many.
We joined April and Sam at the lounge area they’d commandeered for our group. Sam was busy
talking with some regulars who were asking about the currently vacant space and April was watching,
proud as could be with her son who held such an important position.
I understood how she was feeling. I experienced the same emotions most nights I was here
waiting for Sam to finish. He didn’t understand how much everyone who frequented The Lodge
valued him. It was Sam they sought out when they had an issue, not Jack. Some bosses would be
frustrated to be circumvented that way, but Jack was learning the value of having a second-in-
command who the customers and employees respected.
After tonight, I only hoped Sam would see how everyone else saw him.
17
Sam
Everything was going as well as could be expected when you were spending your Saturday night at a
kink club with your parents. They’d wanted to see the playroom after Corey had opened his big mouth
to tell him it had been my brainchild. Somehow, I’d managed to detach myself from the space that felt
like every one of my personal fantasies come to life long enough to show them around.
I’d drawn the line when my dad kept glancing toward the entrance to the back deck. I didn’t want
my parents to know about my kinks and I sure as hell didn’t need to know about theirs.
It wasn’t until my dad was at the bar settling the tab when everything went south. There was a
commotion deep within the bar. I heard William’s voice booming over the music blaring from the
jukebox. Corey looked like a giant when he hoisted himself up on the liquor well behind the bar,
trying to see over the crowd to survey what was happening.
I didn’t think. I shoved my way through the crowd, easily breaking free when Theron tried to hold
me back. He could blister my ass later if he needed, but William was in distress and it was my job to
maintain control over the bar.
“You stupid sonuvabitch! Let me go!” The words slurred together. Incidents like this were rare,
but they happened.
“Let me through!” I demanded, barely recognizing my own voice as I parted the gawkers.
William had a burly man, who’d obviously had about six too many, pinned on the ground. John
was slumped against the wall. He’d stripped off his t-shirt and someone was holding it to his face.
