22. Master O’s Demand

Bastian grimaced and rubbed his temples as if he was fighting a headache. "Do you even have a verbal filter, babygirl?"

"No. I poked holes in it with a screwdriver when it got clogged with f-bombs during my semiconductor class last semester. Answer the question, please."

Thankfully, Tania's fear was mostly gone, leaving enough room in her head for getting mad. What the heck were they thinking to let someone like Killian O'Rourke into Club BDE?

Lottie giggled, then rolled her eyes when Braden glared at her. "I love you so much, Tania."

"It doesn't matter who let him in," Braden replied. His arm moved under the table and Lottie squeaked, then mimed zipping her lips. "Master O is an excellent, conscientious dominant and has never brought trouble into the club."

"As much as I hate to agree, Braden is right," Desmond said. Slowly, as if he thought she'd bite—which she was seriously considering, he lifted her from her chair and settled her on his lap. "He doesn't violate consent, and?—"

"And," Bastian interrupted, "we'll discuss this when we get home. You're safe, and Killian won't bother you anymore. Let's enjoy the engagement party, but we'll be discussing your behavior when we get home."

"Fine." She glared at the Elliott brothers, then added, "At least tell me you're protecting yourselves if he decides to act up. You don't want to be on the wrong side of a court case because of him."

Braden sighed and shook his head. "As it seems you won't be satisfied without an answer, Master O is part of the reason we require full background checks on all members and their guests before they enter. And yes, that included you, Lottie, and Emily. Further, he is already aware that if he brings even a hint of his… business into Club BDE, I will call the police and testify against him after I ban him from the club. Does that satisfy you?"

Desmond's heat against her back soothed her, but she slid from his lap and tried to ignore the flash of hurt in his warm brown eyes. She couldn't accept his comfort when she didn't know if she could trust him. Bastian gazed at her as if he knew what she was thinking but didn't say a word.

God, please let me be wrong.

"Not really, but considering you've already let him in, it's the best I'm going to get." Knowing her bad mood was going to ruin Lottie's and Emily's celebration, she took a deep, calming breath, then added, "I'm dropping the subject now and I'm sorry for bringing it up. Congratulations on your engagements."

"Thank you!" Lottie held her water glass up in a toast and gave everyone a beaming smile. "Here's to the best Daddies in the world."

To Tania's surprise, she enjoyed herself. Lottie was the perfect hostess, and skillfully guided the conversation to more appropriate topics while making sure everyone was participating. There was no way Tania could have done that, considering she was socially awkward on a good day.

Unfortunately, she was also self-aware enough to know she'd be running out of peopling ability sooner rather than later. Even without Killian O'Rourke doing his best to ruin her evening, being around so many people was exhausting.

As they finished dessert, Braden checked his phone, then leaned close to Lottie. "I was going to take you into the princess room, but it's still occupied. Sorry, Lottie-bug."

"Oh no!" She hugged him and kissed his cheek. "I guess you'll just have to tie me up and have your way with me in the pit with everyone watching. Such a shame."

"Mmm." Braden smiled wickedly. "I'd like nothing better."

After folding her napkin, she laid it next to her plate and said, "First, Emily, Tania, and I are going to the powder room."

Emily bit her lower lip and looked at Damian. "But I don't have to?—"

"Girl time," Lottie interrupted. "We all go together."

No… Not the female group bathroom trip…

"I… um—" Lottie pulled her to her feet before Tania could figure a way to refuse politely. Worse, Desmond and Bastian didn't lift a finger to help. "I guess I'm going to the powder room."

"Yes. You are." Taking her hand, Lottie hurried them across the restaurant. After closing the bathroom door behind them, she said, "Whew. Now, Miss Tania. Tell us what went down with the deliciously dangerous Killian."

"Excuse me?"

"Come on." Lottie led her to a fainting couch upholstered in red leather and tugged Tania down to sit next to her. "You went ballistic, and I need to know what happened."

"He… Well, I guess he propositioned me, but…" She turned to glare at Lottie. "Wait. Deliciously dangerous? What the fuck, Lottie?"

"Well, he is!"

"Nope. Not doing this." She stood, then crossed the room to give herself some space. "Do you not even know who he is? He's like the leader of the Irish mob."

"He's the one who bought my virginity," Lottie shrugged like it didn't matter, but didn't look at Tania while she spoke. "And even though he won the auction fair and square, he let Braden have me without a fight and even helped Braden recognize I was the one for him. He's also helping Braden find out who is running the auctions."

"And Damian bought me," Emily added. "Neither of us knew the auctions aren't being run by Club BDE."

Tania wanted to rub her eyes but decided not to ruin the makeup artist's work. "I don't understand. Isn't Braden doing the auctions? I got a callback from a number saying it was from Club BDE when I asked questions in the contact form."

"No. And trust me, Braden is pissed." Lottie went to her and took her hands, squeezing them gently. "I know what you think, but despite his reputation, Killian isn't the bad guy here."

Holy shit. No wonder Bastian and Desmond were so angry about her auctioning her virginity. If she'd realized the auctions weren't being run by Club BDE, there was no way she'd have done it. Whoever created the website was freaking smart too. Between the spoofed caller ID and the URL, they'd managed to fool her, and she'd actually taken the time to look.

It made her doubly glad she'd kept Mandy out of it.

"He's always been really nice and polite to me too," Emily added. "Damian says he's a good Dom, even if he's not always a good man."

Tania usually trusted her instincts about people but was willing to admit she might have been wrong about Killian. Maybe he was a decent guy—at least in the club.

And maybe I'm trying to justify things, so I get to keep my Daddies without destroying my self-respect.

Unfortunately, nothing Lottie said could explain how Killian had known her father, and she still didn't know if she could trust Bastian and Desmond.

When several women entered the restroom, she said, "We need to go. Since Lottie used the chick bathroom trip to get me in here, I'm asking you both to cover for me. I need some time to think."

"Bastian and Desmond won't like it if you leave the club." Emily said, sharing a worried glance with Lottie. "Will you promise not to leave without talking to them first?"

"I promise," Tania replied. "They're my ride home anyway."

"Wait!" Lottie blocked the door before Tania could escape. "We'll help you, but you need to tell Braden about that callback. He's desperate for anything that might help him find whoever is running the auctions."

"Please, Tania," Emily said. "Damian is really upset too. If you can't talk to Braden, at least tell Desmond and Bastian."

"I will. Promise. But I need some time to myself first."

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