Page 16 of Judge's Mercy

“Then we have a deal. Now, let’s get the visual inspection over with so we can play.” I jump off the stool and grab his hand.

I walk him toward the clinic, and once he passes the visual inspection of his junk, I lead him to the classroom, my gut screaming at me not to do this.

Why don’t I ever listen to that bitch? She’s always right.

CHAPTER FIVE

JUDGE

“This is Judge,” I answer as I hit the speaker button on my cell.

“You busy?” There’s a hint of panic in Golden’s response that puts me on edge.

“Not particularly. Why?”

I’m already walking out of the clubhouse when Golden replies. “Can you come to the ranch?”

“Everything okay?”

“It’s Myla. She’s freaking out, and she won’t let me call Rigger, Lucky, or her sister.”

“On my way.” I disconnect the call and hop on my bike.

My brain runs wild as I ride out to the Honey Pot, wondering what happened. Did she have a flashback to what happened all those months ago? Was she attacked by a rogue client? And why wouldn’t she at least want Tinleigh with her? I’m also unsure why Golden called me. If one of my brothers was having a hard time, it would make sense, but Myla doesn’t even like me, and she sure as shit doesn’t listen to me.

Even knowing that, I’m glad they thought to involve me. I don’t know why I want to be there for her; I just do. Then again, I’ve always been drawn to the broken ones. Even as a boy, I’d seek out the outcasts and lonely, giving them my friendship. Some might think it’s because I’m a man of God, but I know better. If I’m helping someone through their own trauma, I don’t have time to focus on mine.

I don’t bother parking in a designated spot, pulling right up to the front. Mary spots me the second I walk through the door and, without a word, leads me in the opposite direction of the security room. A pit forms in my stomach because the only rooms down this wing of the property are what they call the experience rooms. Basically, they have a themed room for any kink you might have, and if that’s not your thing, there are regular bedrooms.

There’s a great deal of soundproofing between each room, except for the Nature Room, which was made for voyeurism and exhibitionism. However, that room’s not occupied, so hearing a pained cry echo through the hallway makes it easy to deduce where Mary’s leading me. That, and Golden is standing in the doorway, looking close to losing his mind. His hair is disheveled, and I can see the muscle in his jaw ticking.

“Thank fuck,” he says when he notices me. “I don’t know what to do. She won’t stop but won’t allow anyone else inside the room.”

Shit. It’s worse than I thought.

“Why is she in there?”

Golden and Mary share a look that tells me I’m not going to like the answer. I’m not a particularly violent man, but I can get there quick if I need to, and as my hands clench into fists in preparation for what they might say, I know I might need to.

“She was the one who suggested it. I was against it.” Golden holds up his hands. “I swear it.”

“Against what?” I snarl.

“Now, Judge. . .” Mary rests a hand on my shoulder that I shrug off.

“Tell me.”

“There was a client who didn’t pass the background check,” she says carefully. “We wanted to turn him away, but Myla said this guy was some kind of important politician and could make things complicated for the ranch if we kicked his ass out.”

“That doesn’t explain why Myla’s howling like a wounded animal.” My anger grows with each passing second. I want to get in there and assess the situation, but I need all the information first.

“She said she’d do it because she used to be the one who handled guys like that before she quit working here,” Golden says.

“It’s true. She knew how far to go to keep a man like that happy without crossing a line. It was a talent none of the other girls had.” Mary’s clearly proud of Myla, but I’m not sure that’s the compliment she means it to be.

“After everything you know about what happened to her, you allowed her to go into a room with a man whose background is so bad you would’ve turned him away had he not been a politician? Am I getting this right?”

“She didn’t give us a choice,” Golden says.

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