Make Me, Sir
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Z and Jessica on Thursday—as well as some associates from the DA"s office. On Friday, Raoul had barbecued steaks he"d brought, and the rest had arrived to hold an informal engagement celebration for Z and Jessica, and Nolan and Beth. He"d lived in Tampa only a year, but he"d made some good friends without realizing it.
They hadn"t allowed him to get lonely, but despite their company, he"d missed Gabi as if he"d misplaced a body part. His heart, maybe.
Marcus took a sip of beer and looked at Cullen. “Nothing you can do, thank you, unless you enjoy pounding on FBI agents.”
Cullen grinned. “Tempting… Got a reason or are you just bored?”
“Gabrielle isn"t in town.” Every day that had gone by, he"d expected to hear from her. But she hadn"t called. Hadn"t left a message. The memory of her eyes when she"d said, “Good-bye, Marcus,” haunted him. “She hasn"t returned to her job, and I can"t find her. Her phone and address are buried well, and neither her Miami office nor Vance will give me her phone number or even relay a message.”
“I can see how that would burn your ass.” Cullen frowned. “The agents got here a few minutes ago. They stopped by the bar to say thanks.” Cullen glanced at his sub. “Sweetheart, did you see where Z and the others went?”
Andrea finished drawing a beer and frowned at Marcus. “You look terrible.
You shouldn"t be here.”
“Irrelevant,” Marcus said. “Where"s Z?”
Andrea set the drink in front of Olivia and muttered, “Men are such idiots,”
winning a snort of laughter from the domme.
“Pet,” Cullen warned.
She sniffed and set her hands on her hips. Her attitude resembled Gabi"s so much that grief slid like a knife between his ribs. “Fine, just die and see if I care.
They"re way at the back, close to the cages, behind the giant fern planter.”
“Thank you, Andrea,” Marcus said. “Cullen, please swat her ass for me.”
“Be my pleasure to do that little thing, buddy.”
As Marcus walked away, he heard a squeak and a thud as a mouthy sub got tossed onto the bar, and then the slap of a hand on bare flesh.
Andrea"s voice rose. “Chíngate, cabrón.”
Marcus shook his head, smiling. That insult would probably get her gagged.
The secluded sitting area held the FBI agents and some of the Shadowlands Masters. In the chorus of greetings, Raoul patted an empty chair. “We waited for you.”
“Thank you,” Marcus acknowledged.
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The only sub present, Jessica, was curled up in Z"s lap, looking much like the kitten he called her, and Marcus smiled at her. The misery of not having Gabi in his arms hurt worse than the hole in his shoulder.
Z nodded at the agents, an unspoken gesture that they had the floor.
Vance leaned forward. “First, this information is privileged and not to be shared with anyone, even your subs.” He glanced at Jessica. “Anyone, pet.”
She nodded.
“You know Jessica and Gabi"s kidnapping followed three others in Tampa.”
Vance scowled. “The man killed on the dock, Maganti, was a private investigator here in Tampa. He received a list of women, investigated them, and chose four who could easily disappear. He did the same thing about two years ago.”
“Two years apart?” Nolan straightened. “That"s a fucking long setup.”
“So it seems.” Vance rubbed his neck. “We didn"t gain enough information, dammit. The boat escaped clean. Maganti died. The hireling knows very little.”
“Were they involved in the Atlanta kidnappings?” Marcus asked.
Vance shook his head. “Only here.”
“Two years ago. More than one city. You"re dealing with a human trafficking organization,” Marcus said.
“And one that"s very well concealed,” Galen agreed. “We"d still be in the dark if that Atlanta victim hadn"t escaped. We"ve already found two other cities with this pattern of disappearances.”
“That"s not good,” Dan muttered. The cop shot a frown at Z. “Did any Shadowlands submissives disappear two years ago?”
“I checked.” Z"s jaw tightened. “A young woman—college student. Not a feisty one. A redhead.” As if to reassure himself of her safety, he pulled Jessica closer, and she turned her head into his shoulder.
Marcus breathed out slowly. He needed to know for himself Gabrielle was safe.
“I don"t understand,” Raoul said. “If the student wasn"t a brat—”
Vance said, “We examined other Tampa club records. As far as we can tell, four redheaded subs disappeared two years ago.”
Nolan grunted. “Specialty items for auction or maybe for filling custom orders.”
“Did Maganti or Jang belong to any BDSM clubs?” Marcus asked.
“No,” Galen said. “Someone else made up the list of potential victims, and gentlemen, you should assume the spotter is still in place. We will, of course, do our best to root him out, but…”
“We"ll watch,” Dan said. The other Masters nodded.
Nolan cracked his knuckles. “Be more rewarding if we find him first.”
“I didn"t hear that,” Vance said in a stern voice, obviously trying to suppress a smile. “On a happier note, the agent who"d abandoned Gabi—she did break his nose, by the way—no longer works for the FBI.”
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Low murmurs around the group, consisting mostly of the designation of
“asshole” and “bastard,” aside from Nolan, who simply growled.
“That"s it.” Vance got to his feet, Galen struggled to his, and they shook hands with everyone. Marcus waited patiently.
As Vance talked with Dan, Galen bent down to Jessica. “I"m sorry you got caught up in this, sweetie.”
“Not your fault—I was already on the list.” Her smile turned to a grin.
“Besides, I got to see Master Z kick major ass.”
He tugged her hair, grinned at Z. “I like your brat.”
Z merely smiled. “As do I. I fear you and Vance will need to find your own.”
Galen finally walked over to Marcus. “Thank you for the help. I regret we weren"t quick enough to keep you from getting shot.” He pulled an envelope from his suit pocket. “Gabrielle wrote this for you.”
His hopes rose, then dropped. A letter meant she didn"t want to speak to him.
Dammit. “I"d like her phone number.”
Galen"s eyes held sympathy. “I can"t, Marcus. It"s not only against the rules, but she requested we not give it to you.”
Marcus stepped back, winded as if he"d caught a roundhouse kick to his gut.
She didn"t want to see him. Not caring how rude it might be, he ripped open the letter and read the few sentences.
Marcus,
Thank you for your care while I was in the Shadowlands. Thank you for saving my life. I’m so very sorry I caused you to get shot.
Galen says you want my number, but I just want to move on and not remember this last month.
His guts felt battered. The last month was one of the finest in his life, and she wanted to forget it?
I’m sure you’ll find it a relief to not have a brat in your trainees.
Thank you for everything,
Gabrielle.
Gabrielle, not Gabi. Does that mean we’re not even friends either? He saw Galen hadn"t moved. “She"s sure I"ll find it a relief not to have a brat in my trainees.
She wants to forget everything—and not speak to me.”
“You know, as a law enforcement officer, I recommend you honor the lady"s wishes. As a dom…” A corner of Galen"s mouth turned up. “Marcus, she was hurting when she wrote the letter, just as much as you are now. I think she"s wrong.”
Vance had joined them, and he nodded agreement and shook Marcus"s hand.
“Good luck. You"ll need it—but she"s worth it.”
The two FBI ag
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Marcus sank down into his chair, reading her words again. When he looked up, the others had resumed their seats. “This doesn"t make sense. How can she write everything off?”
“Kari did mention… Ah, she"s seen you with Gabrielle, and thought you two…
Anyway, she asked me… Hell.” Dan ran his hands through his hair and scowled.
“Okay, it"s like this: last Saturday Kari overheard that sub you date—”
“Celine?”
“That"s the one. Celine told Gabi that doms don"t like bratty subs, and she was surprised you didn"t throw her out of the trainees.”
Marcus closed his eyes. “Oh wonderful.”
“It gets better. Celine apparently said you"re her master, and you love her because she never gives you any trouble.”
“She"s—” Anger flared through him so fast and hot it was a wonder the letter didn"t burn. Did Gabi actually believe Celine"s bullcrap? That he"d make love with her if he was involved with someone else? “It"s bullshit. I"ve never been her master, never come close to being in love with her. I told her that.”
Jessica cleared her throat. “All the subs believe… Um, Celine told everyone you"re together.”
Marcus sighed. “Well, that explains part of the problem.” He noticed Jessica wringing her hands and cleared his throat. “Best you tell me what else I"m missing, sugar.”
She hesitated a second. “Did she lie about you hating disobedient subs too?
Even though your ex-wife…” She flushed, and her jaw firmed. “Everybody knows you hate brats, Master Marcus. Don"t you?”
He might have gotten riled, except the little blonde had tears in her eyes.
Why? “No, darlin". Not anymore.” He smiled slightly. “I didn"t think I liked sassy behavior until I met Gabi. But I like the challenge. And I like her honesty. When she does submit, it"s…” The sweetest thing in the world. “I was wrong.”
“You really want Gabrielle?”
Marcus sighed. “Yes, Jessica, I do. I intend to do my best to convince her of that.” He had enough contacts in law enforcement that he"d locate her eventually.
Jessica studied him, then turned to Z.
“Truth,” Z said softly.
Taking a stand in front of Marcus, she crossed her arms over her chest. “If you break her heart, I"m going to hurt you.”
Startled, Marcus glanced at Z.
Z gave him a faint smile. “Please recall why the kidnappers targeted our two submissives.”
Marcus closed his eyes and shook his head before looking at the diminutive blonde. “I will do my best not to hurt her, Jessica.”
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“Okay.” Jessica smiled. “I"d love to see her face when you show up.” When her eyes lit with mischief, Marcus saw how she"d captured Z. “Gabrielle is staying with her parents in Orlando until Monday. Her father is a lawyer at Thompson and Dunn International.” She frowned again. “I guess they"re really conservative and don"t approve of her. When she mentioned them, she sounded…unhappy. Like when she talked about you.”
A well-placed stab, especially since she was being honest. But he remembered Gabi had told him much the same thing about her parents. And she"d run away from them as a teenager. “Little Miss Sassy, did your parents have a problem with your behavior?”
“Nah. They always wanted me to stand on my own feet.” She grinned. “I spent a fair amount in time-out as a kid, but”—her smile faded—“but my family likes who I am.”
Marcus nodded. Gabi thought Marcus didn"t approve of her. That he was conservative. Stuffy. He remembered her surprise at seeing him in jeans. When he"d thrown her into the ocean. To top it off, he was a lawyer like her father. Well, he had his work cut out for him, didn"t he? “I think I get the picture, Jessica. Thank you.”
He could easily track down her father"s address, and now he had an idea of what he was up against: Celine’s lies. Thinking he hated brats. Being too much like her parents. She had a lot to learn. He glanced at the other Masters and smiled slowly. “It"s a good thing I"ve had a lot of practice in instructing little subs, isn"t it.”
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Chapter Twenty-four
After church, Gabi changed into jeans and a green peasant top and stayed in her room, trying to regain her equilibrium. Besides, it gave her a chance to play with her bored cats. Being shut up in the bedroom annoyed the hell out of them.
“Soon, guys. Tomorrow we leave.” And I’ll be back with my friends. Will have lots to do.
When she felt poised again, she walked out to the great room. Only ten o"clock and the morning had already got off to a rocky start. Dressed appropriately in a demure dress, heels, and hose despite the heat, she"d attended church service with her parents, hoping to please them. Major mistake.
When they"d introduced her around afterward, their oh-so-polite friends couldn"t look away from the ugly marks and yellowing bruises on her face. Since the news had reported only a shoot-out at the Clearwater Docks, Gabi couldn"t explain her battered appearance, and everyone plainly assumed she had an abusive boyfriend. Her parents had grown more and more distant. Oh look, Gabi, you’ve embarrassed them again.
One more day and then home.
Finding her parents in the room, discussing the sermon, Gabi stopped in the doorway. “I"m going to make some coffee. Anyone want one?”
“I"d like a latte,” her mother said. “Thank you, Gabrielle.”
Gabi had just finished making the coffee when the doorbell rang. Great. More stuffy, parental friends. Well, she"d hand off the latte and retreat back to her room.
She carried the two cups out of the kitchen as her mother entered the great room, followed by Marcus.
Marcus? Here? Not in the club? Here. Her brain shut down as if someone had flipped a switch.
He walked up to her. “Easy, sugar.” He carefully took the two cups from her before she spilled them on her mother"s white carpet, then set them on the coffee table.
“Do you remember Marcus Atherton, Gabrielle?” her mother asked, giving his dark gray suit an approving look. When Gabi didn"t answer, she added, “He says you met on a special assignment in Tampa.”
“Um. Yes, I remember him.” What is he doing here? Her chest hurt as if her heart had shriveled and died. She glanced at the hallway that led to her bedroom and escape, but Mother would be horrified. No hope for it; she had to act politely.
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She dropped down on the couch, ignoring her mother"s wince at her lack of grace. “What brings you to Orlando, Marcus?” And how did you find out my location? Didn’t you get my letter?
Walking right past an empty chair, he joined her on the couch, sitting close enough she could feel the warmth of his thigh against hers—close enough to make it obvious they were more than just friends. Her mother"s eyebrows rose.
“I came over to take you out for lunch, sugar.” He took her hand, then smiled at her parents. “I do apologize for the discourtesy of calling unannounced.”
Gabi tried to pull her hand away without her parents noticing, and amusement lit his eyes. She glowered at him. “Didn"t you see Vance and Galen?”
His grip flexed in a way that reminded her of how incongruously strong he was. “I did. They gave me your note and told me how much you looked forward to seeing me again.”
They did not. They wouldn’t. Would they? She remembered Galen"s expression when she"d said she didn"t want to talk to Marcus. “He deserves more than that,”
he"d said.
This isn’t fair.
Marcus watched his little sub"s face flush a vivid pink. The big brown eyes had lit with joy when she"d seen him and now shot sparks at him. Smothering a laugh, he turned back to her parents. How had such a cold couple created someone as bright and warm as Gabi? He knew others like the Renards; his old law firm had been filled with their type. He hadn"t realized how much he"d enjoyed being away from pompous assholes until now.
He studied Gabi for a moment, having to suppress his rage at the sight of the bruising on her forehead, her cheek, her jaw. Her mangled wrists—he"d have to avoid hurting them. Yet just the sight of her filled him with pleasure.
“Mr. Renard.” He stood to shake hands with her father. “I believe someone said you work for Thompson and Dunn? In law?”
The man"s chest puffed slightly. “I specialize in corporate law, yes.”
“An intriguing field.” Marcus smiled and added, “I"m an assistant district attorney in Tampa.”
“Why how nice,” her mother said. The approving look Gabi got from her parents warmed Marcus"s heart and probably shot his chances with her to hell.
“Can I get you something to drink, Mr. Atherton?”
“No. But thank you.” He smiled. “I didn"t mean to disturb your morning.” As he watched Gabi"s parents, their body language and expressions, Marcus could clearly see their attitude toward their daughter, that of two snooty Siamese cats faced with a bouncy puppy. His heart broke for her. As warm and perceptive as Gabi was…
Had they been as disapproving of her when she"d been a child? No wonder she"d run away. He"d have joined her.
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After today, if she still considered him anything like her father, Marcus would paddle her ass.
“We"d be pleased to have you join us for lunch here,” Mrs. Renard said.
“He can"t stay,” Gabi announced, her voice deliberately rude. She frowned at him. “I"m afraid I"m occupied today, Marcus. It"s a shame you didn"t call before you wasted your time.”
Her mother gasped, and her father"s face turned flat.
Marcus laughed. There she is, my little brat. Now to show her that her behavior wouldn"t drive him away. “You can spit at me all you want, darlin",” he said, cupping her cheek and forcing her to meet his eyes. “Do bear in mind I deal with drug dealers, murderers—and worst of all, cops, every day. I doubt that you can shock me with your behavior.”
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