Page 36 of Jacqueline's Quest

“Tell me something,” Murray stated, “why does AJ fear you?”

Luca slid his gaze to Murray. “She fears me?”

"She doesn't trust you as far as she can throw you and warned all of us off of you," he answered.

Luca frowned. “I have a particular way of getting things done. She was on an op of mine that went sideways really quick. She was still green, and I think it happened to be her first mission with Scotty. She did everything right. Both of them did, however, there were complications none of us could have prepared for. She saw me do things I wouldn’t necessarily do in a normal situation. I had to let the proverbial beast out of the cage and muscled my way into the area where they were holding the victims. The minute I opened that door and saw the cages...”

“You lost it.”

Luca nodded.

“How did it go? After?”

“Shaky,” Luca admitted. “We lost three women. They were already dead or were being killed the minute we breached.”

Murray blew out a breath. “Hence, everything going sideways.”

“Yep.”

It reminded him of Colombia, watching helplessly as Senator Lincoln’s men went on a killing spree. Sure, they ended up taking several of the bastards out, but in the long run, it left the village devastated. It also wiped out the majority of the Aquila Cartel, and, it’d been done because they’d known too much—knew how deep Senator Lincoln connections went along with his involvement. Which, all of their last two cases led to Dario Breslow finding Mateo and kidnapping him. It was a cluster fuck of epic proportions.

However, between the time the mission started, and Murray leaving Virginia, he'd been digging, trying to figure out what the fuck the Senator was looking for or what he wanted in Colombia. All of Senator Lincoln's actions had an end game, he wouldn't have put his life on the line for no return. Murray found the answer right before he left too. Unfortunately, he didn't have a chance to discuss it with Asher. And, it would appear, it would have to wait until they got this mission.

“I believe AJ sees the monster, not the reasons,” Luca said. “She’s had things done to her in her past, things no child should have to go through. You know her childhood was shit.”

Murray nodded. “Fucked up is what it is. If the bastard hadn’t died in prison, I’d do it for her.”

“Don’t think you have to.” Luca chuckled. “Thomas would lead the charge.”

“True,” Murray agreed.

“Should we see how Jaq is doing?” Luca turned from the windows.

“Yeah, I think so.” Excitement replaced the worry twisting Murray’s insides. “A little fun won’t hurt us.”

“My point exactly.”

Jaqueline stared at the background she created for Madame Jacqueline. She’d written down everything from her favorite color to the way she’d hold a pen while she wrote. She could see the woman lurking in her subconscious as she built the Domme, but it was her finer qualities Jaqueline had a harder time with. How did the woman like to be addressed? What would she do if someone disrespected her? Jaqueline had a fiery temper when people pissed her off, but wouldn’t a Domme be cool, calm, and collected? She couldn’t rip someone’s head off if they said anything off-handed, right?

No, Madame Jacqueline had poise. She could cut a person down with her eyes. The woman used her expressions to perfection. Without saying a word, she could command a room. An excited bubble of energy built within her. Finally, she felt like she could be a part of the mission and contribute.

“Are you ready?” Luca asked, taking a seat beside her.

She glanced up at him. “Yes, I believe so.”

“Then, let’s begin.” Luca held his hand out to her. “I believe you know what your role is, Murray?”

He inclined his chin. “Yep. I’m ready when you are, Jaq.”

Luca smirked. “What would you like Murray to do first?”

What did she want him to do first? She thought about everything she and Murray had worked on before they'd accepted Luca's invitation.Didn’t Murray say something about a sub always presented themselves to their Dom or something like that? “P-present yourself, esclave.”

Murray jerked and smirked tugged at the corner of his mouth as he went to his knees before her. He bent his head and placed his hands palms up on his thighs. His legs were spread a few inches apart and Jaqueline hissed. She stepped forward and tapped the inside of his legs with her foot, opening him up to her gaze.

"I said present yourself, not half-ass it."

“Sorry, Madame Jacqueline,” he murmured, adjusting his position.

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