Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

“ T he power of an evil woman is her seduction. She has a golden cup in her hand filled with abomination and a wine of fornication.”

—Matt Starking

Four months earlier

Braxton

“There is nothing more heavenly than the sight, taste, and scent of a beautiful woman,” I said absently as I surveyed the lavish yet tropical lobby of the main resort building. As I drank in the various scents of perfume and floral arrangements, the flowers all fresh every other day, I had to admit the Royal family was lucky as fuck.

“You would know, Mr. Royal,” Travis said as he walked with me.

As my resort and island manager, he had a tall order to fill. While the private setting was lush, full of luxurious designs and some of the best beaches in the world, he remained on duty twenty-four/seven as a live-in employee. Of course, the highly respected man was paid extremely well, provided with extensive vacation days and other benefits as well as a stunning island chalet of his own. I’d learned through the years guests were much more entitled than I’d originally believed.

That meant our selective clients hunted him down for the most ridiculous needs.

Chuckling, I threw him a look as we headed for the main casino. Yes, my reputation as a playboy was widely known, whether on the mainland in my hometown of San Diego or on one of two small islands owned by my two brothers and myself. Hell, according to the recent article on the Royal brothers in People magazine, we were truly arrogant bastards.

We had every right to be.

I’d enjoyed the perks of developing a billion-plus-dollar corporation that included two opulent locations catering to the rich and influential.

And their darkest kinky needs.

Doing so soothed the sadistic beast dwelling inside of me. Plus, I was a control freak, something I’d never denied.

I was also considered a very dangerous man, unpredictable, which suited me just fine. Given my position in life, I could get away with being a bit unhinged.

But I still had rules of my own that I did my best never to break.

“You know I never partake in the feminine wiles of any of our guests. That’s against the rules,” I chided him. He knew the rules better than almost any one of us. That didn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy the visions that came with owning tropical, very warm surroundings. Oh, I could be a very bad boy if let loose.

“And you never bring anyone here. That surprises me.”

As we walked into the oversized, opulent casino, I took a deep breath. There was nothing quite like the scent of people gambling away their money. The guests came here to fulfill many proclivities from world class chefs and one of the finest wine and cigar collections to satisfying their more carnal needs. There was no pressure, and those without partners were provided with a dominant master or submissive, every aspect of our guests’ privacy kept in mind.

Because of the exclusivity and safe location, they paid extremely well for the service. But the membership had perks, including the most opulent villas and rooms, access to every dungeon, and a private kink room.

“I’ll let you in on a little secret,” I told him. “I’ve yet to find a single woman who can handle my needs.”

He laughed heartedly. “I was hoping you’d be the one to make the quarterly visit.”

His words surprised me. “And why is that?”

“Because you’re amusing, not an asshole.”

The Royal brothers had prided themselves in being astute businessmen, but often Gage and Valerio were a little crusty under the surface. At least Valerio had been until finding the woman of his dreams. Perhaps I was just a better actor.

“Amusing. I’m uncertain if I should take that as a compliment.” There were two casinos in this particular facility along with a half dozen restaurants and bars, entertainment including a jazzy piano bar and a dance club that would rival the old Studio 54. The main resort included over two hundred spacious rooms and suites, but we were widely known for our private cottages, some positioned directly in the Caribbean turquoise water.

Case in point. When one of my wealthy guests lumbered in our direction upon seeing us striding through the corridor, I had a feeling my evening was about ready to turn to shit.

“What’s his deal?” Steve Plunkett was well known on both islands, his proclivities mild in comparison to several of my more clandestine guests. However, he was a pain in my ass and had been since being allowed membership into the Elite Club, our highest level purchased. It required a net worth of at least ten million, a solid financial background, and no criminal record.

Not that most politicians I’d come into contact with weren’t shady, but he was a low-level player trying to make his way with the big boys.

“His regular submissive wasn’t available,” Travis admitted with more than just a hint of amusement in his tone.

“Why?” We continued walking, forcing Steve to try to keep up with us just to be able to make headway in speaking with me.

“She’s on vacation. We do allow them off their chains from time to time.” At least Travis could be candid with me, unlike so many who were terrified of what I could do.

“The different girl?”

“I quote,” he started. “‘She’s mundane in every way, including in her oral skills. And she hates pain.’”

“Interesting. True?”

“Sabrina is a good girl, but usually a domme. He insisted, and finally offered enough of a bonus she accepted.”

“Ah.”

Somehow, Steve’s short legs managed to allow him to catch up to us. “Mr. Royal. Mr. Royal. I have a bone to pick with you. I need a full refund. Your submissives suck. Especially Sabrina.” His voice had risen to a point that angered me.

I tried ignoring him, even though I knew that wouldn’t work but for so long and that was only because I wasn’t in the mood to fly off the handle. However, no one dared say anything negative about my employees. Especially with a loud voice and ridiculous insinuations. The moment he jumped into my face, continuing to allow his accusations to fly, I could instantly feel a chemical imbalance jetting through my bloodstream.

I kept a smile on my face as I’d been coached to do, even keeping my hands to myself as I crowded his space.

“Oh, shit,” Travis said under his breath. He’d witnessed the swell of anger inside of me before, forced to make amends to more than a few guests over the years. I’d learned to curtail my level of violence, something I’d had since I was a kid. Hell, I’d gotten myself arrested twice, much to the chagrin of my father. I’d been lucky one of the times hadn’t resulted in spending some time behind bars.

My suave attitude had been born then, which had allowed me to avoid most aspects of trouble. However, inside a club my brothers and I owned on a private island? To hell with rules, common sense, and decency.

Several of my guests knew when crossing me wasn’t in their best interest. The moment I turned both my full attention and my disgust toward the short-legged, fat bastard, many of my guests walked to other parts of the area. Small enclosures and a huge man like me didn’t go together well.

He started sputtering immediately, his puffy face turning beet red. I was aware he was stumbling backwards, even smashing into a poor waiter who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was even possible poor Steve had twisted his ankle. I had zero sympathy. When his back hit the wall with a rather brutal thud, that allowed me to smile.

Something my brother Valerio had taught me was that often violence wasn’t necessary. It was all about the art of intimidation. And I’d gotten damn good at it. Plus, it wouldn’t bode well for the Royal Players Club’s bottom line to be witnessed beating on the guests.

No matter how much I often wanted to engage in such nefarious behavior.

I was certain the man was going to scream as he looked at me with utter terror in his face. Meanwhile, I had my hands positioned in my pockets so that no one could mistake my actions for… predatory. My. Wasn’t I being sensitive?

“Wha… What are you doing?” Steve asked in a small voice.

I took my time taking a deep breath, nodding to one of the long-term guests while inching just a bit closer to the man. When I placed one hand on either side of him, one would have thought I’d already drawn blood.

“Don’t…” He didn’t need to finish his plea. He was going to beg me not to hurt him. He repulsed me.

“Mr. Plunkett. I pride myself in caring about every one of my employees. While I also hold most guests in the highest regards and desire their every fantasy be fulfilled, I’m not the kind of man to accept useless, frustrated comments from little-dicked men who try and lord their superiority over a woman. Or a man for that matter. Now, while I know you’re trying to make a name for yourself within the bowels of Congress, to act on your aggressions in my club isn’t in your best interest.”

He was still befuddled but added another stupid comment that was jerking at my last straw. He also slithered into the idiot of the year category by acting as if he was superior in this set of circumstances or any for that matter. “She’s a worthless employee. She couldn’t suck cock if God gave her hand-printed instructions. And if you think I’m going to allow your horrendous leadership and tolerance for stupidity to go without notice and warnings to others, you’re dead wrong, buddy. I know people. I’m an important man.”

I could deal with his voice rising again as he was making himself look like the fool he was. Yet the man who believed the world was his oyster made a fatal mistake.

He pressed his finger against my chest.

“Fuck,” Travis groaned but knew better than to get in the middle of the cyclone.

Thankfully, I took another deep breath, even holding it for a few seconds. Did that calm the raging beast inside of me? Perhaps enough that I’d allow the man to live. But could I be okay with him treating anyone this way without a harsh form of punishment? Hell, no.

All I needed to do was issue a single punch to his gut to defuse some of my anger as well as to make a stern but necessary point.

No one fucked with me on any level. Not with my business. My family. My employees.

Steve appropriately wheezed and all seemed to get very quiet around me, the kind of silence where you could hear a pin drop.

I could tell even Travis was holding his breath. To the man’s credit, Steve glared at me as if he was going to burst into tears. He was coughing and doubling over as much as the limited space between us would allow.

It was good to ease some of my tension, and removing his vile presence was a necessity for both my fury and the safety of my employees.

“It’s apparent you don’t know me very well, Mr. Plunkett. What I say goes. Period. Now, for the sake of your face and your health, you’re going to listen to my command. You’re taking the earliest flight out possible and you’re going to stay away from either club for a period of three months so you can do some intensive, personal reflection. It’s good for the soul.”

“But… But…”

I took a few seconds to adjust his disheveled tie, the cheap material assaulting my skin. “But nothing, Mr. Plunkett. No one disobeys my orders. And lives.”

It was as simple as that, the statement not untruthful. Sadly, I could tell while afraid of what I might do, he was still an arrogant bastard.

Steve’s eyes remained wary yet open wide. I used that as an incentive to back away and give him room.

He slithered to the side like the vermin I knew him to be.

When he turned abruptly, taking a couple of steps away, I was rewarded by several guests giving their nod of respect.

“You’re like a mafia boss,” Travis said from behind me.

I was able to chuckle at his off the cuff remark. “No. More powerful.”

Steve spun back around in my direction, now pointing his finger at me. “Make no mistake, Mr. Royal. You will pay for this. I have friends. I have colleagues. This club will go down.”

He knew better than to make the threat directly within an arm’s length. Fucking coward.

After he’d headed off to probably try to regroup, I smirked. “Make certain our guest is on that flight, Travis.”

“Yes, sir.”

“A shit of a night.” My comment was said more in passing than anything.

“Well, then I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it might just go from bad to worse.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning,” he huffed. “Now, I’ll show you what I brought you here for.”

My reputation of being a dangerous man remained intact, something that allowed me a peaceful feeling.

Most of the time.

But even without Travis’ warning, I could feel a storm brewing.

One with dark clouds and a destructive aftermath.

And I was never wrong.