Page 2 of Gideon

We were sitting tucked away out of sight of the main door where we could keep an eye on everything, but stay discreet. “Why don’t you go home early?”

Max shot me a grateful look. “You don’t need to stay either. We have well-paid, competent managers.”

I was aware. “Yeah, I’m just taking a minute.”And trying to muster some enthusiasm.Max nodded, stood, and after arranging to meet me about a remodel we were doing on one of the nightclubs we owned, he left.

I stared after him for a long time. He hadn’t been happy since the op. We’d delivered the girl into an ambulance and then her brother’s care, and apart from an update saying she would recover but it would take a long time, we’d heard nothing since. Not that we expected there to be news, but Maddox hadn’t seemed the same since, and he was worrying me.

Five minutes later, I was just staring at my scotch and questioning my life choices when the club door opened, and I heard the low, hissed whispers of some guy. “Don’tforget Abigail. I want you to keep silent and be polite, and for fuck’s sake don’t start sniveling like some baby.”

There was a small silence and then a woman’s voice whispered back. “But I don’t want to see anyone getting hurt.”

“They come here to get hurt. How many times do I have to explain that to you?”

I scowled instantly. That was no way to talk to someone who was obviously a newbie. I immediately wasn’t a fan of the bully that had brought her. He sounded like a complete jerk and his chances of being accepted as a member were now less than zero.

The voice came again, softer and full of nerves I suddenly ached to soothe. “But what if someone doesn’t want to be hurt and the man gets mean?”

“Mean?” he hissed again. “Mean?Abigail you’re a grown woman, stop acting like you’re five. And what the hell did I tell you about your clothes? You look like you just came out of kindergarten.”

My ears pricked up.

“The kids like it when—”

“Why the hell couldn’t you have taken clothes to get changed into? We talked about how important meeting Mr. Ford is. I need to make a good impression and you’re ruining it.”

I’d had enough and stood. Apart from the fact that Mike Ford was a Dominant of thirty years’ experience who didn’t suffer fools, gladly or otherwise, I knew for a fact he would be demonstrating his talent tonight using a bullwhip with his masochistic sub, Jamey. That was definitely not an experience for a first-time visitor.

“I didn’t have time, Ricky. I needed to speak to Josie’s mom; they’re both really upset over the divorce.”

“Which isn’t your problem. You work as a daycare assistant, not a fucking social worker, and how many times do I have to tell you to call me Richard?”

I stepped around the corner and came face to face with a twenty-something with slicked hair, dressed in leather pants and a black shirt. I reined in my amusement at his idea of a standard Dom outfit, but then I glanced at Abigail and just about every brain cell I had fell on its back in surrender.

She was tiny. Maybe five feet tall on a good day. She wore a bright pink pair of pants that hugged a gorgeous curvy ass, white sneakers with pink and silver laces, a white shirt that I was pretty sure had some glitter glue on one shoulder, and had more freckles on her face than should be allowed. Her curly red hair was in two pigtails, and she was easily the most adorable thing I’d ever seen.

Her beautiful green eyes were wide as she stared at me, but then I noticed the faint shadows under them. This baby girl wasn’t getting enough beauty sleep, and if numb-nuts had dragged her here after a full day looking after little kids, the black shadows didn’t surprise me.

I forced my gaze back to Ricky very reluctantly and put out my hand. “Gideon Sinclair.”

His expression changed as he obviously recognized my name. “Mr. Sinclair,” he all but stammered and grabbed my hand. “Richard Martin. So pleased to meet you.”

I dropped his hand and turned to the pixie standing next to him, trying to stand still. She was shuffling,twisting and untwisting her hands in front of her. I couldn’t help myself from reaching out and taking one, bending and brushing a kiss on the back.

It startled her into stillness but then a faint flush pinked both her cheeks. “Lovely to meet you,” I said, genuinely this time.

“Abigail Barkley,” Richard introduced her. “She’s umm, my sub. But new. Very green.”Like he wasn’t.

Abigail’s plump lips parted in surprise. I imagined being dickhead’s sub was news to her. And I was ready to drag the idiot out of my club by the scruff of his neck for being so ignorant.

“Is this your first time here?” I asked Abigail pointedly because I’d already decided what I was going to do.

She smiled shyly and nodded.

“We have an invitation,” Richard said hurriedly. “Through my company. Master Ford is doing a demonstration I’m very much interested in.”

I plastered on a regretful face. “Hmm, the problem is Ford’s demonstrations are not for beginners I’m afraid.”

He looked absolutely gutted. “Well, of course, I’m not a memberhere, but I was hoping to join.”

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