Roland didn’t so much as blink.
He wanted... no, heneededher to keep going.
“I met Greg online about eight months ago,” she continued, swallowing. “It was a lifestyle site. Not dating so much as just allowing people to connect with others who had matching kinks. I was on there mostly to learn to be honest. I wasn’t looking for a boyfriend or anything.” Her voice softened even more. “I’d had... a bad experience before. So I wasn’t planning ever to get involved. Especially with someone on the internet.”
Roland noticed Derek shift, just a subtle glance toward Levi, but neither of them asked the obvious follow-up. Neither did he. The pain that lingered behind Sydney’s words didn’t need to be unpacked right now. She was clearly raw and wounded.
“I tried to keep things platonic with Greg from early on,” she said, voice steadier now, almost sounding rehearsed. “But he was persistent. Always so patient. Saying the right things. He’d check in every morning. Made the effort with the time zone issues we faced. Sent me all these cute little notes. And when I eventually gave him a post box, he would send me small gifts.” She blinked hard and looked down at her lap. “After a while, I grew to depend on our interactions. He made me feel safe.”
Roland’s jaw tightened. Levi’s fingers tapped against his knee, a sure sign he was holding back his own anger. Derek remained unreadable, though Roland could feel the protective energy rolling around the room. To someone as sweet as Sydney, none of this would give off any red flags, but there were small signs.
“And he asked you to come here?” Derek asked gently.
Sydney nodded. “He asked before. A few times, really. I always said no. But then... I don’t know, I started to really believe it. Maybe things could work. And for it to work, I had to have some faith.” Her voice cracked slightly at the end, and Roland felt it right in his chest.
He wanted to cross the room and kneel in front of her. Not as a Dominant. Just as a man who knew what grief looked like when it dressed itself up as hope.
“So,” she went on, pulling herself upright with a shaky inhale. “I booked a ticket. He was supposed to meet me at the airport, but I got an earlier flight because of an issue with the original plane. I thought, instead of letting him know about the change of plans, I’d surprise him.”
Levi gave a quiet sigh beside her. “Sweetheart... did you ever talk to this Greg on video?”
Sydney nodded quickly. “Yes! Loads of times.” She stopped and bit her lip before looking at Levi, appearing even more unsure of herself. “But he was always in his room. Told me he was private, and didn’t want to share me with everyone else until he had to. He couldn’t show me the Ranch because of the confidentiality agreements he’d signed to work here. It made sense!” she cried, clutching Levi’s shirt as if she could get him to believe her if she held on tight enough. “It’s a private resort for Dominants and submissives. Why would I question that he couldn’t show me more of the place? Why didn’t I question it more?”
Her face crumpled, and a fresh wave of tears started spilling from those expressive eyes. Levi immediately wrapped her in his arms, consoling her, and Roland had to stop himself from moving in. Another large man in her personal space would not help matters right then.
“Have you spoken to him since landing?” Derek eventually asked after Sydney’s sobs quieted again.
“No,” she responded, frowning. “My SIM doesn’t work here. I was going to get one at the airport but I was so overwhelmed, and then I was in the car, coming here and...” she trailed off, her hands lifting into the air, gesturing to the room as if to explain what had happened after that.
Levi tipped her face up to look at him. “Can I have his number?”
Sydney shrugged in response. “If you can give me access to a phone, I can call him now. Figure out what’s going on.”
Roland sat up straighter at this.
“No,” Levi said before Roland could think to object. “We’ll call him.”
For a second, confusion fluttered across her face. Not resistance. Just the surprise of a submissive being toldnoby someone she didn’t belong to.
And still she nodded in agreement.
Roland was relieved.
She hadn’t challenged Levi. No pushback, no questioning, no pout or hesitation. She didn’t know Levi. She didn’t knowany of them. And yet... she obeyed.
Roland refused to acknowledge the hint of hope that was brought alive in him that this warm, trembling little bird was showing them this trust.
He couldn’t stop looking at her.
The way she sat with such care. The way her hand gripped that bunny and how her eyes kept darting toward the door, like she was expecting this fucking assholeGregto show up and prove them all wrong.
But there was no Greg coming.
Roland felt it in his bones. Whoever this man was, he was probably in the wind now. After he couldn’t get his hands on the precious Little girl sitting in Levi’s arms, he more than likely disappeared.
He glanced at Derek, whose jaw had taken on a tight edge. Levi was already fishing out his phone to get the mystery man’s number from Sydney.
Roland couldn’t help noticing the way she tucked herself smaller on the couch, as if trying not to take up too much space.Her bunny was still clutched close, her knuckles pale. She wasn’t crying anymore though, so he saw that as a win.
