Page 14 of Master Vidar & Vali

Linc snorted as if annoyed, but the twitch at the edge of his mouth said he liked her little bit of sass. Neither of us enjoyed a true brat, but there was something alluring about a secure woman. A partner who would challenge us but still have the confidence to fully gift us with her submission. My instincts told me Zara was strong enough to be our partner even if the timing was not right.

For now, I needed to be patient.

“Behave.” I put a little force into my words but kept my tone calm. I honestly didn’t know if the admonishment was for thetemptation in the back seat or the grump in the front so I kept my eyes forward. “Yes. It has bathrooms. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.”

I didn’t blame her for her skeptical look as we wound over the small, wooded road. By design it was made to encourage a casual explorer to turn around without realizing what was hidden further down. G&H had several places that could be used as safehouses both in the city and out of it. The one we were heading to was my favorite for multiple reasons.

We’d stumbled across the property for sale because of its proximity to Asgard, the most exclusive of our BDSM clubs. The man who’d originally built the place had enjoyed his privacy without wanting to skimp on the luxury. We’d expanded and updated the security, adding sensors and cameras to the gated property. Using an app on my phone I opened the first gate. Our ride became smoother as pavement replaced the dirt road once through the checkpoint.

After another minute of driving, the second gate came into view, and with it, the trees cleared enough to expose the sight of the hidden cabin where we were going to be staying. Unlike Valhalla, this house followed a classic American design of a forest retreat for the rich.

A two story A-frame style log cabin nestled amongst the trees of the forest. Glass windows and cherry-stained wood reflected the glow of the motion-activated security lights that illuminated the structure under the cloudy night sky. I glanced back to see what Zara thought of the place. Instead of the surprise or pleasure I expected, her expression was filled with fear. Her eyes locked on the gate we’d just driven through as it slowly closed.

I stopped the car in front of one of the large garage doors as it silently raised. “You're safe here.”

Her nervous laugh told me how much she was struggling. “It’s hard not to worry I might have just traded one man holding me prisoner for two.”

I winced. Keeping quiet on the drive had been a mistake. Obviously, Zara had been held against her will and now here she was trapped again but with me and Linc. I could see why she would be panicking. Despite my offer of help in Albania, she didn’t know me and how could she be sure we weren’t helping Mahil?

“You are not a prisoner. This is a safe place to stay until we can figure out how to handle the situation. You said your boss had people chasing you and there is no way they followed us here. Let’s go inside and you can tell us everything we are up against.” I spoke in a calm commanding voice, and with each word, Zara’s muscles relaxed. One more sign that she might have submissive tendencies hidden under her tough exterior.

Linc was glaring at her in the rearview mirror as if she’d threatened us rather than simply expressed concern. What the hell had gotten into him? The time to find out would have to wait. Pulling into the garage, I turned off the ignition and stepped out of the car.

In a pleasant surprise, Zara waited to exit until I walked around and opened the door. She was beautiful but exhaustion was painted across her features. I wished I could order her to rest immediately, but we needed the information she had first.

A zing pulsed up my arm when our hands touched as I helped her out of the car. How could I be so attracted to a woman who I’d spent so little time with? The picture Linc had painted of her past should make me suspicious, but from the moment we’d met in her boss’s office, I’d wanted to help her.

Hopefully, my instincts weren’t wrong. “Come, Zara, let’s get you settled and then you can tell us everything.”

Linc pressed a few buttons on a control panel as soon as we stepped into the house and the lights brightened as the windows slowly dimmed. It felt like magic every time I saw it happen even though the science of the glass had been described to me at length. The smart house was filled with all sorts of gadgets he’d designed for both convenience and security.

What we needed was food and a conversation. Yula was in charge of keeping all of our safe houses stocked, and I really hoped she’d done her job. Unsurprisingly, after a quick survey of the kitchen, I found everything as it should be. Enough supplies to easily last a week in comfort. I was tempted to pour Zara a glass of wine, but there would be no alcohol until we’d talked.

Returning to the cozy den where I’d left Zara and Lincoln, I handed them each a bottle of water. “Before we hear the full story, I think it would be good to lay down some ground rules.”

Linc’s expression relaxed, losing its pissed-off vibe to something more anticipatory. Unfortunately, Zara’s back straightened and her fists clenched.

“Do I have any say in these rules?” Her words were clipped as if she was holding back on saying so much more.

“No.” Lincoln’s answer was abrupt leaving no room for argument.

“What Lincoln is trying to say is that when it comes to health and safety, the only way we can protect you is if you follow our rules. You are free to leave at any point but that would mean you are on your own.” Not that I would actually be able to leave her unprotected, but saying that would’ve made me seem like a stalker.

“Fine. What are these rules?” The suspicion in her voice made me want to laugh.

No matter how tempting it was to shock her with something more risqué, I managed to stay professional. “Three simple rules. One, if we tell you to run or get in the safe room youdo it without argument. Two, you don’t leave the house without permission. Finally, no outside technology or communicating with anyone without clearing it with us first. Do you have a phone or computer?”

Technically we should have taken care of that already, but we’d figure something out if she might have been traced. Zara had shown up without bags, so I doubted it, but it never hurt to ask.

She bristled. “I’m not that stupid. Of course not. Anyone who has ever watched a cop drama or spy movie knows phones can be traced.”

“Do those movies also say that snapping at the people helping you is a good idea?” Lincoln’s deep voice almost purred with challenge.

She needed to agree to follow our lead or it would be almost impossible to keep her safe. But I couldn't help but feel like a bully when her shoulders lowered and fright replaced fight.

“I’m sorry. It’s been a long day.” She snorted. “Actually it’s been a long month. My life has spiraled out of control. Can’t you understand that trusting strangers even when what they are saying is reasonable is hard?”

I wasn’t sure what Lincoln’s response would’ve been, but when I glared at him, he stayed silent.

---