“We all know that, sir,” Suki gave Zee a wink that made him laugh and shake off some of his stress.
What made this place special was the care and details Ella had lovingly put into it.Even if it hadn’t been her idea at first.She had worked tirelessly to maintain his vision.
It hurt not having her by his side and it wasn’t the same without her.
He should have stayed at home with her, listening to one of her favourite concerts, brushing her hair, helping her off the couch.
But she had told him she was fine, and he had left her snuggling on the couch because it was more comfortable than the bed.
He wanted to come to the club tonight to make sure everything was covered for his absence, to check on the new security features and because he didn’t think it was fair to spur another absence on his staff if he could avoid it.
“No more sightings of that van?”Zee asked, keeping his voice low.
“None.It seems like that was a fluke.Maybe the wrong address or like you said, a patron that changed their mind.”
Maybe, but Zee still didn’t like it.He left Max to sort out the rooms with the waiting members, and stopped by the bar.
He served members, chatting with them, trying to get through the shift.
It could be nothing more than him being paranoid.
And so what if it was paranoia?He didn’t like the hang-up phone calls, and this week at work, when he left his office to go view some video, he came back and had the sense that someone had been in his office.
The university was a busy place and maybe it was a cleaner or a student looking for him or his director popping his head in.
There were lots of explanations but as Zee walked around the office, he couldn’t shake the sensation that something was out of place.Even though the trophies and the sports memorabilia the university had furnished his shelves with looked to be intact.
“Zee, we have someone in a sedan that doesn’t match the plates on the list.It’s someone from the health office.Says it’s an active investigation,” Charlie said, his voice cool in his ear.
An investigation?Zee’s heart skipped a beat, and his stomach dropped to his feet.
He didn’t have Ella here to ground him, to remind him not to overreact, to keep him steady when everything felt like it was teetering out of control.
“I’ll be right there,” he muttered.
He needed this health officer to go away, fast.Club Bandit members trusted him to keep their anonymity.Zee left the bar, making his way back to Max.
“Did I see Martin and Belle go down the hallway earlier?”
“They are in the third room.”
“Can you get him for me?”Max shrugged, left his podium and whistled down the hall.A few minutes later, Martin appeared, setting black frames on his face.
“Charlie tell that car to park to the side, stall them.I’m coming out.”
“Zee, did you want to join our scene?”Charlie put his hand on his submissive’s shoulder.Belle glanced up at him, her cheeks heated.
“No, I have trouble at the gate.I need your help.”
Martin’s face became a mask of seriousness.“Let’s get to the front, where it’s quiet and you can tell us what’s going on.”
Zee followed the couple through to the front of the club, ignoring people as he passed, wishing like hell Ella was with him.She wore a better mask than he did.
“Hey Lane, how’s it going here?”Zee asked the woman at the reception desk.
“All good.A couple of members asked for Ella to look at their outfits for the anniversary party.We miss her.”
“She’ll be back as soon as possible,” Zee said.“Why don’t you take a break?”
