Page 38 of Hawk's Sapphire

“And what’s Hawk’s part in this?”

“I want him to offer to take the Feds into one of these parties.I’ll get him the invitation he needs.The woman, Agent Galina, she’s looking to score points and take down the ring to get a promotion.She’ll take the bait.I have no doubt about it.Mr.Hawkins will need to make a few personal adjustments to make yourself appear to be part of the wealthy and powerful.”He eyes me from head to toe with a look of disdain.“I’m afraid the grungy biker look won’t sell where I need you to go.But once we get your appearance complete and have all the intel you’ll need, you will then need to convince Agent Galina to go in undercover as your…”

“Bait.”Gabe finishes for him.“You want us to convince a federal agent to go undercover with one of my guys as bait to be drugged, kidnapped, and sold to the highest bidder without any guarantee we can get her back out again?They’ll never go for it.”

“I’ll guarantee Ms.Galina is returned safely once we track her to where they are holding the others.”Vincenzo says smoothly.“Of course, you can’t tell the Feds of my involvement, but I will giveyou, Gabriel, my word.”

“And how do you propose we convince the agent to be a part of this clusterfuck of a plan?”I ask, not sure about any of this and still fuming over Sadie’s involvement with this dickhead.

“Oh, I’m sure the proper negotiations will present themselves soon enough.In the meantime, Gabriel, I have a list of foster homes much like the one Carter was found in.They’re owned by Devil’s Order members and have several reports of children who have run away within the first seventy-two hours of placement.I thought you and your club might like to take a deeper look since they were connected to the family who was holding Violet’s son and her ex-husband.He was overseeing the runaway cases.”

Gabe lets out a long, deep sigh.“Alright.But you still haven’t said why you need Hawk to get this Fed into this party for you?What’s your angle in all of this?”

“Retribution.”

15

SADIE

“Again!”Sergio demands.

I pull the five knives out of the paper outline of a man’s body on the board and walk them back to the throw line.One by one I release the knives hitting my target, but not quite hitting them wherehewants me to.Hence the yelling.

“How is she doing?”I hear Matteo’s voice behind me.

“She’s distracted.”Sergio complains.“She won’t’ take instruction and she’s stubborn as hell.”I hide my smile.He’s not wrong about my being distracted.Actually, I’m pissed.But I can’t disclose that bit of information or Matteo will be all up my ass for answers, and I’m not sure I even know what I would tell him.My only inkling of joy so far this afternoon is watching Sergio become frustrated.The stoic man does have a button, and I just found the damn thing and have been pushing it repeatedly for over an hour.

It’s the simple joys on life, really.

“She’s done for today.”Matteo instructs and I swear I hear Sergio release a sigh of gratitude.

“Dolcezza.Come.We’re leaving.”I place the knives back on the table and walk to Matteo’s side, keeping my expression neutral.

“Where are we going?”

“Upstairs.”I’m suddenly feeling a mixture of excitement and trepidation at the same time.I know what’s upstairs.I’ve heard the other men talking about the Mansion and what people get up to here.It’s a member’s only kink club owned by Matteo’s cousins.I’ve never been allowed upstairs.I’ve only been brought through the underground entrance and taken straight to the training facilities and arsenal room.In fact, Sergio gave me explicit instructions that I was not go on any other floor but this one and never anywhere without him or Matteo at my side.

I follow Matteo, my mind racing.I’m so in my own head that I don’t notice until it’s too late that Matteo has stopped and plow right into his back.He spins, catching me, searching my face.I blink up at him, biting my bottom lip out of nervousness.He gives me a soft smile then grabs my arms one at a time placing a white band on both my wrists then turns back to press a button for the elevator.“Do not remove those bands until I tell you it is safe to do so.”

“What is this for?What are we doing?”My nerves ramp up and I’m suddenly feeling a little apprehensive.

“For as long as we’re here, you will wear these bracelets.You will not take them off and you will not speak to anyone without my express permission.”He waits for me to acknowledge what he’s said.I do with a nod.“Your responses will be yes, sir.From this point forward, you will respond to me with yes, Sir or yes, Master.Do you understand?”Matteo smirks.He knows I hate the word master.We’ve discussed it thoroughly since my arrival.He explained how some people in Master/slave dynamics need to give over total control.Though it’s not my kink, I don’t disrespect anyone who feels they need that in their relationship, but it’s not something I would choose.It probably has something to do with the feeling of being trapped under everyone else’s ‘rule’ or demands my whole life.

My eyes narrow and I nod begrudgingly conceding to the rules.Sir seems to come more naturally to me and feels more like a term of respect than one of absolute power.Respect is earned in my world, and I do respect Matteo.

“We are going upstairs and there are people here… playing.They are doing scenes with their partners.Some are enjoying sex in the open for all to see, while others are giving demonstrations for various kinks and aftercare.That is where we will be going.To watch a demonstration.”I feel my eyes widen at his words, and my body reacts to the idea of what I might see.

I’ve never liked watching people having sex in the clubhouse, but most of those guys are like brothers to me and well, it’sgross.I read romance novels and have done some research on the different kinks whenever I’ve come across something that interested me.I’ve even joined a few forums and asked questions.I’ve always been curious about the whole Dom/sub thing.The thought of giving someone control of my care and in the bedroom has it’s merits.But I don’t know that I could give myself completely to someone in that way.I’m so used to fighting for everything.Earning my place that I don’t know if I could do it.

You trusted Nathaniel to take care of you.

And look how well that worked out.The sex was amazing.I didn’t say anything at the time, but I was grateful for him taking charge that night.When my emotions are high, I don’t want to be in charge, to make decisions.It was a relief to hand over the reins and not have to guess or choose what happened next.I only had to follow Nathaniel’s lead, and he seemed to know exactly what my body needed, craved.

I won’t say I’m not intrigued by what I’ve learned about the BDSM world.But to see it?To observe people in while they engage in their kinks… I’m not sure how I feel about that.It’s a combination of nervous excitement and reservation.

What if something scares me?What if I get turned on?Will Matteo know?Will he do something about it?Would I be willing to cheat on Hawk to…

It’s not cheating when he threw me away.He said he didn’t want me as hi ol’ lady.It’s not cheating when we’re not together.

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