Page 111 of Bad Enough

Sylvan blushed. “I love the scene. The energy is fantastic, and so are the people. But I guess I’m more private when it comes to the physical activity part.”

“So you’ve been playing at home?”

Sylvan noticed that the question didn’t come with a smile or a teasing tone. Instead, it was more pointed. Maybe even a bit angry.

“A little.”

“Don’t you think it’s rather dangerous to let him into your home? I mean, you barely know him.”

Okay, that’s definitely angry.

“Tabitha, I thought you trusted him. You connected us, after all.”

“Yes, well, I didn’t expect him to engage with you physically. It was just meant to be interviews. I honestly didn’t think he would find you to be his type.” She turned and faced the mirror again, smoothing nonexistent wrinkles in her dress. “You were supposed to be my insurance policy. By showing him your ridiculous innocence, it was supposed to remind him of what he really needs in a woman. But apparently, the novelty of your inexperience was an attraction to him. It probably wouldn’t have lasted long, though, if it had the opportunity.”

Tabitha smiled at her in the mirror. It was not the friendly smile Sylvan was used to. It projected superiority and a fountain of information that the recipient knew nothing about.

“Are you…? Were you a couple?” Sylvan asked, confusion clear on her face.

“Before I opened The Library, we played together. He was the one man I could truly be submissive to. With everyone else and everywhere else, I was a Domme through and through. He’s the only man I would submit to. Ever.

“When I took over The Library, he refused to scene with me. Said it made him uncomfortable to be in bed, so to speak, with the owner. I decided to bide my time. He’d come around, eventually. Unfortunately, his interest in the club as a whole seemed to fade. I knew I had to do something to regain his attention.

“That’s when you fell so conveniently into my hands. I thought the plan was foolproof. You needed to talk to someone about BDSM, and you knew absolutely nothing. I threw you together to show him exactly what he would be missing out on if he walked away from the club, and then I planned to work my way back into his life.

“Turns out it wasn’t the club. It was you. The fool went and fell in love with a vanilla innocent who wouldn’t know a paddle from a flogger. Now, he wants a happy little family life with his bondage kink thrown in.

“You’re in love with TB? I mean, Lobo?”

“TB?” Tabitha scowled. “Is that his real name?”

“It’s a nickname.”

“Then this is worse than I had imagined if he’s sharing personal information.” That comment seemed to be aimed more at herself than Sylvan. Like someone flipped a light switch, her face changed to an overly bright, plastic smile. “No matter. Luckily, I’ve made other arrangements for you. Fate intervened yet again, this time to resolve my problem with you. It was nice meeting you, Sylvan. You had a gift with your storytelling. Too bad this ending won’t be a happy ever after.” She took several steps toward the door, then looked over her shoulder at Sylvan’s frozen form. “Well, not for you.”

As Tabitha passed through the doorway into the club, Medusa came into the lounge, a frown on her face. She looked at Sylvan with concern. “Were you alone here with her?”

“I think so,” Sylvan replied. “There was no one in here when I first came in, and I didn’t hear or see anyone come in here afterward. Should I ask why you want to know?”

Medusa came up close to Sylvan and spoke in a hushed voice. “Don’t be alone with her again. She’s mixed up somehow with these missing girls. I don’t think she was at the start, but something’s changed. We found communications between her and a supplier we’ve been monitoring.”

“Gendry,” Sylvan whispered, sinking onto one of the padded stools in front of the vanity.

“You know him?”

Sylvan nodded.

“How?”

“It’s a long story. Let’s just say I thought I’d escaped him six years ago. It looks like he found me again. Someone’s been stalking me online, on the phone, at my house. I thought maybe it was him. We confirmed it two days ago.”

“You and Lobo?” Medusa asked.

“Yes.”

Medusa swore under her breath. “I knew it. You’re the target.”

Sylvan tried to calm her erratic heartbeat and panicked breathing. This was no time to lose her head and be the too-stupid-to-live girl. Gendry was here. TB was here but across the club. She needed to get to him fast because whatever Tabitha had been referring to sounded like it was happening soon.

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