Page 57 of Hooked

“He insulted her,” said another, “in a most insolent tone and manner.”

“I heard it all.” This came from a woman who Livia recognized as the domme from the scene on center stage earlier. Her sub, who towered above his diminutive mistress, was standing protectively in front of her as if ready to do battle. She had a small hand on his biceps, stroking him in a calming manner. “It’s appalling, really, that any dom at Club Decadence would treat another’s sub so disrespectfully. I second Master Joseph’s motion. He needs to go, and not return.”

“Demeaning submissives isn’t something we tolerate,” Tony said with authority. “Unless you’re implying that it was part of a planned scene. Were you invited to play out a humiliation session, by chance?”

“No,” he snapped. “As if—”

Whatever he intended to say was cut off by Joseph’s hands twisting his collar.

“He’s turning blue, Joe,” Sean stated quietly.

When he eased the tension, Vaughn sucked in a breath and choked, “Who are you to throw me out? Where is Master Dex?”

“These are two of the owners, and Mistress Anne is a charter member, you pathetic putz.” Joseph’s rage hadn’t diminished and his voice, usually a soothing melodic tenor, had lowered to a harsh growl. “Not to mention this is a private club and they can throw out whoever they damn well please.”

“I’m a renowned author with a PhD! They won’t choose me over a chubby secretary. I want to see Master Dex.”

Joseph’s fist connecting with Vaughn’s middle-aged paunch cut off his grating whine. A sickening crunch sounded next when he followed it with a punch in the face. After that, he released his hold, letting Vaughn drop to the floor with a loud thud, blood spurting from his nose.

He groaned initially before squealing like the pig Mara had likened him to. “You broke my nose! I’ll sue.”

“Excellent,” Joseph snarled. “We can bring to light how you prey on innocent young women from your classes, abuse your authority, subjugate them, and crush their spirit. I relish the day I have you in a courtroom.”

Mistress Anne murmured, “Obviously this rube doesn’t know he’s dealing with the finest criminal attorney in the state.”

“Try to find a job after that goes public,” Sean sneered.

“Or a club to play in,” Cap added.

“Already taken care of,” Joseph put in.

“You!” the bleeding worm accused. “It was you who had me blackballed. They canceled my membership at the gym, too.”

“I’ve only just begun. I have an appointment with the dean of your department on Monday at ten o’clock sharp.”

“Your firm donates generously to UT Austin, don’t they, Joe?”

“Indeed, Sean. It is five out of six of our partners’ alma mater, mine included.” He looked down at Vaughn coldly as he launched his last salvo. “You don’t have tenure yet, do you? What a shame.”

“You can’t. I’ll be ruined,” came his wheedling whine.

Joseph shrugged, a smirk on his face as he fixed his sleeves, obviously delighted by the idea of Vaughn’s career going down the toilet.

A soft blanket falling across her shoulders alerted Livia that she was free of the cross. So wrapped up in the drama playing out before her, she’d barely registered anything else. She looked up into Master Dex’s midnight-blue eyes.

“Are you all right, little one?”

“Yes, sir. Just shook up a bit.”

“I’m sorry this happened, Olivia. We’ll make sure he won’t bother you again.”

“Thank you.” Her worried gaze returned to where Joseph still loomed over Vaughn. “Do you think you can intervene, Master Dex, and make sure Joseph doesn’t kill him?”

“I’m on my way to do just that, but I can’t say I’d be doing the club or the world as a whole any favors. The man’s a horse’s ass.”

After giving Livia’s shoulder a squeeze, Dex moved to Joseph’s side and weighed in. “You’re blackballed at Decadence, too, Steros, and statewide after I make some calls.”

“This is ludicrous. I demand a vote.”

---