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HALLIE

“ R emember, this was the man before I met you,” Conan says quietly.

“Okay.”

I’m kind of terrified as the doors swing open and two smiling, barely clothed women greet us.

“Welcome, Mr. Quinn,” the blonde purrs.

I dig my nails into his hand, fighting the urge to bolt.

He nods once, like this is all normal, and nearly drags me through the grand reception area.

I yank him to a halt.

“Conan Quinn. Is this a strip club?” I hiss, my voice sharp with disbelief as I take in the glossy floors and all the polished doors.

It’s so fancy. So deceptive.

“Worse.”

“Jesus Christ.”

I press my lips together and force myself to look around.

“Show me, then. Mr. Kinky.”

He flashes me that dangerous grin. God. My heart is thumping all over the place.

Before I can think, his arm snakes around my waist and hauls me against him, backing me into the wall.

“Only kinky for one woman now,” he growls, low and dark. “You get all my kink. Got it?”

A throat clears behind us, and I peer around him to see Declan and Finn standing there like they’re bracing for an explosion.

“My kinky man. I hear ya,” I mutter, shoving his chest.

Declan’s brows lift. Finn looks bored. Probably wishing he were anywhere else.

“Hi,” I manage.

“Hallie.” Finn inclines his head, expression unreadable.

“Welcome to Inferno,” Declan says.

“Hmm. Good to be back,” I deadpan.

Declan actually flinches.

They’re all trying so hard to help Conan. It’s…weirdly sweet. Charlotte was right—they are sort of adorable, in a twisted way.

“Oh, Dr. Quinn,” I say, meeting Finn’s stare.

He smirks faintly.

“I never processed your resignation. You’ve been on paid leave this entire time, and you will remain so until you’re ready to come back.”

“You—you’re sure?”

Conan slides his arm tighter around my waist and presses a kiss to the top of my head.

“We need you, Hallie.”

My heart squeezes.

Coming from Finn, the most stoic man alive, it feels like something big. Like an acceptance I didn’t know I needed.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

A heavy silence settles.

“So why the sex games?” I blurt, looking straight at Declan.

I wince. “Wait, let me rephrase that. What exactly was Ben trying to achieve by entering me?”

That’s the question that’s haunted me since the day it happened.

Declan looks almost relieved to be answering something straightforward.

“Inferno…” He gestures around. “Behind these doors, we offer an elite experience. This place is the foundation for not just our business but for others around the world. Ben worked for our sworn enemies. They wanted a foothold here. But, it seems you were just caught in the crossfire by being with Conan.”

My brain scrambles to connect the dots.

That night. Our revenge.

“That’s what his threat was. He said something like he couldn’t stop the games and tried to get me back,” I gasp.

“I’m so sorry, Hallie,” Conan whispers.

“We thought we had solved the problem. But he already put the plan in motion; we couldn’t stop it because we didn’t know. It didn’t cross our minds that he would have any contacts with our games. Let alone enter you.”

“He’s a fucking asshole,” I seethe.

He cheated on me, in my damn house, and then did this to me. I have a good heart, I know that, but I can say this one time, I’m glad he’s dead.

“So they enter women…to get access?”

He nods once.

“Welcome to the world of illusions. Those men think they’re gaining power. They don’t care about the women they sacrifice. And those are the men we…remove.”

A cold shiver creeps down my spine.

“But the world has to believe we’re the villains, or it doesn’t work,” Conan murmurs against my ear.

I swallow hard.

“So that’s why you made us believe we’d die here? The men…they think we’re dead?”

Finn claps his hands together, impatience flickering across his face.

“The only ones who meet their end are them.”

Declan’s tone softens.

“We give the contestants new identities. New lives. We protect them.”

I blow out a ragged breath.

“Sometimes you have to do bad things to stop worse,” I say quietly.

“So they’re all safe?”

“Yes, baby.” Conan squeezes my hip.

“We’re sorry you got wrapped up in this,” Declan says, almost gentle.

“What made you start all this? It’s…creative.”

“There are higher powers pulling the strings. This was our spin on it. But it’s one we’re outgrowing.”

Finn’s jaw twitches, but he stays silent.

“Thank you,” I say, meeting Declan’s gaze. “For explaining. I don’t think you’re bad people. For what it’s worth. I saw how hard you fought for him. How much you love him.”

“Clean slate?” Declan offers his hand.

I look at it for a second, then step forward and shake it.

“I’d like that.”

It feels a little like making a pact with the devil. But this devil would die for the people he loves.

So maybe it’s worth it.

When I turn back, Conan is smiling at me in that way that makes my chest ache.

“No more, Hallie. I’ll never host another Chase again. I swear. I’m done.”

I rise on my toes and kiss him.

“Good boy,” I murmur.

“But you can chase me any time.”

His eyes darken. My cheeks flush.

“Now show me your sex dungeon,” I say, nodding to the double doors.

His grin is wicked.

“As you wish, baby.” He slaps my ass, making me yelp.

Inside, the bar is full of men in expensive suits and women draped over them like lingerie-clad ornaments.

“Explain,” I demand, arms crossed.

“Do you come here often?”

He shrugs, annoyingly nonchalant.

“To drink, sometimes. I haven’t used the facilities in a while. My tastes are more…outdoors.”

“Show me one.”

He leads me to a set of gilded doors. I pretend I don’t notice all the women staring at him like he’s the main course. He doesn’t look at any of them.

Inside, I barely have time to take in the leather bench and the cross on the wall before he pins me against the door, mouth on mine.

I push at his chest.

“I want to see. Move.”

He bites his lip but steps back.

Holy shit.

I drift over to the floggers and whips hanging neatly along the wall, touching the braided leather.

“Oooooh.”

I spin to face him, heart pounding.

“Pants down. Bend over the bench. I need to punish you for being so bad.”

He chokes on a laugh, his eyes glinting.

“Now,” I say firmly.

“This is hot. But are you sure you’re ready for the consequences?” He steps close, towering over me.

“Oh, I’m counting on them, beastie. Now bend over.”

I drag the whip down the front of his shirt, pausing over his cock.

“Don’t you dare,” he warns.

I arch a brow, daring him.

Slowly, he unbuckles his belt and lets his pants fall.

I swallow hard as his cock springs free.

He walks to the bench, bending over, muscles taut.

“Good boy.”

I strike him once. A red welt blooms across his skin. He doesn’t even flinch.

I do it again, harder.

“Fuck, trouble,” he groans, his hand curling around himself.

“One more,” I say softly, “then you can come in my mouth.”

When the third strike lands, he spins so fast it makes me gasp. His eyes are pure darkness.

“Knees,” he rasps.

I drop immediately.

“Open. Tongue out.”

I obey, my heart hammering.

“Good girl.”

He taps his cock on my tongue, then slides deep, making me moan.

My hands squeeze his ass as he fucks my mouth, every inch of me burning.

“Fuck!” he groans, his hips jerking.

Warmth spills across my tongue, and I swallow every drop.

He pulls out, breathless, and I wipe my lip, looking up at him.

“My turn?” I ask sweetly.

He shakes his head, hauling me up.

“Your punishment starts now.”

“Did it feel good? Me whipping you into submission?”

His grin is wicked.

“Yeah. But now I need you.”

“Patience will be rewarded.” He kisses me, slow and deep, until my knees go weak.

I pull back to catch my breath.

“Could we…come back here again?”

He studies me and then nods.

“I’ll reserve a room for us. Any time you want to tie me up, you just say the word.”

“Please.”

“Anything for you.” He hooks my chin. “Any other questions?”

I shake my head, then pause.

“Wait. One…”

He lifts a brow.

A cold smile curls his mouth.

“You only come here with me?”

His eyes widen.

“I would never even consider it otherwise.”

I laugh, pressing my forehead to his chest.

“I know. You love me too much.”

He drops to his knees, lifting my dress over the small swell of my belly.

“And you,” he whispers, pressing his lips to my skin. “I love you more than life.”

I slide my fingers into his hair, blinking back tears.

When I try to pull him up, he catches my wrist, gaze heating.

“While you’re down there…”

I suck in a breath as he parts my thighs.

“You play dirty,” he murmurs, kissing the inside of my knee.

“But I can’t say no.”

He licks me softly, just the way I like.

“Like that, Con. Slow…fuck.”

I’m trembling when he finally pulls my panties back into place.

“Conan!”

He kisses me through the lace.

“Patience,” he purrs. “Now let’s go home.”