Page 124 of Líadan's Code

Here’s to great success.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Jordan

Fallen Stars is busy, people are smiling, and everyone is talking about how beautiful the club is in hushed tones.

“I think the soft opening is going really well,” I murmur in Líadan’s ear, watching a rope demo being done upstairs with her. There’s a true art to this, one I want to learn more about. I can only imagine how gorgeous she’d look all laid out.

“Are you offering private classes for rope play and such through the club, Princess?”

Her lips curve as she looks over her shoulder at me. My fingers flex on her hip, taken in by how her eyes sparkle with mischief and happiness. Líadan has been coming alive since the funeral and finding out she’s pregnant. She looks genuinely pleased with her life.

“I think I can make that happen,” she says softly. “We’ll be the guinea pigs before I offer it to others, though.”

“So smart,” I praise her, loving the way she blushes.

We spend a little more time upstairs together before Brendan squeezes her hand to get her attention. The club has been open for a few hours, it’s time for us to have our own fun. Passing Inara, Líadan leans in to tell her we’re going to disappear for a bit.

A rare smile passes her lips as she nods. She’s dressed in a high-collared black dress, working her managerial position. Turns out she has a lot more experience with keeping things organized, and everyone listens well to her.

There’s two other managers that work different nights, allowing them to take time off, or in Inara’s case, it allows her to change her job position entirely as a paid sub. There is the opportunity for members to pay for a sub or dom for the night, or a few hours into a private room or one of the more open areas.

Inara found she wanted to experience what it was like to be cared for by a dominant male or female who actually shows concern for her mental and physical state. The last couple of months, they’ve all been working with Dr. Mathers to process their trauma, and decide what they want and need.

Líadan and Brendan have also had a few sessions with her separately, and I can confirm that it’s helping. They’re both opening up more with me, and finding it easier to talk about the things that have happened to them.

Has it made either of them any less murderous? Not a chance. People have stepped out of line under Líadan’s new authority, and she’s dealt with them accordingly. I don’t think that’ll ever change with how cutthroat the mafia is.

There will always be someone wanting to test her boundaries.

“Have fun,” Inara murmurs as we walk past her.

Down the stairs and through the main room, Líadan’s heels click softly against the floor as we walk. The band Music Horde Records sent me is incredible, and the dance floor is filled with dancing bodies.

The executive board understood that I needed to step aside, but they know I’m only a call away for things.

Layla is still upset with me. I know it’ll take time for that to change, I’ll just have to keep reaching out.

My fingers link through Líadan’s as she holds Brendan’s hand, and he leads us down to the dungeon.

“Our room is already set up,” he says softly. Líadan huffs out a small laugh, because he must have done it when he went downstairs to check the dungeon.

Descending down there, I marvel at the Edison lamps lighting the way. They provide just enough light, but provide fun mood lighting.

Once downstairs, the walls are done in a hunter green textured wallpaper, with dark smoked hickory hardwood flooring. There are open areas as well as private rooms down the different hallways, and Brendan leads us left toward one.

Showing us the key as we walk, he looks very proud of himself as the walls change to a gray, and the different doors a navy blue. The door colors explain what’s allowed in each room, with navy blue allowing blood play as well the heavier kinks.

“You’ve been busy,” I tease him as he unlocks the door.

“I have. I left my knives in the office and asked Letty to keep them close for me tonight. I knew Lía would probably want to play,” he says as we walk in. “It’s also completely fine for the baby, we never go too far, anyway.”

I’ve never seen them practice blood play, because it makes me a little nervous.

“What about the cameras?” I ask, closing the door behind us.

“They’re turned off for us,” he explains. “When we leave and the room is cleaned up, they’ll turn them back on.”

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