23. Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Three
A few days after Meg had called, she set up the meeting at Whipped—not just with Rachel but with them and a few others. She’d been cryptic as shit about it, and Sloan’s nerves simmered on an all-time high.
He hadn’t bothered going home but popped out and worked until the coffee shop upstairs closed. Meg had cleared the client schedule tonight to address the situation, and he loved her even more for doing that. She’d gone to bat for other pros in the past, but it was clear she worked extra hard on handling this situation for a reason. Clearly, because his boss had flat out told him.
“I want you to feel safe, Sloan. Whatever we need to do to make that happen, we will.”
His eyes grew a little glossy, blurring the screen in front of him. He’d gotten so lucky when he’d landed here after the worst relationship of his life. Before then, he’d worked a normal accounting job for a firm, but when Rachel, who he’d known from the kink scene, asked to hire him for tax help, he’d jumped on board. And word had spread, leading to his current job at Whipped.
Except he’d still held back, even with them. It had taken meeting Ezra and Kai, his past wounds getting ripped wide open, to fully share. He kicked himself for not talking to his friends earlier, but the shame still corroded him like battery acid.
“You ready, babes?” Fin walked in, snapping him out of his contemplation. “The Council of Doms is convening, this time with more folks involved. Including Meg’s hottie ex-boyfriend, James.”
“Oh? You have my attention,” Sloan teased.
Fin flicked him on the shoulder. “Like you don’t have enough attention with your boys salivating all over you.”
“Don’t be jealous,” he shot back, amusement dancing through him.
“Maybe a little,” Fin said, which was as much as he would get from them. The admission struck him square in the chest. “Seeing that folks can lock something down and our crew doesn’t have to break up in the process, that’s really damn special.”
His chest squeezed tight. He knew what they meant. Not like he had locked down anything with Ezra and Kai, but it felt like they barreled toward that destination. All he wanted to do was grip tight and sail with this miracle he’d found in them.
Fin slapped him on the back. “Not like that’s anything I’m searching out. So I’ll leave it to the rest of you.” Their abrupt change was expected, but trying to push Fin never got anyone anywhere. He’d played with them long enough to know. But if the time ever came when they got out of their own way, he’d be the first one to give a nudge.
“All right, let’s go ogle Meg’s hot ex.” Sloan pushed up from his seat. The air in the coffee shop thrummed as if the energy of the day hadn’t quite dissipated yet. The same could be said of the dungeon downstairs, where the walls seemed to contain the imprint of the memories the room had collected. And god, they’d collected the filthiest and coziest ones, all in the same breath.
The steps creaked as they traveled down them, voices drifting their way. Kai and Ezra were en route and would be there any second, which bolstered him more than anything. He wasn’t used to having support like this. And coming home to Ezra and Kai in his house…fuck, it had messed him up in the best way.
He’d smothered the part of him that longed for companionship in his home, for anchor partners, until it could no longer breathe. Except now he was inhaling sweet, blessed air, and he didn’t want to stop.
Parker, Micah, and Eva were all crammed onto the smaller couch, Pixie kneeling between Eva’s legs. Noles and Tristan had claimed the other couch while Meg stood talking with the hottie in question. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dominance brimmed from him, which always drew Sloan in like a moth to the flame. His salmon tee highlighted his muscles, and his broad smile—all white teeth—was the contagious sort.
“So I’ve got to know,” Fin said behind him. “Who dommed who in your relationship?”
“Ignore them,” Meg said. “They’re always desperate for attention.”
Fin stuck their tongue out at Meg, who pinched it. “Ow, fuck off.”
Meg arched a brow. “Next time I’ll bite. ”
“Meg was new to the scene back when we dated,” James said, his voice smooth and low. “We split when it grew clear there was one Dom too many in our relationship.”
Meg grinned. “Though we didn’t do a poor job at cotopping.”
“Unf, sign me up,” Nolan said. James’s glance slid his way and lingered, his easy grin growing wicked.
Meg looked at Sloan. “Surprised you’re not volunteering.”
He was surprised too. Any other time and he’d be thirsting over James, but knowing Ezra and Kai were on their way scratched that itch better than anything. And with the discussion revolving around his ex tonight, he wanted to lean into comfort more than anything. All too fast, those two had become a safe place for him.
“Nolan’s clearly thirstier,” Sloan teased, throwing his bestie under the bus as he dropped into the seat beside him. Not like Nolan would mind. His gaze hadn’t left James for a second, and the hunger burning there was obvious.
“Who are we waiting for?” Tristan asked.
“Ezra, Kai, and Rachel,” Meg said.
“If we need to pass the time, I’ve got a great story,” Fin said. “It’s about a watermelon—”
“No one wants to hear the watermelon story, Fin,” Parker called from across the room.
“But James hasn’t heard it,” Micah said.
Parker pinched him in the side. “Okay, brat. Don’t fuel the other one.”
“Sorry we’re late,” Ezra’s voice came from the stairwell. “Looks like we found someone else as well.”
Rachel stepped into the room first, followed by Kai and Ezra. His gaze locked onto the slight discolorations of foundation at Rachel’s wrists, her neck. Ice swept through him. All too fast he vaulted back to the position where he’d been the punching bag. She wouldn’t have gotten those in her sessions, since she was a pro-Domme, so the culprits were whatever assholes Rick had paired up with hounding her—most likely for cash.
She’d always been a poised woman, exuding a classiness that worked for her. Seeing the hesitance in her stance now twisted him up inside. It was like looking in a mirror from three years ago. Sloan sucked in a shaky breath, trying to stay composed, even though his body screamed run, run, run.
“Rach, take a seat.” Meg directed her to one of the cushioned benches she’d pulled out along the sofas.
Kai slid against him, and Ezra perched on the arm of the couch.
Their proximity soothed his nerves, creating an awareness that he was in the present, not dragged back to the past. No matter what happened with Rick, Sloan wouldn’t ever be entangled in that nebulous space again, where most days he’d blamed himself for getting involved in the first place. The feeling that he’d deserved everything Rick had done to him had bubbled up time and again, and it hadn’t been until he’d started healing that he’d begun to see the situation differently.
Truth be told, witnessing how Ezra had survived the same had illuminated his past.
Meg remained standing, even while everyone else found their seats, but that was pretty on point. “So, I’m going to make you an offer—”
“You can’t refuse?” Fin called out. Meg shot them a glare.
“Going to clients directly is compromised,” Meg said. “So if you’re operating from a secure place like this one, you’ll be a lot safer.”
“Are you offering me a job?” Rachel asked, a wan grin on her lips. An air of fragility surrounded her, like she was a frayed thread ready to snap. Sloan’s palms sweated, but the way Kai nudged against him on purpose and Ezra looming over them both kept him in his seat. These men provided a comfort he latched onto, one he sorely needed.
“I’m offering you a place to do your job, sure. I’m not a charity, so there’s a room rental fee, but it’ll be loads safer than going to client homes.” Meg might put on the tough act, but she’d come up with this solution out of kindness.
“Considering I’ve got clients who attend events here, I’m sure most would be fine with the shift,” Rachel said. Even though she kept her chin lifted, her shoulders dropped an inch. Sloan’s chest twisted tight. He understood putting on the brave face far too well. Of how he’d given an empty smile, even when the bruises on his wrists and stomach matched the pain inside that wouldn’t abate.
“The bigger issue is what to do about my brother,” Ezra said. His tone was as serious as a grave, and a hushed silence followed. “I’m not sure about the guys he rolls with now, but Rick isn’t the sort to give up easily once he has his hooks in someone.”
Meg shrugged. “If he tries to show up here, we’ll call the cops.”
Sloan shook his head.
No, no, no.
Rick showing up here was almost worse than him showing up at his home. At home, he still jumped at the creaks at night, at any errant sounds. The only reason he’d managed to escape Rick was that he’d been planning for a while, and Rick’s attention strayed to a new conquest. He didn’t know what happened to the woman Rick had started seeing, and he’d been too much of a coward to find out.
Before he could say anything, Ezra spoke again. “That’s not enough. It might scare off some of the other guys he’s causing trouble with, but if my brother thinks he has a foothold, he’s relentless. And you’re trying to protect two of the people he’s hurt.”
“Three,” Meg said, her gaze fixed on him .
Ezra swallowed hard, lapsing into silence.
Pride burned fierce in Sloan’s chest at Meg’s response. He was well aware Ezra wasn’t used to having anyone step to bat for him, whether it was family or friends. However, Sloan had latched onto him and Kai, and he wouldn’t let go of either man.
“That’s where I come in,” James said. “Meg called because I’ve got a unique set of abilities that might help in this situation.”
She grinned. “He’s a hacker. If anyone can find something to get Rick and those other fuckers locked away, it’s this guy.”
“How come he hasn’t been around before?” Nolan asked, patrolling up and down horny street.
“I’m working in Sacramento,” James said. “A few days ago, Meg called me in for a favor, one I’m looking forward to getting my repayment on.”
Meg’s grin widened, and her gaze traveled to Tristan, who squirmed in his spot. Ngh. Lucky bastard.
“How do you plan on bringing the heat to him without drawing issues from the cops?” Eva asked. “I’m sure your business doesn’t want to be scrutinized too much.” The woman was a font of practicality, which was needed right now.
“I’m going to look into creative solutions,” James said. The calm emanating from the man was unparalleled, like he’d been plucked straight out of a monastery. “Trust me, I’ve got Meg’s best interests at heart.”
“What about the open house coming up?” Parker asked, his voice sharp.
Oh shit.
Sloan’s stomach dropped. He’d been looking forward to the quarterly open house that Whipped hosted, a chance for the public to come and check out the dungeon. The displays were on the lighter side of the scale, and the equipment was mostly out for observation, not use. They had refreshments and took sign-ups for their classes. The event was always a huge financial success and brought in new blood.
Except having an open-to-the-public event with a target painted on their back was a whole different issue.
“We’ll stay on high alert,” Meg said. “Any sign of Rick, and we’ll call the cops.”
Ice prickled across Sloan’s skin. The idea of seeing Rick again after this had his throat closing. Kai’s hand settled on his thigh, and he focused on the touch, the contact with all his might. Even though he’d be surrounded by friends and Meg had precautions in place, the mere sight of the man had the power to make him freeze. To vault him back to the past as if he’d never escaped.
If he backed down, he’d spend the rest of his life running.
And he’d finally found someone—two someones—he wanted to stop running for.
Kai stared at him, his gaze concerned, and he placed a hand over his and squeezed. Ezra’s focus was on Meg, storm clouds brewing in his eyes. A tension percolated around him, as if he was ready to boil over, but Sloan wasn’t sure what was the cause. Clearly, it revolved around his brother, but he hadn’t figured beyond that.
“If he does show, can we fuck him up?” Fin said, an edge to their voice.
“You’ll have to fight me out of the way,” Nolan said.
Sloan swallowed hard, his eyes stinging. Once he’d opened up about Rick, he’d been able to speak of his past more, even though it still tore at some barely healed wounds. Still, maybe he’d needed to unravel before he could start to weave himself together again.
“We’ll make sure Rick is dealt with,” Meg said, her voice firm. In Domme mode, she always came off a little terrifying, but people didn’t understand how she truly was—in the best damn way. Having Meg at your back was like having an attack bogeyman. Everyone had heard of her, and she was capable of striking fear into any enemy. Her dark eyes flashed, like she prepared to go to war, and the sight calmed Sloan when he should be at his worst.
Even a month ago, he would’ve found an excuse to escape for a while. To pretend nothing was wrong, that he was okay, okay, okay.
He’d gotten so good at it that he’d almost believed it himself.
But ever since he’d met Ezra and Kai, pieces of his mask chipped off, and he didn’t want to put it back on.
“I might not be able to stop every asshole on the streets, but I sure as fuck will protect my people,” Meg growled.
“Excuse me.” Ezra pushed up from his seat and bolted for the steps, too fast to catch a glimpse at his expression.
“Go after him,” Noles said. “We’ve got this.”
Sloan nodded, grabbed Kai’s hand, and together they raced after Ezra.