“I want to know why you gave my sub a membership.” Duncan stood beside him.
Saxon looked over at him. “I didn’t realize she was your sub. Tell me, why would you let your sub stand out in the dark and cold, watching the club night after night? Was it a punishment?”
“Of course not.” Duncan took a deep breath. “How long has she been doing this for?” And why didn’t he know anything about it until now?
“About three weeks. First, it was just on a Friday night and then twice a week. When she was there two nights in a row, I finally went out. Someone had to take care of her.” There was no accusation in his voice, but Duncan felt the blow to his gut.
“Why didn’t you call me?” he growled. Someone should have told him.
“Like I said, I didn’t realize she was yours. You’ve never brought her here. She wears no collar, and as far as I know she doesn’t sleep in your bed.”
“She. Is. Mine.” He didn’t give a shit if he was sounding like a possessive maniac. She was his.
“Whatever she owes you is my debt,” Duncan told him.
Saxon was quiet for a long moment. “No, I don’t think so.”
“She’s my sub. Her problems and debts become mine.”
“You might think of her as yours, but she doesn’t,” Saxon replied. “No, I think I’m going to keep that debt for a while.”
Duncan’s hands clenched into fists.
“She’s a very gorgeous sub, our Laken. Feisty, but bruised. She needs a firm hand, but someone who won’t crush her spirit.”
“You stay away from her,” Duncan growled. “I’m warning you.”
He swore he saw Saxon’s lips twitch. “I consider myself warned. Now, if you’ll excuse me I have a pretty little sub waiting to get her ass whipped.”
Duncan had no choice to leave, but he knew it wasn’t over.
Chapter Three
Laken moved around her apartment in a daze the next morning. It was Sunday so she didn’t have to open the store. She was open six days a week, but in a few weeks, as the town became busier, she’d be opening Sunday afternoons as well.
She stared down at the bills sitting on the table. Normally, the amount of money she owed would send her into a spiral of panic. Even the final notice from the electric company couldn’t get her mind off last night.
What had Duncan meant by the kid gloves coming off? Did he really think he had the right to tell her what to do? Hell, who was she kidding? This was Haven. Most of Haven’s male population would scold her if they thought she was putting her safety at risk.
Duncan was a deputy; he probably thought it his duty to scare her into staying safely in her apartment, locked away. Well, a big part of her wanted to do just that. But she was determined not to listen to that part.
She knew if she ever gave in and let fear rule her that she’d become a hermit, too scared of her own shadow to do anything.
And that wasn’t who she was.
She might never regain certain parts of herself. She didn’t know whether she would be able to enjoy bondage and submission again, but she was determined to not let fear rule her entire life.
Sighing, she glanced down at her bills.
Damn Ricky.
The only person, besides the police and hospital staff, who knew what had happened to her was Ricky’s father. He had been her employer and she felt awful that he now thought she was a liar and a bully. He’d been so wonderful to her, holding her job open for her, finding her a safer apartment, checking up on her and paying for a counselor.
When she’d been ready to go back to work, she was determined to throw herself into her job. After all, she’d had nothing else.
However, her dream job and her perfect boyfriend had all been a lie. Ricky was a cheat and a liar. He had constantly taken the accolade for her work and at the time she hadn’t cared. After all, they’d been a team. Or so she’d thought.
A knock on her door had her turning with a frown. Hastily, she stuffed her bills in a drawer. The last thing she needed was her dads or Lila offering to help her out.