It'll Be An Adventure (Masters of the Shadowlands #15)(59)
Author: Cherise Sinclair
She swallowed hard. It was an easy explanation. They couldn’t possibly know how her evening had ended, wouldn’t know about Aaron. I can do this. “Gianna was an acquaintance in my apartment complex. She’d just finished the Shadowlands’ new member orientation when her company relocated her to New York. She gave me her membership card so I could see what a BDSM club was like.”
“Ha.” Ghost chuckled. “And you simply gave her name and walked right in.”
Master Z gave the manager a wry smile. “You were right. Adding a photo to the security guard’s files was long past due.”
No one else spoke, and a chill went up Murphy’s spine at the way everyone was looking at her. The Shadowkittens were obviously worried, but the Masters…she wasn’t sure if their tight expressions held concern or anger.
Saxon frowned, brows pulling together. “I’m missing something.” He looked down at her. “How many times did you sneak in as Gianna?”
Ice crawled up her spine, and the air seemed to turn cold. “Just once.” Her voice cracked.
Suddenly, Master Z moved forward. He took her hand, and his fingers felt almost scalding against her chilled skin. “Saxon, come with us, please.” He led her out of the lanai, walking silently, his grip firm. Unescapable.
To her relief, Saxon took her other hand as they walked down the path illumined by tiny solar lights.
Like the Capture Gardens, this area had been divided into what people called garden rooms. The one they entered was serene with a light scent of jasmine. In the center was a pond filled with water lilies. Underwater lights shimmered off multi-colored, gleaming koi.
Somehow the beauty of the night garden didn’t help her nerves at all.
Master Z glanced at Saxon and nodded at a bamboo loveseat.
“Come here, sweetling.” Wrapping a muscled arm around her, Saxon pulled her down to sit next to him. His body was wonderfully warm.
How could she be so cold on a Florida night?
Shivering slightly, she tried to sit up straight. To look calm.
Master Z pulled a chair closer before taking a seat. His black silky shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. Head bowed, for a long moment, he simply studied his hands.
Finally, he looked at her. “Murphy.”
This was the owner of the Shadowlands. Was he going to yell at her? That was okay; she could deal with that. So why was her heart pounding? “I’m sorry I snuck into your club.”
“Little one, that isn’t a worry.” He smiled at her. Although his velvety voice was much like her father’s, she heard only sincerity in Master Z’s calm, measured words. “Three years ago, human traffickers were preying on BDSM communities around the country. One of the criminals was in the Shadowlands as a spotter. His name was Aaron.”
When she flinched, Saxon took her hand in his big one. His thumb rubbed over the back.
“Before being killed in prison, Aaron confessed to multiple murders…and sexual assaults as well.” Z’s voice was soft. “Including one in the Shadowlands against Gianna.”
Staring down at her lap, she tried to control her breathing. “Yes,” she whispered in answer to his unspoken question. “It was me.”
Saxon’s arm tightened around her.
“I looked for you, Murphy,” Master Z said quietly. “When found, Gianna told the police she’d lost her membership card.”
No surprise there. Gianna wouldn’t want to get herself or Murphy in trouble.
Master Z’s face tightened. “The Shadowlands is supposed to be a safe place. The club let you down; I let you down.”
Oh, that feeling of guilt, she knew it well. Like any time her little brothers had gotten hurt, even if she’d done everything she could to prevent it. Considering the background checks and all that, the club hadn’t been careless.
“No, you didn’t let me down. You did everything you could to keep the members safe.” She shook her head. “I was…foolish. Too eager to be with a Dom and see what it was all about. During the hide-and-seek in the Capture Gardens, when he pulled out a gag, I should have yelled red right then, but I was… Isn’t it stupid? I didn’t want to be rude. To seem like a scaredy-cat.”
Saxon actually growled. “He picked you because you were new and insecure. That’s what predators do.” He straightened slightly and asked Master Z, “You said the bastard is dead?”
“Very.” Satisfaction suffused the single word. “Prisons are filled with perils.”
Having followed the news about the Harvest Association, she knew about Aaron’s murder. And after reading about his crimes, she knew she could have suffered much worse. Could have died.
She’d also learned Aaron had been arrested here at the Shadowlands. “Who caught him?”
“He tried to use Linda as a hostage to escape…but Master Sam carries a whip.” Master Z shook his head. “Aaron’s face was destroyed.”
In the newspaper, she’d seen a mention or two of his injuries and thought he’d totally gotten his just desserts. “So, now that you know, is that all?”
“Not entirely.” Master Z rested his forearms on his thighs, fixing her with a keen gaze. “I’m pleased that you’re here and”—he glanced at Saxon— “appear to be moving forward with your life. Did you get counseling back then?”
She nodded. When his silence pushed at her, she added, “Not officially, but a friend was a psych student and talked with me. It helped.”
“Does anyone in your family know?” Saxon told Master Z, “She has two younger brothers and a father. No other family, right, kitlet?”
According to Pa, all his and Mama’s relatives had cut ties with them, which was probably her pushy, emotionally volatile father’s fault. “No one else—and no, I didn’t tell Pa or my brothers.” She pulled in a breath. “But I did move back to my father’s place.”
Because she couldn’t bear to be alone. Then she’d stayed there, hiding, for far too long.
“He owns a B&B,” Saxon added. “Your first book came out around that year, right?”
Writing had been her only joy during that time. “Staying busy helped. I worked at the B&B to pay for room and board. Worked as an editor for money and spent my evenings writing my second book.”