I hug her again, then wink at her and press my finger to my lips before rushing out the back door.
There’s a path I’ve taken often during my life that leads right into town. I always took this path when I needed to sneak away for a quiet afternoon. I got in trouble for it, too, but that didn’t stop me from doing it.
Later, after I find the bus station and am headed out of Reno, I take a long, deep breath.
What the hell do I do now?
Two
ROME
“Mr. Alexander?”
I turn and lift an eyebrow at Beth, one of my new employees whose job is to keep the clients happy in my club’s playroom. She’s beautiful, playful, bisexual, and has quickly become a member favorite. “Yes, Beth?”
“Um.” She twists her hands at her waist and fidgets back and forth on her dainty feet. Beth is a tiny woman with fake tits that are on full display and long, riotous red hair.
“You can speak freely,” I add, ghosting my fingers over her bare shoulder.
She looks around nervously as if she doesn’t want our conversation to be overheard.
“You mentioned that I should let you know if I noticed anything …wrong.This is just my gut talking, and I know I’ve only been here for three months?—”
“I trust your gut,” I reply and turn to lead her down the hallway to my office.
Owning one of the most prestigious sex clubs in the world comes with heavy responsibilities. My number one priority is safety for every person who walks through my doors seeking … well, whatever it is they’re looking for.
And when safety is compromised, we take out the garbage.
“Here,” I say once I’ve closed the door and stepped several feet away, putting plenty of space between us so she doesn’t feel any more intimidated than she already is.
Beth is small.
I’m a big man. A big, powerful man.
“What’s your gut telling you, Beth?” I ask, keeping my voice calm.
She nibbles on that bottom lip again, then props her hands on her nonexistent hips.
“There was a client last night.” She shakes her head as she looks at the floor. “I hadn’t seen him before, but that’s not unusual. Like I said, I haven’t been here that long, and people come and go, you know?”
I nod once, wishing she’d get to the point. I have members from all over the world who come to Las Vegas just for the experience they get at Rapture. Of course, Beth hasn’t seen all of them. She likely never will.
But something in her eyes shifts, and that has my attention.
“What did you see, Beth?”
“I’m no prude. Obviously, I’m a sex worker?—”
“Beth.” My hard tone has her gaze whipping up to mine. “Tell me what you saw.”
“Experienced. This guy. He didn’t tell me his name. He … I didn’t like his smile, but whatever. He wanted to play with the spanking bench.”
I narrow my eyes. “Did you consent to that?”
“Yes, sir. I rather like to be spanked.” It’s endearing when she blushes. “So I agreed and told him my safe word. But I asked Libby to watch because I didn’t like his smile, and I suspected something wasn’t … right. I told her to make it out like she’s a voyeur, but really, I wanted someone else there.”
“Good girl,” I say, pleased with the way she handled it so far.
