Page 47 of Sunrise

Wandering the halls after closing time, when the Monarch Club is scrubbed clean and restocked, is my least favorite time to be here. I prefer the bass of sexy music, red lit rooms, and the sound of leather and chains.

I’m not Sophie the scientist during those hours. I’m Mistress. If ever I had to choose one over the other, there’s no debate who I’d be. Adjusting my robe, I head down to the basement where Dmitri sleeps, as is my norm.

But he doesn’t stay here anymore. He’s with Daelyn at their house outside the city. Funny that my feet would automatically take me this way. Bypassing his door, I take the stairwell back up to the main floor and wander the halls, eventually making my way to Ryker’s office. He’s probably not here anymore, either. He has Tara waiting at home for him.

The door is half open and I hear typing.

Quietly knocking, I peek my head in. Ry’s got this harsh look on his face as he types. He looks up and pauses, all his features softening instantly. “Soph.”

“Can I come in?”

“Of course.” He pushes away from his desk andrelaxes. “You okay?”

I don’t know what I am anymore. “Yes.”

“You don’t look it.”

“I’m exhausted, that’s all.”

“You’ve been pushing yourself too much.” Ryker walks around his desk and sits down in the leather chair next to mine. “Why is that?”

“I haven’t pushed myself.”

“You practically live at the club.” He takes my hand and runs his thumb over my knuckles. “Someone who buries themselves in work is usually hiding from something.”

My hackles rise. “I’m not hiding from anything.”Lies. “I just prefer to be here. Is that a problem?”

“Yes.”

My heart slumps.

“You need a life outside this place, Soph. I know you love what you do here, but you should take breaks. This place can become just as addicting as any other vice.”

“Are you calling me a sex addict, Mr. Hudson?”

His mouth forms a thin line. The silence between us makes me shiver.

“Do you want to talk about the panic button incident?”

I shake my head. “There isn’t anything to say. I just had a moment. I’m sorry I abused the safety system.”

“You didn’t abuse a fucking thing. That’s what it’s there for.” He tips my chin, so I’ll look at him. “I’m proud of you for smashing it.”

“It was for nothing.”

“It was for your safety, which is precisely why Iinstalled those things.”

He’s right. I don’t know why I’m apologizing for doing what I needed to in that session. I wish I could explain the whole truth, which is perched on the tip of my tongue. But that’s not possible. I can, however, explain myself a little to ease his worries.

“He tapped his thumb on his thigh in a specific way.” Chills race down my spine. “That’s all.”

Ryker studies my expression, which I try to keep unreadable.

“He didn’t say anything?”

“No,” I say quickly. Ryker would have studied the footage. They all probably did. “He only snapped his fingers when his partner tried to share anything with me that could have been personal. And he just watched us. But the tapping of his thumb…”Thump-tha-thump. Thump-tha-thump. I mimic it and confess, “I got a bad feeling and panicked.”

“We’ve blacklisted both of them, so they won’t be invited back.”

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