Page 16 of João
“Nothing.” He shook his head, disappointed.
The weight of that look settled on top of me, removing every vestige of adrenaline. Instead, I felt drained.
“So, if you see an asshole abusing a sub instead of doing consensual domination, what do you do?” Migue, one of the original Doms in our crew, asked. He and his husband Richard were beloved club members, and Migue loved topping his husband; his scenes were always full of pomp and circumstance, so much so that they had a regular spot in our demonstration events.
“I’d ascertain the risk in interfering. As long as I could without risking the sub, I would engage the Dom so that the sub could be freed….by any means necessary,” Knox said with a quiet menace that had several of us humming in approval.
“I know that’s right!” Migue declared. “Quentino, I’m all good with Knoxy here. And Mila likes having fun with him, so if she gives him her stamp of approval, I give it to him too,” Migue said, making reference to Knox’s occasional partner and sister of Migue’s best friend.
After that declaration, everyone tucked in to eat, conversation flowing between long-time friends and associates.Searching for a drink, I made my way to the bar, bottles of different spirits sitting right on the counter for self-service.
“What’s your poison today?” Pedro Simmons, head of security and founding member of Q’s Space, approached the bar, unscrewing the Glenlivet bottle. If looks could be deceiving, Pedro was the phrase’s poster child. With his beard, dark skin, long locs, and dressed like he was Erika Badu’s latest conquest, Pedro had served in the Marines—something he seldom spoke of, but from that time he’d gathered a particular set of skills that he and his wife leveraged for private security work. He and a few others in the club with similar backgrounds served as volunteers to keep our club secure. Many of our members had much to lose if their lifestyles were made public, and many secrets were traded in our club. Pedro and his crew ensured nothing came in or out.
Right next to him was Moses Carter, Pedro’s best friend. Many would misunderstand the relationship here. Moses led a non-denominational lifestyle-friendly fellowship center and was a pacifist and spiritual leader. His best friend was a weed-smoking atheist security head and had probably killed a few people in his life.
But it worked for them.
“I’m good with the Glenlivet. Any for you, Moses?”
“You know the answer to that.” Moses smiled, his good-hearted nature removing any sting.
“Yeah, you teetotaler niggas think you better than us,” Pedro chuckled as he poured a drink for both of us.
“What’s up?” There was no need for niceties with Pedro and Moses; these were some of the realest men I knew.
“We got someone making some inquiries about the club, its value, if there’s any way to get the members list…” Pedro said, then savored his whiskey.
“I told Pedro you needed to know there’s some talk…that well, there used to be protection for your club, but that is no longer in place,” Moses said.
“Who’s doing the digging?” Many had tried to come for my club. Many of the city’s top officials and known pillars of the community were part of Q’s Space; many would kill to have the type of information that lingered in our hallways after whispered conversations.
“LaSalle.”
Fear and I parted ways when years ago, I defied my father and protected my brothers by going to his millionaire wife and exerting the necessary pressure for him to let us out of the street business. The rage, the pure loathing reflected in my father’s eyes the day his wife confronted him and promised if he messed with us, she would take measures….that sort of terror only visits you once. And once you know how to handle the terror, fear becomes an unnecessary emotion.
Many would expect LaSalle’s name to instill fear in me, but Moses and Pedro understood me better than most.
“So, what we doing?”
“Let him keep digging. He ain’t going to find a thing. We’ve made sure of that. If he applies pressure, we can have a sitdown about it, but he won’t be the first person interested in Q’s and the information it could provide.”
“Shiiit, some would kill for your membership list,” Pedro said.
“Then let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Moses said.
Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. There was a time when not having Q’s Space would have sounded like the death of me, but now…only that void remained.
“If shit gets intense, I have some options,” I reassured both Pedro and Moses, who were now hyperaware of my mood. I didn’t need their inquisitiveness.
“You need to talk?” Moses asked.
“Nah, I’m good. Matter of fact, I do need to talk, but not with you two downers. I’m gonna call the woman I’m dating.”
“You’re dating? You, Master Q? The Dom that don’t mix his heart and his kink is dating again?” Pedro’s hand went to his chest in an exaggerated motion I ignored.
“Yes. Talk to you both later.” I nodded at them and walked away to a quiet corner.
All this talk of things lost and threatening omens would be obliterated as soon as I heard her voice. The certainty of that fact made my pulse rise. Adrenaline kicked in again as the phone rang twice, then her husky voice answered as if she’d just woken up.
