Page 68 of Barron

He glanced at the doorway. Iris was gone. But if he hurried, he might catch up with her.

“Wait for me here.”

“No. I’m going with you.”

“Don’t argue.”

“She lied to me. I’m not staying.”

Her frowning face showed pure determination. Plus, she had a point.

“You’re right. Maybe we can find her.”

He bolted toward the doorway, Yoanni rushing at his side. But the strappy platforms interfered with her stride. Muttering, she hopped from one foot to the next, took off her shoes, andcontinued on bare feet. He almost told her to wait, but her combative expression silenced him. If Iris was indeed Betty, Yoanni had every right to be upset and demand answers.

Wasn’t Betty supposed to be home sick with the flu?

This Iris/Betty situation reeked to the high heavens. An uncomfortable sensation rose in him. In his mind, he saw himself opening a door and staring into an impenetrable fog within. He couldn’t see a damned thing past the shadows, yet a crippling fear squeezed his soul. Evil and danger lurked in the darkness, waiting for the right moment to pounce on them.

They exited the age-play room. About fifteen feet ahead, the door of a private room opened to the hallway. The first person to step out, a man with a shock of blond hair, froze Barron in his tracks. Instantly, he pulled Yoanni into his arms and pressed her against the wall as if they were two lovers making out.

“Da—” she began.

He muffled her mouth with his.

“Be still,” he whispered over her lips, watching sideways. Three men dressed in business suits and two submissives wearing leather thongs and nothing else exited the room after the man he recognized as Killer, the Wolf he’d been searching for. From this position, vivid welts and red marks on the subbies’ arms, legs, and backs were clearly visible. A pang of pity struck him. He only hoped the women had agreed to an intense flogging scene beforehand. The group approached the dungeon’s main aisle, and he pulled back from Yoanni.

“Good girl.”

“Who are those people?”

“You saw them?”

“I did. The girls too.”

He raked his fingers through his hair. “Those are really bad people, Nugget. The first guy you saw walk out is Killer, a high-ranking member of the Steel Wolves, an outlaw MC. The threemen with him belong to a South American drug cartel. We suspect they’re in business together, and Killer is showing them around town.”

“Does the captain know?”

He nodded. “I rode to Alabama on Weaver’s orders. My job was to connect with the outlaw MC and check them out.”

“I see. Do we follow them?”

He glanced at the dungeon. The place was in full swing as kinksters ambled from one section to another, viewing ongoing scenes. It was easy to follow Killer’s progress. The biker’s blond hair and height stood out, but his shorter friends blended in with the partying crowd.

“I’m sorry, princess. We have to cut our night short. This club is a powder keg ready to blow.”

“Why? Where’re Deacon and Johnny Gun?”

“I’ll text Johnny G. It’s his choice to stay or leave, but Deaconisthe problem. He came tonight searching for Killer to set up a meeting. I doubt Killer wants to talk to him. He’s busy entertaining his business associates.”

“Maybe it won’t be so bad.”

He blew out a long breath. “Not a chance. Deacon and Killer belong to rival MCs with a long history of animosity. Deacon is pushy. One wrong word, and the fight is on. Why didn’t Killer stay home?”

“Maybe he never left.”

“There’s the answer.” Barron smiled down at Yoanni. “You’re brilliant. His home base is a four-hour ride from here. Going back and forth makes no sense. So he stayed in Savannah, scoping out the port sitch for the cartel people. And tonight, all four came to Nightshade for a night of kinky fun. Damn. Won’t take long before Deacon finds Killer, and when he does…” He lifted a shoulder. “The shit’s gonna blow. Put your shoes back on, baby. We have to walk across the dungeon. The floor is filthy.”

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