A Little Harmless Submission(13)
“That your father was organized crime, and both he and your brother tried to have you killed.”
“Thank God.” Dee sighed, the sound filled with relief. “I hate explaining that to people. So, how you liking Hawaii so far?”
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“Not acting normal there, bruddah,” Micah said from behind Rome.
Rome continued to rinse the plate off and said nothing.
“If this is because of what happened back in Seattle, this is totally different. You’re partner there was dirty. She put herself in that situation.”
He rolled his shoulders. “It isn’t because of that.”
It would be easier if it was because of Renee and her duplicity. Rome feared it was much worse.
“Worried about getting in trouble over this?”
He turned off the water and faced Micah. He hadn’t made a lot of friends since moving to Hawaii. It was his way of making sure to keep his nose clean and his reputation above reproach. After getting to know May and Evan, he’d been pulled into a friendship of sorts with the little group of friends that included Micah and Dee. Then, after a few months, he’d been offered a free membership at Rough ‘n Ready. He started getting invited to picnics, weddings…hell, he was like a member of their family now.
“No. Actually, I think it might work.” That was the problem. If her father had trained her, she would do anything to get her man. Anything that could end up getting that pretty neck of hers wrung.
“Then why?”
“First, she’s not a sub. She knows nothing of the life.”
Micah crossed his arms over his chest and studied him. “You asked?”
“No.”
His friend shrugged. “It’s a role. She’s done undercover before according to her, right?”
He shoved his hand through his hair and tried his best to come up with a reason. He was afraid he knew the real answer, and he wasn’t going to admit that to Micah. “This is very dangerous. This guy…you haven’t seen what I have, Micah. The man is a sadistic fuck. And she’s saying she wants to put herself out there and wave her arms around and yell ‘come get me.’”
Micah leaned a hip against the counter and studied him for a moment. “She’s trained. She knows what she’s doing. I have a feeling that she knows exactly what she’s getting into.”
“Yeah. Big John Callahan’s daughter would know.”
Micah frowned. “Why does that name sound familiar?”
“He’s been profiled a lot. He hunted serial killers. He wrote a lot of books.”
Micah’s eyes widened. “Ah, yeah. I saw something on one of those ‘true life’ shows one time about him. He’s done a lot of consulting. She does know what she’s doing, I bet. Besides, bra, I think you’re wrong about the submissive thing.”
That caught his attention. Micah was good at listening to his gut. Being a former bounty hunter, his friend was good at reading people. “Yeah, and why do you say that?”
Micah shrugged. “I just have a feeling. Of course, I had the same feeling about Dee when everyone thought I was insane.”
Just hearing Micah say it had Rome’s curiosity peaked. He could just imagine her now, strapped down, her ass red from a spanking.
“Ah, I thought so.”
He felt the heat of blush in his face. Jesus, he was blushing. He hadn’t done that since he was a teenager. Rome pretended to be very interested in the dishes. “What?”
“You’re attracted to her. That’s why you don’t want to do this.” Micah held up his hand. “Don’t even deny it.”
He rinsed off a dish. “She’s an attractive woman.”
Micah nodded. “She could be, but she tries her best not to be. If she’s going to succeed, we need to get her all decked out. I’m sure Dee will help her with that.”
Rome sighed, knowing that he had already given over to the idea of doing this undercover together. It was actually a great idea. He was known at the club, so a woman who would intrigue him would also grab the attention of the killer. That is, if he was hanging out at the club. Or around it.
“Okay, just make sure it doesn’t get any further than you and Evan.”
“And May and Chris and Cynthia.”
Rome rolled his eyes. “Okay, but not outside the family.”
Micah’s lips twitched. “Sure. Guess we should head out. Why not come by the office tomorrow? I’ll tell Evan to take the day off, and we can make sure all the security is up to date.”
Rome nodded, knowing now there was no backing out.
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