by Piper Stone
While I hadn’t expected to stay the night, the quiet time spent after the session had been pleasant, more so than I wanted to admit to myself.
In his bed.
In his arms.
The fact he’d carried me into his bedroom, pulling back the covers and tucking me in had seemed odd in every way. The room was his private space, one I doubted another woman had visited. Why bring me to his sacred place unless he actually gave a damn? When he’d stood at the window of his bedroom, watching the storm, taking deep breaths every instance that the lightning flashed, I’d simply watched him. He’d been tense but a smile crossed his face with every rumble of thunder.
While I had no idea how long before I’d fallen asleep, I’d known his arms remained around me, keeping me close against his chest until the early hours of the morning. Then there had been quiet, a wall built between us. There’d been no discussion, no talk over an amazing breakfast. In fact, I’d finally been able to see just how austere his apartment truly was.
Bold furniture.
Granite countertops.
Stainless appliances.
And little else.
And the session was something I would never have anticipated; the way he brought me out of my shell and allowed me to understand as well as embrace the hint of darkness crowding into my soul. Even the spanking had been on another level, forcing me to realize that a part of me had hungered for a dominating man.
I still found that difficult to believe.
I’d always been the strong one, the girl who rescued puppy dogs and refused to back down to any asshole who stood in my way. Hell, I’d punched more than one asshole in the face for getting in mine.
Maybe I’d just been pretending all along.
The irony was almost impossible to ignore.
As I stood in front of my apartment building, my eyes drifted to my poor little car that had been brought there by one of his employees, a brand new battery included. I had no idea when he’d taken my keys or how he’d arranged for the purchase in the middle of the night, but it seemed everything about him held extreme power. I found it difficult to walk up the steps, even turning to watch as his car pulled away. And I could swear his eyes remained pinned to the rearview mirror.
Why did I feel such a connection to him? He was merely a criminal, a man who had no issue using people to get what he wanted. Or was that really the truth? Had he somehow been pigeonholed into being blamed for the sins of his father? Then again, I had to remember that his dangerous prowess was predicated on everything his father had offered his three sons, including the legacy of secrets. Why would I think Gregory would be any different, merely using me to find out some level of truth, making certain I paid the price for bothering to attempt to protect the city?
However, it seemed as if he now thought I was a part of some plan created by one of his enemies. Perhaps I could use that to my advantage. Geez. I’d spent an amazing night with a man I was starting to enjoy and the good girl side of me continued to think about how best to take him down.
A chill popped down my spine as I unlocked the main door leading into the common hallway, slowly closing it behind me, still able to catch a glimpse of his Mercedes.
How could I explain to myself why he’d allowed me to stay or why I’d enjoyed the time we’d spent together? How could I rationalize the fact he was all controlling, trying to break down my defenses, his hunger knowing no bounds? And why did I want more? Another taste of his dominance, another touch of his hands? His belt?
I was thankful there were no other tenants prepared to offer some level of chitchat. I wanted time alone to reflect and to search for my own truths. While I understood the importance of the case given the possible victims involved, there seemed to be an overriding darkness enshrouding the entire club. Another evil at work. Another reason to bring down Club Darkness.
My feet were heavy as I walked up the stairs to my apartment, fumbling with the keys. Everything that I’d promised myself I was going to do seemed like a distant objective that I didn’t want to grasp onto. I’d spent two nights actively working at the club, and I was no closer to finding any real details, other than he was nervous something was going on in the middle of his club.
Also that he was extremely possessive.
As I walked into my apartment, I couldn’t help but think about how his cock felt inside or the way my bottom burned from the intensity of the spanking. I would find it difficult to sit for at least a full day. I closed my eyes, allowing the vibrant images of his face to pulsate into every muscle, my pussy already aching. Exhaling, I leaned against the door, savoring the moment.
“Hello, Detective.”
Jumping, I slapped my hand over my mouth to keep from screaming as I snapped my head toward the sound. My captain had found a way into my apartment and was leaning against the kitchen doorway, his hands in his pockets.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded, resisting going to the window in order to make certain that Gregory hadn’t doubled back. What the hell had he seen? “I thought we weren’t supposed to be seen together.” In his hands was a file of some kind. I darted another glance toward the window, feeling more uncomfortable than I had on the club’s stage. Even the way Captain Snelling was staring at me felt like admonishment.
“That’s not exactly what I said, Detective, although I will keep this brief. I felt it was important that we talk. There have been some developments.” He gazed at my attire, including the fact I had my wig in my hand, his eyes opening wide. “It would seem that you have gone more undercover than I would have expected. Have you been compromised, Detective?”
His accusatory tone pissed me off. At no time had he said that I shouldn’t get too close. In fact, he’d said just the opposite.
I dropped my things on the coffee table, trying to figure out how much I wanted to tell him.
While I had no reason for my thoughts, my instinct told me to be careful.
“Absolutely not. I did what I thought was necessary in order to keep my cover, including learning about the club as well as Gregory Dunmore, which is exactly what you tasked me to do. What developments? Is there a change in my assignment?”
Captain Snelling hesitated before answering. “There are questions being asked out of the blue. It would seem that you ruffled some feathers.”
“By?”
“While I wasn’t told who made the inquiring call, the information I received from a very trusted source was quite disconcerting. It would appear that people are searching to find any new recruits within the department. That leads me to believe that the Dunmores have been warned that an undercover operative may be working for them. Given you are the only new hire, as you might imagine, that does concern me.”
I thought about the judge and whether or not he’d been able to figure out who I was. “While Gregory is absolutely concerned that someone is attempting to damage his reputation, I don’t think he believes that I’m involved. As you told me earlier, if he believed I was someone other than a dancer, I wouldn’t be standing here.” While I was stretching the truth perhaps more than I should, at least a part of me wanted to finish out this case.
You want to spend more time with Gregory.
My inner voice created a wave of heat spilling between my legs. I had to remain professional.
“I find it interesting to say the least that you spent the night with him.” The captain waited for my reaction. “As you might imagine, while agents are often required to fit into whatever environment they are placed into, sleeping with the enemy will place your life further into the danger zone.”
“As I said, I’m doing my job and what I feel is necessary. My battery went dead. Things happened from there. Gregory was actually very nice.”
“Nice,” he said, laughing. “You’ve been on this case for a little over two weeks, yet you suddenly see the perpetrator as nice. Even for someone as green as you are, I certainly believe you are much smarter than that. Gregory Dunmore is very good at getting what
he wants, including bedding a beautiful woman, especially if he thinks she has the ability of derailing his operation. Perhaps I should have explained in greater detail the kind of criminal activity that he’s been tied to in the past.”
“You mean like human trafficking? Neither he nor his brothers have any reason to stoop that low. They run a clean operation, carefully maintaining rules.” Of course, looks could be deceiving. I’d just dropped a hint that I actually believed something different than what I’d been told by the people I worked for.
The tension in the room was palpable.
He walked closer, the heels of his polished shoes creating an echo on the hardwood floor, his gaze never leaving me. “I didn’t take you for a prom queen, Detective Sutherland. A lot of work has gone into putting this case together. No matter what Gregory Dunmore says to you, believe none of it. He’s the master of persuasion, much more so than his brothers. He would crush you like a bug if necessary. Crossing any line, showing any weakness will give him carte blanche to either destroy or discredit you.”
While the captain was correct in how suave and practiced Gregory truly was, I had no intention of falling prey to his overt distractions. None. Then why were my hands shaking?
I moved around him and into the kitchen, trying to put on a pot of coffee, my gut churning. I had a feeling it was going to be a very long day. “I understand what you’re saying, Captain. I’m doing all I can to keep Gregory at arm’s length. I can tell you that there are other dancers who haven’t been employed for long.”
“Are any of them underage?”
“Not that I can detect. I honestly don’t buy that claim whatsoever, Captain.”
“You know as well as I do that things aren’t as they seem. You mentioned these private rooms. Have you been able to get into any of them?”
A shiver skittered down my back. “I’ve seen one, but it’s just a private room for those who want to indulge in aspects of kink.”
“Uh-huh. I’m going to ask you this just once, Detective. Are you certain you are comfortable going on with this case?”
“I am doing my job, Captain. I plan on continuing to do so.” As I glanced in his direction, I couldn’t tell by his body language whether he bought what I was saying or not.
Sighing, he shifted around to face me. “The pictures you sent were blurry but helpful, but I certainly need more of them. Obtaining access to their financial records is vital.”
I hadn’t been certain the photographs had even gone through.
“Unfortunately, the phone was destroyed. I also doubt it will be possible to get into their offices. The entire floor is heavily secured.”
“How was the phone destroyed?” he asked quietly, a hint of anger in his tone.
“I... accidentally dropped it.” Why I was lying I honestly wasn’t certain. The silence and the tension filled me with anxiety. This wasn’t just about being over my head. I was drowning in bullshit.
“An accident. That surprises me. However, I’ve brought another. While these things happen, you need to be more careful. I won’t warn you again, Detective. If my sources are correct, you need to make certain you continue to wear your costume at all times while you’re in the club. There are too many eyes at the precinct that could have seen you at one time or another, even if you’ve been wiped clean from the system.”
Nodding, I watched as he placed it onto the counter. “I’ll do what I can. There just aren’t any signs of any illegal activity that I’ve been able to detect. The time I’ve spent with Gregory hasn’t indicated anything unusual at all.” I still had no desire to tell him just how close Gregory and I had become. While I wanted to believe I was simply trying to eradicate a human trafficking situation, deep down inside, I knew I wanted to experience more with Gregory. He’d awakened something within me that I couldn’t deny.
“After everything you’ve told me, I’m under the distinct impression that you’ve been compromised. I believe I’m going to have to pull this case.”
“No!” I exclaimed, surprised at my own intensity. Maybe I wanted to prove his innocence. Or maybe I’d already allowed myself to be driven too close to the core. Shit. A second cold shiver drifted down my spine. “Captain, I have the distinct impression that there’s still something you’re not telling me. I need to know why you think they are selling off underaged girls.”
“I think that you better watch your tone, Detective. I don’t think you want to have a blemish on your record so soon after arriving in DC.” The captain had raised his voice, his nostrils flaring.
“No, sir. I do not. I simply want to solve this case to the best of my ability.” I looked him straight in the eyes, refusing to back down. Red flags were now raising all over again. What the hell was going on in this town that had everyone so terrified?
He studied me intently before opening the file in his hand. “What I’m about to say is off the record. You don’t know me very well, Autumn, but I work by the book. I was once that dog with a bone junior detective, relentless and refusing to let anything go. I took pride in my work.”
Why did I feel like there was a ‘but’ coming on?
“I don’t like taking information from informants because I’ve been burned in the past,” he continued. “Taking on this case wasn’t my choice. I wasn’t given one. While I can’t and won’t tell you the particulars, rest assured that someone very important wants to take down the Dunmore family with a vengeance. Answer me this. Why do you think that you’ve only been at the precinct once, whisked immediately into a small office with no windows?”
I hated to admit that I was suddenly afraid, but I’d walked into a situation I thought was perfect. Now everything seemed wrong, jaded. A lie. “What are you trying to tell me, Captain? That my position with the police doesn’t exist? I’m not entirely stupid. I certainly spent time checking you out, including what information I could glean from former employees. I have my sources too, Captain.” I seemed to surprise him with my statement, one I certainly hadn’t planned on using. Was there a flicker or doubt in his eyes or merely another round of annoyance and anger? Thank God I had a friend who had access to almost every law enforcement data base. His help had certainly given me the last push to come here. Maybe his services would be needed again.
“A thorough detective, another admirable trait. As far as the DC police department is concerned, you don’t exist. You were never hired. There are no records of any kind, including on your rental agreement at the apartment.”
I leaned against the counter, taking in what he was saying. I was expendable. I never existed. What I’d been brought into the middle of didn’t sound like a case as much as a grudge. “Why are you really here, Captain? To threaten me if I’m not a good little girl?” There was true surprise in his eyes, a moment where he seemed uncertain of what to say.
“The last picture you took was blurry, as if you’d been caught in the act. When no additional photographs were sent, I became concerned. After discovering you hadn’t returned to your apartment, I went hunting, ultimately following one of Club Darkness’ bouncers in your car. Imagine my surprise to find that a battery was being installed at four in the morning.” He inched closer, his eyes darting back and forth. “My gut is telling me this case is going south and I’m uncertain as to your involvement.”
“Involvement? I’m the one undercover, sir,” I retorted, swearing he could see right through me, reading my mind.
“Yes, and I’ve known three undercover agents who decided a different lifestyle was much better suited to them. I don’t want that to happen to you because I see you as a valuable asset. You truly don’t understand how dangerous they are.”
“I think I do, Captain.”
I locked eyes with him, trying to keep my nerves intact. He was warning me, but I wasn’t entirely certain for what reason.
Or which side he was on.
He hesitated again, taking several deep breaths. “There was no hard evidence against the Dunmores until recently, although t
here were always bites of information from various informants, angry politicians insisting that one or all three of them be arrested. However, that amounted to nothing more than a few of them being caught with their pants down. When I was required to put an active but small team together, that pissed me off.”
Something had changed. “And now?”
Nodding, he reached into his pocket, pulled out several folded pieces of paper. Whatever he was holding he’d dared not place into any file.
“I finally have something that can and will stick, at least with corroborating evidence.”
“And what hard evidence would that be?” I asked, unsure if I wanted to know.
The captain glanced at the paperwork before speaking. “Money deposited into several of their accounts from unknown sources. We wouldn’t have discovered or even noted the oddity had it not been for someone we have inside one of the banks. Her call was enlightening to say the least.”
“What?” That seemed awfully convenient.
“There were hundreds of thousands of dollars placed in various accounts. That in itself doesn’t raise a red flag; however, every single penny has been moved, which indicates that the deposits won’t be represented on their financials.”
“Could it be a mistake?” I asked, trying to think through what he was saying.
“Not when it involves the kind of money we’re talking about. What I know about Michael Dunmore is that he is brilliant with numbers. While no offshore account has ever been found, no discrepancies of any kind, this could be the single mistake made. In my eyes, that doesn’t sound like the actions of innocent people.”
The sound of greed rang in my mind loud and clear, but my instincts told me it had nothing to do with the Dunmores. I shook my head, glaring at him. “I don’t believe it.”
“And why don’t you believe in the possibility, Detective?” He handed me the papers, waiting with a smile on his face. “Several people were photographed depositing funds into various ATMs at different times of the day and night. You can’t tell who they are.”