Page 26 of The Player

“What’s going on?” Seth demanded; his voice edged with irritation. “Why is that damn alarm blaring, and can’t somebody turn it off? My wife has just come out of subspace, and she needs peace and quiet, not this racket.”

The enforcer eyed them for a moment, his gaze lingering on Hope, who tried her best to look affronted and dazed rather than terrified. She clutched the raincoat tighter around herself, playing the part of a sub who was depending on her Dom to take care of her, which, as a matter of fact, was the truth.

“There’s no need for alarm, sir,” the enforcer finally said, his tone brusque. “We’re just conducting some routine checks. Please stay where you are until we’ve confirmed everything is secure.”

Seth narrowed his eyes, his posture stiffening. “Routine checks? This doesn’t feel routine. My wife and I are leaving. This is completely unacceptable.”

The enforcer seemed to weigh his options before he nodded curtly. “Fine. You can go, but we may need to contact you later for further questions.”

“Whatever,” Seth snapped, grabbing Hope’s hand and pulling her toward the exit.

They weren’t the only ones being stopped. Other guests were being questioned, some released, others detained for a few minutes before being let go. It was clear that the alarm had thrown the club’s security into disarray, but so far, it didn’t seem like anyone was directly targeting them.

Hope’s heart raced as they pushed through the doors and out into the cool night air. They’d made it out of the building, but she knew they weren’t safe yet. Not by a long shot.

Seth wasted no time hailing a cab, his movements swift and deliberate. He opened the door for Hope, and she slid inside, her nerves jangling with tension. As soon as he was seated beside her, the cab pulled away from the curb, merging into the late-night London traffic.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Seth kept his eyes fixed on the rearview mirror, watching the road behind them with an intensity that made Hope’s heart clench. The driver was silent, focused on the road ahead, oblivious to the undercurrent of fear in the back seat.

Hope leaned back, trying to calm her racing heart, trying to remind herself to breathe. The bright lights of the city streaked past the windows, a blur of color and movement, but all she could think about was whether or not they were being followed.

It didn’t take long for Seth’s vigilance to be rewarded. He nodded toward her, and Hope looked into the rearview mirror as well. A pair of headlights fell in behind them, the vehicle keeping pace with the cab at a steady distance. Hope felt her stomach twist into knots, the anxiety that had been simmering just beneath the surface threatening to overwhelm her.

“They’re following us,” Seth said quietly, his voice calm but tense. “But they’re keeping their distance. If they knew anything, they would’ve grabbed us back at the club.”

Hope nodded, her fingers digging into the seat cushion beneath her. “Do you think they’re just watching us?”

“For now,” Seth replied, still watching the car in the mirror. “We need to act like everything is normal. We’re just another couple who had their night ruined by a stupid alarm. Did you get what we needed?” he asked, his tone still casual, as if they were discussing nothing more than where to go for dinner.

Hope swallowed hard. “I’m not sure. I’d rather just go home. We can order Chinese or something.”

“We can check it out as soon as we get home,” Seth said, his eyes still on the car behind them. “But no matter what happens, we’ll be fine. You were really incredible tonight.”

They rode in tense silence the rest of the way, Seth’s eyes never leaving the mirror while Hope tried to quell the rising tide of panic in her chest. She couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if the data she’d pulled wasn’t enough. What if she’d missed something critical? What if she’d tripped some fail-safe she hadn’t anticipated?

Finally, the cab pulled up in front of the townhouse, and Seth paid the driver, his movements smooth and unhurried. Hope stepped out onto the sidewalk, the cool night air a stark contrast to the heated tension that thrummed between them.

As they made their way to the front door, the headlights behind them slowed, then turned into the driveway two doors down. Hope’s breath caught in her throat as she recognized the car.

Basil Hargrove.

She watched, frozen, as Hargrove parked the car and stepped out, his expression calm, almost amused. He looked over at them, catching their eyes in the dim light, and raised a hand in a casual wave.

“That wasn’t the way I planned for the evening to go,” he called out, his voice carrying easily across the distance.

Hope forced a smile, lifting a hand in return, though her heart was pounding in her chest. She could feel Seth’s tension beside her and could sense the protective anger simmering just beneath the surface.

Hargrove gave them a small nod, then turned and walked toward his front door, his steps unhurried. He didn’t look back as he disappeared inside, the heavy door closing behind him with a finality that left Hope feeling cold.

The message was clear: he had his eyes on them.

Seth unlocked the front door, his movements brisk and efficient. They stepped inside, and as soon as the door closed behind them, Hope felt the breath she’d been holding rush out of her in a shaky exhale.

“We’re not safe,” she whispered, her voice barely audible in the quiet hallway. “He knows.”

Seth nodded grimly; his jaw clenched tight. “He suspects. But as long as we keep playing our roles, we still have the advantage.”

Hope leaned against the wall, trying to steady herself. “I need to check the data. If I missed something…”

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