Page 6 of Hacker Betrayed

"You're going to a hospital."

I couldn't open my eyes, and I hoped I would say the words out loud. "You owe me. If you do this…I forgive you for not helping me years ago."

Lucas's voice faded as Sebastian lifted me into his arms.

CHAPTER2

Dr. Paxton Renolds

Isat across from Wes in the bar area of Club Rose. My attention wasn't on the conversation, it concerned with how late Mia was for the operation. Per my meeting at Blackwood Mercenary, she was supposed to be my sub for the next few months as cover. My brothers and I were doctors, none of us were experts at tracking down criminals, which was what we had let join Club Rose. We had a sister also, but she took a different path and became a ruthless attorney. I loved the fact she was on my side. She did the NDAs for the club, but never stepped foot in the place. Members had to pay an annual million dollar membership fee, go through an intense background check, and have a session with our psychologist. We'd allowed two previous members in who orchestrated the kidnapping of three of our subs. Mia’s job was to make sure there were no more members we had to worry about. Wes also worked for Blackwood Mercenary. His sub Rachelle sat at his feet. He was to assist in the mission.

I smiled down at Rachelle as her head rested against Wes's leg. They'd gotten their happily ever after. Wes had come to the States to assist in a trafficking case but ended up in a charity auction where the love of his life bid on him. I'd read similar romance books over the years with the same plot concept. Since the Ellison family adopted us, we'd gone to the charity auctions. When I turned eighteen, I hoped to find my happily ever after. Hell, I'd planned to go to the one he was auctioned at, but my surgery had run long, and I didn't attend the charity event.

I'm a firm believer in everything happening for a reason. I didn't go to the auction because Mia was meant to be put in my path. My brothers would say I'd read way too many romance books, and that life doesn't work that way. The second I laid eyes on her I knew she was the one, but she voiced her opinion about not sleeping with me. To her, our time together was only for the mission.

I'd figure out a way to get her to change her mind. I was surprised she was submissive at all. We'd come to the club once as partners, for the first mission where we took down one of the members.

Originally, we didn't plan on investigating the club, but Brock had rerun all our club members’ backgrounds and he recommended we bring Wes and Mia in for a couple months. There were a few members’ backgrounds that didn't line up. I wasn't about to turn down spending time with Mia. Kaeden, my eldest brother, argued about me being part of the operation. He was worried I wouldn't be able to protect myself. He kept his heart locked away, so my younger brother did the same. They tried to push their beliefs off on me. My baby sister would have a fit if she figured out I planned to assist with the investigation. She might be the youngest, but she acted like our big sister most of the time.

"She'll come." Wes's deep voice brought me out of my thoughts and back to the fact I wasn't alone.

I rolled my head from side to side before turning my attention back to Wes. "I know I don't have any military or spy training, but I've had years of reading people. It might surprise you, but plastic surgeons need to understand their patients. Many people come in because their husbands or boyfriends want them to have work done, not because they want a tummy tuck. Yes, every surgery lines my pockets, but I'll make them see Dr. Bently Bauer our in-house psychiatrist."

Dr. Bauer met with most of my patients before surgery, even if it was just a five-minute Zoom meeting. My practice had paid for his London flat and probably funded his next yacht, but I would take the hit in profits to make sure my clients were doing the surgery for themselves. It's also why I had a two-year waiting list. The prior year my practice was voted number one in the state of Florida.

"Kat sent me a text and said Mia's coming, but might be late," Rachelle said.

Wes reached down and pinched her nipple through the black corset. "You didn't tell me that."

"Sorry, Master. She texted when I was in the locker room, and you swept me into a scene before I could tell." Her lips ticked up. "Then my brain went to mush."

Marcus had his sub Gabe tied to the spanking bench and was inserting a large plug into his ass. Jealousy twisted in my stomach as I sipped on my one glass of whiskey. Marcus doted on his sub, and I wanted to do the same for Mia. Except she didn't show.

"Why is she late?" I asked as I pulled out my own phone, noting there weren't any missed texts or calls.

Rachelle's brows drew together. "Kat didn't say. Mentioned she would help if she brought bodies to her house so she could get here faster."

"I don't understand," I said.

Wes groaned. "Kat keeps alligators in her backyard for disposal of bodies."

I waited for Wes to laugh at his joke, but he didn't. Instead, he pulled out his phone and tapped on the screen. "Mia's car is headed this way from downtown Miami."

"I really want to discuss this alligator thing more," I said. "But my other question is, why the hell didn't you track her a half hour ago?"

Wes took a swig of his drink. "Because it's a hell of a lot more fun to watch you squirm, thinking she won't show. Mia and I only met a few months ago. She didn't come to Shialia for my sister's wedding. But I know the people around her counted on her. At times, she gives Brock crap, but he said he can always count on her."

My phone vibrated, and I pulled it out of my pocket hoping it was a text from Mia. Instead, the alarm system had sent an alert the door to my office was opened. Building maintenance was supposed to fix my door because this was the third time this week the alert went off, but the door hadn't moved.

I rolled my neck and tried to relieve a portion of the stress. Work was fine, but I couldn't stop the feeling in my gut something was about to go wrong. I hadn't taken time to read lately and it had me on edge. Books were my escape from reality and helped clear the worry from my head. Without it, everything felt more stressful. "I'm heading back to my office. If Mia shows up, have her come there. We need to do her limit sheet together."

It was past ten and the club was in full swing. I stood and weaved my way through the crowd. My older brother, Kaeden, had a sub bound in ropes hanging from the ceiling. I paused for a second because she was the same woman he played with a few months back. Kaeden rarely did a scene with the same person twice. She also worked with him at the Alexander General.

Quinton, my younger brother, brushed up against my side. "She didn't show?"

I glanced back toward the entrance. "No. Wes said she was on her way. I don't think she's coming."

"Sorry brother, but I'm happy she didn't show." Quinton held up his hand. "I know we might have an issue. But I saw the way you observed her last time she was here. She's too hard and guarded. You need someone who will curl up and read with you."

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