Page 29 of Danger and Dominance (Black Fox Security Doms #1)

Cassidy

“See? It looks just like a butt plug, right?” Brenda asked gleefully, holding the crocheted pink plug out for Cassidy to see. The craziest thing was that it really did, other than the bead eyes and the little mouth that decorated it. That kind of killed the illusion.

“It really does,” Cassidy agreed, although she wasn’t sure she was supposed to be admitting to Brenda that she even knew what a butt plug looked like.

She was pretty sure David wouldn’t accuse her of corrupting his grandmother since he already knew what she was like, but she wasn’t sure where the lines for herself were.

“Next week, we’re making cocks,” Brenda said, focusing on the plush plug, turning it back and forth in her hand and grinning.

She was obviously very proud of it and thoroughly enjoyed trying to make people uncomfortable with her creation.

Cassidy found her hilarious. “They’ll have cute little balls and everything. Want to make one, too?”

“Sure, why not.” She’d always wanted to learn how to do things like crochet, though she hadn’t pictured sex toys and male genitalia as the outcomes.

Still, making anything would have to teach her the basics, right?

And she could send crochet dick pics to Kincaid, which would probably make him feel better about how she was doing.

He'd already texted her this morning to check on her, and she’d reassured him she was fine. It wasn’t a total lie.

She was as fine as she could be under the current circumstances.

The current circumstances being that she was torn between being terrified that Don would show up at any moment while simultaneously hoping he’d disappeared for some other reason that took him far, far away from her, while being extremely happy she had a new job, worried for Brenda if Don did show up, and brutally confused about David.

Who’d seemed like he was going to kiss her when he’d shown up to check on Saturday evening but then had gone MIA again.

At least she knew where he was working. Just nowhere near her.

“We’re going to have fun,” Brenda said approvingly. “Now, let’s order some stuff online and see if we can find something that will make David’s head explode.”

Brenda was not wrong about having fun. It was Cassidy’s favorite job she’d ever had.

The mornings started with making breakfast for her and Brenda, then Brenda liked to watch some kind of television show.

Even though they were using subscription services, the most she would watch was an hour—she did say she’d made an exception for Sherlock —because she didn’t want to watch more than two episodes in a row.

The idea of sitting and binging a whole season, rather than waiting in anticipation until the next episode, was not her ‘cup of tea.’

She was currently halfway through the first season of Dexter, which Cassidy reassured her she’d already seen.

It had been a while, but she and Don had watched through Season Four.

Watching the show was one of her good memories of him, the kind of thing that had kept her hanging around, even after the red flags had started popping up.

It was always a little strange remembering the parts that were good. Somehow, it made her feel both better and worse. Better because at least she knew it wasn’t like she’d been taking constant abuse and unable to see it… worse because she knew that was how he’d trapped her.

Abusers weren’t abusive all the time. Especially not at the beginning.

If they were, it would be easy to leave them.

Sitting and watching with Brenda was cathartic, though, replacing the memories she had of watching with Don. Pushing them a little further back.

The show also let her fantasize. There was a brief moment where her brain went down the path of what would happen if Don caught her and Brenda here.

Imagining how he’d disable Cassidy so he could take out Brenda, dragging Cassidy away while Brenda lay bleeding on the floor.

She’d never know whether the other woman died or was saved. Who would find her.

If David would be the one to enter the house first.

Heart in her throat, Cassidy blinked away the tears and focused on the show.

Which, of course, made her think about Don’s disappearance. It was probably too much to hope that someone had Dextered him. And wasn’t she a shitty person for thinking about it?

Shouldn’t she just want him to leave her alone?

Sure, leave me alone so he can go and terrorize someone else.

She’d rather the guilt from being relieved that he was dead than finding out he’d gone on to hurt someone else.

It sucked that the justice system wouldn’t do anything to him until he had.

No wonder people loved shows like Dexter.

They could cheer on the bad guys meeting a bloody end without any guilt because it was all fictional. She would be wracked with guilt if Don turned up dead, but she would also be secretly grateful. Wildly relieved.

So, watching Dexter gave her mixed feelings, but it also felt good in a way to be doing something that had so many memories attached to it. Like she was watching in defiance of Don.

After TV time, Brenda liked to read or sit and do some Sudoku or a crossword puzzle to keep her mind sharp.

Then, it was time to make lunch, after which Brenda took a short nap.

The afternoons were dedicated to Brenda’s various activities.

Monday was book club, Tuesday was Mahjong, Wednesday was crotchet club, Thursday was yoga class, and Friday, there were alternating activities at the community center.

The last thing they did every day was go take a self-defense lesson with Claudia.

When Cassidy had mentioned the lessons, Brenda had insisted she wanted to join, so now that was how they ended their days before Cassidy took Brenda home and made dinner before leaving.

Since they weren’t going anywhere other than the retirement center and Black Fox, Cassidy had been cleared to drive and given a car…

the first week, someone was always with them, whether it was Jensen, Claudia, or Drew.

David did not come. She knew through the others that he was gearing up for an important fundraiser.

All of them were, of course, but the responsibility was on him.

Week one passed without incident. Don didn’t show up anywhere.

They still didn’t know where he was, but if he was anywhere in Pittsburgh, he wasn’t showing himself.

Cassidy spent her days with David’s grandmother, her evenings with Jensen or whoever was guarding the house that night, and Thursday night at game night for a rousing round of Seven Wonders.

They really should call it Game and Gossip Night.

“So, how is it going working with David’s grandmother?” Yasmine asked slyly, casting her gaze at Cassidy in between examining her cards. “Is it awkward after your scene last week?”

“It’s not like she scened with his grandma,” Ashley, Lincoln’s wife, pointed out.

She’d joined them this week and added a surprising dollop of sass to an already pretty sassy group, much to Cassidy’s amusement.

She was also the youngest of the gathered women, and all of them were genuinely amused by her. “Why would it be awkward?”

“Uh, because she scened with the woman’s grandson right before getting hired.”

“Yeah, but his grandma doesn’t know that. Wait, does his grandma know that?” Ashley’s head swiveled around so she could look at Cassidy with wide eyes of surprise.

“No, she definitely does not know that.” Though she’d dropped several hints about how David was a very ‘good boy’ and would make someone a wonderful life partner if he would just slow down enough to make time for someone else.

There was no way Cassidy was going to admit to Brenda that she and David had any kind of relationship outside of him being in charge of the team that was protecting her.

Because they didn’t.

Not really.

And she definitely didn’t want his grandmother putting pressure on him to start one.

They’d agreed to keep things to the club, and she’d meant it.

“So, it’s not awkward?” Yasmine asked curiously.

“No, not really. I haven’t even seen David since she hired me.” Which was disappointing, but she understood. He was busy with work. And they weren’t in a relationship anyway, so she didn’t have any expectations about seeing him. It was just that she’d kind of hoped to.

It was probably better this way, though.

“Things have been pretty crazy this week,” Claudia said as they passed the last set of cards for that round. “I don’t think any of us are going to make it to the club this weekend. There’s too much going on. Okay, everyone ready to reveal?”

“Ready.” Cassidy chimed in with the others, relieved at the turn of conversation, though she had mixed feelings hearing about the club. Especially when Yasmine and Naomi asked if she wanted to join them there the next evening.

Since she knew Naomi wouldn’t be scening without Drew there, so Cassidy would have someone to hang out with regardless, she said yes.

David

Knowing Cassidy was at the club when he was at work was grating on David, but there was nothing he could do about it.

He’d asked Gavin to text him regular updates on how she was doing.

Drew had picked her up so he could take Naomi there at the same time, providing guard duty to both of them on the way.

Once he’d dropped them off in the club, they were safe as could be. All the Dungeon Monitors knew to keep an eye on them. Gavin knew to keep an eye on them.

He’d also hired Mistress Cyana, a private investigator with a punishing left hook, to keep an eye on them for the evening.

A task she’d happily taken up. She was really a two-person team since she would likely have Master Aiden with her, the Dom turned submissive for his mistress.

He was also protective as hell and just as sharp.

David had literally done everything he could to ensure Cassidy stayed safe that evening; he just needed to trust in his people.

“David, do you have a minute?” Lincoln’s voice came from behind him, and David turned from where he’d been looking at the recent text he’d gotten from Gavin, reassuring him that Cassidy was still sitting at one of the tables with Naomi, Yasmine, and a few of the other club subs.

A few Doms had approached her, but she’d turned them down.

Which meant he could focus a little easier, sliding his phone into his back pocket as he faced Lincoln, the petite woman standing next to him, and the contingent of security she already had around her.

He recognized Senator Aditi Marlin immediately, though she was dressed more casually than when she was on television, in a white button-down shirt and blue jeans.

“Hi, sorry, I was just checking on something,” David said with a smile. It was true, he just hadn’t been checking on anything to do with the fundraiser.

“Of course.” Lincoln nodded. “I’d like to formally introduce you to Senator Marlin. Senator Marlin, this is David, the head of my team who will be running our part of security for the fundraiser.”

“Nice to meet you, David,” Senator Marlin said, reaching out to shake his hand. He took her hand and was pleased by the firmness and grip of her handshake. Not that it always meant anything, but he had to admit he found a good handshake to leave a good impression.

“Nice to meet you too, Senator. Thank you for placing your trust in us.”

“I’ve heard nothing but good things.” She smiled widely at him as he let go of her hand, her statement completely sincere.

The warmth in her focused gaze made him feel like she was truly paying attention to him, and he felt a snaking tendril of guilt that he’d been texting about Cassidy when she’d walked up to him.

“I appreciate the extra help, though I hope it won’t be necessary.”

“That’s definitely the goal,” Lincoln quipped. “We’d like you not to even notice that we’re there.”

Senator Marlin laughed. “That sounds perfect.”

She moved on, and Lincoln gave David an approving nod, which relieved him of some of his guilt over texting Master Gavin about Cassidy rather than paying attention to his job.

He needed to get his head on straight. Thankfully, so far this evening, there were no surprises, and it seemed like the fundraiser should run smoothly next week.

David let out a long, slow breath, slowly emptying his lungs of air as he refocused himself.

There was no reason to keep checking in on Cassidy. Everything was fine. Everything had been fine all week.

If she scened with someone else tonight, that was none of his business.

“Hey, Ginger, was that the senator?” Drew came up from behind David, watching the pack of people moving away with interest.

“It was. You just missed meeting her.”

“Damn. I would have liked to grab a picture. Maybe later. Naomi is a big fan, and she’s already jealous that I’m working security.”

David chuckled. He could absolutely picture that. Senator Marlin was well known for the work she did advocating for women. With the work Naomi did, she always had her finger on the pulse of the politicians who might affect the women’s shelter.

“I’m sure we can arrange to get you a picture sometime.”

“Think there’s any way you could get Naomi into a meet and greet with the senator?” Drew asked, still watching after the group. There was something in his voice that made David raise his eyebrows.

“I can look into it. Is there something going on?”

One shoulder went up in a shrug that indicated a casualness David didn’t quite believe.

“Just the same old, same old. Naomi got her period again today.” Drew sighed, and David reached out to clap him on the shoulder. Drew slanted a glance at him. “Thanks for letting Cassidy go to the Outlands tonight. I think Naomi needs the distraction.”

“Of course.” David’s heart hurt for Drew and Naomi.

The IVF was not cheap, nor was it easy on either of them every time it didn’t take.

They didn’t seem ready to give up yet, but he knew it was a struggle for them, and it seemed to hit harder every time.

He squeezed Drew’s shoulder. “If there’s anything else we can do, let us know. ”

“Thanks. I think we’re okay for now.” Drew smiled wryly. “Maybe next time, you can throw us a celebration.”

“I hope so.” He really did. Drew and Naomi would make great parents.

“What are you two just standing around for?” Claudia barked as she walked by, frowning at them. “I thought we were supposed to be working.”

Both David and Drew chuckled, snapping to attention.

“Yes, ma’am, Scary ma’am.” Drew saluted. Since he immediately covered anything other than his amusement, David could only deduce that he wasn’t ready to talk about things with the entire team. Which was fine.

David certainly wasn’t going to talk out of turn. When Drew was ready, he’d tell the rest of the team.