An Angel Exposed [Safeword LLC 3] (Siren Publishing Sensations) Read online

  “Glad to hear it,” Alec said, taking a drink of his ginger ale. It didn’t surprise Chad when he changed the subject. “Our little sub has learned how to behave herself. I’m thinking we should do a light scene and then head on back. We’ve got a busy day tomorrow.”

  “Sounds good,” Chad said, reaching out and stroking Amy’s hair. The fullness of her strands seemed to wrap around his fingers like they didn’t want to let go. She had learned better behavior and he was relatively sure it had to do with her nightly discipline. Last night, she hadn’t received any marks from his cane. Although, they’d spent the majority of the day with Ruby, so Amy really didn’t have time to rack up the points. “I was thinking of using the St. Andrew’s Cross, if Owen and Landon ever get through with it. I think our angel would like to be placed up there for all to see. I brought my flogger.”

  Chad noticed that Amy bit her lip, although she kept her gaze downcast. There was a slight shift of her ankles, underneath her ass, letting him know that she like the idea. The slight lift of the corner of her mouth was a tell as well. He glanced over at the play area, noticing that Landon was slowly bringing the sub down from her subspace. It wouldn’t be long now.

  “Put this on her.” James’s deep command startled the three of them. He was holding his suit jacket over the couch, waiting for Chad to take it. “We’ve got company.”

  Chad’s gut twisted and without even glancing toward the door, he knew who’d walked through. Since Josh and Tyler were part of the Order, they had unlimited access to clubs that catered to the members and James would only ever react this way if it were them. Alec was already standing, as if he could protect her from their sight. Chad knew the time had come and hoped like hell that Amy was ready for the confrontation ahead.

  “Amy, your brothers just walked in the door. Put James’s jacket on until we can get your coat from Lucy.”

  “Oh my God! Chad, it’s too soon. I’m not ready for this,” Amy said in a panicked voice. She quickly shoved her arms through the bulky sleeves. James was such a big guy that his jacket pretty much covered Amy to her knees, which was a good thing, considering she was naked except for the collar they’d picked out for her. “Alec, do something.”

  “Angel, it’s time. You need to remember yourself and let us handle this,” Chad whispered, seeing that people were starting to notice. He gave a quick glance at the door, seeing Josh and Tyler shaking hands with some Doms they hadn’t seen in a while. That was the first clue that they weren’t here because of Amy. They must have decided to come to Alec’s showing anyway and decided to stop in the club for some playtime. Maybe there was a way to get her out of here without them noticing. Shit! What the hell was he thinking? It was time to face the music. The sooner, the better, and it was one less thing that he’d have to worry about. This way, Chad would just have Alec’s past to deal with. It was high time that Amy knew about it. “They love you. They’ll accept this side of you.”

  “Fuck,” James spit out. “Tyler just looked our way. Let’s try to take this out in the entryway. The last thing you need to is have him lose his cool in here.”

  “Amy?” Tyler’s shocked voice carried through the play area.

  “Too late,” Chad said, trying to tuck Amy underneath his arm. She wasn’t having any of it and before he could grab her, he realized that Amaryl Bousch had steadied her shoulders and was ready to take on her two big brothers. Great, he thought wryly, just what they needed. “Amy, let us handle this.”

  “Only if I need back-up,” Amy said, stepping away from him and in front of Alec, who reached for her.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Alec asked, his shock evident. “Didn’t you hear Chad? Let us handle this.”

  “Tyler, this isn’t their fault,” Amy said, ignoring Alec and speaking her mind anyway. Chad wanted to yank her back and remind her of her place, considering where they were, but knew that doing so in front of her brothers would only cause the tension to ratchet up ten-fold. “Let’s head back to their apartment to talk and I’ll explain everything.”

  “You’re supposed to be in Europe, Amaryl. What the hell are you doing in a BDSM club dressed in nothing but a man’s jacket?” Tyler said, his voice rising with each word. Josh came to stand beside him, but remained silent, as if he was taking in the event before responding. “Do you have anything on underneath there? Fuck! Chad and Alec, I ought to kick your asses.”

  “No one is doing anything until you have heard what I have to say,” Amy replied, placing one hand on her hip, while the other held together James’s lapels on his jacket. “I’m not sixteen years old anymore, Tyler.”

  “He didn’t say you were,” Josh finally replied. “Get your own coat and we’ll meet you at Chad and Alec’s apartment.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” Tyler said, practically shouting.

  “Tyler, not here,” Josh said, turning to go.

  Chad heard a feminine yelp and turned around, noticing that everyone’s attention had diverted from them to one of the newer submissives. Chad remembered her name as being Trish.

  He was shocked to see that James had his hand wrapped around her upper arm, although a part of him was relieved to have a respite. James reached down into the corset she was wearing and pulled a tape recorder out of her cleavage. Collective gasps could be heard throughout the room and someone had shut off the background music.

  “Did you really think that you would get away with this?” James asked in a deadpan tone that Chad had never heard from James before. He had no doubt that this man was a Dominant in his own right. However, his voice carried a command presence more suited to a battlefield. His voice lowered, but Chad was close enough to hear every word of his edict. “The Order is off limits to you, am I making myself perfectly clear?”

  “And what would happen if I splashed the inner workings all over the front page tomorrow, huh?” Trish replied, trying to tug her arm free with no success. “Before you kill me and throw my body into the lake, you should know that I’ve gathered enough information to bring down multiple well-known people and I’ve secured that info so it leaks if I go missing.”

  Chad could see her surprise when James threw his head back and gave a hoarse laugh. He pocketed the recorder and looked over towards Sander and Lashe. It was obvious that the reason James had been visiting the club over the last few weeks was because of this deceitful little wench, but how they handled it would remain guarded. Sander and Lashe were on the executive board, and regardless of Trish’s very public claim that she was about to be found floating facedown in a lake, Chad had no doubt no harm would come to her.

  “And what would you say, out of curiosity?” James asked, buying time while Sander handed over the submissive on the bench to another trusted Dom. “And by the way, your editor? I’d think he’d have something to say about this little story of yours.”

  Trish’s eyes widened at the implication that people she worked with may be swayed by the Order, but that didn’t seem to stop her outrage at what she thought the Order was about.

  “How about the fact that publicly conservative senators are sharing women in private? Or what about them utilizing their wealth and privileged lives to get away with domestic slavery?”

  “Woman, are you just making this up as you go along? This supposed article would require something you don’t have—facts. However, considering that Cunningham Publishing owns your newspaper, I don’t think you’ll find the support from your editor, as I said.”

  “I’ve got to hand it to you, James,” Sander said, finally walking over with Lashe, “you know how to diffuse an explosive problem. We’ll take it from here.”

  “It’s just one of many hats I wear,” James replied, literally handing over Trish into Sander’s hands. “I think I’ll keep the illegal recordings, at least until I find out what conversations she was able to tape and get affidavits to contest their use.”

  “We’ll get the remaining tapes, as well as any pictures she may have taken, and make
sure they’re sent to your office,” Lashe said, ignoring Trish’s protestations. “It looks like you have another situation to deal with, so we’ll leave you to it. Thanks again, man.”

  “Anytime, gentlemen,” James answered, turning toward Amy.

  Chad had noticed that everyone had stopped what they were doing to see what Sander and Lashe were going to do with Trish, as well as trying to see if Amy and her brothers were going to continue their conversation. None of them wanted to be the center of attention, so Lashe and Sander ushered Trish out of the main play area, while Chad knew it was time to get Amy home.

  “James, we’ve got this covered,” Chad said in a low voice, not wanting Josh and Tyler to connect the fact that Amy had used Safeword LLC to find a Dom, or in this case, two Dominants. “Amy just needs some time alone with her brothers, so that she can explain this is what she wants.”

  “As much as I know that is how you want this to play out, it’s not going to happen that way. Amy’s under contract, so therefore, she’s my charge.” James slapped him on the back as he walked away. “I’ll meet you at your place.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Amy was still shaking as she walked out of her bedroom after having put on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. Things never seemed to go as planned. And even though she was scared to death to admit to her brothers that this was what she wanted, Amy knew it was time. That didn’t mean she was looking forward to the upcoming conversation. At least she didn’t hear glass breaking or fists hitting flesh. It would be good to come out of this without any bloodshed.

  Amy walked into the living room, finding that Tyler was pacing in front of the window overlooking the city lights and Josh had his hands on the chair, with his head hung low. He must have heard her, for he lifted his head and their blue gazes connected. She looked more like Josh than she did Tyler, and took after him in personality as well. Tyler tended to overreact without thinking.

  “Where are Chad and Alec?”

  “Right here,” Chad said, walking into the room from the kitchen.

  Alec followed behind, accompanied by James. She quickly glanced over to see Tyler shaking his head and realized they must know James and that he worked for Safeword LLC. Oh, this wasn’t starting off as good as she had hoped.

  “Europe? Really?” Tyler asked, being the first one to broach the subject. That didn’t surprise her. “Pack your stuff. We’re going home.”

  Amy did laugh at that, being such a typical Tyler reaction. “No, Ty. I’m not going back to your home, at least not yet.”

  “What does that mean your home? Not yet?” Tyler walked toward her, closing the distance. “I knew this would happen eventually. I told Josh that when you practically blackmailed us into letting you be our accountant, that you had an ulterior motive.”

  “What Tyler is trying to say,” Josh said, not moving from the table, “is that this isn’t the lifestyle we wanted for you.”

  “That’s rich. What about what I want?” Amy asked, looking back and forth between her brothers. Couldn’t they see, after all the effort she’d put into making this happen, that this was what she wanted? “Chad and Alec—”

  “Don’t,” Tyler warned, spinning around to face her Masters. “And you, the two of you make me sick. She’s our sister, for fuck’s sake!”

  “Why would the thought of your sister being involved in the same lifestyle you live sicken you? Do you find that the women you have as your submissives are any less of a woman because they choose to be submissive to you and your brother? And what if I told you that this isn’t some temporary thing?” Chad asked. “What if I told you that we want Amy as our personal sub?”

  “That’s not fucking happening!”

  “Tyler, this isn’t helping,” Josh said. “Let’s just hear her out.”

  “Thank you,” Amy said, finally feeling like this was getting somewhere. The initial shock wore off, but now that they knew, Amy could feel her backbone strengthening. And when Chad held out his hand, she immediately walked over to him, drawing strength in his resolve. Alec stayed close, but kept his hands in his denim pockets. She tried not to wonder what he was thinking right about now or else doubt would creep in. “When I first went to the Safeword agency, the last thing I expected was to be placed with Chad and Alec.”

  “Jesus Christ!” Tyler exclaimed, placing his hands on his head.

  “The only thing I knew was that I needed to fully explore this side of myself. Imagine me telling you that you couldn’t live your chosen lifestyle anymore. What if you could only own the club, but not play?” Amy could see understanding dawning in Josh’s eyes, although it hadn’t yet in Tyler’s. “Every day, I would walk through and see other women living what I desired— no, make that needed. I originally thought it was only something I wanted, until experiencing it. I need this like the air I breathe.”

  “With them?” Tyler exclaimed. “Our friends? Chad and Alec, did you not think of how we would react to this?”

  “We knew, but when we found out that Amy was being placed with us, there was no way in hell we were going to say no, Ty. We care for your sister very much and want this relationship to work. But we needed time without your interference to see if this could work for the three of us.”

  “Amy,” Josh said, “I understand why Ty is reacting the way he is, but for me, the worst thing is that you felt you had to lie. I thought you knew that you could always come to us.”

  “And what, Josh? Ask you if I could to play in your club?” Amy asked, laughing wryly. “I wouldn’t even want to do that. This is something personal—a part of me—not a part of the business and life that you two have created for yourselves. But I knew coming to Chicago was far enough away that I could explore this part of myself.”

  “And then what? Would you have come back home without saying a word?”

  “Um, no, not exactly,” Amy answered, sneaking a peek over at Alec. She knew they still had things to work out, and that there was a chance they never would. It made it very hard to answer Josh’s question when she didn’t know what the future held. She worded her response carefully. “We entered into a contract for two months to see if this is something we want long-term. For me, it has become something more.”

  “Two months? Who the hell knows what they want in a relationship in only two months?” Tyler said, starting to pace back and forth.

  “You seem to forget that we’ve known each other for years,” Chad said sardonically.

  “You don’t need to rub that in my face,” Tyler replied in anger.

  “Amaryl, are you happy?” Josh asked.

  The question was simple, as was her answer. Amy felt Chad squeeze her fingers and felt the weight of Alec’s stare. She turned her head, meeting his green eyes so filled with doubt. Did he really not see that she was happy with them? Maybe he needed to hear it.

  “Yes, I am,” Amy responded. “And I want you and Ty to be happy for me. Allow me the rest of my time here and then once I figure out what my future holds, we’ll figure things out how this affects my work at the club.”

  Josh nodded, as if that was all he needed to hear. Amy knew this evening had to have been a shock to both of her brothers, and while Ty was being his typical self, Josh handled it with the restraint she knew he possessed. Ty would eventually get there with their brother’s help.

  “Wait a second,” Tyler exclaimed, finally stopping his pacing. “If you hadn’t wanted us to know about this, then why wait until a few days before Alec’s showing to tell us we didn’t need to come?”

  Okay, she thought, maybe it would take Ty a little bit longer after hearing why Alec and Chad didn’t want him at the showing, but she had faith. Amy wasn’t going to answer that question and turned to Chad, hoping he could smooth this over. Chad was looking at Alec, who decided at that moment that humor could be taken out of the situation.

  “Fuck, no. No,” Tyler objected, shaking his head. He pointed a finger at Alec. “There’s no way you’d do what I think you’d have the ba
lls to do.”

  “We’ve been friends a long time, Ty,” Alec replied. “Can you trust us enough to know that this showing is not one that requires your attendance?”

  Amy had to smile at the way Alec replied. He’d been quiet the majority of the conversation, but she was grateful that he’d joined even at this late stage. Realizing that someone else was being silent as well, she looked around the room, seeking out James. He was by the front door, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. It seemed an uncomfortable stance, considering his arms were as wide as the trunk of an oak. There was a small smile on his face that tended to disguise the determination in his carriage.

  “Yes, we can,” Josh answered quietly over Tyler’s obvious objections. He walked up to them, extending his hand. “She’s our sister. If you fuck this up, I will personally pursue the recompense afforded me under the bylaws of the Order.”

  “I wouldn’t expect anything less,” Chad said, shaking Josh’s hand.

  Amy released her hold on Chad’s fingers and walked over to where Tyler stood, looking like someone had just kicked his favorite puppy. He always did have a way of making her feel guilty if he didn’t get his way. Using what had always worked when she was younger, she stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a big hug. She felt his hands slide around her waist, pulling her in for the bear hug that always made her feel better.

  “I just want what’s best for you, sis,” Ty whispered into her ear. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” Amy said, tears filling her eyes as she remembered similar words leaving his lips on the day their parents died. It took her several tries to swallow the lump in her throat. “But please trust me that I know what is best for me and know that I will always come to you should I need you. You will always be my brother.”