Page 80 of Surrender

"We're in human relations."

A carefree laugh bursts from my chest. I love that he's thought about a future together. I love that we're on the same page. And I love knowing that whatever happens, we can handle it together.

"I love you," I whisper against his chest.

He kisses my hair before whispering, "I love you too."

And then we hear the front door opening and Magda coming in with the groceries.

Chapter forty-nine

Declan

It's 10am when there's a knock on the door. I know it's not Serenity, because she has a key, and she also has her Communications class that started at 9:30.

A short and pudgy, balding man thrusts a manilla envelope into my chest when I open the door.

"You've been served," he says, not even looking me in the eye, before spinning on his heel and hurrying down my pathway.

Served?

I shut the door behind me, my good mood fizzling a little. I return to my home office, sit at the desk, and open the envelope.

Sure enough, there's a handful of legal documents.

"Notice of investigation and order to cease and desist. To: Declan Blake, owner and operator of The White Envelope. From: Nathaniel Price, assistant attorney general..."

I quickly scan the rest of the page, taking in a handful of words - trafficking, sexual misconduct, unlawful business practices.

Fuck. If I understand it correctly, someone is accusing us of coercing and pressuring the women in The Envelope, drugging them, and human trafficking.

I text Daniel and Harrison and Cas to call Anderson and meet me at The Envelope ASAP.

An hour later, I'm there in our green room, when Cas comes in. "I'm so sorry I'm late. It was impossible to find a last-minute sitter for Georgie."

I wave her off. "You're fine. I just want you to be aware. The Envelope is just as much yours as it is ours."

Anderson, our lawyer, reviews the documents, his mouth set in a severe line. He's enough of a practiced actor to not give away anything he's thinking.

Finally, he puts the paperwork down and regards each of us. "They say they have proof that not everything is above board here. Is that the case? I don't care if it is, as your lawyer, I just need to know."

Harrison shakes his head. "We've had no complaints. Everything is above board. And the only people who know what go on here are members."

Anderson nods slowly. "So, there's a member who somehow wants to do you harm. Can you think of anyone?"

Three heads turn to me. Surely, Volkov isn't obsessed with Serentiy enough to do this. Surely, he doesn't hate me enough to do this.

"Maybe," is the only answer I supply.

"Right. So, there's a part in here that I'm most concerned about. They say they have the testimony of an employee," Anderson flips through some of the papers until he lands on the one he wants.

"...among those coerced into participation is Serenity Jones, an employee of the establishment who was taken in by its owner and groomed under suspicious circumstances."

I ball my fists and press them into my thighs. Any doubt I had that it was Volkov disappears. Painting Serenity as the victim inneed of saving. He doesn't know shit about our relationship, only that he wanted her, and she chose me.

"She won't testify against us. She knows what we do here, and she supports it. She even came up with themed nights herself. She loves me. She'd never betray me."

There's a pitying look from Anderson and anger flares hot in my chest.

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