Chapter Two #2
“I wish I didn’t care about the money, but we had all hands on deck on the hunt for this guy. He’s bad fucking news. I’ve got to cover payroll. And all that hard work was for nothing, because…something happened in a storage closet?” His lips quivered, like he wanted to grin, but boss mode won out.
“Not what you think.” I had a reputation in Red Heaven, which was The Stepchild’s version of the champagne room, where shifters could be wild with anyone who wanted to play.
“She had no idea this guy was stalking her. And she freaked out when I suggested she have someone look out for her until we knew she was off this creep’s radar.
If this guy is looking to up his body count, she’s in real danger, Barrett. ”
“Of course she is. So why did she get so upset when you suggested more security?”
“Because Synamon Honey is obviously a stage name, and she was real insistent that no one ever find out who she really is.”
Barrett shook his head. “I love to know why that’s such a closely-guarded secret, but unfortunately, she made it none of our business.
So let’s talk about what we can control.
Last night was the first time that I made you the lead guard on a case, and I hate that it ended this way.
But it sounds like you did exactly what any of us would have. ”
“So that’s it? We just forget about Synamon Honey?” I asked, like that was even possible. Ever since she stormed out of that storage closet, I hadn’t been able to think about anything else.
Had I made an Only Bears user account at four in the morning? And did I stay up until the sun rose watching her videos, hoping somehow it would change things? Or just savoring every virtual second with Synamon Honey?
Guilty as charged.
“She fired us. There’s nothing else we can do. Of course, because of this guy’s MO, I’ll have Bellamy see if he can find evidence of him stalking any other Only Bears performers. If he digs up anything, we’ll turn it over to the authorities.”
“But we don’t know who she really is,” I reminded him. “How will they get in touch with her?”
“Through Only Bears, I suppose.” Barrett raised a brow. “Is there anything else you want to tell me about last night?”
He knows, my bear gloated. Maybe it’s time that you admit it to yourself.
“I was completely professional when we were in that closet,” I said. It took everything I had not to pace the office like the beast I was. The last thing I wanted to do was be explaining myself to Barrett when a killer could have his sights set on my…
Almost did it, my bear said.
She wouldn’t even tell me her real name, I reminded him.
“Of course you were. I wouldn’t expect anything less or I would have never put you on the job.
” Barrett rose from his chair. “Listen, Brad, I know this one feels like a kick in the gut. We’re all feeling it.
Everyone on the team wants to make sure Synamon’s safe.
But without a contract in hand, there’s very little we can do. It sucks, but that’s the business.”
“We need to respect her boundaries.” I didn’t miss the irony that those were the exact words I’d said to her about her fans. “I get it. I just really wish we caught the guy.”
Caught him? I would’ve done much worse than that, my bear growled.
“Guys like that want to get caught. It’s only a matter of time.
And hopefully, before anyone gets hurt. Things are different now.
The game’s changed while he was in jail.
It’s not so easy to cover his tracks anymore.
” Barrett clapped his hand on my shoulder.
“Another case will come in soon. You’re still next one up. ”
I nodded and left his office. As much as his offer felt like a pity fuck, I was glad to keep my job. Once I’d gotten the offer to join Sawtooth Security, I’d sold my adventure-based survivalist company. I had nothing to go back to.
You know you could find her, my bear said as I settled at my own desk.
There weren’t any big cases in progress now that I had been kicked off the Synamon Honey file, but there was plenty of small stuff to keep us all busy. Routine surveillance, corporate security details, and so much paperwork.
I’d love to say I’d put my nose down and put a dent in that pile, but instead I opened my laptop and entered my password into the Only Bears site.
The site wanted me to confirm that I was a human or a shifter before it completed my login.
Right now, I wished I could’ve chosen that I was a fuck up, because I was pissed at myself for the way I handled things.
I should’ve never let Synamon run away from me like that.
I would’ve made a bigger fool of myself chasing after her like one of her fans.
I should’ve gotten the point across how dangerous this guy was.
She had enough random dudes professing their love every chance they got. If I had said something, it would’ve meant nothing.
You need to show a woman like that what it means to be claimed, my bear said, suddenly an expert on these things.
Synamon appeared on my screen, and I sucked in a breath, absorbing the jolt of electricity that coursed through my body as soon as I saw her.
Her signature makeup stayed the same, but today she wore a red curly wig with a big bow on top, and an off the shoulder T-shirt that teased a lacy bra underneath.
“If you’re just joining us, we’re playing strip 80’s trivia.
Here are the rules. I ask the questions.
Anything 80’s is fair game. You have thirty seconds to answer.
First person with the right answer gets the honor of hearing me say their screen name while I remove a piece of clothing.
And if none of you guess correctly? I put my clothes back on.
” She lifted a pile of folded clothing. “I can confirm this pile contains turtlenecks, argyle, even an ugly Christmas sweater or two. I know we have a smart crew here today. Make good choices, gentlemen.”
Butterflies danced in my belly as she picked up an oversized index card.
“First question. The year is 1985. Which football team released a rap video celebrating their Super Bowl run?”
She lowered the card and smiled at the screen. I could only imagine that she was watching the answers pour in. I was tempted to answer. My screen name, Security Bear, didn’t keep my identity a secret. Even if I was no longer on the job, I wanted her to know she was safe.
But now it felt a little creepy.
“Yes, Paint Man! It’s the Chicago Bears and the Super Bowl Shuffle!” She tapped her finger against her silver chin. “What should I take off first?”
The comment section went wild, but my gaze was glued to the gorgeous woman on the screen as she reached up and took the bow out of her hair.
The comments slowed down, and the fans expressed frustration with her choice.
“Patience! You’ll be rewarded handsomely. Now, next question. What fast food brand asked, “Where’s the Beef?” She waggled her eyebrows. “Something tells me it’s right in this chat.”
The answers came in fast and furious. “Yes, it was Wendy’s.
Builder Dude was the first one with the right answer.
Okay, since I teased you, I need to go big this time.
” She pulled her shirt over her head, and my bear rumbled in appreciation as she let it dangle from her red fingernail.
Her lacy bra with cups that pushed her breasts forward was on full display.
The shirt dropped off her finger. “Enough with the easy stuff. You can handle a little challenge, right? Next question. Which iconic horror movie featured a demonic puzzle box and was banned in the UK?”
I loved this question. I was a horror aficionado and binged every classic movie I could get my hands on. When I was a kid, other bears were sneaking girlie magazines, and I was hiding my coveted copies of Fangoria.
A buzzer rang. “Time’s up.” She reached off screen and held up a zip-up hoodie. “If you’re wondering, the answer was…yes, Hellraiser. Good work, Security Bear. But you didn’t get your answer in before time expired, so you’ll have to work to get this hoodie off me.”
Disappointment flickered through me that she didn’t immediately associate my screen name with me. But I wasn’t being fair. She was in the middle of a live with her biggest fans, and in character.
Or—I rumbled at the thought—she was still refusing to believe how much danger she was in. I hated that this was probably the correct answer, and I wouldn’t be rewarded with a delicious reveal of more skin.
“Next question—I expect this one to be answered quickly, because I know we have some hair metal fans in the chat. What was the name of the bombshell model who appeared in many Whitesnake videos?”
She laughed. “I knew we might break some speed records with that one, but Milk Toast was the first one in. Drop a fire emoji in the chat if you want to see me reenact one of those videos.”
I dropped a whole line of fire emojis as she slowly teased pulling the sweatshirt off her shoulder and down her arm.
My bear moaned in satisfaction.
She startled, and a dark shadow moved behind her. What the hell was that?
I moved the laptop closer to me, looking for what could’ve caused it. I didn’t know much about filming and videos, but there was no denying that Synamon Honey was rattled.
But she was also a professional, and the corners of her lips wobbled back into a smile. On with the show.
“Okay. Next question.” She picked up another card, but her gaze lifted, and that smile had turned to astonishment. “What the hell are you doing? Hey! No!”
The screen shook. I couldn’t fucking believe what I was seeing. Whoever was there wasn’t invited. I needed to put a stop to this.
But I had no idea where she lived, where she filmed, or her real name.
She rose from the chair and lunged forward. “No no no!” She kept repeating the word but it wasn’t making anything better.
A roar rattled my office as her camera fell to the floor and then went black.