at my brother.
Fuck.
“Sorry,” I clear my throat, hoping that will answer their questions.
The knowing look on Steel’s face says that it didn’t.
Great.
“To answer your question, yes. My information is legit,” Knox says, this time not looking at Sullivan but glancing in my direction. Good boy.
“Also, while the records show that Emily moved to Canada, it doesn’t show the same for Edward. He’s in New York.”
“What the fuck?” I groan. “Where the hell is my sister?”
“It might take me a few days, but I’ll find more answers, Sir.”
“It’s just Taylor, sweetheart,” I say. “I’m not a Sir.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I just assumed since you’re a member of Obsidian Oasis.”
“Knox, you can’t just say things like that around other people,” Steel scolds. “Maybe that was something he didn’t want other people to know.”
Knox’s face pales, and he looks into my eyes.
“It’s alright, little one,” I soothe. “I don’t mind other people knowing my kinks. I am a member, but I’m not simply a Dom. I’m a Daddy Dom.”
“Oh,” he pants. “Okay.”
“What’s the difference?” Madeline asks.
Without removing my eyes from Knox’s, I explain.
“A Daddy Dom tends to take on a nurturing role in BDSM relationships, providing guidance and care with elements of age play or caregiver/little dynamics. A Dom emphasizes authority and control, focusing on power exchange and obedience without necessarily incorporating the nurturing aspects characteristic of a Daddy Dom.”
“Oh,” she responds. “Thank you. That was a very precise description. You must get asked that a lot.”
Knox takes another huge drink of his water, finally pulling his eyes away from mine.
“Uhm,” he clears his throat. “Yeah, okay. Once I get back to my office, I’ll get some facial software running and see if I can’t find your sister’s trail. I’ll also look deeper into Edward. I’m going to find you some answers.”
“I appreciate your help, Knox,” I say, standing and nodding to my men. “If you have any questions for me, just call my cell. Do you have something to write it down on?”
“No need,” he smiles. “I already have the contact information for every member of your club.”
“Of course, you do,” I chuckle. “Ghost, we appreciate you letting Knox help us and allowing us to set up base within your territory. We’re not one for club wars when so many other people need our attention.”
“Agreed,” Ghost says, grabbing my outstretched hand. “We’ll all get together soon. I’m sure Pops will want to have a cookout before too long.”
“Anytime, just let me know.”
“See you tomorrow, Taylor,” Blaze says, clasping my hand.
Knox remains on the floor while I gather my men.
“Bye, little one,” I whisper as I walk by.
His whispered bye melts right into my very heart.