Page 1 of The Keeper

PROLOGUE

Chicago had a new lifestyle club that put the others to shame. The famous—or infamous, depending upon your point of view—Baker Street in London had branched out to Chicago. Like Baker Street in the U.K., Club Southside was the American headquarters for the covert operations group known around the world as Cerberus.

CHAPTER1

DAMON

The Carriage House

Charleston, South Carolina

“It was a good night; don’t you think, Damon?”

Damon looked at Bram Maitland, his Resident Dom and manager. “It did seem to go well. I think the new subs are fitting in, and you’ve done an excellent job with them.”

“They’re a lovely group. Any chance one of them may be more than a passing fancy for you?”

God, Bram never gave up. “Doubtful. They just aren’t quite what I’m looking for.”

“In other words, they aren’t the mysterious redhead you had an anonymous encounter with in London two years ago.”

“Not two years, eighteen months,” Damon corrected him. Actually, it was eighteen months, one week, and three days, but who was counting?

“I stand corrected,” laughed Bram. “If you really want the girl, then go after her. Ask Fitz for her name and let her know who you are. Few women in the world would turn down a billionaire.”

“I’m not a billionaire…”

“Oh, right, you only have nine hundred ninety-nine million dollars, but I say, what’s a million among friends?”

Damon smiled ruefully. Bram kind of had a point. “The thing is, I wanted the anonymity as much as she did. Truthfully, I don’t think the money would be a factor in my favor. According to Fitz, she’s very selective about with whom she’ll scene and doesn’t necessarily offer true submission to anyone.”

“Ah, so she’s a challenge, and I suspect very few things challenge you much anymore.”

“The high-tech company has its moments, but thanks to you, The Carriage House has become what I always envisioned—an exclusive lifestyle club where only the best people come to play. But yes, I suspect part of her allure is that I can’t seem to find out much about her. Those at Baker Street are decidedly tight-lipped.”

“Why not hire Cerberus? After all, you and Fitzwallace are friends.”

“True, but then Cerberus and Baker Street, as well as Club Southside, are closely aligned. I approached Noah Taylor of Wild Mustang, and he told me flat out they wouldn’t want to take on Cerberus in a turf war.”

“Now that is intriguing.”

“I thought so as well. But I suppose if I am going to be the southern gentleman I’m supposed to be, I should respect her wishes.”

“You do know that the ‘southern gentleman’ designation is one only you apply to yourself. Most consider you to be a ruthless and lethal shark.”

Again, Bram had a point, but it was the one small delusion Damon allowed himself.

“Unless you need anything else, boss, I’m going to call it an evening. Are you on the way out?”

“No. I’ve got some work to do. Georgina sent over some paperwork for me to sign that she doesn’t feel comfortable forging my signature on. Lock up on your way out. I’ll slip down the back stairs. I have my vehicle parked in the underground lot.”

“You got it. Don’t forget to engage the security system before you leave the property.”

“Will do.”

Bram headed out and Damon walked up the expansive staircase to the second floor which contained some of the larger private play spaces as well as the administrative offices for the club. The Carriage House had been Damon’s answer to Baker Street after he visited there. It was, in his opinion, higher class and far more exclusive than the famed London club. It had been built prior to Fitz and JJ opening Club Southside in Chicago.

The Carriage House was situated in a pre-Civil War carriage house, whose mansion had been burned to the ground during the Civil War. It was located on one of Charleston’s oldest harbor streets on a narrow, gated lot. Someone peeking through the wrought iron gate might think it small, but appearances were deceiving. Although narrow, it had a deep courtyard with balconies running along the entire length of the second and third floors. Outside of the first floor was an expansive courtyard made of old brick, salvaged from the ashes of the great house that had once occupied the property as well.

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