Page 150 of Hyde and Seek

“How coincidental. My kink is to be corrupted by my man while he teaches me things I’ve only read about.”

“How about we work more on those lessons? Turn around and face the other way on me, yeah?”

I learned a lot that night.

*******

I’d been safe since Jake told me about the emails because he hadn’t given me much choice. He’d started coming with me when I had deliveries or errands to run. When he couldn’t break away, he’d rope one of the boys into taking me.

Key was my favorite since he was so quiet. Usually I forgot he was even there. Xavier and Eli both liked to chat, which was fun, but not very productive.

Unless I had no other options, Kase was banned from helping. Especially when it came to deliveries. Him flirting with brides wasn't good for business. Not that any of them were complaining, of course.

Of them all, Z was even worse than Jake. He was so alert while we shopped that it put me on edge. When he dropped me off at home, he’d made me wait in his car while he did a walkthrough, saying, “Better safe than sorry, Doll Face.”

When I brought up Z’s intense surveillance, Jake told me it’s because he’d been Special Forces. “Don’t know the details. Just know it fucked with his head, the same way it’d fuck anyone. He doesn’t talk about it. Ever. Yeah?”

I nodded. I might like to chat, but even I knew not to go there.

*******

Though I was being cautious, it had only been for Jake’s peace of mind. I hadn’t believed there was a real threat.

Until that email.

“Miss Skye? It’s Detective Oscar,” I heard through the door.

I threw the locks and opened it to let her in.

Though she was only a couple inches taller than me, her authority made her appear much larger. Her brown eyes were warm but sharp as she looked me over. “How are you?”

“Uh, if I say brave and fierce, can we pretend I look it?”

Her lips quirked up. “Of course. Are Jake and Gregory coming?”

“Yeah, Jake should be here soon. He said he’d call his dad.”

“Okay. Why don’t you show me the email while we’re waiting?”

I brought her over to my laptop and moved my finger on the pad to wake it up. My stomach lurched again as I looked at the picture.

Detective Oscar opened a notepad and began writing in it. “How long ago did this take place?”

“A few days ago.”

“Where were you parked?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure. I’d been drinking at a club, Voodoo, and Jake came to pick me up. So somewhere between there and here.” My cheeks were hot with embarrassment, but I was also pale and clammy. It was an unpleasant sensation.

“Do you know what time it was?”

“Probably midnight or so?”

“Anyone at Voodoo acting weird, giving you too much attention, making you feel uncomfortable?”

I shook my head. “Edge, the owner, and Kase, a friend and employee of Jake’s, were there with me and my friends. I guess they played blocker during the night. But nothing seemed out of sorts. No one made a scene or anything.”

I heard Jake’s Harley roar up my driveway. Opening the door, he came straight to me and crouched near where I sat on the couch. “You okay, sweets?” His thumb stroked my jaw as his eyes searched my face.