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While he patiently waited, glancing at his watch, and suppressing the urge to check his phone, Leonora took the opportunity to disappear into a nearby Nordstrom store. Minutes turned into what felt like an eternity as Dante’s impatience grew. Finally, Leonora reappeared, clutching the handles of not one or two but three bags as if they contained the most essential items for their getaway.
With her hands full, there was no way he’d be able to pass her coffee over, and with all her suitcases crammed into both the front and back trunks, the only option he had was to set the cup on the hood of the car and fish the key fob from his pocket. With a click, the wing doors began to swing open only to halt halfway up due to the fact Leonora wasn’t paying attention and walked too close to the car.
“Leonora—”
“Don’t be a bore, Dante, it’s just a few things,” she said, ducking a bit to toss the bags onto the backseat without a care.
Dante’s frustration simmered as he pinched the bridge of his nose, regret coursing through him like a dull ache. Was she really that oblivious? Before he could say anything, she’d straightened and was glaring up at him. “Well?”
“I was just wondering?—”
“So am I,” she interrupted in a tone that dripped sarcasm.
“What?”
“I think you mean where.”
Perhaps he was the oblivious one because he had no clue what the hell she was talking about. Before he could ask her to clarify, she tossed her hair and gave an exaggerated sigh.
“Seriously, Dante, I see that you’re enjoying your coffee, but seem to have forgotten mine.”
Turning slightly, he picked up the cup and handed Leonora her meticulously crafted Frappuccino, before taking the last sip from his own straightforward black coffee. He’d wanted to ask her what else could she possibly need that wasn’t already in one of the eight suitcases, but now realized he really didn’t care. The answer didn’t matter. What did was the knowledge that letting her pursue superficial pleasures and materialistic obsessions wasn’t going to deepen their connection.
He’d made a grave mistake agreeing to invite Leonora along on his trip to Rawhide Ranch. While she possessed the physical beauty, enough wealth of her own to not want a sugar daddy, and the ability to play the part at parties, he had come to realize it was all an elaborate façade. What he truly yearned for was something genuine, a connection with a submissive partner who understood and embraced the lifestyle he desired.
“Look, I agreed to take you with me to Rawhide Ranch, but we have to get a few things straight…” His words hung in the air, interrupted by the approach of two young men adorned with garish tattoos, one with… is that blood on his face?
Dante crumpled his cup even as he clicked the fob to close the wing doors before reaching out to grab Leonora’s arm, his instincts urging him to protect her. He guided her around the hood of the sleek Tesla, hoping to put some distance between them and the unsettling strangers.
“Hey, you’re going to make me spill!” She yanked against his hold.
His patience waning, Dante’s voice hardened. “For God’s sake, now is not the time to argue. I don’t like the looks of these guys, and I’m done with this parking-lot discussion,” Dante asserted, the urgency and seriousness in his tone leaving no room for negotiation. “You can either behave and join me for the trip, or I will drive you home instead.”
“Fine. Have it your way.” A fleeting pout played on Leonora’s lips in a feeble attempt to exert her influence over the situation.
A sense of disillusionment washed over him. Did he ever find that alluring? In that moment, the expression only served to heighten Dante’s frustration. He yearned for genuine connection, not empty theatrics. After a few unsatisfying relationships, he longed for a truly submissive partner. Dante wanted a deep sense of trust, intimacy, and emotional connection. He was looking for someone who would surrender their control and was willing to explore their desires, boundaries, and fantasies in a safe and consensual manner.
Although Leonora seemed perfect when they met and talked at the swingers’ event, her behavior since he collected her for their trip to Rawhide Ranch made it clear that their desires were fundamentally incompatible.
“Okay.” With a resigned nod, Dante said, “I’ll take you home.”
Maybe he would meet his dream submissive at the Ranch.
CHAPTER 3
The sickening crunch of metal and the shattering of glass filled Rebecca Miller’s ears, sending a wave of shock through her body. The impact reverberated through the car, jarring her in her seat. In the front seat, Jango was slumped over the steering wheel and groaning. Miguel, who never used his seatbelt, exited the car through the windshield.
Smoke billowed into the air, mingling with the scent of burning rubber, creating a haze that obscured her vision. The air crackled with tension and the acrid smell of gasoline. Her grip tightened on the edge of her seat as she tried to shake off her temporary paralysis. Warm liquid trickled down her cheek and the entire left side of her face throbbed even harder than after Miguel had backhanded her yesterday.
Through the shattered windshield, Rebecca’s eyes were drawn to the twisted wreckage and the grotesque sight of Miguel. There was so much blood. She shuddered. Next to her, Evan moaned.
Rebecca didn’t think. Didn’t rationalize her actions. She just pushed open the backseat door and ran.
Around her, bystanders kicked into action, moving toward the two vehicles which were reduced to steaming piles of crumpled metal and shattered glass. Rebecca ignored them, her instinct screaming at her to run. Evan’s yell of anger pursued her. She refused to let it tether her, to allow fear to dictate her actions. With each stride, she pushed herself farther, her determination overriding the fatigue that threatened to slow her down.
Free. I’m free!
She put on a burst of speed, ignoring how her elevated blood pressure intensified the headache. She knew how to ignore pain as it had been her constant companion for the last six years of her life. Pumping her arms, she forced her legs to increase the pace. The world outside blurred into a frenzy of lights and sounds as Rebecca sprinted through the chaos. Adrenaline surged through her veins, drowning out the thudding of her heart in her ears. Each step propelled her forward. Every nerve in her body was electrified, her survival instincts on high alert.
