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“Hey brother, I’m sorry if I made your life complicated.” It was Gage.

“I’m not sure yet. What did you tell her about Evie?”

“Nothing. Evie stayed at my house last night and may or may not have said some inappropriate things to Carrie this morning.”

“That’syour new sub?” It wouldn’t be the first time the two men had played with the same woman, but he didn’t think Gage liked Evie like that. The two had always just been friends.

“It’s complicated. I thought I was doing her a favor while letting off some steam of my own. She’s fun, but I’m pissed as hell at her for how uncomfortable she was making Carrie this morning.”

“Sounds like I’ve got some cleaning up to do. Thanks for the heads up. Can you give me any details that might help?”

Ten minutes later, Peter ended the call with a clearer picture of what happened. Evie was being her normal bratty self because she didn’t get the serious commitment out of Peter she had been hoping for. By the time Gage finished explaining what went down, Peter was half tempted to ask for ten minutes alone with Evie and a hairbrush. But from the sounds of it, Evie wouldn’t be sitting anytime soon. Gage also invited him to a small party at Club Exposure on Tuesday as a test run for the grand opening the following weekend.

When Carrie still hadn’t answered his text a few hours later, and he grew worried. Hopefully, Evie hadn’t done any actual damage to what he was building with Carrie. When it came time for him to get off, he sent another text letting Carrie know he was on his way. This time, she gave him a one-word answer.

OK

She was pulling away from him. How could he salvage this? When he pulled up to the curb in front of the UNN building, she stepped out.

“How was your day?” he asked when she had pulled her seatbelt across her body.

“Fine.”

“Gage tells me Evie had some unfortunate things to say to you today. Would it be OK if I set the record straight?”

Carrie shrugged, an indifferent look on her face. Peter sighed. “Come on Carrie. Don’t be like this. You’re too smart to fall for her hyperbole.”

“Am I? Are you really as dominant as she claims? Do you really demand a lot from your subs?”

“I can be, and I often demand a lot,” he answered. No sense lying to her now. “But it’s never outside a woman’s limits. You have to know that.”

Silence filled the cab for several seconds before she turned her head and asked, “Are we going home or to the rest area?”

“It’s up to you,” Peter said, purposely keeping his voice low and even.

“It’s been a few days. Let’s check out the rest area as long as you’re sure nobody is following us.”

“Smart girl,” he said.

A half hour later, they neared the rest area, and Peter reached over to pick up Carrie’s hand. She tensed up but didn’t pull away, so Peter gave her a gentle squeeze. “I’m sorry if Evie scared you. I want you, but I’m not looking to collar you and make you my slave or anything like that.”

Her eyes were closed when she said, “It’s OK. I’m sorry. I spook easily.”

It wasn’t much, but it was honesty and he appreciated that. Turning the engine off, he let go of her hand and climbed out of the car.

“Let’s see what there is to see.”

Under the trashcan lid, there was another envelope waiting for them. Carrie tore it open. “Turn on your flashlight, please.”

He pulled out his phone and shined the light.

It was a photo of another girl. Peter didn’t recognize her, but Carrie did, and her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my God, that’s Savannah. She’s always so nice to me every time I go to the Cabaret. I hope she’s OK.” He had never heard genuine fear in her voice. Not even when these pricks set her house on fire. It wasn’t herself she worried about but others. That made him want her even more. It also let him know he needed to protect her more than ever because she cared more about others’ safety than her own. He put the phone back in his pocket.

“Can we go to the club and see if she’s there?”

“Absolutely not.” Peter’s voice was hard, and he plastered a scowl on his face when she looked up at him. When it looked like she might cry, he softened his expression and put his hands on her shoulders.

“They already tried to kidnap you from there once. There is no way in hell I’m letting you put yourself at risk like that. The next time Upwood asks to visit the club, I’ll make sure I’m part of that detail and I’ll keep an eye out for her.”

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