Destined to Dominate

by Red Phoenix

Afterward, he stands back and smiles. “Look at that. Grapes and BS…together again.”

  Students start filing out of their classrooms as they head for the auditorium.

  Ms. Walsh quickly directs us to the stage area. “Miss Cox, we have a chair reserved for you next to your parents. Feel free to take a seat when you’re ready.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Walsh. For everything,” I tell her, knowing the incredible amount of effort she has put into this event.

  “My pleasure,” she answers warmly.

  Principal Walsh turns to Captain. “Captain Walker, please wait here until I make your introduction.”

  “I won’t move from the spot until you do,” he assures her.

  Captain watches her walk off and then turns to me, sighing anxiously. “How is it that an old war veteran can feel this nervous over a simple speech?”

  “You have nothing to worry about, Captain,” I say confidently. “Today is all about you. Enjoy it.”

  I give him a kiss on the cheek and wish him luck before scooting down the stairs of the stage to sit with my family.

  As I go to sit down, my dad asks, “Do you think he knows?”

  I grin. “Nope, he has no idea.”

  Full Circle

  Captain

  I wait in the wings, feeling like a fool as I rub my ice-cold hands together. There’s no reason I should be apprehensive about speaking to an auditorium full of teenagers—but I am.

  When Principal Walsh calls my name, I hear an overly enthusiastic round of applause that seems odd given the circumstances. I walk out onto the stage with forced confidence, looking out over the sea of students sitting in the theater seats.

  I remember sitting in those seats and I nod to the students before heading toward the podium. I notice a number of people sitting in chairs on the stage. With so many speaking today, it takes the pressure off my own speech and I relax a little.

  “Captain Walker, I’m afraid I haven’t been completely honest about why you’re here today,” Principal Walsh informs me.

  I look at her in confusion as the lights go dim and the entire auditorium becomes eerily silent. Up on the screen, a video starts playing.

  I’m shocked to see footage of myself at the high school track back when I was only seventeen. For the next fifteen minutes, I watch the major events of my life play out on the screen. There’s even a segment highlighting both Trouper and Echo.

  Afterward, the lights come back up and I’m left standing there, speechless.

  “Captain Walker, you might be wondering who these other people are,” she says, pointing to those on the stage. “They’re from this school and have come here today to tell you in person about the significant difference you’ve made in their lives.”

  I look at the group of strangers in stunned silence, then scan the auditorium for Candy. She’s sitting in the front row with her parents, wearing a huge smile on her face.

  A man close to my age, gets up first and walks over to me.

  “Captain Walker, I was a sophomore your senior year in high school, so you wouldn’t remember me, but your excellence in track and field was a true inspiration. I studied your techniques and went on to compete on the national level, finally making the Olympic Team in 1980.”

  I hold out my hand to shake his, profoundly impressed to meet an Olympian, from Riley High no less. “What an honor it is to meet you.”

  “The honor is mine, Captain Walker. Your determination became my inspiration.” He points to the others sitting there. “It was to many of us.”

  One after another, they come up to share their story—the amputee skier encouraged by Captain’s single-minded, no excuses attitude, to the surgeon who was inspired to follow her calling and is now recognized for a breakthrough procedure in her field.

  I’m awestruck by each of these accomplished individuals. It’s humbling that they credit me for influencing them and I struggle to keep my emotions in check.

  “Captain Walker, there is one more person who has come here to see you today.” Principal Walsh leaves the stage for a moment, then comes back a few moments later helping a bent, old man in his eighties onto the stage.

  I stare at him for a second before recognizing the man. “Mr. Hall!” I cry out, running across the stage to him. “I can’t believe you’re here!”

  Mr. Hall looks up at me, his eyes sparkling. “What an honor it is to see you again, Captain Walker. I always knew you would do great things.”

  I turn to the students, declaring, “You can’t know the difference this man made at a crucial time in my life. He gave me a word of encouragement, a meal, and even saw me off the next day as I headed out to meet my destiny.” I turn back to him, putting my hand over my heart. “Thank you, Mr. Hall.”

  He chuckles. “No, thank you. You have been an inspiration to me all these years, young man.”

  I laugh at being called young and hug him again. I realize I’ve lost so much by leaving this place behind—and this man standing before me is one of them. To be given this chance to thank him personally is a rare gift.

  I nod my thanks to Principal Walsh, then turn to Candy and mouth the words, Thank you.

  My time has finally come to speak. I stand at the podium, looking over this group of young people, impressed by their level of energy and limitless potential.

  “You’ve probably heard enough about me to last you a lifetime, so I’ll keep this brief. It’s all well and good for people to spout platitudes and affirmations. Nothing wrong with that.

  “However, that’s not my style—never has been. I’m a free-thinker, and there have been times when it’s gotten me in trouble.”

  I scan the crowd and my eyes are drawn to two people standing in the back of the auditorium. For a moment, my mouth goes dry.

  My gaze darts to Candy, wondering if this is yet another surprise she has planned. She turns to look back to where I’m staring and spots the two. Turning back to me, she shrugs, appearing not to know them.

  The silence in the auditorium drags on for too long and I hear uncomfortable chatter from the audience. I clear my throat, trying to regain my composure even though my mind is racing, trying to figure out why Jacob and my mother have come.

  Not one to mince words, I continue with my speech as planned. “I’ve lost some very important people in my life, been crippled and forgotten, but I’ve kept on fighting each day because I had discovered a simple but valuable truth early on in my life. This is what I want you to walk away with today, so listen carefully…”

  I pause for a moment, making sure I have everyone’s attention—including my brother’s.

  “Your soul will never be quiet until you fulfill your destiny.”

  I smile encouragingly at all those youthful faces staring up at me. “If you understand that, life becomes a whole lot simpler. I’m not saying it will be easy…just look at me.” There is good-natured chuckling in the crowd. “However, I followed my destiny starting at the age you are right now, and I’ve never veered from it. I can tell you from experience, it was the best decision I ever made.

  “The life I lead now is based on choices I made along the way. Circumstances may sway your path momentarily, but you ultimately decide the direction you take.”

  I stare at my mother and brother when I say, “I have no regrets. I followed my destiny, and I wish the same for all of you.”

  I turn to Principal Walsh to shake her hand. “Thank you for orchestrating all of this.”

  She smiles, wiping away a tear. “What you shared with our students will reverberate for generations to come, I’m sure. Thank you, Captain Walker.”

  I head down the steps to join Candy, and we are immediately surrounded by students as they come up wanting to talk to me. I look up briefly to see that my family is gone.

  I’m not surprised and refuse to dwell on it, choosing instead to invest my time and attention on the future leaders of Riley High.

  Two hours later, we finally make it out of the school, and head towar
d the car. I stop short when I see Jacob and my mother waiting for me in the parking lot.

  I put my arm around Candy protectively as we approach them. I immediately notice that my mother’s eyes are red and her cheeks tearstained as if she has been crying the entire time.

  “Why are you here?” I demand of my brother.

  “I don’t know if you heard, but Father died last week.”

  “I knew he was dying, but not that he had finally passed,” I reply, offering nothing more.

  My mother speaks up. “We’ve been cleaning out the house. I don’t live there anymore.”

  “And what does that have to do with me?” I ask tersely, turning back to Jacob.

  “This…” he answers, opening the back of a hatchback parked next to them.

  Inside is a large plastic box. He lifts the lid, and pulls out a letter.

  I stared at it in disbelief. “My letters…?”

  “Father kept them hidden in the attic.”

  That fucking bastard! I think to myself. Because I was his “favorite” he couldn’t bear to throw my letters away, but he never let Jacob read a single one.

  “They’re all here,” he continues, “in chronological order.” Jacob’s voice is strained when he tells me, “Father never opened them, but Mama and I read through them all within the last twenty-four hours.”

  Mama sobs, “Charles…”

  I can’t handle her pain, but I remain rooted where I am beside Candy. I’ve been hurt too many times by my family not to be cautious now.

  “Charlie, I’m sorry I didn’t believe you,” Jacob tells me, barely able to look me in the eye.

  “Father was an expert manipulator,” I reply curtly.

  Jacob winces. “When I think how I spoke to you that day at the hospital…”

  I only shake my head, the pain of that visit still raw like a fresh wound.

  “My boy, how we’ve wronged you,” my mother cries.

  Oh, to finally hear those words come from one of my own. I walk over to my mother, wrapping my arms around her. “I forgive you, Mama…I know that what you did, you did to protect Jacob.”

  She starts sobbing uncontrollably. Candy opens her purse and pulls out a wad of tissues for me. I hand one to my mother, murmuring gently, “It’s okay, Mama…”

  Jacob takes the letter out of the envelope in his hand, and begins reading.

  “Dear Jacob, I know things were pretty messed up when I left, but don’t worry about me. I’m okay. Great, in fact. But now that you’re second in command, I need to ask a favor, little man. Can you look after Mom? Pitch in when she needs help and give her an extra hug from me from time to time. As for Father, he deserves your respect. He’s done a good job preparing us for military life, and I’m grateful for his training despite the huge fight we had. As far as that’s concerned, I hope what you take away from it is how vitally important it is to be true to yourself, no matter what. I have no regrets…”

  His voice falters and he can’t finish.

  “That was the very first letter I wrote,” I tell him.

  He nods, running his hand over the rows and rows of letters in the box. “You wrote me every Tuesday, just like you said.” His eyes start tearing up. “I’m sorry, big brother…”

  I see in those sad eyes the little boy I once knew and instinctively hold my arms out to him. “Little man.”

  Jacob moves forward and throws his arms around me, slapping me hard on the back. “I’ve missed you, Charlie.”

  I stiffen. It takes me a moment to realize that he’s lived our relationship in the span of a day through the letter I’ve written, while I still carry years of heartache and resentment caused by his banishment.

  I have a choice.

  I can hold onto those feelings and continue to nurse them, or I can forgive Jacob and embrace this gift I’ve been given.

  “I love you, Jacob. I always have.”

  A feeling of unity washes over me in that moment. In reconnecting with my family, I feel the collective joy of all those who have gone before me—from Grapes, my men, and even the pups.

  I’ve touched that elusive truth Candy discovered that night with Nosaka, and I am finally able to let the guilt of surviving that horrific day go after all these years. I turn to Candy and hold out my arms to her, needing her to be a part of this profound moment.

  Looking up at the sky with my brother and mother by my side, and my beautiful woman in my arms, I let out a long, loud cry of victory.

  I hope you enjoyed Destined to Dominate!

  Coming next is—Sir’s Rise: Rise of the Dominants Book One, the first of a trilogy.

  Find out how a man becomes a Master.

  Thane Davis is a young man without a father and a manipulative mother he wants to escape from.

  In an attempt to reclaim his life, he advances his studies, determined to succeed in the business world.

  New friends will become lifelong brothers and in the process, Thane will be educated in the seductive world of Domination…

  Click here to read the next book!

  (Release Date – November 6th, 2018)

  Or, if you are new to Brie and the gang, you can begin the journey with the 1st Box Set of

  Brie’s Submission which is FREE!

  Click here to read the 1st box set

  COMING NEXT

  Sir’s Rise:

  Rise of the Dominants Book One

  Available for Preorder

  Reviews mean the world to me!

  I truly appreciate you taking the time to review Destined to Dominate.

  If you could leave a review on both Goodreads and the site where you purchased this eBook from, I would be so grateful. Sincerely, ~Red

  Don’t miss the background stories behind the characters you read about in Safe Haven & Destined to Dominate.

  You can begin the journey with the 1st Box Set of Brie’s Submission which is FREE!

  1-Click here for your FREE box set

  And start reading NOW!

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Over Two Million readers have enjoyed Red’s stories

  Red Phoenix – USA Today Bestselling Author

  Winner of 8 Readers’ Choice Awards

  Hey Everyone!

  I’m Red Phoenix, an author who also happens to be a submissive in real life. I wrote the Brie’s Submission series because I wanted people everywhere to know just how much fun BDSM can be.

  There is a huge cast of characters who are part of Brie’s journey. The further you read into the story the more you learn about each one. I hope you grow to love Brie and the gang as much as I do.

  They’ve become like family.

  When I’m not writing, you can find me online with readers.

  I heart my fans! ~Red

  To find out more visit my Website

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  Dedication

  What a journey!

  Writing Captain and Candy’s story has been a joy and a crazy adventure. To write this story on both ends of the country and finish it in a new house with no furniture is something I will never forget.

  MrRed took over the move from CA to FL and all things house and meal related so that I could devote the time I needed for this story. He has been amazing support.

  Captain and Candy’s story means so much to me, and I have come to love them with the same intensity as Brie and Sir.

  Huge thanks go to my incredible editor, Karen, who took on this project knowing how nuts it would get. She’s had my back the entire way.

  Thanks to Anthony for his vision. This beautiful love story came to be as a result o
f several discussions we had on how to expand the Submissive Training Center world. I owe him for setting me on a path that led me to knowing Captain in a whole new light.

  I wanted to do Captain’s battle scene justice and am seriously grateful to Top Griz, who took the scene I envisioned and made it come to life. His experience and expertise made all the difference to that pivotal moment in the story.

  I’d like to thank my betas Becki W, Marilyn C, and Kathy O. They also had to work under the wire but were big supporters of the story.

  I want to recognize my kids, Jon and Jessica. You continue to amaze me with your dedication and creativity in marketing my books. Having my children, who know me so well and believe in the stories I tell, means so freaking much to me. I am so honored to be your mama!

  My special thanks go to Brenda H who continues, on a daily basis, to do work behind the scenes. I can’t wait to see you next year, so I can properly hug and thank you.

  I also want to thank my parents for all the great discussions lately about my work and the art of creativity. Knowing how proud you are and the respect you have for my muses means a lot.

  To all my fans who picked up Safe Haven and began the journey of Captain and Candy with me, thank you. Your enthusiastic support and reviews have touched me deeply. You make writing a beautiful experience.

  Red Phoenix is the author of:

  Brie’s Submission Series:

  Teach Me #1

  Love Me #2

  Catch Me #3

  Try Me #4

  Protect Me #5

  Hold Me #6

  Surprise Me #7

  Trust Me #8

  Claim Me #9

  Enchant Me #10

  A Cowboy’s Heart #11

  Breathe with Me #12

  Her Russian Knight #13

  Under His Protection #14

  Her Russian Returns #15

  In Sir’s Arms #16

  Bound by Love #17