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“No! Well, at least, not the public. Maren just has a bug up her ass. She needs to get laid.”

“YES! That’s the point! We’re going out tonight!” Maren screams again, this time sending a prickle down my spine.

“What did she say? You’re going out tonight?”

“Well, I was going to talk to you about that. It seems we are. Maren’s decided she’s on a mission—again. And since we’ve been beautified today, she wants to go out.”

I fight the urge to demand she stay home. I’ll be out of touch most of the night, and the thought of her and Maren getting into trouble crosses my mind. But I hold back, hoping Emi won’t willingly get herself into any situations. “Let me know where you’re going. I’ll make a few calls and find out who’s either at the door or in the area. You need them, they’ll be available.”

“We’re going to behave.”

“I’d like to be one step ahead. If you start a bar brawl, it’ll be nice to know—”

“We won’t start a bar brawl!”

“Time will tell.”

“You’re going to be upset when I don’t show you your surprise because of your smart mouth.” She lowers her voice. “And you really don’t want Rico to be the only one to see this surprise.”

I leap off the couch, grabbing my keys, then see the time on the cable display. Fuck! I can’t get to her. “Don’t mess with me, Emi.”

She starts to snicker again, knowing she’s gotten my attention. “I love you, Walker. Be safe tonight. I’ll see you when you get home.” The phone goes dead before I can respond.

A text comes through a second later. The picture of her neon pink toenails with small shiny crystals fills my screen, and I groan out loud.

This woman is going to be the end of me

.

Let’s get this fucking show on the road. I say to myself, running my hand through my hair and checking myself in the mirror one last time. SLED spared no expense on the new black suit, custom fitting it to my body. One of the perks of acting the part of a million-dollar investor is looking like one.

Agent Ross sends me a text when the limo is outside waiting. When I slide in, I give a half-wave to Ross and Collins in the front and settle next to Agent Kelly.

There’s an envelope on the seat between us with all my credentials, including my temporary ‘Suite’ membership card. The owners of the club were more than willing to extend an invitation without going through the vetting process once they saw our false bank statements and lists of other businesses. The only caveat was our promise not to open a similar club within ninety miles. Otherwise, they were happy to host us for the evening.

I have to hand it to SLED; they impressed even me. In less than a week, they had created an impenetrable identity, and Kelly and I were currently armed with some of the most state of the art undercover surveillance equipment. The watch on my wrist is worth more than my first truck. Even Captain Corny looked envious when we unloaded the equipment last night.

“Did we arouse any suspicions with our request to come in early?”

“Nope, we’re all set. They understand our desire to arrive without an audience and get settled,” Kelly explains. “There is one development that came up today.”

The hair on the back of my neck stands at his coy smirk.

“They’ve reserved a room for us, if we want to partake in any of the activities. We also have a list of members who like to play. Not much is off limits.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“These people think we’re into the lifestyle, Scott, so they’ve provided us with women to service our needs.”

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” A nasty taste forms in my mouth.

“All we have to do is say the word. We’re given carte blanche to the room all night. Privacy is promised.”

“You sure they’re not selling sex?”

“Nope, this lifestyle isn’t about that. Do you know anything about BDSM?”

“Not enough, obviously, but I’m beginning to think you do.”