Page 130 of Cook

It was too busy, the music too loud, and a rock rendition of Puccini’s “O mio babbino caro.” Rock or not, it still ripped me to shreds like Tommy G.

No, Tommy G. was in prison. Not here.

Any of the people could’ve been his or Massimo’s associates. Each of them might take me again. Use my body. I needed to get out, away from the men who would cut me, burn me, steal their sick pleasure from my body.

I found the glowing exit sign and ran toward it, nearly falling out of my shoes. The velvet curtains collapsed behind me, blocking out the murmuring of voices and the clanking of glasses. Unfortunately, I felt Massimo’s smile pelting into my back, sinking his teeth into me until he ripped away his pound of flesh. I pushed through the doors and emptied into the parking lot, and I couldn’t process any thoughts. Except one.

Don’t stop, Maddie. Whatever you do, don’t stop running!

Chapter 21

Cook

Ichecked my phone. Maddie should’vebeen back from the restroom by now. I should’ve fucking gone with her. Letting her go alone had been a mistake, but if I ignored how she felt, I would’ve been no better than anyone who had used her.

Then again,Ihad hurt her. She wasn’t ready for that, and I should’ve known. Fuck, I wasn’t ready for this either. I needed to get Maddie back to the Ridge and back to Doctor Richardson. I had tried doing things my way—really fucking tried—and I had failed. What happened tonight with Maddie never should’ve happened. I was selfish, and it was time for me to be better. I could be her Dom, that much I felt was true. However, I had to be more than that for her. I needed to be able to understand where her mind was going when she reacted like that.

Was that reaction enough to teach me?

I wouldn’t know unless we tried again, but I couldn’t risk it. I couldn’t take the chance that I would turn into her personal demon.

Shoving my cell phone into my pocket, I bounded toward the door, ready to storm into whatever bathroom she was in and take her home. Take her to the recovery house.

But when I went to wrench open the door, it was stuck. I pulled at the doorknob again, but the door didn’t move. The sons-a-bitcheslocked me inside.

Mercer, however, was still here with me.

“What the fuck is this?” I asked, turning toward the man. “Let me out!”

Sloan Mercer had his cell phone out too, scrolling through a white screen. “Don’t you wonder why it is locked?”

I stiffened. “Some sort of sex game?” The memory of Maddie’s off-limits list flashed through my mind. Cages. She didn’t want to be caged. This was a playroom inside of a sex club, so were there people with some kind of lock-up kink?

“This is my favorite room because of the lock,” said Mercer with a groaning grin. “We have to remove it before every state and city inspection, but then I put it back on and come out to play with whoever I have in this room.”

He slid his cell phone back into his pocket, and I tried the doorknob again. I was still locked inside with him.

“Let me out. Now,” I demanded, reaching for the gun in the small of my back and came up empty.

“Looking for this?” Mercer spun my gun on his index finger.

“I’d be careful playing with a loaded piece like that,” I warned.

“Oh, I’ve already taken care of that little bit.” He held up the clip and inched toward a little slot at the other end of the room. He slipped the gun and clip through. “You did sign an agreement stating no weapons were allowed on the club premises.”

I fucking hated his shit-eating grin, but I cursed myself at the moment. What else had I not paid attention to when I signed?

With my teeth clamped so hard my jaw ached, I said, “I need to find Maddie.”

“Why?” asked Mercer, strolling over to the sex toys across the wall. However, they were only weapons now. “We’re just getting started.”

“Disgusting,” I scoffed.

Sloan shrugged. “Depends on who you ask.”

“I am not fucking playing with you. And I don’t need a gun to beat the shit out of you. Unlock the fucking door.”

He smiled, showing all his teeth. “I would like to see you try to beat me.”

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