Chapter 14
Gage
I'm early to this meeting at Club Red because I haven't been able to sleep, so I've been keeping busy. My black suit jacket feels too formal, too deliberate. Glancing at my watch, I wonder if I'll just live on the edge forever. I'm so deep in this world now that normal feels optional.
I take a breath. Tonight's meeting is with the founding members, Carter, Sawyer, Hunter, Ridge, Mase, Cade, and Troy. I've had productive conversations with them, but this feels different. More political. More urgent. My chest twists.
I open the door and step inside, but stop dead when I pass a man leaning against the wall. He’s tall, polished, and wearing a black and silver suit. It's Dominic Keller, Dom Keller to most. He's known around the club for going through subs like most people do food.
Dom spots me, grins, and slides off the wall.
He tilts his head, those gray eyes sharpening.
"Gage. Interesting night to see you here.
" He brushes a hand through his dark hair, voice casual but attention focused.
"Word is Skye's looking for a new play partner.
When she's ready, you should throw my name in the ring. "
My stomach lurches. My jaw tightens. It's not just the suggestion. It's the gall. My Skye. Not some prize to be tossed around while I'm holding the leash. I swallow.
"Don't," I say low, stepping closer. "That's inappropriate."
He chuckles. "Touchy. When you let her off the leash, man. What happens next isn't your call."
"She's not a prize. And this isn't a game."
Dom shrugs. "We all know she's fire. Don't act surprised someone else noticed."
Moving into his space, my voice drops. "You come near her without her say-so, we'll have more than words. That clear?"
He grins but steps back. "Crystal."
Pushing past him, my jaw tight, I make myself calm down. I step into the private room where a solid table and cushy chairs await. Taking my seat between Ridge and Troy, I force my pulse to steady.
Sawyer eyes me. "Gage. You alright?"
I hesitate, then blow out a breath. "Ran into Dom Keller on the way in. He made a comment about Skye and implied she's open to new partners. It was out of line. Essentially, he wanted me to throw her to him when I was done with her. He wasn't nice about it either."
Hunter frowns. "Dom Keller? He's always been a bit much."
"But he knows that isn't how we do things either," Carter says.
Ridge shakes his head. "He doesn't know when to keep things professional."
"I'll talk to him and review the camera. That sounds like it's a strike on his card and a thirty-day ban," Hunter adds.
The thought of him not being around for the next thirty days calms me slightly.
"Carter, can you..." I can’t bring myself to say the words, to ask him to tell her and give her a heads-up when I want to be the one to do it. I want to be the one protecting her.
"I'll tell her," he says, reading my mind.
Sawyer leans forward. "You good?"
I straighten. "I'm good. Just wanted to be transparent. It's got me on edge, but I'm focused."
Hunter clears his throat. "Let's start with protocol. We've got media leaks again."
A gust of concern hits the room. Zander, our head of security, is flanking the entrance tonight. He stands silent by the door, eyes sharp. I know he has Paul, the security guy, on the camera. That guy is a master at catching things most others miss.
Ridge leans forward. "Photos were leaked of Mase's guy, Lucien, and a couple of other names. Press ran it this morning."
Troy, playing diplomat as always, rubs his beard. "Security tells me it was photos from a parked car doing surveillance. The building owner didn't flag it, and didn't know what it was."
Hunter's voice is tight. "We can't run blind. With Mase linked to this place, we have to lock down security."
Carter's already there. "I've talked to the building owners around the club.
I've put in offers to buy what parcels I can.
The rest are cooperating so I can build a wall along the back and sides, blocking view from down the street.
" He taps his phone. "Security cameras are going up on all of them.
Got the final approval this morning. Give me a week to wrap it. "
Sawyer raises an eyebrow. "City usually fights harder than that unless someone with clout pushes. Nice work."
"This wasn't working with the city. It was all with the private owners of the buildings.
They want their buildings to be safe, and since I was willing to foot the bill for the cameras, they were more than happy to work with me so long as they had access to the ones on their buildings. Fair trade." Carter shrugs.
Troy leans forward. "I have city ties. We'll push to eliminate street parking where there's line-of-sight into the club. That way, it should cut access to surveillance shots."
Hunter folds his hands. "What about when our lot is full during events?"
Ridge meets Hunter's gaze. "On event nights, we do a club driving service. Cars wait out of view, and we taxi folks in and out. Less street presence, safer patrons."
I nod. "I can manage it. I'll set it up."
Hunter smiles, relief in his eyes. "Okay. That helps."
Sawyer folds his arms. "So that's walls, cameras, parking ban, driving service. That covers infrastructure. What about PR? We need a narrative. Mase isn't the only demon out there."
I lean back. "We spin it. Position Club Red as a safety-first venue. Not only are we tightening security, but we're protecting members. We're showing we don't tolerate threats."
Troy hums. "That plays well, especially after Dustin."
I stiffen and watch Carter, who just nods. Dustin is Gemma's ex-fiancé, who went crazy when he learned she was going to the Club. Carter stepped in to protect her, and I have a feeling Mase was involved in that too.
Hunter nods. "That story's out there. We handle it transparently. Admit the incident and show our actions. It hurts initially but builds trust."
Ridge adds, "If this gets worse, we'll need talking points. A unified message. Maybe even media training for our key people."
Troy agrees. "We should designate a spokesperson. Someone who can handle the press if it comes to that. Carter would be best, but I know he wants nothing to do with the public, so next up would be Hunter or Ridge."
Hunter sighs. "Fine. But if I'm doing it, I want control over what's said. We can't afford mixed messages."
Carter leans in. "We'll back you. But we also need a legal shield. Troy, that's your lane."
Troy nods. "Already reaching out to my city contacts. We'll frame this as a private enterprise protecting its community. That message will resonate. Especially if we can show real safety records."
Sawyer claps his hands together. "Alright. We've got infrastructure, strategy, PR, and legal on track. Let's keep everything tight. No loose lips."
The air relaxes a little.
As we all start to leave, Carter gestures for me to follow him into his office. Once the door is shut behind us, he turns to face me.
"Have you talked to Skye?"
I nod slowly. "Yeah. We met here. Just talked. No scene. It was hard. We stood on opposite sides of the room like strangers, and I wanted to touch her so badly, but I didn't."
"What did she say?" Carter asks.
"She cried. Said she couldn't even bring herself to kiss me. I told her I'd find a way to fix this, but I don't even know how."
Carter gives a long sigh and rubs his chin. "Well, I might have an idea."
Then he takes the remaining time outlining his plans for me.
After my talk with Carter, I feel a bit better. We still have a long way to go, but I need a tiny thread of hope to hold on to.
Needing to talk to someone, I pull out my phone and dial Storm. We served together and remained close.
He recently got married to River, but it was a long road for him and his wife.
She was married to his best friend. If anything happened to his friend, he had asked Storm to take care of River.
Then he was killed in action. River was pregnant with their first child and had no family, so Storm moved her to his home in Montana, where he fell for her.
He had to fight his feelings for a while, thought falling for his best friend's girl was wrong.
So, he's the first one I think of calling.
He answers on the third ring. "Gage."
"Storm. I need your advice. It's about a sub, Skye."
He's quiet for a beat. "Sounds like she is more than just a sub."
"I want more, but that can't happen now," I say.
"Why?”
"School started, and on day one, there she was in my class. When we met at Club Red, we didn’t talk about our lives outside the club, and I didn't know. Now it's complicated. I'm not seeing her anymore because of the conflict, but I still want her. Badly."
Storm exhales slowly. "That's messy. You sure it's worth the fallout?"
"I think it is. I've never felt this way before, not since..." I trail off, not needing to finish.
Storm picks up the thread. "You don't want to repeat old mistakes. But sometimes, Gage, ethics aren't about what you feel. They're about what you do next."
"Believe me, I know. I'm not trying to justify it. I just... I needed to tell someone who'd understand. Even though I want to do the right thing, the right thing hurts like hell."
Storm's voice is calm. "Then do what you can live with. Keep it clean. Keep her safe. And if you fight for her, make sure it's with both eyes open. No secrets. No shame."
"I will."
"Good. You know where to find me if you need more than advice."
"Thanks, Storm."
"Anytime."
He hangs up.
On the way home, all I can think about is Skye. About the way she looked the last time I saw her. About Dom Keller's smug face. And I make a promise to myself.
I'm going to fix this.
Even if it's messy.
Because some things are worth fighting for.