His patience could only go so far. They had both made mistakes in the past, but he was the Dom. It had been up to him to provide for her, to make sure she had everything she needed in their relationship.
He had failed her. But as a submissive, it had been up to her to tell him what she needed from him and instead of talking to him, she had run off.
He didn’t like the stress she was under. Perhaps it was time to take this a step further. The soft approach wasn’t working.
He saw his brothers and weaved his way over to them, feeling a kernel of annoyance as he saw Jake sitting with them. Jake was Haven’s sheriff, and a good guy. He was a fair and decent boss. But they weren’t friends. Jake didn’t really have friends except for Saxon. So what was he doing with Duncan’s brothers?
Jake stood when Duncan arrived at the booth, moving aside.
“Duncan,” he said with a nod. A man of few words was Jake. He turned to Eli and Kellan. “Good to see you both. I’ll be in touch. Excuse me, I’m on duty soon.”
Duncan sat, staring over at both of his brothers. “Want to tell me what you were talking to my boss about?”
Eli flicked his gaze over to their older brother. Kellan glanced down at his beer before meeting Duncan’s gaze. “Jake’s helping us gather some information.”
“And here I thought you came to see me,” he said with slight sarcasm. His brothers rarely returned home to Haven. Usually when Duncan wanted to see them, he had to visit them. Their youngest brother had just gone off to college. If there was one good thing that came out of the money he’d made, it was that his younger brothers got the best education he could buy.
Eli sighed. “You know why we don’t like coming back here.”
Yeah, he got it. Bad memories. He didn’t know if he’d be here himself if it weren’t for Laken. He’d come home to wait for her. It had been a gamble.
“The old man’s been gone for years and without him, it’s actually a pretty good place to live.”
“Well, we could be staying for a bit, so maybe we’ll eventually see it the way you do,” Kellan told him.
Duncan stared at him thoughtfully. “Why? Just what were you talking to Jake about?”
Eli sighed. He and Kellan were only eighteen months apart and they looked enough alike to be twins. At times, they even acted like it. Right now, though, Duncan did not appreciate the silent conversation they were having without him.
“I’m a big boy. Just spit it out.”
Kellan stared at him seriously. Duncan could probably count with one hand the number of times Kellan had smiled since their mother died seventeen years ago. He’d taken on too much when she passed away, trying to hold them all together while their father drank himself to death.
Unfortunately, it had taken the bastard twelve years to do so.
“We’re here on a case,” Kellan told him quietly. “We’re investigating an attack on a sub. She had a fight with her Dom, a friend of Travis’s.”
“Travis has friends?” Duncan said with mock-surprise. Travis Black owned a private security firm, employing mainly ex-military and FBI agents. He wasn’t known for his easy-going, friendly personality.
Eli grinned. “Surprising, isn’t it?”
Kellan snorted. “Anyway, Duke Ryan and his sub were playing in a club in Houston when she took offense because he was helping another Dom with his sub. She left the club without telling him. When he went looking for her ten minutes later, she was gone. He thought she had gone back to her apartment. But she wasn’t there, nor was she at his place. And she wouldn’t answer her phone.”
Kellan took a sip of his juice. Like Duncan, Kellan didn’t drink. Not after seeing the way alcohol had affected their father.
“But she could have been taken for a number of reasons. Hell, she could have just run off. Are you sure she’s not with a friend, hiding out?”
Eli shook his head, looking sad. “Two days ago we got a call. Her body had been found. She had been tortured for days before she was killed.”
“Tortured?”
“Whipped, beaten, raped and there were numerous knife wounds. This guy is sick,” Kellan said grimly.
“So why are you here?”
Eli and Kellan shared another of those looks.
“When we looked into this further, we found something disturbing,” Eli began, seeming to weigh each word. “We don’t think this is the first time this guy has done this. There has been another case in Texas two months ago. A sub was taken when they leave clubs, then tortured and murdered.”
Two cases didn’t really form a pattern.
“We think this goes further back than that,” Kellan added. “We weren’t able to find any other cases in Texas, but once we started branching out we found ten similar cases spread out over five years in New York, Chicago and Philadelphia. At first it was once a year, then every six months. If it’s the same guy, he’s escalating.”
“So why are you here? Do you think he’s going to come to Haven?” Worry surged through Duncan and he vowed to get Laken back under his watchful care immediately.
“Maybe. If we tempt him.” Eli met his gaze calmly.
Duncan glared at him incredulously. “Are you kidding me? You want to bring a serial murderer here? You’d be putting everyone here in danger. Why the hell would we agree to that?”
“A very good question,” a smooth voice interjected. Duncan glanced up.
Joel Saxon stood over them. No one knew much about his background, and Duncan had tried. He hadn’t found much. Saxon had left school at a young age to join the Army, but all records had been classified. Duncan didn’t need any record to tell him the guy was deadly.
Now he owned a BDSM club in Haven. He’d also given Duncan’s sub a free membership.
Duncan gave him a cold stare.
“You’d rather just wait until he came to you?” Kellan asked smoothly.
“What makes you think he would?” Saxon replied back. “I don’t let just anyone in here. I vet every member who joins my club.”
“This guy is smart,” Eli interjected. “And he doesn’t necessarily need to be a member. He takes subs when they leave the club.”
“He’s also been targeting big cities,” Saxon interjected, proving he’d already done his homework. Duncan could see the surprise in Eli’s eyes, although he quickly masked it. Kellan’s expression never changed. “We look after each other in Haven, especially our women.”
“You’re also coming into peak tourist season,” Kellan reminded him. “This place isn’t some sanctuary against crime. Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago that some crazy woman tried to kill one of your ‘well-protected’ women?” he said with a slight tinge of sarcasm.
Saxon showed no reaction, although Duncan felt the tension rocket upwards.
“I thought you of all people, Saxon, would want to do all that you could to protect the women of this town, especially the subs,” Kellan countered. “Wouldn’t you rather be proactive? Control the situation?”
What the hell did Kellan know about Saxon that Duncan didn’t? There was something going on, Duncan could see it in the way the two men glared at each other.
“What makes you think he would come here? Do you have some sort of bait?” Saxon asked smoothly.
Again, Duncan’s brothers looked at each other, silently communicating. Damn, they were really starting to piss him off.
“You’ll find out, if you agree to help us.”
Saxon stared at them all coldly before turning and stalking off.
Eli let out a deep breath. “Shit. Intense, isn’t he?”
“And well informed,” Kellan added.
“Want to tell me what the hell that was all about? What do you know about Saxon?” Duncan asked.
“If he wants you to know he’ll tell you,” Kellan said shortly.
“You two take the fucking cake, you know.” Duncan stood up. “You only ever call me up when you want something. Sometimes I wonder why I bother answering the phone.”
He saw the person he was searching for. Duncan moved swiftly towards him.
“I want to speak to you,” he demanded.
Saxon patted the head of the curvy blonde kneeling at his feet. “Go and find Master Xavier, pet. Tell him I said to set you up on the cross. He’ll stay with you until I come.”
“Yes, Master,” she said, gracefully standing and moving away.
Saxon turned with a nod of his head, indicating the stairs leading to his office. Duncan had been there a few times, when he was petitioning to join the club. Saxon hadn’t been lying earlier; he really did vet every person who wanted to join.
Once the men entered the office, Saxon asked, “What can I do for you, Jones?” He stood in front of the one-way glass, allowing him an excellent view of the playroom below.
“I want to know why you gave my sub a membership.” Duncan stood beside him.
Saxon looked over at him. “I didn’t realize she was your sub. Tell me, why would you let your sub stand out in the dark and cold, watching the club night after night? Was it a punishment?”
“Of course not.” Duncan took a deep breath. “How long has she been doing this for?” And why didn’t he know anything about it until now?
“About three weeks. First, it was just on a Friday night and then twice a week. When she was there two nights in a row, I finally went out. Someone had to take care of her.” There was no accusation in his voice, but Duncan felt the blow to his gut.
“Why didn’t you call me?” he growled. Someone should have told him.
“Like I said, I didn’t realize she was yours. You’ve never brought her here. She wears no collar, and as far as I know she doesn’t sleep in your bed.”
“She. Is. Mine.” He didn’t give a shit if he was sounding like a possessive maniac. She was his.
“Whatever she owes you is my debt,” Duncan told him.
Saxon was quiet for a long moment. “No, I don’t think so.”
“She’s my sub. Her problems and debts become mine.”
“You might think of her as yours, but she doesn’t,” Saxon replied. “No, I think I’m going to keep that debt for a while.”
Duncan’s hands clenched into fists.
“She’s a very gorgeous sub, our Laken. Feisty, but bruised. She needs a firm hand, but someone who won’t crush her spirit.”
“You stay away from her,” Duncan growled. “I’m warning you.”
He swore he saw Saxon’s lips twitch. “I consider myself warned. Now, if you’ll excuse me I have a pretty little sub waiting to get her ass whipped.”
Duncan had no choice to leave, but he knew it wasn’t over.
Chapter Three
Laken moved around her apartment in a daze the next morning. It was Sunday so she didn’t have to open the store. She was open six days a week, but in a few weeks, as the town became busier, she’d be opening Sunday afternoons as well.
She stared down at the bills sitting on the table. Normally, the amount of money she owed would send her into a spiral of panic. Even the final notice from the electric company couldn’t get her mind off last night.
What had Duncan meant by the kid gloves coming off? Did he really think he had the right to tell her what to do? Hell, who was she kidding? This was Haven. Most of Haven’s male population would scold her if they thought she was putting her safety at risk.
Duncan was a deputy; he probably thought it his duty to scare her into staying safely in her apartment, locked away. Well, a big part of her wanted to do just that. But she was determined not to listen to that part.
She knew if she ever gave in and let fear rule her that she’d become a hermit, too scared of her own shadow to do anything.
And that wasn’t who she was.
She might never regain certain parts of herself. She didn’t know whether she would be able to enjoy bondage and submission again, but she was determined to not let fear rule her entire life.
Sighing, she glanced down at her bills.
Damn Ricky.
The only person, besides the police and hospital staff, who knew what had happened to her was Ricky’s father. He had been her employer and she felt awful that he now thought she was a liar and a bully. He’d been so wonderful to her, holding her job open for her, finding her a safer apartment, checking up on her and paying for a counselor.
When she’d been ready to go back to work, she was determined to throw herself into her job. After all, she’d had nothing else.
However, her dream job and her perfect boyfriend had all been a lie. Ricky was a cheat and a liar. He had constantly taken the accolade for her work and at the time she hadn’t cared. After all, they’d been a team. Or so she’d thought.
A knock on her door had her turning with a frown. Hastily, she stuffed her bills in a drawer. The last thing she needed was her dads or Lila offering to help her out.
She glanced through the peephole to see Duncan standing there with a bunch of flowers in his arms. What was he doing? He wasn’t the flowers type. The only gifts he had ever bought her were paddles, floggers and sexy lingerie.
“Duncan,” she greeted him as she opened the door. “What are these for?”
Gerberas, her favorite.
“You tell me,” he growled, forcing her to move back into the room as he stalked inside. “Who are these from? Are they from that bastard, Saxon?”
Laken ignored the stab of disappointment, placing her hands on her hips as she glowered at him. “What are you talking about? Why would Saxon send me flowers?”
“Well, someone did.” He dumped them on the table without a care. “And I want to know who.”
“What business is it of yours?”
“Laken,” he growled in a voice gone deep with command. Swallowing heavily against the urge to kneel at his feet, to soothe him, she reached over to search for a card.
“There’s no card.”
“I know that,” he said impatiently, pacing. “I bet they’re from Saxon.”
She sighed. “I hardly know the man. Why would he give me flowers?”
“Why does he do anything? Why did he give you a membership to his club? Because he wants you, Laken. You’re a challenge to him.”
“Looks like I overestimated the amount of brain cells you have. Saxon has no interest in me.”
Duncan turned, glaring at her. “You’re not to talk to him, understand me? Don’t talk to him, don’t make eye contact with him, don’t go anywhere near that man.”
Anger surged through her and she welcomed the strong emotion.
“What I understand is that you’re acting like a complete idiot. You are not my Dom or my boyfriend. You have no right to dictate who I see. Now, is there a reason you’re here other than to yell at me? Because I’ve got work to do.”
Duncan frowned, his dark eyes stormy and deep. As angry as she was with him, she couldn’t help but respond to his nearness. Her heartbeat grew faster, the heat engulfing her, warming her from the inside out.
“The store is closed.”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t have work to do,” she informed him. “I’ve got Lila’s wedding gown to design. I’m busy, Duncan.”
“You work too hard. You need to take better care of yourself, Laken.”
She moved over to her door, holding it open without a word. Duncan walked over to her, but instead of stepping outside, he leaned down and swiftly took her lips against his.
Laken didn’t have time to move away before arousal rushed through her, stealing her every sense, every ounce of resistance. His lips plundered hers as he slipped his tongue inside her mouth. Laken melted, surrendering to him, her body brush
ing against his as she moved closer.
When he stepped back, she whimpered. She stood there for a long moment, eyes closed as she savored his touch. It took a while before she opened her eyes to see his smug grin.
“Remember that the next time some asshole sends you flowers. You’re mine, Laken Michaels. And don’t forget it.”
“And you’re beginning to sound like a stalker, Duncan Jones. Leave me the hell alone before I get a restraining order against you!” she yelled, slamming the door behind him.
How dare he!
Laken stared at the door, shaking. Damn him. He would not do this to her again. She was over him. Over men. If they weren’t forgetting her and letting her down then they were cheating on her and lying.
No, she wanted nothing to do with men and especially nothing to do with Dom’s.
She paced the room until her temper ebbed, leaving her feeling exhausted.
Her phone rang and she picked it up absentmindedly, half expecting it to be one of her fathers or Lila.
“Hello.”
“Hello, lovely Laken. How are you?” The slimy voice drove every bit of arousal out of her body as her anger surged.
“Why are you calling me, Ricky? What do you want?”
“Why, I don’t want anything but to listen to your lovely voice. Did you enjoy the flowers I sent? I know they’re your favorite.”
So he did know something about her. Unfortunately, he didn’t know enough to stay well away.
“You sent me those flowers?” She should have known. He’d been calling her for weeks now, beginning on that awful day when Lila had nearly been shot. “What the fuck do you want, Ricky? And don’t bother feeding me any bullshit.”
Her ex-boyfriend dropped the fake charm. “I want you back, Laken. I was wrong to let you go.”
“Let me go?” she yelled. “You cheated on me then you lied to your father to make it look like I was bullying your blonde bit on the side. Not only did I get fired, but you made it so no one else would ever want to hire me. You lied, cheated and stole from me, and now you have the gall to tell me that you made a mistake!”
“I was led astray,” he whined. What the hell had she ever seen in him? “I made a mistake, can’t you forgive and forget? Come back, Laken. I promise to treat you like the princess you are. Don’t tell me you don’t miss New York. Father has even promised you a bigger office and more money.”
Laken's Surrender (Haven) Page 3