Chapter 15
You’re in for a treat…
Dallas
“Ithought you said this guy wasn’t a threat?
” Enzo, my head of security asked. He stood next to me as we addressed the staff.
We had to implement new safety precautions since the prostitute from the other night was able to just walk right into my office.
I thought it best to tighten up our security to ensure mine and my members’ safety.
As much as I’d like to condone Teddy’s attempts at messing with me, I know better than to think that was the last time he would come after me or my club.
“He’s not a threat, but we are family here, and we protect each other.
We need to put a few new guards out, and maybe a couple more cameras, just to be sure we got everything covered.
I’d hate for anything to happen to any of you, simply because security wasn’t tight enough.
” I said, nodding toward the room full of my most trusted staff.
They’ve been with me since the beginning and I’ll be damned if they get caught in the crossfire of whatever vendetta that asshole has against me.
I shook my head at the thought of a breach in privacy, what that would do to the club’s reputation. Enzo and I discussed digital security and bringing in a team to lock and seal our systems up tight. You can never be too careful.
“Sir, I would like my ladies to have a male escort, if that’s….” Miss Rice started but she was interrupted.
“Hell no, not me anyway, I don’t need a man to protect me,” Miss Reed interrupted. I smirked at her outburst because it wasn’t anything that I wouldn’t expect out of her. She could handle her own, no doubt, hell she could probably pull more females than any one of these big ass brutes on my staff.
I threw my arm up, hushing a potential argument. “Going forward, until further notice, all female staff should be accompanied by a male guard or staff member.”
I glanced over to see a pair of gorgeous blue eyes burning a hole into the side of my head with an icy cold glare.
“Miss Reed, this will only be temporary, but my decision is final. Especially tonight with the event happening.” I gave her a pointed look, singling her out amongst the others.
She has always been my argumentative good girl.
She folded her arms across her chest and stuck her tongue out at me. Typical bratty behavior. She was the only one that neither I nor Miss Rice could control. That’s the sole reason she runs things in the dungeon, rather than the front of the club. I wouldn’t want her scaring off the newcomers,
no matter how fun it was to watch.
Her passion for dark romance adds to her ability to keep things spicy in there. I chuckled at her reaction to my authoritative declaration, her attitude entertaining as always.
“That’s it for now.” I waved my hand in the air, dismissing everyone, as my team left single-file out of the security room we squeezed into.
I’ve gotta dedicate another room to our meetings. These men are too damn big to be crowded into such a confined space.
“Enzo, stay with me, I wanna go over camera placements.”
“Yes, sir.” He pulled a chair up for me to sit in before he took a seat at the desk in front of the wall covered in live view camera monitors that stretched for most of the club.
We spent the next hour combing through each camera, documenting any blind spots.
Enzo had the place covered well, but no matter how prepared you are, a cockroach is a cockroach and they will find their way in, if they want to.
If he does get in, he isn’t going to leave in one piece.
I may turn my head once, maybe even twice, but you mess with my livelihood and my family, eventually you’re gonna poke the bear.
“Is there another view of the front door, looks to be a small gap in between these two cameras,” I pointed at the screen, looking at the monitor as the front door swung open and an angel walked in.
Delaney followed behind Lacy. I noticed her right away when she opened up her coat to hand it to the staff.
Coats are not to be worn inside the club.
Members are aware of this rule and until now, I was fully onboard with that rule…
until I was watching every man’s eyes ogle over Delaney’s stunning beauty as she uncovered her curvy body, barely covered by something skimpy and hot pink.
I stood, the chair scooting loudly across the floor before slamming into the wall behind it. I snatched my blazer, and stormed toward the door. “You can finish up on your own, I’m sure. I have a matter to address.” I snapped over my shoulder just before the door slammed shut behind me.
I hurried toward the front, looking for any sign of Delaney or Lacy but they were nowhere to be found. I called Bryce my bartender over: “Lacy Goodwin, has she ordered her usual yet?”
Bryce shook his head, “No, sir, haven’t seen her tonight,” he called over the buzzing sound of patrons requests for drinks.
I watched as a crowd of members walked toward The Showroom. You can’t get in The Showroom without a prepaid ticket. Tickets are assigned only to members and weeks in advance, so it’s not likely Lacy and Delaney went through there.
I pulled my cell from my pocket, ringing Miss Rice at the front desk. Seconds later, her delicate Welsh accent was singing in my ears. “Yes, sir?”
“Delaney Bennett, is she here tonight?”
“Umm let me just check, yes… she is here. She was assigned a ticket for tonight’s members only event in the Showroom. Looks like the ticket was purchased by Lacy Goodwin, Miss Delaney is her plus one tonight.
Shit!
I ended the call racing for the other side of the club. There is no fucking way I’m letting Delaney participate in tonight’s event.
Over my dead body!
I pushed myself through the crowd of members trying to get in, each member eager to clear the way once they realized who I was but I didn’t have time to wait. I stopped at the doorway, waving my hand to the guards to open it.
“Evening, sir,” one guard started to greet me but with no time for pleasantries I stormed past him. My need for her felt like something I hadn’t felt – I felt possessive over her, like I wanted her to be mine and only mine.
I was pissed off and on a mission. A mission to go get my girl before it was too late.
How did I not know she was registered for tonight’s event? How the hell did I miss her name on the roster? I frantically went over the names once again in my head. There’s no way I would have missed seeing it there.
I finally made it to the end of the hall just about to open the door. I stopped short when I heard Lacy giggle.
I looked over to see her and Delaney sitting at a booth in the corner of the room, hidden, and trying to keep herself out of sight of the obvious male gazes that were now fixed on her. These men were shamelessly tripping over themselves to get a good look at her in that outfit.
Why the fuck did she wear something so skimpy?
What I didn’t understand was the rage I was feeling and the pure jealousy that was threatening to control my next move.
I walked over and sat down in the booth next to her, blocking the view of everyone else in the room.
She gasped, and her face flushed a deep crimson red.
I leaned into her close enough to graze her cheek with my lips.
The heat that was radiating from her body was evidence enough that I had an effect on her.
“What are you doing in here, sweetheart?” I whispered.
“I’m not sure, Lacy invited me, but she didn’t tell me what exactly happens here?
” She looked around noticing the attention she was still getting, only something tells me I had everything to do with the attention this time.
I didn’t usually fraternize with my members, at least not down on the ground floor, my private quarters, now that’s a different story.
“Hmm, well you’re in for a treat.” I cooed, realizing Delaney was not participating in the auction tonight. Or ever, if I could help it.
The sound of the microphone being powered on filled the room and everyone’s attention was on the stage.
“Alright, fellow crawl patrons welcome to the most anticipated night of the month: Auction night! Now I know you are familiar with the rules but let’s briefly go over them for shits and giggles…”
“Auction?” Delaney asked under her breath, to no one in particular.