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“We have to come to a decision about a statement tonight,” Austin Yates said to the rest of the Solitaire board. Her gaze was on Lance Moss while she spoke. “I’m getting questions from some of the members about the upped security measures, and I’m running out of ways to answer them without telling them anything.”

Lance tried not to glare at his friends, but he knew he looked to be in a foul mood. That’s because he was. Someone was gaining access to private Solitaire information, and it was happening on his watch. He was in charge of cyber and data security for the club. If anyone got hurt, it was going to be his fault.

“I understand the desire to be transparent, Austin. I do. But I don’t see how telling them we have a problem when we don’t know what it is or how to fix it is going to do anything but cause chaos.”

Elijah cleared his throat at the far end of the table. “If you would stop dragging your feet about bringing someone in, we might be on our way to solutions. I don’t understand why you’re being stubborn about this, Lance.”

He slammed his laptop shut and pushed away from the table. “It’s my fucking system, and I don’t want just anyone putting their hands on it.”

Everyone tensed as he shouted. He knew they didn’t deserve it, but he was spiraling, and he couldn’t tell them everything. Solitaire wasn’t the only one of his systems having issues.

“Master Lance,” a quiet voice said from one of the chairs along the wall. “I know you’re frustrated, and you don’t want anyone touching your baby, but I think those of us who have actually been threatened are trying to tell you that it’s time. You’re too close to this.”

“Would you be speaking so boldly to me like that if your Dom were here, Isabelle?” he growled.

The poor girl shrank back in her chair and he knew it had been a dick thing to say.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful, I promise, Master Lance. Please don’t be mad at me.”

“You forget that Iamhere, Lance, and I’ll thank you not to be a bastard to Isabelle just because you’re pissed at something you can’t identify.” Garrett’s voice crackled through the speakerphone in the middle of the table. He was currently in Philadelphia on business and hadn’t been able to join them. He’d sent his sub, Isabelle, to the board meeting because of her role at the club and the fact that someone had recently outed her.

Lance swore under his breath. “Sorry, Garrett,” he muttered.

“Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to the person you were rude to.”

He turned to Isabelle and gave her a tight smile. “I’m sorry, Isabelle. I was out of line. You’re absolutely right.”

Isabelle’s smile was kind. “It’s OK, Master Lance. I know you’re in a tough spot.”

“It’s clear to me that you’ve got blinders on when it comes to your work, Lance. Let Eli or Garrett or Russell find someone. We understand that nobody will ever be good enough for you, but you act like we’re trying to replace you when we’re not.”

He leaned on the table, palms flat against the smooth surface. “I know Dakota. I’m just under a lot of pressure right now. I’m still not on board with bringing a stranger in, but the board voted on this weeks ago and I know there’s nothing I can do.”

“I’m heading to Canada for a few days after I leave here,” Eli said. “If you haven’t given me any suggestions by the time I get back, I’ll just find someone from the list of names Russell gave me.”

Lance nodded and picked up his laptop, shoving it in his bag. “I need to head to Chicago. You guys are right. I’m too close to this. I can’t help it. Let me know what everyone decides about the statement.”

Without waiting for a response, he picked up his tech bag and walked out of Solitaire.

♦♦♦♦

“I’m taking my business elsewhere, Moss. I almost lost a lot of money thanks to your lax security measures. I’m paying you to keep my data safe, and you failed.”

Lance clenched his fists under his desk in his Chicago office and did his best not to scowl at the man on his computer screen.

“I completely understand your frustration, Mr. Dalton. I apologize for the security breach and I assure you we’re looking into it.”

“Looking into it isn’t good enough. I like you, Lance, but I think you have a problem, and you need to get it fixed before you continue taking new clients.”

The call ended and Lance dragged a hand through his hair. It was the third client he’d lost this week because of a breach in one of his data security systems. So far no one seemed to have suffered any damage because of the intrusion. But people heard security breach and they got scared.

Not that he blamed them. He definitely had a problem. He just wasn’t sure how to sort it out. His mind drifted to his argument with Elijah and the board last weekend over bringing someone in to examine Club Solitaire’s system. It would suck to tuck his tail and go back and say his friends were right. But the more he looked at what was happening around him, the more it looked like that’s exactly what he needed to do. These attacks on his systems were starting to feel personal.

With a sigh, he picked up the phone and dialed Elijah’s office.

“Barrett Corporation, Emilia speaking.”

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