Page 31 of Take Me Under

7:32 PM: Me

Don’t waste your time. I took the Aston Martin this morning. I’ll be at the club in less than 15 minutes.

7:32 PM: Zeke

We need to get you a Volvo.

7:33 PM: Me

I’ll leave the bulletproof beast to you. I like my car. See you soon.

Pocketing the phone, I secured my office and turned off the lights. As I made my way to the parking garage, thoughts of Serena were not far from my mind.

I walkedthrough the main vestibule of Club O, passing the mosaic wall and rock garden, appreciating the calming sound the built-in waterfall provided. I’d already introduced myself to the new staff and spent time watching them in action. I approved of Zeke’s hiring choices and thought they were going to work out well. They understood that it was a privilege to be inside these walls, and they were paid handsomely to keep its secrets.

Normally I enjoyed a hands-on approach to the club. I loved the control, and was involved in every facet of the business. But my heart wasn’t in it today. Tonight, all I could think about was Serena. I had to find her. My obsession went beyond physical attraction. It ran deeper in ways I couldn’t explain. Perhaps it was because I knew she’d be a challenge—the biggest one I’d ever face—and I never shied away from a challenge.

As I moved through the halls of sin, I decided to grab a quick nightcap at the bar before heading back to the penthouse. Ipassed through the throngs of people in the common area on my way to the lounge. The door leading down to The Dungeon opened, and music by Dua Lipa filtered up, amplifying the monthly Blinded By Lust party in the sub club. The blindfold play night was always popular, and the place was packed. When the door closed, the atmosphere of quiet seduction returned.

“Pappy Van Winkle, neat,” I said to Brock, one of the more seasoned bartenders.

“Busting out the expensive bourbon tonight, boss? What’s the occasion?”

“No occasion. It’s just been a long day.”

Three long days, but who’s counting?

Glancing down the polished mahogany bar, I noticed Amber Hawthorne on the prowl. She was dressed in a tight black dress with her long, dark locks secured in a braid. Just as beautiful and as sultry as always, she stood out in any crowd. She wore a green wristband again today, and I found myself seriously thinking about breaking my cardinal rule.

When she looked my way, her eyes immediately lowered like an obedient submissive, her chin angling down. Amber was a well-trained sub. If I gave her the signal, she’d drop to her knees without question. I’d be able to wrap my hand around the braid that trailed down her back with confidence, knowing she’d do everything she could to please me.

Taking a step toward her, I put a finger under her chin and tilted her head up to look at me. Hazel eyes met mine—not the deep ocean blues that I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about.

It was then that I realized how much I’d been obsessing over Serena. Since the moment I’d seen her, I wanted her legs wrapped around my waist and craved her cries for more. No woman had commanded my desire the way she did. And when I looked at Amber, I felt nothing.

There was only one woman I wanted underneath me, but I had no idea where she was.

Lowering my hand, I gave Amber a small smile to soften the rejection I was about to deliver.

“Boss.” I glanced to my left to see Zeke approaching. “Sorry to interrupt, but I thought you’d want to know right away.”

“What is it?”

He glanced at Amber, then back at me before seeming to carefully choose his words. “News about the good doctor.”

Any thought of letting Amber down easy disappeared.

Turning back to her, I gave her a pointed stare. “You know the rules, darling. I don’t get involved with club members. Now, move along.”

Undeterred, she slid her hand up my forearm and over my bicep.

“We’d be good together, you know,” she said. Another time, perhaps we would have. But now was not it.

“I said no. Walk away, Amber,” I barked, ignoring her pouty response to my command. I turned my attention back to Zeke. “What have you got?”

“A few things. Luckily, the security system at the Midtown motel was weak, and they don’t have any CCTV cameras. And it was by pure happenstance that the street cams in that area were down for maintenance. As far as anyone knows, we were never at the motel.”

“Good. Any news on Serena’s whereabouts?”

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