Not sure how to walk this tightrope between not betraying her new friends or endangering her staff and students, she stumbled over her words. “Possibly, I think so.”
“Good.” He pulled up a plastic baggie that was filled with small metallic black dots. “Do you know what these are?”
She shook her head.
“These are listening devices. You will plant these around the Clubhouse tonight. And I’ll allow you to put off payment for a week. That should give you enough time to find the money to pay me.”
“Why do you want to bug the Dark Sons’ Clubhouse? It’s basically a wild party, nothing else.”
His chuckle made her blood run cold. “That is none of your business. Do this, and no one gets hurt. Don’t do this. And tomorrow someone you know will be in the hospital. Am I making myself clear?”
She nodded her head and looked down at her hands, unable to talk, for fear what would come out of her mouth would end up getting someone hurt regardless of what she did or didn’t do tonight. The Russian man tapped the desk twice with his knuckles and stood.
She sat in her seat, clutching her hands into fists as the three men left her office. When the door finally closed behind them, she looked up at her desk and the plastic bag. It looked so innocent but held something that would ruin her life.
How could she do this? She didn’t think the Dark Sons would react well if they found out she had betrayed them. Would their anger be any less violent than the men who had threatened her?
Hannibal and Ink deserved better than her. Could she betray the men she was growing to care so deeply for? She clenched her jaw against a scream of frustration that wanted to escape from her throat.
Tonight, she was going to be in an absolutely impossible situation.
Chapter 24
Don’t break someone’s heart, they only have one of them. Break their bones - they have 206.
Ink
Saturday night at the Dark Sons’ Clubhouse was always a fun time. But for once, Ink wasn’t interested in the beautiful women who flocked to the place looking for a ride on the wild side. Instead, he sat enjoying a drink with Highdive.
It was difficult to do anything but count down the minutes until Jade arrived. He’d expected her earlier, but she must have had to close up at work. It was almost eleven. If she was coming, then she should be here soon.
He glanced over at the door.
“You’ve got it bad.” Highdive chuckled.
“What do you mean?” Ink looked around and saw Hannibal was at a table in the back with Smoke, Dragon, and Grinder. He glanced back at the front door before returning his attention to his drinking partner.
“You’ve looked at the front door at least fifty times in the last hour.”
Had he? Ink didn’t think it had been that often, but he was excited to get started on their plans for the evening. Their Jade had responded so perfectly last night that he couldn’t wait to see how she reacted to his whips. It was as if she’d been created specifically for them.
If she enjoyed the kiss of his whip against her skin, it would be the ultimate sign. He snorted at himself. When had he become some sort of hippie looking for signs from the universe?
“Hannibal and I have plans for tonight.”
Highdive shook his head. “Let me guess. With the woman I warned you off from?”
“Yeah. But she bought out her partner yesterday. So his problems shouldn’t blow back on her anymore.”
His Brother took a swallow of scotch. “Swear to God, all of my Brothers are made into absolute morons by pussy.”
Ink laughed over his own drink. “Someday, Brother. A woman’s gonna take you out too.” He took a swallow and enjoyed the alcohol as it burned down his throat. That’s what she’d done. Took him down, barreled right through all of his worries and concerns.
“Not going to happen. Some woman tries to take me down, I’m just going to tie her up and lock her away.”
“I’m sure you believe that. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Shibari Master, she’ll find a way to have you tied up.”
“Fuck you.” They laughed. “Guess that means you’re going to be putting your patch on her back soon.”