The Red Door (The Door Series Book 1)

by Massey, J. L.

  “You didn’t. You didn’t trace them? God, Alex. What the fuck?”

  “We received recording of the video four years after the fact. No, we didn’t get them, but she is only one of the girls that were for sure in this club. The other girl was a college student brought in as a guest.” I looked over at Mitch. “Since you just started keeping a record on guests a few months ago you’ll have no paperwork on her, but I hope you will remember her. Her name was Kim Waters. She had brown hair and heterochromia, one green eye and one blue eye. Stood exactly five foot. Big smile.” I pulled out my phone and passed it around showing them a picture of the girl. “She was taken the same way though she wasn’t a virgin, but she was fresh and her eyes made her unusual. God, they were both so damn innocent.” I looked down at my boots and rolled my shoulders, trying to calm my temper. I had always been dominant even before I was into the scene. I didn’t understand how someone could abuse that trust.

  I let Mitch see the confusion and pain on my face. “Are you sure she was taken from this club? I know I don’t remember everyone from the club, but I did try to get all the information down about the ones under twenty-one even if no one knew I was doing it.”

  “Yes. She sent a text to a girlfriend before she came in. It said, ‘My date is taking me to The Red Door. Maybe you will not think I’m such a prude afterwards.’ The friend did say it was this club. She said Ms. Waters never dated and had only had sex once. She met this guy while she was mad and told him that she was looking for an adventure.”

  “I hate this shit. This club was opened by my grandfather to help out those in need. It’s a private place to let our inner selves relax safely, not a front for illegal activity.”

  “There’s more,” I said looking from each man before stopping on Adam, who was rubbing his hand and looking off.

  “Carrie was under the Hammond’s wing. They were caring for her four years ago. When she went missing they were the ones saying she was taken. They wouldn’t drop it. Remember Adam? Two months after she went missing, the case was dropped into unsolved, but they pushed harder and rattled national press. A week later their house burned with them in it.”

  “No!” Adam said shaking his head. “No. That was faulty wiring. Those are not connected.”

  “If you say so, but Mason managed to forward a threatening email he received that night before he died. It said ‘Sleep easy knowing that soon your pure angel, Ari, will have the same fate as Carrie. We so love her purple eyes.’”

  “God Almighty Christ, Alex. Ari is safe. Right? She won’t come here unless it is through the two of you, right? This bullshit going on between the three of you will be worked out. Between you two, Holly and me, and Diana, we will keep her safe. Right?”

  “Yes, Ari will be safe. And she is ours. She’ll get over this little fit and realize she made a mistake,” Mitch said looking right at me, making sure I knew where the mistake laid. “Now is the time for you to agree with me. To tell me that the time we spent with her meant something more to you than just your fucking job.”

  I was pissed but wasn’t going to get into it. I kept quiet and waited.

  “That’s why you didn’t take her? You didn’t want it on your conscious, that while working on this case to protect her, you were fucking her over, too?”

  “Fuck you, Mitch. If you don’t think I wasn’t in this room one hundred percent Friday night, then you’re fucking wrong. Yes, I have a job to do, and it coincides with taking care of Ari, but that night meant as much to me as to you if not more. If I didn’t have to keep up appearances I wouldn’t have gone out to Diana. That is part of this. You know how much of a Dom I am and to be a switch to get information kills me, but I will do it to see these bastards go down.”

  “How is being a switch helping you?”

  “So far it hasn’t helped any. We have no leads and everyone in this club seems legit, but there has to be someone who isn’t. We were hoping by keeping all options open that we would be approached. Not happening yet.”

  “By being a switch you thought a sexual predator would approach you?” Mitch scoffed.

  “Yes. I’m being a switch in this role. Diana a Domme. There are other roles being filled that you have no business knowing about right now. They are not just virgins being taken, but adults who can be broken, too.”

  “And you think someone is going to think they can break you?”

  “Yes, Mitch. Because I come off confused while being whipped. I do it but never get off on it. I get the shit beat out of me by a sexy hot woman willing to take me, but I never get hard. It doesn’t do anything for me. That’s what they see and why I seem confused.”

  “Maybe you need someone else beating you. I am more than willing beat the fuck out of you. I don’t doubt I can make you enjoy it, too.”

  “Don’t think I wouldn’t try it, Mitch. I will do just about anything to catch this sick fuck.”

  “Alex, not to get completely off subject, but while being my sub doesn’t do it for you sexually, it does do something for you. You have to admit that. I’m not saying this because I am the one who tops you, but because it’s the truth. All of us in this room know it. Everyone in the club knows it. You are confused; it isn’t just you trying to act that way. You need to be honest with yourself and figure out what need it fulfills or what need it’s helping you forget. I’m beginning to think it is not you, but me who’s the problem. I am supposed be willing, but you’re not my type. I need to find a young girl who’s a masochist and let Mitch take my place with you. On another note, we need to bring Ari into this,” Diana stated.

  “Not a chance,” I said in a low pitch voice, but loud enough for everyone to hear me.

  “Yes. I’ve been told to find someone who could be brought in, and if I would have known about the email, I would have brought her in sooner. This is not a decision you can make. It’s an order given to me. She’ll be safer under all of our watch if she is brought in officially.”

  “No. She’s no part of this.”

  “Yes, she is. She’s the target and the person they want.”

  “Shit!” I roared while rubbing my hands over my head wishing I had some hair to pull to release some frustration. I knew she was right, but I wanted her as far away from this as I could get her. “Fine we’ll tell her, but it’s her decision to get involved. If she says no, then you find someone else. And at the first sign of trouble I’m hauling ass with her and no one will find us.”

  “No problem. So when do you want to do this? Friday? Before the club opens?” Diana asked looking at each of them.

  “Mitch?”

  “Of course. Doesn’t matter what I think or that it’s my club. Friday at eight.” I ignored his tone and looked at my brother.

  “Adam?”

  “Yeah, both Holly and I will be here.”

  “Okay, until then, think back to any other girls who went missing or what you can remember about these two. See you Friday.”

  I walked out into the bright sunlight and wishing I felt the heat the same way I did last Friday night. Ari coming home now moved the stakes up and put everyone around her in danger. The type of danger I could feel in my soul. I knew this would end badly, I could sense it. The scales were weighted down on our side and theirs was empty. We had no idea who they were while we walked around with big targets on our backs.

  Aurora

  I spent my day signing the remaining papers at the bank and calling the utility companies. I would have everything but the gas on by Friday. And since the hot water heater was electric, I would be able to move in on Saturday. That morning Michele asked me to stay the remainder of the week at their house. It was a little weird, and I tried to decline, but she butted in saying, “Laundry, plus food and the room charge is too much. I let it go too long. You’re coming home and staying here. I’ll send the guys after you if you don’t come yourself.”

  I knew if I told her no, she would figure out why, so I packed my bags to head back to David and Michele’s hous
e. Plus, after thinking about everything Jackson had said, he was right. It was smart to go to the club and find out if it was what I truly wanted. I knew it was going to be hard to see both Mitch and Alex, but I had a club membership and didn’t figure they would revoke it because of what happened.

  I looked up as I heard someone knock on the door. Walking over looking through the hole it was not who I was expecting, but I felt excited all the same.

  “Jackson. What are you doing here? I told Michele she didn’t have to send out the cavalry.”

  He walked in and shut the door leaning against it with that same grin on his face.

  “I hear we’re roommates for the week. And I hear it was my mom’s idea, and you didn’t put a stop to it.”

  “I...”

  “Have you made up your mind then? Are you sure about going to the club as my guest?”

  “Yes. I think it is a good idea. It will be uncomfortable running into Mitch and Alex, but I can deal with it.” I threw my head back and sniffed the air, like I was above it all. I watched him laugh and joined in.

  “Good, but know that this isn’t permanent in any way. If you do decide to go back with them, just make sure they lay everything out for you and are honest. We are not in a relationship so there is no breaking up here.”

  “I know, Jackson. You doing this as a friend trying to help me was the deciding factor.”

  “You also need to know that even saying this I am not going to change who I am there. And I am different there, Ari. I am a man, and I respond sexually to lots of things. If I respond to you, don’t get uncomfortable. It isn’t personal.” He smiled.

  “Okay. I don’t know how to respond to that.”

  “You don’t have to, just stating a fact. I am sure you will respond to some of the things you see, too.” I nodded my head not wanting to admit he was right.

  “Okay for your first lesson I want to touch on a little of what a Dom feels for his subs. You need to know a Dom does not make love. Unless you’re in a committed relationship or are collared physically or metaphorically by your Dom, then there are no feelings of love. What you felt was strong, right?”

  “Yes,” I whispered not liking where this was going.

  “But did they say they loved you?”

  “No.” I felt my eyes water. I was so fucking stupid.

  “No, because a Dom will not let himself love unless the person is his completely and that completion comes with a type of ownership. Yes, there are exceptions, but in this club they are few and far between. I’m sorry this lesson was a hard one but you need to know how emotional sex can be. This life is a hard one. It doesn’t matter if you are a Dom or a sub. You’re going to feel both the highs and lows that come with it. You’re my friend, and I never want to see you hurt. This is probably the hardest lesson you’ll have to learn. I do love you, Ari, but as a friend. I won’t ever have sex with a sub thinking it’s love when I know it’s the sexual high. The subspace. You have been alone a while, and the first time someone came along and offered you more, you jumped on board. I know that you had a crush on Alex growing up; even if I didn’t overhear you and Becca talking, I saw the yearbooks with the hearts and notes in them. You have to remember, that it has been ten years since he has been back to town, and he’s not that guy anymore. No, I don’t know him, but do you know anything other than the feel of his cock?”

  “Enough Jackson! You don’t have to be an ass. I get it. I’m pathetic enough to fall for a kind word.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be an ass, but to open your eyes. You have a lot of people here who love you for you. Don’t sell yourself short, baby.”

  “I understand what you’re trying to say, but I still feel as if I was used, then tossed away, like garbage.”

  “Okay, enough lessons for today. Pick yourself up and clean yourself off. You are not garbage. Let’s go shopping and find you something super sexy to wear on Friday and let them choke on it. That is if you still want to go.”

  “Yes, but no more lessons on humiliation, please.”

  “I wasn’t trying to humiliate you.”

  “I know I needed that reality check, and I get it. I do.”

  We made it back to Jackson’s house by five p.m. I took my suitcase up to Jackson’s room while he unloaded the rest of my things into their garage.

  I went in and put away some of my things. Others could be left in my bag. I didn’t know how to deal with the elephant in the room, but Michele did. There was a blowup air mattress in the room, still in the box. I laughed to myself. She left the decision up to me. This, for some reason, made me feel cherished and loved. Accepted. I knew both David and Michele were relaxed and treated their kids with respect as long as they deserved it. Jasper and his girlfriend were serious, but she had never stayed the night, although everyone knew they were having sex. Becca even said that Michele had handed out condoms to Jasper and told him to be safe. I thought it was weird for Michele to hand condoms to one son telling him to be safe and let the other join a sex club.

  I aired up the mattress and put on the clean sheets that were under the box. It took up most of the floor, but there was a small walking path around it. Besides, it was only for three nights.

  We spent the remainder of the week talking. I told him about my time away at college, and my decision to come home. I also told him about Mason and everything that happened last Friday night at the club. He was calm and supported me through it all. When I received a call from Adam about meeting this Friday at the club, he said I should go, that even though there were some misunderstandings, they still offered their support until I found a Dom. Now that I had found one, I should go and see what the meeting was about. He said he would be with me through it all. Since I wanted to explore my submissive side, it was a good door to keep opened. I was happy to have someone to talk to and be open with, besides Becca. She was my best friend, but it was nice to have a little variety. I realized that Jackson had taken the spot Mark used to fill.

  Alex

  I worked steady all week, looking through missing persons in the area to see if there were any matches to the memberships of the clubs. I started before the sun rose and only went to sleep when I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer. While there were hundreds of memberships, if they were not maintained and didn’t keep in contact every three months, they had to be renewed, which made the job of searching through them that much more daunting. Because if it was renewed, the new paperwork was filed, but it did not replace the old paperwork. Some members had over eight copies on file, making a tedious job even more monotonous. The current memberships totaled close to two hundred active members. The club would only allow forty-five in each night, unless Mitch or one of the Masters permitted otherwise. That number was reached nearly every Friday and Saturday night. If someone wanted to guarantee entrance, they had to reserve their name on the list, but this too was only allowed a couple of times a year. Though that was nowhere near breaking code, it was the amount comfortable to the members. By Thursday I found six young women who had disappeared soon after visiting the club. This brought the number up to eight. I sent my findings back to my team so they could coordinate with Diana’s team and send the information back to headquarters. Their job was to keep going through the video footage they had to see if any of it matched these girls. It was disturbing to see each of these girls and know what they had been going through. Unreported or unnoticed?

  I had come around to the idea that it was better that Ari be informed about what was going on and to know that she was a target. It would keep her on her toes. I was the first one at the club and waited in my car for Mitch to show up. Adam, Holly, and Diana were there by the time the lights were flipped on, the club searched uselessly for bugs again, and the music playing. I looked over each of them and stated what I had done and found throughout the week.

  “Alex, if you can get me pictures I can look through our photo and video collections. It’s extensive from parties we had before I became pregna
nt and though they have names on them there are people in the background. We could gather some information. Though if these girls are from the last four years I doubt there are any in them since we quit having parties once I became pregnant, but we can look,” Holly said while biting her lip.

  “That would be a great help, Holly. There could be girls from before then who we have missed. I know those are private so I will not ask to see any unless you find something, but you need to let Diana review them with you. We only have the illegal videos to go by since the club doesn’t keep theirs for over twenty-four hours.”

  “Alex, it’s no problem,” Adam cut in. “You can go through them all you want. It’s just that some have Brenda and Mason in them and well, they are all we have left of them. We would like to keep a copy of them.”

  “What do you have of my parents?”

  I looked up to see Ari standing in the doorway with some young guy’s arm wrapped around her shoulders. Shit, did Adam not tell her to come alone? And who the hell was he to be touching Ari?

  “Who the fuck are you?” Mitch yelled, and I looked over to see him stand up and block the entrance to the office.

  Aurora

  I could not believe Mitch would roar like that. I was thinking poor Jackson the same time I felt everything clench and desire pool over me from the tone of Mitch’s voice.

  “This is Jackson. He’s going to act as my Dom until I find out if this is where I want to be and who I would be comfortable with.”

  “The fuck you say? You belong to me. We agreed, you come here, you come as my sub.” Mitch reached out and jerked my arm, successfully pulling me away from Jackson and into his chest. “Get out. She doesn’t belong to you, and she never will. She belongs to us, and we’re not sharing.”

  “From what Ari has told me and from what I saw last Friday, you play fine with others. She’s not a toy to be fought over.”