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  In the end that’s exactly what happened. The whole setup went more smoothly than Russell anticipated. In less than three hours he had Valerie’s rental pointed toward the desert with a sniveling Ricardo Estavarez in the passenger seat. It was going to be a long trip.

  * * * * *

  “They’ve cleared San Bernardino with no sign of anyone following.”

  Valerie tucked her phone into her purse, standing as she did so. At this stage of the game there wasn’t much sense in her staying in the hotel room with Casey. They’d passed the intervening two hours in near silence as it was with Casey locked into the depths of whatever enthralled her on the computer—work, most likely—while Valerie occupied her time with solitaire and daydreaming. Now that Russell and his charge were clear, she had other priorities…like cornering Bev for information.

  “You staying?”

  Casey pulled her head up at the question, yet the vacant look in her eyes indicated she hadn’t processed any of what Valerie had said. “Staying? Russell’s good?”

  She almost laughed. “He’s good.”

  “I should go then. I have work to do.” She shut down her laptop.

  “Don’t you always?”

  A sly grin crept across her face. “Not always.”

  “I’m heading over to Bev’s to see what she might know about the attack on Teri Trent. Want to come with?”

  “I take it you didn’t tell the police about their relationship.” Casey shuffled papers together and stuffed them in her laptop case.

  “How could I? It’s too big a risk. I had hoped to convince Bev to come forward if she knew anything.”

  Casey added her laptop to the case, snapped it closed, then stood with it clutched in one hand and her tote in the other. “Either way is risky once they start delving into Bev’s business. She’s discreet, yes. But someone’s bound to start spilling their guts the second they hear she’s gone to the police. Anyone involved in group activity…”

  Was screwed. “When did life get to be so complicated?”

  “Oh sweetie,” Casey patted Valerie’s cheek, “it’s always been complicated. I’ll follow you over. Maybe between the two of us we can do damage control before there’s too much damage.”

  Valerie headed for the door. “Do you always expect the worst?”

  “Always. That way I’m not disappointed when it happens.”

  She glanced over her shoulder. “And when it doesn’t?”

  Casey tilted her head to one side. “Profound relief, then it’s on to the next obstacle.”

  “Some would call them opportunities,” Valerie pointed out.

  “Indeed.” Casey gave her a nod. “For both good and evil.” She grinned. “That’s where my superpowers come in.”

  “Someday you’ll have to share your secrets with me.” They were out the door and headed for the elevator.

  “Not even on my grave, dear friend.” There was no humor in the statement. As the elevator doors opened, Casey’s dour expression was reflected in the mirrored wall that faced them.

  That was the end of any conversation. They rode in silence, then separated to their respective vehicles. In thirty minutes they pulled into Bev’s gated compound one at a time as the gates granted access. Bev’s residence was the three-story Victorian painted lilac with pale-yellow trim nestled in a copse of trees at the rear of the property. The tires rumbled on the brick drive leading to it. No one else seemed to be around. Bev’s staff was as discreet as the woman herself. Work got done, but it might as well have been by elves.

  A fountain bubbled merrily in the center of the circular drive. Valerie parked at the head with Casey right behind her. They reached the foot of the porch steps at the same time and trotted in tandem up to the deep-set veranda. Cushioned rattan furniture invited visitors to sit. Hummingbirds flitted to feeders. In the distance a lawnmower came to life, then faded as the gardener headed to other parts of the property.

  Valerie lifted a knocker as big as her hand and rapped it three times. The door whipped open to a wide-eyed Mexican woman.

  “Come quickly. She hurt.” The woman zipped away, expecting Valerie and Casey to follow. They were hot on her heels. “I find like this.” She ran through the foyer to the adjoining parlor.

  Bev lay curled in the fetal position on the blue Persian carpet, beaten, bloodied and crying. Welts marked her exposed skin. Blood seeped through her sheer sundress where her attacker had opened wounds. Cane? Whip? Asshole.

  Valerie and Casey skittered to their knees on either side of her. “Call 9-1-1.”

  “No.” Bev coughed around the word, bringing up spatters of blood with it.

  “She no let me,” the woman added.

  “You’re hurt.” Casey’s fingers fluttered over her. “You need help.”

  “Who did this?” Valerie asked.

  “No doctors. No hospital. No police. Just help me,” she whimpered.

  Why? Had a scene gone bad? When word got out… “Let’s get you someplace more comfortable.” Bev needed help standing. Valerie didn’t know where to touch her that wouldn’t cause more pain.

  “Hurts too bad to move. Ribs.”

  Valerie pulled the edge of the sundress aside. There wasn’t a button left on the once pretty cornflower-blue dress. She swallowed her gasp at the bruises covering Bev’s torso. “What the hell happened?”

  “I pissed off the wrong person.”

  Valerie tucked the dress closed. “Obviously. Care to tell us who?”

  Bev ignored the question. “Estelita, get some towels and a basin of warm water.”

  “Bullshit,” Casey snapped before the woman could take one step away. “You can’t move. You have busted ribs. You’re bleeding from head to toe, inside and out.” Without another word she dialed 9-1-1, then left to let the paramedics into the place.

  “You don’t understand what you’ve done.” Tears dripped to the carpet below Bev’s cheek.

  “It’s called saving your life,” Valerie replied. “This wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with Teri Trent, would it?”

  Bev closed her eyes. The answer was fairly clear. “I protect those who’ve placed their trust in me. That will never change.”

  “Even those who turn on you?”

  “Especially those. They are the most dangerous.”

  Chapter Nine

  Dread crawled up Valerie’s spine. She sat immobilized in Russell’s car, staring at her darkened house, afraid to leave the sanctuary of a locked door for the unknown that might await her inside. Dusk had faded thirty minutes before. She’d monitored every second, wishing Russell was back then alternately wondering what took so long. Interspersed with those thoughts were the images of Bev’s substantial injuries, her cries when the paramedics loaded her onto the gurney and the mystery surrounding her attack.

  Valerie couldn’t understand how Bev remained silent. If she’d been the one hurt, only death would have kept her from telling anyone who hurt her, and she couldn’t help wondering if that’s what happened to Teri. Bev’s reputation for being close-mouthed was what had saved her life, but it wouldn’t protect her from another attack. It chilled Valerie more to realize this was one of their own, someone from that circle they guarded with care. How else would he have gotten to Bev? Only those with the access code could get beyond the security gates. The clandestine nature of the facility made him anonymous, but Valerie couldn’t shake the fear it might be someone she knew.

  Crippled. Paralyzed. Even opening the garage room was too great a risk. It’d reveal she was home. Alone. Easy prey. A determined man would break the glass and have her in less time than it took to—

  Headlights swept in behind her. Valerie gripped the wheel. Panic overwhelmed her. Then the lights clicked off and she saw Russell’s frown. They left their vehicles at the same time, but Valerie threw herself against him before he cleared the front tire. He locked his arms around her, never once questioning what was wrong. She’d wasted no time telling him about Bev. He’d know s
he’d be freaked out.

  “I’m home now.” He kissed her temple. “And damn glad of it. I pushed the speed limit all the way.”

  Valerie lifted her head to look in the shadows cast on his face by the streetlight. “Then what took you so long?”

  His jaw tightened. “Chihuahuas have bigger bladders than that man. And I use the word man lightly.”

  “Cried, did he?” She looped her arm through his and dragged him toward the car to retrieve her purse.

  “Like a fucking baby the whole way there.” He clicked the key fob to lock the rental. “We had to stop every thirty minutes so he could pee. You should have seen him squirm when we made the turnoff to the high desert. Not many places to pee between Cabazon and Morongo Valley. I don’t know how you stood working with him.”

  Neither did Valerie. “You’re here now. That’s all the matters.” She released him long enough to grab her purse.

  “You don’t want to use the garage?”

  She shook her head. “I just want to get inside.” Safe with you.

  He slipped his arm around her waist, guarding her while they walked toward the house. Still, she monitored every shadow, every whisper of leaves the soft breeze rustled. Stepping inside wasn’t any better until Russell flooded the living room with light.

  “I…I forgot to stop at your place to get your things.” She’d been too focused on being there for Bev.

  “I’ll manage.” He locked the door. Without prompting, he hurried on to check the house. “It’s good, honey.” He cupped her shoulders. “Want to talk about it?”

  “Not really.” She wanted to forget it, if only for a while.

  “I do need to know how she’s doing.”

  It was only fair. Russell cared about Bev too. They all did. When the others heard about what happened mystery man might not be so safe after all. Now that lightened her fear and chased some of the goblins away. “Stable for now. Four broken ribs. He kicked her. Internal injuries from the beating. Black eyes, jaw fracture, welts and lash marks that will leave scars all over her body. So many I couldn’t tell if he used a whip or a cane. And Bev isn’t talking…about any of it.”

  “We should advise those we know there’s been a breach. Codes need to be changed.”

  “Casey and I took care of that to some extent.” They’d called who they knew and thought they could trust, passing the word that Bev was hurt and the facility would be closed. As for the codes… Only Bev could handle that issue. Although chain and padlock might not be a bad idea.

  She pressed her palms against Russell’s hard chest, taking comfort from the strong heartbeat calling to her. “I want to forget about all of this for a while. I need to forget about it. I need to—”

  His finger over her lips stopped her. “I know what you need.”

  He slipped his hand over her cheek while his mouth crept closer. She parted her lips in anticipation of his kiss. A breath away, he burrowed his fingers into her hair, cupped her head and pulled her up to him. He traced his tongue around her lips, dropped kisses to each corner of her mouth, then nipped her lips between his one by one. His free hand clamped on her ass and anchored her against his erection. Valerie didn’t know which pulsed harder—his cock or her heart. She clutched his shoulders and drew herself higher, rubbing her stomach over his erection.

  Russell sucked in a breath, then landed a hard smack against her ass. Her gasp morphed into a moan as he slipped his tongue between her lips. He clutched her hips in his hands, lifting her off her toes so she had to grip his shoulders to keep from falling. He walked her as far as the sofa, then pressed against her, pulled her legs to his waist and raked his cock over her crotch while his lips still devoured hers. The rise to orgasm didn’t take long. With each stroke she tightened her hold on him, damning the clothing that kept her from feeling his flesh on her, in her. Too soon—way too soon—Russell shifted away. Frustrated, she hit her fist against his shoulder, realizing her error too late.

  She opened her eyes to his arched eyebrow and eyes that said, I can’t believe you did that. Valerie knew what was coming and relished it. His cool, calm appraisal banished the misgivings that had been eating away at her. This was the Russell she’d fallen in love with, not the asshole attorney she’d been dealing with for six months. And she’d been the bitch he’d sparred with. The thought made her laugh. Out loud, unfortunately, sealing her fate. She couldn’t wait.

  Without a word he set her on her feet. His giant step back gave her an exquisite view of the erection bulging his jeans. He idly stroked the length, pulling it to a more comfortable position before walking away.

  Valerie remained in place. No sense tempting fate by moving when he’d not given her any instructions to do so. Russell wasn’t above putting a halt to everything just to teach her who was in charge. No harm in letting him have his way. Smiling, she closed her eyes, envisioning his walk to the toy box in her closet. Like a kid with candy, she tried to imagine what he’d bring to the table tonight. Whatever his selection, it didn’t take long. The sound of his footsteps on the carpet opened her eyes again. His empty hands generated instant confusion.

  A devilish grin pulled up one corner of his mouth. “I have something special for you in my pocket.”

  Valerie narrowed her gaze. “It better not be that damn loopy john.”

  “Odd, I didn’t hear a safeword with that statement.” Before she could draw breath to utter it, he pulled a black satin mask from his jeans pocket. His smirk claimed triumph. He twirled the mask around his index finger as he sauntered those last few steps toward her.

  “What’s with this?” He pointed toward the arms she’d unconsciously crossed over her chest. Valerie eased them to her sides.

  “Much better.” Russell combed her hair back and slipped the mask into place. He moved her until she butted against the sofa, then placed her hands on it. It anchored her, made her feel more connected and less like she might be tumbling into nothingness. Although, considering some of the glorious, masked interactions in the past, nothingness often had a sweetness all its own.

  One finger touched her mouth. Russell’s lips replaced it as he traced a slow path down her throat to the first blouse button. He toyed with it while he danced his tongue around hers, exploring her cleavage, following the path of her bra, returning to his original point. Then he flicked the button open and slipped his hand to the next. Lazy fingers wandered to the lower edge of her bra, tickling upward over her hard nipples, slipped around to the hooks and released them. The bra sagged, another button fell at his demand, his hot palm covered her torso.

  Russell ended one kiss and dived into another when a moan rumbled in her throat. He worked his thumb under the edge of her bra, tugged it free of his goal. He cupped her breast, rolled her nipple between thumb and forefinger until she strained into the hold for more…and got it for her other aching breast. Another button opened. The last one followed.

  His body heat poured over her from head to toe. The kiss deepened, pushing her backward until her pelvis connected with his. Russell shoved his knee between hers, ordering her legs to give him access while he stripped her shirt and bra to her wrists, pulled them behind her and secured them in a loose knot.

  He raked his mouth from hers and latched on to her breast. Valerie cried out with the hard suckle, writhing as best she could to get more into his mouth. He braced one arm around her back, flashed his tongue around her nipple and feathered his free hand to her capris. He wasted little time stripping those down her body. She kicked them away the instant they hit her feet. Russell yanked her legs to his hips, grinding his erection over her pussy. Denim rasped over her clit. She spread her knees as far as they would go, rocking with him, praying he’d let her have relief this time. When it came, only his arms around her kept Valerie from melting into a puddle.

  Russell gave her little time to recover. Before the last quiver died, he hoisted her over his shoulder. Fingers invaded her pussy as he carried her off, teasing her too-sensitive clit, rubbi
ng her anus—a signal she knew all too well. He intended to fuck her up the ass. Valerie wasn’t sure she could take him. It’d been too long.

  “Don’t worry,” he said as he draped her lovingly on the bed.

  She must have tensed. How else would he know she was concerned?

  He rolled her facedown. The mattress sagged as he crawled astride her. He flashed his tongue down her spine to the very tip, spread her buttocks and dipped even lower. Groaning, she lifted for more. He curled his tongue around her clit, tunneled it deep inside, then raised her hips higher. Fingers drew out her juices and rubbed them over her anus, each time going a little deeper yet not penetrating. Pillows slid under her stomach, giving her support and keeping her ass high for him. She whimpered a protest when he eased away, then sighed with relief when he unbound her wrists. He rubbed the sleep-needles away and helped her ease her arms into a more comfortable position.

  Valerie monitored his steps, heart skittering when she heard the tinkle of his belt buckle, the whisper of his clothes coming off, the soft skid of the drawers in their toy chest opening. Then he was by her side once more. She held her breath, waiting for the first touch of cold lube against her ass, followed by the plunge of the biggest plug he could find. Intent on that action, she started when he twirled something soft down her back.

  “What is it?” His breath kissed her ear.

  She racked her brain and came up with, “Flogger.” The chamois falls were oh so soft.

  “Guess again.” He ran the object over the inside of her thighs, then flicked it up between her buttocks.

  She smiled. “Feather.”

  “Bingo. Now this.” He rubbed something over her ass. She’d felt that enough to know.

  “Leather paddle.”

  “Very good. Now we’re going to combine the two.” He rubbed her ass to a warm glow before he landed the first strike.

  She sucked her breath between her teeth and lifted her ass for more. Russell was slow and methodical, each smack not too light, not too hard. They quickened as the fire bloomed and her clit swelled to explosive proportions. Each time she tried to wiggle into a position on the pillows for relief, Russell dragged her back into place.