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“But there wasn’t a single thing honest on there. I can’t prove it. I know that, but it’s making me…” His voice trailed off before he took a deep breath. “Silas said it wasn’t logical to do a deeper background check to find out what was going on since you’d figure out what I did.”

Yes, I would.

I was probably one of the only people in the entire world who would’ve known what he’d done.

“BDSM is about trust and I trust everyone at the club.” That seemed to be him talking to himself, so I just let him continue until his gaze met mine. “I have people to protect. You understand that.”

I hated it when he manipulated me with logical arguments.

He was easier to deal with when he was irrationally scheming.

“I do understand that.” I just wasn’t sure how I was going to handle the situation yet.

“Then you have to agree with me that I can’t admit anyone into the club that feels off.” He waved his hand toward me. “Even you. It wouldn’t be safe or setting a good precedent. We don’t admit people who are off. No matter what.”

From what I’d managed to find out, they’d done very well at weeding out potential problems, and when it’d looked like they hadn’t noticed an issue, I’d been polite and put a clue in their path. When I got into the club, I wanted it to be a safe place for me to visit.

I hadn’t planned on another level of interrogation, though.

“You could’ve outed the club from the start. I knew that from the beginning but you didn’t. I’m pretty sure you’ve been helping things behind the scenes.” His glare came back and he crossed his arms over his chest. “Not that I need help.”

Drama queen.

I had every intention of calling him that too, but he kept going. “It was thoughtful of you, though. And in that same vein of helpfulness, I need you to share with me what you’re looking for so that I can be confident about accepting your application.”

Ugh.

He was much easier to handle when he was being a pain in the ass.

“So, what I’m hearing from you is that you won’t admit me to the club, even though I know all about it, until I’veexplained myself in greater detail.” His nod made my anger flare irrationally and I had to work at keeping myself under control.

Talk or get denied.

He wasn’t wrong.

He shouldn’t admit anyone in with secrets he didn’t understand. I just hadn’t expected his radar for trouble to ping me.

He was such a pain in the ass.

“You don’t date. You’re interested in BDSM—that was definitely genuine—but you haven’t even casually scened with anyone that I can find.” That seemed to confuse him more than anything. “What is going on?”

I hadn’t been completely celibate, he was wrong about that, but I was very careful.

“Do you understand what I’ll do to you if this comes out?” The simple question had his eyes going wide and I could see the wicked part of him that loved information as much as I did flare to life. “I won’t just ruin you. I’ll make you disappear online. No more photos. No more fame. No more buying sex toys from Third World countries. No more buying Third World countries.They won’t know you exist.”

Killing him would be too easy.

“You’re evil.” He glared at me. “It’s actually kind of hot.”

Maybe I did want to kill him.

“Is it illegal?” His question wasn’t unexpected, so I didn’t get offended as I shook my head. “Is it something that should be illegal?”

I wasn’t sure where his imagination had gone, but I was able to deny that as well. “No.”

He was quiet for several long moments before he nodded decisively. “Alright, whatever you say will stay between us as long as it doesn’t affect me personally for some reason. Then I have to be able to tell Silas. He’ll kill both of us if I don’t.”

He’d use something messy to do the job too.

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