Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

G age

“I need a huge favor,” I hissed as soon as Valerio answered the phone.

“Well, hello to you too.” My brother chuckled. “How is paradise?”

“The usual. Now, listen to me. You have better connections back east than I do.”

“Jesus. What’s wrong?”

“Just answer me!” I was pacing my office and had been for hours.

He whistled. “I’ve never seen you like this. Yes, I do. Up and down the East Coast. What do you need?”

“A hit man but I’ll settle for full disclosure and a dossier including any secrets that can be unearthed about a man named Joseph Hargrove. He and his influential family are out of Connecticut.” I’d spent the last two hours discovering as much as I could about the man. I’d found a single tiny article about his marriage to Evangeline. But his family was very much like mine in that they likely paid someone to sweep the internet, removing any unwanted items. Most were glossy items, photographs of smiling faces attending posh events.

At least my father had enjoyed giving some of his wealth to various well-deserved charities. That had flowed down to the three of us. We even served on several foundations and a couple of boards of directors. We felt it our honor to do so.

There was no doubt everything about the Hargrove family was different.

Or maybe I was just so angry I wasn’t thinking straight.

“Whoa. A guest? A recent member?” Valerio asked.

I rubbed my eyes. The fact I felt so protective as well as possessive over Evangeline couldn’t matter in this instant. What I had been able to learn was that her mother and father weren’t like the others in a very staunch, posh neighborhood where residents were either highly respected neurosurgeons, people from old money, or Fortune 100 company owners.

The house she’d grown up in had been modest by the standards of the neighborhood, one of the first built. Her father was a doctor but not making the kind of money the others did. Plus, they didn’t come from old world money or trust funds. They’d wanted a better life for their daughter.

That included a school that took a lot of their savings.

But Evangeline had put herself through college, where she’d met the asshole, although from what I could tell, he’d grown up in the same large community association. The kind where people’s shit didn’t stink. I respected her, but good people could make very bad decisions.

I almost snorted. I knew that better than most.

“Just an abusive asshole bothering a guest.”

His hesitation made me roll my eyes. “A girl?”

“What does it matter? Yes, a woman. I caught a phone call and asked questions. They weren’t pretty.”

“Uh-huh. I know there’s more to that little story. Whoa. I just brought the family up on the computer. It’s like the Hargroves own half the state.”

“That’s the issue.” Yes, our father had been influential throughout California, but there was a significant difference in how tight and old money families were in the northeast versus a place like California where more people came from every walk of life.

This was old-world American politics too.

Which meant they were closely knit and tight-lipped.

“Are you sure you want to go up against this guy?”

“Valerio. We are from one of the most powerful families west of the Colorado River. I have billions of dollars at my disposal and seeing an innocent woman being railroaded by little more than a thug because she and her family don’t have money to defend themselves is not going to happen. Do you hear me?”

Another thirty seconds of silence.

“All kidding aside. You like this woman. I’ve never seen you this way and before you start on me, I’m not saying that’s bad. If someone sparked you, finally allowed you to live again, then go for it, brother. Just know you could be in for a fight that you might not want.”

“You underestimate me, Valerio. I might seem mild and meek to you and Braxton but I’m like a panther in the wild. You never know when I’ll strike but I will.”

“Oh, trust me. The two of us know. You have not only our father in you but part of your mother Gilly. She is one amazing woman. And tough. Tougher than nails. Let me see what I can find. It might take a couple days. You know how wealthy families are.”

I’d always been appreciative of the fact both Valerio and Braxton had taken to my mother after they’d lost theirs. Things could have been dicey as hell, very uncomfortable since they were so young. But we’d become a family. I never wanted to forget about that. It was rare.

“Yeah, but that means you’ll know how to break through the barriers too. I might head back to the States in a few days. Just depends on how it goes.”

“I think the islands can run themselves for a little while. Good to hear from you, brother. Don’t do anything stupid.”

“I’m here. The bastard is in Connecticut. What the hell could I do?” I had to grin.

“Do you really want me to answer that?”

“Yeah. Yeah. Thank you for your help. I feel cut off down here sometimes.”

“I understand. I’ll work some magic.”

The phone call had been tough. I liked to handle things by myself. I always had. He was right. My mother would remain tenacious, like a bulldog. That’s exactly what I planned on doing.

The knock on my door thankfully dragged me out of the desire to kill the man. Just seeing his conceited picture with his arm draped over two women was enough to boil my blood. They were divorced yet he still wanted to mess with Evangeline.

Fuck him.

She was mine.

The thought was startling. I was dominating and possessive but I wasn’t certain how she’d feel about that.

Travis walked in. He would hopefully be able to determine some additional answers I needed. “Whatcha need, boss?”

He looked exhausted for the first time in a long time. Then again, I think I did as well after the enjoyable time spent the night before. “You look terrible.”

“Oh, thanks. Let’s just say those women are the bane of my existence. No more stripper parties. I found panties and bras all over the ballroom.”

How could I not laugh? “Well, that’s how you run a party. Look, I need some info on the downlow if you can get it.”

“Sure.”

“I’ve narrowed this down to two possibilities. Heidi Winston, the bride and Kristen Matthews, another girl from the bachelorette party. The only reason they got an invitation to the island was because of a very powerful member who had some passes stored up. I need to know who that person is.”

“Okay. I should be able to handle that fairly easily. They had a sponsor name before they got on the plane.” Travis scratched his head. “Out of curiosity, why?”

“I just have a bad feeling about the guy. I don’t know why.”

“When you have a bad feeling, horrible things happen. Ouch.”

He could always make me laugh. He knew me too well. I didn’t take crap very well. “Something else. I’m bringing a guest downstairs this evening.”

“Oh?” His entire face lit up. “That never happens.”

“Yeah, well, I can’t help myself. And don’t worry. I took care of the social media issue.”

“The same girl. Wow. You work fast.”

“I just… Look, keep this between us.”

He actually acted as if he was zipping his lips. I thought only girls did that. “Mum is the word. Let me see what I can find for you. Do you want a room reserved?”

“Eh. She’s totally green. She’s the kind of girl who thinks it’s all abusive.” Now I think I knew why. I’d be worried too. The last thing I was going to do was push her, but I sensed she needed to break free of her chains.

“Okay. Let me know if you change your mind.”

“Will do.”

When he left, I moved to the back of my desk, sitting down and putting my feet on top. I couldn’t lie to myself. One night together and I’d never felt so alive. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do but one thing was certain—I wanted to spend more time with her.

First things first.

I would help her get rid of the asshole.

Period.

Because she was mine.

The smile crossing my face was practically evil.

Of monsters and men.

It was just another phrase our father had used. It was his phrase for a man who was very good at being two faced. The most successful politicians were. The wealthiest corporate moguls were as well. There was a huge difference in having two sides and two faces. The latter was deceptive in nature.

I’d never had a run-in with Christopher Bentley. He’d been one of the first members when we’d opened our doors. He was from old money out of the Hamptons but had made his home in Connecticut when he was a teenager. Although the family home on the Hampton shore would likely always remain in the family coffers.

Travis had narrowed down the guest to Mr. Bentley. I’d done what checking I could do on the man and his family. If my instincts were right, he was buddies with Heidi’s father. I also found a single picture connecting him to the Hargroves. That’s what bothered me, and I found it coincidental. It just so happened that he was staying on the island in his favorite bungalow. He’d brought a submissive with him, his proclivities something his wife looked past. She adored the money and the clout. It wasn’t unheard of.

The only judgment we placed on membership was based on finances. And whether or not they had a prison record. We didn’t need to get into that mess. Many a man had a girlfriend who doubled as a submissive. Those wealthy men who preferred being the subservient usually hired one of our experts for extra protection.

Powerful men didn’t want anyone to know they liked to be spanked.

I wasn’t going to lie. It had amused me from day one. I knew I was wrong in doing my own private judging, but I couldn’t help but to be amused.

Especially when often those very people were jerks to their employees.

I had a feeling it was a good idea I had a little meeting with Mr. Bentley. It wasn’t necessarily as if the man had done anything wrong in inviting the girls, but if he was providing a pipeline of information on Evangeline, then he needed to learn it wasn’t in his best interest to do so.

As I pulled close to the bungalow, another one where the front stilts were located directly in the water, I continued to think about what I was going to say. Alienating him wasn’t my intention or likely in the best interest of the situation, but I didn’t like feeling as if my hands were tied.

Climbing out, I sucked in my breath. I’d chosen to already slide into my attire for the evening, a black shirt and trousers. He would instantly know I was in my Master Dominator mode. Yes, I’d been trained as my brothers were. Not only various aspects of the art like Shibari but also from a Chinese master who taught the true meaning of utmost self-control.

By doing so, we could better understand how a submissive felt and how he or she should be handled. With respect and care. They were the ones in charge. I’d been just as green as Evangeline all those years ago.

The master had given the kind of punishment when one of us got out of line or didn’t listen that we would never allow to occur in one of our rooms. However, we’d learned. Yes, we’d learned so much from the quiet man.

I jogged up the stairs to the front door, hearing music and what sounded like muffled voices inside. Mr. Bentley preferred his privacy, the bungalow perfect for him.

After knocking, it took a full two minutes before I heard footsteps. When he answered the door, he seemed surprised I was standing on the other side.

“Mr. Royal. Is something wrong?”

He was dressed in his idea of a costume, which included leather pants and vest and a hood covering his entire face. Meanwhile, the submissive he’d brought with him was completely naked, tied to an X cross he’d had brought in for his own private use. He still had a flogger in his hand.

“Nothing is wrong. I needed to have word with you. If you’re not busy.”

“No, we can do that. Why don’t we talk on the back deck. It’s a beautiful evening.”

“Do you need to untie her first?”

“Not at all. My pet enjoys her perch more than most.” He opened his door wider, leading me through the main portion of the bungalow to one of the decks overlooking the water. The views were stunning, something we were well known for.

“Good enough.” I followed him to the outside, basking in the afternoon glow. Strings of color crossed the sky and it was a perfect, clear evening. It would be a beautiful night with stars.

The girl didn’t flinch, didn’t whimper. She simply remained in position as required.

Once outside, he immediately walked to the bar, removing his mask when he did. For a man in his sixties, he was very physical, his salt and pepper hair making him appear younger.

“Whiskey or scotch these days? I’m never certain.” His question was accompanied by a smile.

It was always smart to learn everything you could about your enemies or competition.

I wondered which one I was considered. “Whiskey.” Why not enjoy a drink with him? He could reveal more if he was relaxed.

He made a scotch for himself, bringing it over with a curious look on his face. “Here you go. You know, I haven’t had a chance to give my condolences on the death of your father.”

“Thank you. The loss is significant for all of us. He was certainly the patriarch and glue of the family.”

“Well, I’m certain his three sons can do a fine job handling his estate and his legacy.”

“We like to think we can.”

He motioned to an outdoor sofa and two chairs. I opted for the chair on purpose. The throne position. Logistics when dealing with certain conversations were always a good idea.

As we sat down, I concentrated on staring out at the water. The ocean was a beautiful sight and one I didn’t partake in often enough.

“Is this about the girls?” he asked. “Is there an issue?”

“They’ve handled themselves very well. I was a little surprised at the strippers, but it is a bachelorette situation.”

He laughed. “Heidi is a good girl. She’s marrying a great guy, who happens to be my nephew.” His eyes were twinkling. A connection made between the two families. If I had to venture a guess, I’d say the three were tight.

“Yes, excellent guests. However, one of the girls has been hassled by her ex-husband during her stay. She’s quite upset. I wondered if you could shed any light on what the hell is going on.”

“I don’t know who you are talking about. Heidi just asked for five guest passes.”

The man was lying. That was easy to see. “Evangeline Weathers?” There was no sense in accusing him of anything since I knew almost nothing. At least yet. However, I didn’t take kindly to men who lied to me. Or women for that matter.

He acted like he was thinking about it then a light bulb went off. “Of course. She went to school with Heidi. Poor little thing. Her parents were nearly broke, her clothes always worn. I felt so sorry for her. So did everyone else in the community.”

“Tell me about this community.”

His eyes opened wide and he instantly went into protective mode. “Just a lovely community where people care about people. That’s why we were always concerned about Evangeline’s welfare.”

Uh-huh. I wanted to choke on bile.

“Well, she’s all grown up now and got married to Joseph Hargrove, although from what I understand, that didn’t end well.” All I needed to do was look in the guy’s eyes and I knew the name wasn’t just familiar, it was a person he’d known for a very long time.

“I know the Hargroves but I don’t know Joseph and sadly, I have no clue about their marriage.”

“I thought the community in Connecticut is very tight.”

He laughed. “Don’t let all the crap you read on the internet fool you. Okay, so maybe I embellished a little. The women fight like cats and dogs, the men competing at everything. I grew bored and tired of that. I rarely talk to anyone. I’m still very busy with my company.”

I had to give the man credit. He was doing a very good job of walking a fine line between truth and lies.

“I completely understand.” For a few minutes, we enjoyed our drinks. I could tell he was a little antsy, which I didn’t mind him being.

“Is there anything in particular you’re worried about?”

“Only that it would appear Joseph is being very… pushy, borderline abusive. Now, it’s certainly none of my business but I won’t tolerate any of my members or guests being threatened. I don’t take that very well.” I looked him directly in the eyes. He was getting slightly miffed at what I was insinuating.

“As you said, it’s really none of your business. I wish I could help you more, but I don’t know the situation other than to say she married over her head. I never knew what Joseph saw in the girl. A basic pauper with limited education. But he always took in stray animals.”

Why did I have the feeling he’d abused them too? “Well, that girl who had a limited education put herself through college and has developed a lucrative business, which she can parlay into a fortune. I suggest you remember that I run this island and know people everywhere. I have a powerful family and connections that enjoy providing whatever information I ask for.”

He knew I was making a limited threat and suddenly his lips were pursed. While he said nothing for a few minutes, I could tell he knew he was walking another fine line. Pissing me off wasn’t in his best interest.

“Yes, well, good for you. If I knew more, I’d tell you.”

“Good. Just know I will get to the bottom of this. I won’t take any more of your time. I know you’re busy and here to enjoy yourself.” I stood, leaving my drink on the bar.

He remained quiet as he walked with me to the front door.

“Women are enjoyable as playthings, Gage. That’s something you should learn. You’re a dominant yourself. The best relationships are when the women comply to our needs at all times. When they are rebellious is when relationships end in disarray, divorce at its worst.”

“Yes, so I’ve heard. I just happen to be a different man. A better man. Take care and enjoy, Mr. Bentley.”

With that I walked down the stairs. I was fairly certain he’d gotten the point and if I had to guess, after his session with the girl, he’d be on the phone.

Good. I wanted Joseph on notice.

Yes, she was mine whether she knew it or not.