Page 55 of Captive Heart

"He's a member?" she shrieked. "Oh my God! I've got to get out of here. He'll come. He'll find me! I need to run before he tries to take me back."

Her hair whirled around her face as she twisted agitatedly from side to side, checking the room as if an intruder might already be there, checking the door as if he might come through it.

She clutched the blanket to her chest like it was some sort of lifeline and balanced on the balls of her feet, ready to take flight, her breathing already coming in short, anxious pants.

Micah jumped up in alarm, taking her face in both of his hands. "Melody, calm down!" he ordered. "There's no one here. The door is locked. Nobody can get to you. You know that!"

Her eyes clung to his, and he watched as rational comprehension overcame the spike of irrational fear. He wanted to wait for her to calm a little before he pushed her any more. He'd been halfway to believing that Melody had let her nightmares get the better of her, that she'd just panicked at the sight of another member following her through the security door to the upstairs section of the club, but something she had said had shards of icy fear slithering through his own veins.

"What did you mean when you said he'd try to take you back?"

"That man!" Melody insisted, grabbing his shirt once again. "He's a friend of V's. He is one of the people he used to invite around to…" she trailed off, unable to say the words, but Micah knew she meant one of the fucktards who had abused her and colluded in her incarceration.

"He recognised me, and he tried to grab me, and then he chased me," she persisted adamantly, before another realisation dawned, and her face lost what little colour it had.

She whispered starkly, "He knows where I am!"

37

The next two hours whirled by in a blur of activity. Micah called Trinity and instructed her to bring Master X, Master Storer, and Fluff back to his office.

In her befuddled state, Melody couldn't even work out who he was referring to until Dr. Xavier, Laurel, and the detective in the wheelchair, whom she'd spoken to a few weeks ago, all dutifully trooped through the door.

Micah insisted that she get checked out by the doctor, even though she protested the necessity, while he filled in Detective Storer, and the pair of them spoke to Laurel. Not that the other girl was able to shed much light on the situation. She'd reached the bar and realised Melody was no longer with her, so backtracked to try to find her. She’d been aware of the commotion but too far away to realise that it even involved Melody, never mind whoever else.

Micah was obviously annoyed with both Laurel and Trinity, although he stopped short of saying anything outright, but it was clear in his clipped manner and stiff bearing as he spoke to them.

In the end, Melody felt obliged to step in. After all, the other two girls had only been doing what she had asked of them, and she was an adult; responsible and accountable for her own actions.

"Micah, this was all my fault. I'm sorry," she apologised, approaching him after Xavier had given her the all clear.

"Damn right it was!" he retorted. "But you didn't manage to get down there without help!"

He swung his eyes to Trinity. "What were you thinking? The pair of you." He encompassed Laurel in that last query.

Laurel glowered back at him, all rebellious defiance. "We didn't do anything wrong, Micah!" she defended all three of them. "So cool your beans!"

"Technically, maybe not, but—" He gave them both a hard look.

"No buts!" Melody interrupted. "No one pushed me into this. It's what I wanted. If anything, it was the other way around since Trinity made me wait, in case I changed my mind."

"Yeah? Well, since none of you saw fit to mention it to me, I'm guessing you knew I wouldn't approve."

"This wasn't about whether or not you approved, Micah," Melody argued, standing right in front of him, frowning, flanked on either side by Trinity and Fluff. Just as he stood opposite, flanked by Master X and Master Storer, all three of the men oozing their dominance.

Melody refused to be overawed, despite the protective levels of testosterone pouring off all three of them. "It was about me!” she insisted. “My wants and my needs. I know you're concerned about my emotional wellbeing, and Dr. Xavier about my health, and Detective Storer about my protection, but you can't keep me wrapped up in cotton wool. There are physical things I need more than that!"

Xavier laughed and patted Micah on the shoulder. "Well, I think that proves she's just fine as far as her health is concerned." He chuckled. "Obviously she’s over the shock, so I'm off back to the dungeon. I've left my new sub cooling for far too long." He winked at Fluff, and Melody was aware of a distinct bond between the two. Though not together, they clearly shared some kind of history.

"I'll come with you," said Fluff, glancing at the time. "Connor will be here, and I don't want him worrying about where I am." All the recent antagonism seeped from her as she acknowledged her Dom and Master.

Xavier crooked his elbow toward Fluff, in a gentlemanly gesture, and she immediately took his arm. “You coming, Andy?" Xavier enquired of the detective as they turned to leave.

"Nah, I'm going to sit here and watch the show," Detective Storer said with a leer. "Want to put a bet on who wins?" he asked, waggling his eyebrows while Micah glared at him. "And on a more serious note, I still need to ask Melody a few questions."

Xavier laughed and shook his head, raising a hand in salute as he opened the door for Laurel then gestured her through with a courtly flourish.

"What needs?" Micah asked bluntly, refusing to be distracted by what was going on around them.

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