Dev noticed it too.
Interesting.
When they reached the table, Rachel asked, “Nick Devlin?”
“Yes,” Dev said with a brief chin lift. “You’re Rachel Hunter, I presume.”
She nodded. “This is Roman,” she said as she slid into the side of the booth Leland vacated.
Dev held his gaze. “You read the room like you’ve done this before.”
Roman’s smile was faint. “Old habit from an old job.”
Leland closed in on him. “It was your party.”
He didn’t back down as he met his gaze. “It was,” he replied. No challenge in it. No apology either.
That irritated Leland more. “Your screening process needs work,” he said flatly.
“You think I don’t know that?” Roman’s voice was calm, but the tension in his jaw revealed a crack in his composure.
Dev stepped in before things could escalate. “Sit down, gentlemen. We’re making the diner staff nervous.”
The other man nodded before he slid into the booth beside Rachel.
“I should’ve shut Parker down a long time ago,” Roman admitted. “He’s pushed boundaries before, but nothing like this.”
“No one ever complained?” Dev asked.
“Subs have cut scenes short. But he always stopped when they did.”
“The regulars don’t like him,” Rachel shared. “No one wanted to play with him anymore. That’s why he migrated to the newcomers, like Julia.”
Roman’s head swung toward her. “Why didn’t you say anything? Why didn’t anyone?”
“For the same reason you never blacklisted him. He never crossed a line. And…”
“Finish your thought,” Roman insisted, voice pitched low.
“Some subs were afraid of getting a reputation as troublemakers.”
“Saying no or using a safeword should never be an issue,” Leland said, anger sharpening his words.
“I feel terrible,” Rachel whispered. “I never should’ve invited her.”
Beside her, Roman exhaled. “And I should’ve protected her better once she was there.”
“Fix it,” Leland stated. “Ensure it’s safe for everyone. As host or dungeon master, that’s your first responsibility.”
Roman hesitated. “If I host again… and that’s a big if, things will be different.” He met Leland’s gaze. “If you learn he’s responsible for the missing women—”
“Where did you hear about that?”
“I have friends at The Underground; people are talking,” Rachel supplied.
He and Dev exchanged a look. If the unsub heard the rumors, he might decide it was time to disappear.
“Did Parker know about the missing submissives?” Dev asked.
