by Jane Jamison
“That’s private property. Now give it back.”
He kept it out of her reach. “From what I hear, someone’s taking photos and intending to sell them.” His eyes grew wide as he skimmed through the gallery. “Looks like I know who that person is.”
She couldn’t force him to give it back, leaving her with one option. To beg. “Please, Max, you don’t understand. I’m not going to sell the pictures.” She cringed inwardly. Although she wasn’t getting any money for them, wasn’t she getting “paid” by obtaining her sister’s video? She couldn’t have felt any lower. To take the pictures was bad enough, but now that someone had found out? It made what she was doing all too real. The small ounce of hope she’d held onto, that somehow, some way, she’d find another way to get the video and not have to turn over the pictures to Wilburt finally vanished.
“Oh. So you just like to look at them later when you’re not working? But why not just go online and look at porn? Why risk your job to get some sexy pics?” His dark hair was slicked back from his forehead and his shirt had food stains on it. He worked on a neighboring ranch and, although he wasn’t well liked, people tolerated him because they liked his wife, Betty.
“Please don’t tell anyone. I swear I wouldn’t be doing this if I had a choice.”
“You’re in trouble, huh?”
Her mind wouldn’t cooperate. Wouldn’t come up with a convenient lie. “Someone I love is. Please, Max, don’t tell. This is the last time. I swear.”
“Sure, sure, honey. I won’t say a word.”
Relief flooded her until his worried expression led to the wicked turn of his mouth.
“I won’t say a word as long as you do a scene with me.”
His palm on her arm made her flesh crawl. “I thought you only came here to watch. And besides, you’re married. What would your wife think?”
“Yeah, I’m married, but I’m not dead. And I’m tired of watching. The way I see it, you’re going to cut out of here now that you’ve gotten your pictures, so what’s the big deal? The others sure as hell won’t talk about our playtime. They can’t. Not without letting everyone know what they’re into. What happens in the club stays a secret. As for consensual? I’m not going to drag you on stage. You’re going to come up there and suck on my cock all of your own free will.” He ran his hand over his mouth. “I’ve wanted a taste of you and I’m going to have it.”
Bile rose in her throat. “And if I don’t?” He was blackmailing her just like Wilburt was blackmailing her sister.
“Come on, honey, you’re a smart girl. You know what I’ll have to do.”
She closed her eyes and concentrated on not throwing up as he leaned closer, brushed back her hair, then slicked his tongue from her jaw to her ear.
“Be ready in five.”
She still had her eyes closed after he walked away. By the time she could open them again, she was near tears. What could she do but what he wanted? If she didn’t, he’d tell Paul and Destin. She’d lose not only what little time she had left at the club and with the Killian brothers, but the last of the pictures, too. Wilburt would put the video online.
Oh, shit. If Ryce and Owen see us, they’ll think the worst and I won’t be able to explain.
A tear streamed down one cheek.
I’m trapped.
* * * *
Ryce grabbed Owen’s arm, yanking him toward the corner of the room. He still couldn’t believe what he’d seen. Had, in fact, been so shocked that he’d failed to react when Max had pulled Jewel close. The only thing about their interaction that had made any sense was her reaction to Max. She hadn’t liked him. And yet, she’d pulled him into the hallway.
“What the fuck’s wrong with you?”
He wouldn’t blame his brother if he didn’t believe him. “I figured out who’s taking the pictures.”
“The hell you did. Who?” And yet instead of being excited, his reaction was tense, almost fearful. “Shit. Who is it?”
“Jewel.”
He laughed, but the sound of it was strained. “That’s bullshit. She wouldn’t do that. No way, man. You’re so wrong you couldn’t find right if it hit you in the head.”
“I saw her holding a phone.”
He shook his head, denying what Ryce wished he could. “So what? She forgot to put her phone in the locker. So what?”
“Her phone is in the locker. I just asked Lindsey to check. It’s there. But she was holding a different phone and showing Max Bolger what was on it. I think he caught her taking a picture.”
“Naw. There’s got to be an explanation. She wouldn’t.”
He hated to see the pain in his brother’s face because it matched the agony inside him. “Then it’s time to ask her outright. But I’m warning you. She looked guilty as hell.”
“Hey, everyone.”
They turned together to face the stage. Max had taken command of the microphone. His grin, even shittier than it usually was, grew wider as he scanned the audience.
“What the hell’s he doing?” Ryce’s stomach did a sickening flip. “Tell me he didn’t finally convince someone to do a scene with him.”
“If I did, I’d be lying. But who would do it? All the girls know he’s married and they’d never hurt Betty.”
“Shit.” Ryce felt physically ill, as though an evil entity had opened up his chest and pierced his heart with a jagged knife.
“No. Tell me I’m not seeing this.”
Again, he wished he could do as his brother asked. “It’s Jewel.”
If there was one thing that could bring Ryce to his knees, it was seeing Jewel walk onto the stage. Pain took his breath away and tore at his gut.
This is not happening. Not after we told her we wanted her as our sub.
Max held out his hand. Devastation hit Ryce when she took his hand and allowed him to pull her closer.
Max’s grin had morphed into a lecherous sneer. “My woman and I would like your attention.” He winked as though letting the crowd in on a secret. “She likes it when people watch. Hell, if it was allowed, she’d love it if you’d take pictures.”
“This is beyond fucked up.”
Ryce couldn’t speak. How could he when he had to witness the unthinkable?
“Down on your knees, sub.”
“No,” muttered Owen. “This is not happening.”
Ryce tried to make sense of it. First, she was theirs at the pond. Then he sees her with a cell phone and talking to Max. The truth was clear enough. She was taking pictures, but was she partnering with Max to do it? Had she not only snuck around, violating the confidentiality of the club, but had she lied through her teeth? It was all too much to comprehend. And yet, when the conversation at the pond came back to him, it was all too clear.
Without a word of complaint, Jewel went down on her knees. Ryce clenched his jaws so hard pain radiated into his head. But the pain was nothing compared to the emotional torture ripping him apart.
Max jumped his gaze from Jewel to the crowd, then back again as he undid his belt and buckle. Another gut-wrenching moment came when Max pulled the flaps of his jeans wide open and freed his cock.
Jewel leaned away, putting her head down. Her hair obscured his view of her face, but he knew without a doubt that she was crying. He started pushing his way toward the stage with Owen at his side.
“Please. I can’t.” Jewel lifted her head, then her hands, and turned away from Max. The crowd, all too aware that they weren’t witnessing a consensual scene, began murmuring, their voices low and angry.
“Jewel, we’re here.” Ryce jumped onto the stage, grabbing her underneath the arms, and pulling her to her feet.
“Get the hell back, Killian. This is my time.”
Max took a step toward them, but Ryce ignored him, putting all his focus on the woman he loved. How could she have even attempted to be with Max when she knew how they felt?
“Damn it. She’s my sub. I’m claiming her right now. Hey!”
The clamor around
them erupted louder as Jewel spun around and locked her arms around Ryce. “I’m so sorry. Please. I’m so sorry.”
More shouts came and went, but all he could think of was Jewel. He shushed her, then lifted her into his arms and strode down the steps. Dealing with Max could come later, but for now, he had to get her out of the club and somewhere where they could talk without anyone else looking on.
Hugging her to him, he strode out of the club and kept moving toward the barn. He’d thought about taking her to one of the private rooms, but he wanted her even farther away from Max and the others.
Putting her on her feet, he tugged her arms off him and took her face between his hands. “What the hell you were thinking?”
“I don’t know. He told me I had to do it, so I tried. But I just couldn’t.” Her blue eyes were bluer, brightened by the tears welling there.
“No, you didn’t. No one does anything they don’t want to do.” He glanced over his shoulder to find Owen stalking toward them.
“Is she all right?”
“She’s fine.” He bent down and met her gaze, determined to get answers for all his questions. “Why did you think you had to do that?”
She closed her eyes and when she opened them again, he could see the defeat she felt. “I had to.”
“Why, Jewel. Tell us why. Was Max forcing you? But how? Why didn’t you say something?” It would take him a long time to get over the sight of seeing her on her knees in front of Max. Still, knowing why would help.
“I had to.” She swallowed, then wiped away a tear.
He let her back away from him, but he swore it’d be the last time she ever kept anything from them. “Again. Why? We’re not letting you go until you tell us. No matter how long it takes.”
She lifted her chin, her usual fierce pride taking hold once more. “Because if I didn’t, he promised he’d tell everyone that I’m the one taking the cell phone pictures.”
He’d known it when he’d seen the phone in her hand, and yet, hearing it made it a reality. “So it’s been you all this time?”
“Y–yes. I’m sorry.”
“But why?” Owen was as torn up as he was. He dragged a hand through his hair and let out a ragged breath. “I guessed it was you after what you said at the pond, but…”
He was stunned. Were both Owen and Jewel keeping secrets from him? “Why didn’t you tell me, man?”
Owen’s face had closed in on itself as though finally the truth had dug into his face and scarred it. “I couldn’t believe it. Hell, I didn’t want to believe it. I had to hear it straight from her before it would soak in.”
He couldn’t blame Owen. Even now, he was having a hard time accepting it. “I would’ve bet anything that you weren’t involved.”
Her face crumpled, her misery putting lines where there’d been none. “I didn’t have a choice. If I didn’t take the pictures, my sister’s life would be ruined.” She gulped in a breath. “And now it will be. Oh, God. I’ve made a mess of things and I still haven’t saved her.”
There it was. The reason behind her deceit. “What do you mean? Were you planning on selling them? To who? And why? Tell us all of it.”
“Yeah, Jewel.” Owen took a step away, then turned back to face her. “If you need money, you could’ve just asked us. We’d give you everything we own.”
Owen was right. They didn’t own a ranch and they lived in the ranch hand’s bunkhouse, but they’d saved enough money to afford a home of their own once they were ready. If she’d only told them she needed money, they would’ve handed all of it to her without a second thought.
“What do the pictures have to do with your sister?” He braced himself.
She hesitated, still trying to keep things from them. “I can’t—”
He came to her, gripping her arms hard. “Yes, you can and you will.” Anger surfaced, pushing down the worry. “Don’t you get it? We told you how we feel. We want you as our submissive. That means you need to tell us everything. And once you do, you’ll see we’ll still support you. That’s what Doms do. We’ll keep you safe no matter what. And we accept you no matter what you’ve done. Jewel,” he shook her as though he could force her to understand, “we’re here for you. For the long haul. But you have to be honest with us. Now tell us everything.”
She collapsed into his arms, her sobs racking her body. Tenderly, he lowered her to the bench behind her. The horses in the stalls snorted and kicked up a fuss, but he didn’t have time for them. Every ounce of his being was for her and her alone. He knelt in front of her and took both her hands between his.
Owen came to her other side and put his arm around her. “Jewel, listen to me. I mean, really listen this time and believe me. You can trust us in every way. We will always be here for you.”
She leaned against Owen’s shoulder before meeting Ryce’s gaze. “I understand and I want to believe. It’s just so hard. Since my parents died, it’s been my responsibility to take care of Jacee. I couldn’t trust anyone to help us.”
“But you can trust us. All it takes is a leap of faith.” He squeezed her hands. “Just tell us one thing. Are you our sub or not?”
The slight nod of her head was almost imperceptible, but, nonetheless, it was there. “I want to. But now that you’ve found out what I’ve done, you can’t possibly want me any longer.”
He smiled, knowing nothing could ever make them stop loving her. “I’m going to get these words tattooed on my forehead just so you’ll remember them.” He moved his finger across his forehead as he spoke. “You. Can. Trust. Us.”
The timid smile he earned was more than he’d hoped for. “Now tell us.”
“It’s my sister, Jacee.”
“She’s in college, right?” Owen tried to lead her, to help her tell them what was so difficult to say.
“Yes.” Another tear inched its way down her cheek. “One night she went to an after-concert party with this up-and-coming rock star and his band. Things got out of hand.”
He didn’t let it show on the outside, but his anger came rushing to the top. It was an old story. One he didn’t have to hear to know what she was going to say.
“These guys got her drunk. She thinks they might have put something in her drink. But she’s not blaming them. She swears she still knew what she was doing. She was young and starstruck and foolish enough to buy their sweet lies. But she says they were just as messed up as she was. It wasn’t rape. At least, not as far as she’s concerned. I’ve tried to tell her it was because she was underage at the time, but she won’t report it.”
“So she had sex with them?” He hated it when she winced at his question. But he’d had to ask. Had to get confirmation.
“Yes. And they videotaped it.” Another round of sobs came as Owen hugged her closer.
He met his brother’s gaze and knew what he was thinking. If they had it their way, they’d find the assholes who had taped her and make them pay. “And then what?”
“Then the musician sent it to Exposed. I guess any publicity is good publicity as far as he’s concerned.”
“That’s the e-zine you worked for, right?”
“I lied to you. I still work there. At least until I can get him what he wants.”
“Who? The owner?”
“Yes. Wilburt Flaxsom, my boss, called me into his office and told me he wanted me to get a job at the club and take pictures for an article exposing BDSM clubs, He wants to make it look like the people who go there are freaks. When I refused, he showed me the video of my sister and said he’d post it on the e-zine and anywhere else he could.”
Anger surged stronger inside him. It took everything he had to keep from leaving right then, finding Flaxsom, and beating him to a pulp. But that wouldn’t help Jewel or her sister.
“The asshole’s blackmailing you.” Owen was as furious as he was.
“I didn’t know what to do. I hated taking pictures and I hated lying to everyone, but especially to both of you.” She pulled her hands free, then lo
wered her head and covered her face. “I’m so ashamed and so sorry. I’ve hurt everyone here and still haven’t helped my sister.”
“Did you hear?” asked Owen. His face grew stern as he turned toward the entrance of the barn.
Ryce looked up to find Paul watching them. If their boss was there to see Jewel, to fire her, then he was ready to leave the club with her.
“Yeah, I heard.” Paul came beside Ryce as he straightened up. “Jewel, where’s the phone?”
“Damn it, man. Give her some time. Can’t you see how upset she is?” Owen’s hold around her tightened.
“I know. And I’m sorry, Jewel, but the safety and protection of my club’s members has to come first. Where is it?”
She sniffed, then spoke, her voice shaking. “I got it back from Max and hid it behind the crate of lemons in the supply room. I don’t know what to say, Paul, except that I’m sorry.”
“Are all the pictures you took on the phone?”
She shook her head. “No. I downloaded all but the ones I took today.”
Ryce’s heart went out to her. She’d committed an awful betrayal, but she’d done it for a good reason without having another way out of a terrible situation. By the time they’d gotten close to her, she was already knee deep in the shit.
“And did you send them to this Flaxsom character?”
“Not yet. Oh, hell, I’ve made such a mess of things.” She hugged herself, once again lowering her head and avoiding meeting their gazes.
“Again, I’m sorry, Jewel, but you know I can’t keep you on at the club. The members have to trust the employees. And I’m going to need you to give me those pictures. You can’t send them to him. If you do, I’ll have no choice but to sue him and maybe you along with him.”
“I understand.”
“Come on, Paul. Give her another chance. She’s being blackmailed.”
Owen glared at his friend. “Ryce is right. What the hell did you expect her to do? She had no choice.”
Paul cleared his throat. He was a good guy who hated firing anyone, but he was also a good owner and would do anything to protect the people who’d put their faith in him to keep their identities safe. “I get that, guys, but…” He cleared his throat again, obviously having a difficult time doing what he believed he had to do. “I’ll have Belinda bring your purse to you. But I’m keeping the phone.”