He gave Tony the basic info and twisted his lips as Tony steepled his fingers.
“I can see both sides.” Tony sighed and shook his head. “Despite my formidable powers of persuasion, I don’t think even I could get past the bureaucracy. Still, something doesn’t sit right with me. With your distinguished career, one would think they would bend over backwards to keep you safe. Why hang you out to dry? And why now?”
“So I’m screwed.”
“You could pull out.”
James shook his head. “I can’t quit before the raid, otherwise two years of my life was for nothing. Problem is, I’ve given them at least four good raid opportunities and each time something went wrong. I’m running out of time.”
A frown creased Tony’s brow. “Something else is definitely going on. They aren’t that incompetent. They have two years of wiretap evidence—more than enough to get the convictions they need. The raid would just be the icing on the cake. They should’ve pulled you out a long time ago.”
“I can’t just walk away,” James said. “Hades is totally corrupt. Drugs, weapons, executions… You name it, Rex is involved. A lot of lives would be saved if they go down.”
Tony pressed his lips together. “Can you give me a few days? I have a few friends in high places. I might be able to find something out.”
James gave him a puzzled look. What friends in high places? How could he possibly gain clearance for the information even James couldn’t get? He threw out a little bait. “Very few people have access to that information.”
“Not a problem,” Tony assured him. “Leave it with me.”
James hesitated and then pushed himself out of his chair. He didn’t have much time and if Tony thought he could help, who was he to question him? “Thanks. And…I’m sorry about…earlier.” He waved vaguely at the mess on the floor.
Tony held up a hand and grinned. “Nothing more than I expected. You’d be surprised how many times my desk has been swept clean.”
Halfway across the room, James stopped and turned. “If something happens to me…”
“Nothing will.” Tony’s smile faded. “But if it makes you feel better, you can rest assured I’ll look after her.”
“So, what do you want to do while you’re waiting for James?” Trixie settled herself on Katy’s vacant seat and waved goodbye to Katy and Mark as they left the club. “I would offer you a tour but you’ve been here twice already.” She winked and Lana’s cheeks heated. Her two illicit visits to the club clearly hadn’t been forgotten.
Biting her lip, she pointed to the ornate wooden doors leading to the private members’ area at the back of Carpe Noctem. “I’ve never been in there. Maybe I could…”
Trixie smiled and cut her off. “You have a dark side after all. Master Tony won’t mind if you have a little peek. Actually, he even suggested it.”
Moments later they were standing on a balcony overlooking a softly lit, circular, sunken room. Twice the size of the club proper the members-only area looked more like a private fitness club than Sex Central. Polished hardwood floors gleamed under the bright lights overhead. Thick area rugs in red and beige complemented the soft leather furniture and warm wooden tables in the seating areas. Except for the terrifying equipment scattered around the perimeter, it was almost inviting.
Sensing Lana’s trepidation, Trixie immediately launched into an explanation of the various pieces of equipment: slings, sawhorses, benches, a St. Andrew’s cross…The list went on and on. But before Lana could ask any questions, Trixie was called away, assuring Lana as she left that there would be no problem if she wanted to stay and watch the couples scening.
Sweat trickled down Lana’s back as she gazed out over the floor. She’d heard about places like this, but had never realized all her secret fantasies could be lived out in one room.
In one corner, a woman knelt on all fours on a padded bench, her arms and legs secured with cuffs. A man wearing black leather pants and a leather vest selected a wide paddle from a rack on the wall and then spanked her, gently at first and then with increasingly firm strokes. Lana’s blood heated. Although the woman’s body shuddered with each blow, her eyes were half-closed with desire. The man said something and she looked back over her shoulder and laughed.
Lana’s tension eased. She’d heard more laughter than screams since she stepped through the door. Maybe BDSM wasn’t all about power or pain. Maybe it was about having fun too.