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“What kind of games do you play?”

“Depends on how many people show up,” Naomi replied.“Claudia has shelves full of games.If only one person shows up to play with her, she has a selection to choose from.If ten people show up, she has a selection to choose from.If six people show up, you’re probably playing Seven Wonders.”

“It is my favorite,” Claudia confessed, grinning.

“It’s a lot of fun.You should definitely try to make it.Even if you’re not into playing games, it’s nice to hang out,” Jennifer put in.

Cassidy twisted around from where she was sitting to look at David, giving him a bit of a start.He hadn’t realized she knew he was there.If he had…

Well, no, he probably still wouldn’t have retreated to the kitchen if he was being honest with himself.His reasons for listening in were good, and it wasn’t like he was hiding it.He was just trying to be discreet.

“Is it okay if I go to game night?”she asked him.

Fuck.He recognized the thrill that went through him as she asked permission, his control freak of a Dom trying to surge up in recognition of a pretty submissive who he was more attracted to than he wanted to admit, ceding any kind of control to him.He pushed back against that instinct because she was not his submissive, and she was not asking in that capacity.

She was asking because she was under their protection—his protection—in a way that had nothing to do with kink.

“Yes,” he said, doing his best to keep his voice even, especially with Claudia watching.She read him a little too well sometimes.“Claudia’s place is secure.If at any point we’re worried your ex might actually know where you are, we may move game night here for a bit, but obviously, right now, that isn’t a concern.”

“Great, thank you!”Cassidy was a lot more relaxed now, and David was happy to see it.She should be able to relax because she was as safe as she could be.

Going from D.C.to Pennsylvania, Kincaid would have noticed and mentioned a tail.Plus, the second he’d shown up, the guard at the booth had taken note of all cars going by the building during the next half hour.They had cameras on the building, too, of course, and part of David’s afternoon had been spent looking at the tape for the hour after Kincaid and Cassidy arrived.Every single car that had passed by had Pennsylvania license plates, and no pedestrians had walked by during that time.

If someone had followed them from the office, he would have noticed because he’d been looking the entire time, even knowing it was unnecessary.

He took another sip of his beer, leaning against the wooden frame that outlined the large opening separating the dining room from the living room.Listening.Observing.

Ignoring how damn attractive Cassidy was when she relaxed enough to smile and laugh.

Don

Staring at the computer screen, Don cursed.

What the hell was Cassidy doing in Pittsburgh?And where in Pittsburgh was she?The trackers he’d inserted into her shoes were spread out.A couple pairs here, a couple pairs there…

His jaw clenched as anger rippled through him.

Bad enough that those assholes at Stronghold had broken them up, manipulating her into thinking that the way they expressed their love and devotion to each other was wrong, but now they’d actually moved her to another state?And yes, he knew it was them.

Fucking interfering, snobby ass, think they know everything kinksters.They preached about there being no one true way, but then they thought they could dictate everyone’s relationships, anyway.They still thought there was awrongway.

Cassidy had been a good girl before that night.

She hadn’t been perfect—if she had, she would never have tried to use something so stupid as a safe word, and she’d have just trusted him to take care of her, the way he always had—but she’d been close.

Then they’d ruined everything.Convinced her that he was a bad guy.Convinced her that she should stay away from him.

They couldn’t keep them apart forever.

Cassidy was his.

No matter where they moved her to.He’d find her.

And Pittsburgh wasn’t very far away at all.

5

David