“Jake can have official control,” Adam said. “You’re right. It’s a very good way to keep track of her and observe her behavior. You can watch her for yourself, Ian.”
Ian seemed to consider the idea. “I’ll watch her carefully. You can tell a lot about a sub during a scene. She wants to research BDSM? Push her limits. She’ll learn quickly whether or not it’s really for her. In fact, why don’t I run a scene with her?”
“No.” Jake practically barked his answer. “If she comes in with me, I’ll run her scenes. No one touches her except me and Adam.”
That was what he wanted to hear. When Jake turned into a possessive caveman, it meant he was engaged, whether he liked it or not.
“Fine.” Ian sat back in his chair, and Adam suddenly realized that Ian had been testing Jake. Sneaky, manipulative bastard. “Make sure she’s properly dressed. I don’t allow tourists in my club.”
Adam sighed. Little Serena would be in fetish wear and no shoes or she wouldn’t get the knowledge she sought. She would do it. It would be far too much temptation for Serena. And he intended to make sure that Serena was too tempting for Jake.
“I’ll handle everything,” Adam promised smoothly as he got out of his chair.
“I just fucking bet you will,” Jake said under his breath, his tone assured retribution.
Ian ignored them. “I’ll let Eve know you’re ready to pick up your charge. Somebody call and give me a report on how the meeting with the ex goes.”
Jake held up a hand. “I’ll do it. Adam’s going to take her to the meeting with her agent.”
“Liam, go with Jake as backup.” Ian sat up, his body straightening. “And someone figure out who this Master Storm is. I need a last name, and it can’t be Limp Dick.”
Liam gave Ian a sarcastic salute. “Aye, aye, boss. I look forward to it. I don’t get why everyone’s all upset about the possibility that this girl is scamming her ex. He sounds like a fucker. I look forward to screwing with him.”
Jake got up and sighed. “Great. I get the insane Irishman. My dream is complete.”
“It’s everyone’s dream, boyo.”
Despite Jake’s anger, Adam was utterly upbeat as he went in search of Serena.
Chapter Seven
“Do you think this is your ex-husband?” Eve St. James asked.
Serena was deeply aware that there was so much more going on than a couple of simple questions. She was the one being profiled. Oh, Dr. St. James might say she was asking so she could get a feel for the man stalking her, but there was something underneath each question. McKay-Taggart Security obviously wanted to make sure their client wasn’t lying.
In some ways, finally getting murdered would be a relief. She was totally putting “I Told You So” on her tombstone. “I think my ex would love to see me fail. He wants my money. I don’t think he wants much more from me than that.”
Eve’s perfectly manicured fingernails tapped against the wood of her desk. “You were married for a long time.”
Sometimes it felt like forever. Sometimes it was a blink of the eye and she could barely remember what Doyle looked like. But she could certainly remember what it felt like to have him toss her out of their home. He’d threatened it on many occasions, but actually having her things thrown on the lawn like trash had left deep wounds. Still, she wasn’t going to lie to the profiler. “I don’t think my ex would try to hurt me this way. The lawsuit is more his style. I don’t think I know this person. I think this person is crazy.”
Eve’s mouth tightened. “I don’t know about that. I’ve read through some of the little notes he’s sent you. It’s odd. There seems to be a disconnect between the first Facebook notes and the latest e-mail messages. He gets much more violent. I would say this person is very creative, with a rich fantasy life that obviously disturbs him. Can I ask you a question?”
“I think that’s what you’re getting paid to do, Doc.” Eve St. James made her a little nervous. She was perfect. Perfect clothes, nails, hair. It made Serena deeply self-conscious about her own imperfections.
Eve smiled slightly. “Have you thought about this man? As a character?”
She felt her whole body flush. If she lied and said no, it would be obvious. And if she told the truth, it would make her look all the more guilty. Catch 22. Story of her life. If she was going to be honest, she would go all the way. “If I were going to write this man as the bad guy in one of my books, I would say he came from a deeply religious family. Not because I have a problem with religion, but because it can sometimes warp a person’s sensibility. I would say there was probably some abuse in his background. He’s in pain, and he wants to share it. I offended him in some way. Either my books or something I did personally. I offend him on a deep level, something he would have a hard time even verbalizing because to admit it publically would throw suspicion on his beliefs. He hasn’t told anyone what he’s doing, wouldn’t tell anyone. This is intimate, possibly the most intimate relationship he has. He wants this to be just the two of us.”