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“Tessa and Damon. I’ve talked with Damon; he said Kaley seemed uncomfortable and kept rubbing her abdomen.”

Max glanced around the club. “Let’s go have a talk with Tessa.” The two men crossed the club to where Tessa sat with Sierra and Crystal. “Tessa, Anthony and I need a moment please.”

“Of course.” Tessa stood and the trio walked over to a set of chairs.

“Did you chat with Kaley after the demo last Saturday?” Max asked after they sat down.

“I did.” Her spine stiffened.

Dread filled Anthony’s gut at Tessa’s defensiveness.

“What did she say?” Max asked.

Tessa shook her head. “I’m sorry. I won’t divulge a conversation between two subs done in confidence. I’m sorry, Max.” She looked at Anthony. “What’s going on?”

“Kaley’s avoiding me,” Anthony said. He trusted the sub network. The subs protected each other, but they also helped each other.

“Not surprised. All I will say is that she’s scared.”

“That doesn’t help.” Max crossed his arms over his chest.

“Again, Max, I won’t reveal anyone’s secrets. You know we subs have a code.”

Max nodded but didn’t look happy.

“If there’s anything you can do to help Kaley, I’d appreciate it.” Anthony didn’t know what else to say. The subs were a tightknit group, just as the Doms were. They would protect their own.

“I’ll check in with the others and see if one of us can talk to her. We’ll do our best, but Anthony, all I can say is give her some time. She needs to work through her feelings.”

“Thanks, Tessa.” Anthony stood and walked away. Well, while Tessa hadn’t been able to say much, a couple of things stuck out: Kaley was scared, and she was fighting her feelings. Now all he had to do was figure out how to get her to let him back in.

Chapter Twenty-One

Anthony hauled the last painting into the gallery a little over a week later. “You’ve been busy,” Dane commented.

“You asked me for more pieces.”

“I did and expected one or two, not five.” Dane began to unwrap them.

“I’m going to go wander around the gallery while you do your thing.” Anthony didn’t want to stay while Dane looked at his work. Sleep had eluded him, so he painted instead. He found a quiet corner and leaned against the wall.

Kaley still hadn’t contacted him. He texted her every day, letting her know he was there for her, but she was the one who had to take the first step. As much as he wanted to push, he wasn’t going to.

“I love Anthony’s work.” A female voice floated over the partial wall.

“Yes.” Another answered.

“He’s so handsome, but I think he has a dark side.”

Anthony stayed quiet. He wanted to hear what these women had to say.

“What do you mean?”

“Look at how he’s drawn the women. Subservient to men. His work is harsh toward women as role models.”

“True. But there’s something elemental in his painting. Maybe he’s working out his pain with his mother or something.”

The other woman laughed. “Oh, you don’t know. He doesn’t know who his parents are. He was adopted by the Pierces.”

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