Page 2 of The Games We Play (Balance of Power #3)
SEAMUS
Present Day
“ M iller, check in?” I ask into my two-way radio.
“South exit is clear—” His words are mumbled, and there is a pause as he smacks his lips. Rocco side-eyes me from his position at the front entrance.
“Are you eating a lollipop?” Rocco asks through his headset.
“Shit,” Miller whispers. “I was hungry… and bored. There is no action back here.”
Both Rocco and Miller are guys from my squad. When we served together, it became a tradition to celebrate a successful op or mission anyway we could.
You could never predict what could happen, and since we didn’t have much, a candy nightcap was what we did. It was something we all looked forward to, because it meant we were all still breathing.
Old habits die hard I suppose, because we still celebrate the end of each night when we work together. Even now, retired from service, working for my security company that I built specifically for events like the one we’re overseeing tonight .
“Put the lollipop down,” Rocco threatens, “those have a purpose.”
“Fine,” Miller whines out as he grunts, clearing his throat as he repeats himself. “South exit is clear, sir.”
I glance around at the crowd, congregating at the front entrance of Afterburn. We expected a lot of people, but the amount of people who have shown up to attempt to get into the newly established lifestyle club tonight far exceeded anyone's expectation.
The waitlist line has at least a hundred people in it. It’s trailing the side of the building and wrapping all the way around to the back. If anyone exits through that side, there’s a possibility that someone might attempt to sneak their way in.
“Good, keep it that way. I don’t want anyone who doesn’t go through a full security and member check to enter this building.”
“Yes, sir,” Miller replies.
I watch as Rocco pats down a member before granting him access. He’ll be one of the few standby members that will be getting into Afterburn tonight. We will have to turn away a majority of these members, and I hope it doesn’t turn into a full blown riot.
We already have the protestors for that.
My eyes bounce over to the fence line the police officers put up on the sidewalk. It provides a barrier around the parking lot, blocking them out. For now, at least.
Fortunately, I know enough people who knew someone at the Seattle Police department, so we were able to get more than enough to help on that side of things.
“I’m going to make a round inside and check in with Ember,” I share with the team as I walk up to the front entrance. Rocco opens the heavy oak door with a curt nod, and closes it as swiftly as I walk through it.
The ambient change is immediate .
The chaotic sounds of the crowd diminish immediately, replaced by a more synchronized sound of chatter.
A large oval shaped welcome desk sits in front of a floor to ceiling waterfall backdrop, with the words X-Connect Live embedded underneath it. The cascading water allows for a three dimensional look in front of the lettering, giving it depth and meaning.
The deep red lettering of AFTERBURN glows over the top, bringing the word, and foyer, to life.
X-Connect is the website that started this whole venture with a live club. Christian Ford, the CEO of Ford Enterprises, created the X-Connect app, a matchmaking platform but for specific needs. Sexual needs, to be exact.
When he hired Ember, she had an idea which ultimately led to the creation of Afterburn, a club where members can meet safely to explore kinks and sexual desires in a judgment free space.
It was a risk to do something like this.
But, here we are on opening night, packed to the brim, with people begging to get in.
I pass through and enter the main area of the club, which is now booming and lively. There are people at the bar and high tables, talking excitedly amongst each other, all wearing masquerade masks or veils—which I hate.
None of my security guys are wearing them. Ember didn’t like the idea. She wanted us to blend in with everyone to appear less intimidating, but that would defeat the purpose of why and what we are here for.
This is not a standard dance club, this is a lifestyle club. A high-end one, albeit, still a lifestyle club. And people can be…unpredictable.
Although, I do have a couple of guys in masks, playing the role of patrons, because I never take anything to chance.
Scanning the room as I pass through it, I catch sight of my best friend, Hudson, talking with Ember’s assistant, Cruz. It’s natural they’ve become close since Ember is technically his wife.
I use the word wife loosely, since they got drunk married during our last trip to Vegas and ended up staying married for reasons that benefited them both. Regardless, there’s something way deeper there than either one of them is leading anyone to believe.
My instincts are never wrong. Ever.
Too many years in the Navy and being trained to read people and places is an occupational hazard, and an annoying personality trait according to the few friends I do have.
I spot Ember and wait for her to peek over my way. When she does, I nod my chin toward the back of the club, and she immediately excuses herself from the small crowd of people she is talking to.
As she walks up to me, her rose gold dress sparkles over the dim lighting. She looks elegant and sexy at the same time, and I’m certain Hudson is doing everything in his power to refrain from taking her home and ripping it off of her.
“Hey, Seamus, everything okay?” she asks with a bit of concern.
“Absolutely, everything is great. I just wanted to give you a quick update,” my reply is monotone and even. Though she has a quick sigh of relief, her head tilts at me with raised eyebrows.
“You know, you need to notify your face that everything is okay. This permanent scowl you wear does nothing to make anyone feel at ease.” She gives me a playful punch in the arm, but my face doesn’t change. I just look at her dumbfounded, that she would purposely ask me to do such a thing.
I don’t know if I know how to notify my face of any other emotion other than dead serious with a hefty side of death stare.
I’ve had too many years of military service with multiple tours and a government job that prevented me from getting close to anyone.
Using my facial features to be unapproachable is my favorite tool.
Taking this job to do security for Ember was purely a favor to Hudson. Most of my old squad are all recently retired and just do contract work like me; it’s a good reason to get us all together. Plus, it keeps us fresh. This is natural for us, and easy compared to what we’ve done in the past.
Ember shakes her head with a defeated smile. “Okay fine, I give up. What’s the update?”
“The protestors are getting a bit more rowdy, but the police department has sent some additional officers to help manage the crowd. There are about a hundred people lined up to come in, and we’re going to monitor the occupancy levels, letting members in as others vacate.
But… well, no one is leaving. So there are a lot of people still waiting. ”
Her eyes widen as she turns to look at the front entrance, like she’d be able to see the extent of the line outside.
“I’d really like it if everyone had a chance to make it in. Are we really at max?” I understand she’s concerned about the members and wants everyone here to experience opening night, but it’s just not possible.
“Everyone who reserved in advance is in. All of those people waiting in line are waitlist members who didn’t plan accordingly or couldn’t get a reserved space tonight.
We can’t accommodate everyone. So, you have to get that need to make everyone happy out of your head now,” I reply, probably too crass, but it’s a fact. “It’s just not going to happen.”
She chews on the inside of her cheek, but nods.
“Okay, but let’s get as many in as possible. When someone leaves, someone else comes in. And I want all the member names for those that don’t make it in tonight, so I can reach out to them myself,” she replies, and I can’t help but internally smirk at who the serious one is now.
Ember is so unassuming and surprising. Her petite frame surrounded by a mountain of red hair appears so innocent until she talks about the club. Afterburn is Ember’s baby, and it’s clear in the way she talks about it.
“You got it,” I reply, because there’s no fighting back with her on that.
“Thanks, Seamus. Now, lighten up, grumpy pants.” She takes a few steps back, using her fingers to make a fake smile with her lips before turning around back to the bar. Remaining stone faced, I head the other direction to make my rounds through the voyeur rooms and private sections.
The voyeur room is packed. People are crowded close to each other as they peer through the floor to ceiling glass window, observing a couple inside the room.
I hear the distinct sound of a wretched, moaning man before I can see anything.
Curious, I crane my head through the crowd of people. Fortunately, I’m taller than most of the people here.
The bed is empty with only ruffled silk sheets splayed over the side.
Following the line of sight of the other spectators, I see a woman with her back fully splayed up against the corner of the glass.
She’s kneeling in front of a man whose palms are planted against the viewing window, caging her in with his body.
His anguished face is up close and personal to everyone watching.
He’s looking down at her as his cock pushes in and out of her mouth, driving himself deep down her throat, groaning with immense pleasure after every thrust.
It’s clear by the short breaths and blushed faces of those surrounding me that everyone in this room is thoroughly enjoying this show.