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It wasn’t even that he had particularly unusual or depraved needs. Running a BDSM club on a daily basis, he’d seen enough to know he was nowhere near as sadistic as some of his friends. But he’d grown tired of scene after scene with the subs who all but fell at his feet. He’d come to realize over the past few years that what he really wanted was someone to match him, to challenge him. Someone who could walk confidently on his arm and match wits with the wealthy, educated types he tended to surround himself with. A graceful, sophisticated lady in public.
And Daddy’s filthy little whore in private.
Such a woman, he’d yet to find.
Shaking off the melancholy settling over him, he stood and drained the rest of his drink as he made his way over to the one-way glass that allowed him to keep an eagle eye on his club while keeping his own privacy intact. He scanned the restaurant area on the upper floor briefly before shifting his attention to the lower floor, where the real action was happening.
To his relief, he recognized everyone who was playing tonight. Ever since he’d found out about that damned auction, it hadn’t set well with him whenever he’d spotted someone he didn’t know, especially those coming in as guests of his existing members. Newbies who wanted an actual membership had to undergo a thorough screening and in-person vetting process, so he wasn’t as concerned about them.
But those who were brought in on guest passes had a much more surface-level background check. Which had never been a problem before, back when he’d trusted his members. Now, however…
Turning away from the windows, he made his way back to his desk and pressed the button on his phone that connected directly to the security room. “Martin. I need a word with you in my office, please.”
“Uh, sure thing, boss. Be right there.”
Settling back at his desk, he scrolled through the other fantasies, making mental notes as he waited for his head of security.
“Come in,” he called at Martin’s tentative knock.
“You wanted to see me?”
Tall and thin, with thick-framed glasses and a head of dark hair that always seemed in desperate need of a comb, Martin Hall looked every bit the computer geek Braden knew him to be. “I did. I want to change the process for screening guests. Until further notice, every application must be reviewed and approved by me once it has gone through our usual process.”
Behind his glasses, Martin’s eyes went wide. “Every application, boss?”
“Did I stutter, Martin?”
“Ah, no. I just…that’s a lot of extra work for you to take on and I know how busy you are.” Color rushed to the other man’s face, giving him the look of a ripened tomato and making him seem much younger than he was. “I can take on the extra review, if you want.”
“I appreciate the offer, but no. Just between us, there’s something going on in my club and I want to keep a closer eye on things.”
“What kind of something?”
It wasn’t in Braden’s nature to share his problems. Growing up with identical twin older brothers who’d once been thick as thieves, he’d learned to rely on himself at a young age. And now that Damian and Desmond seemed to hate each other, though nobody could really tell him why, he was reluctant to add his own drama to the mix. If it hadn’t been Damian himself who’d brought the auction to his attention in the first place, he wouldn’t have involved either of them until he’d gotten the situation sorted.
But he’d hired Martin because he trusted him. And because he’d passed the most intense background checks—including being tailed for a month by a private investigator—Braden could buy. So if he was going to confide in anyone, it would be Martin.
“What I am about to tell you does not leave this office. Understood?”
“Of course, boss.”
“Someone is running an illegal auction, and using the club to make it seem legit. I’m working on finding out who the man behind the curtain is, but in the meantime, I want to keep a closer eye on who our members are bringing in. Maybe if they know I’m watching, they’ll stop fucking around in my club.”
“An auction? What kind of auction?”
“Sexual fantasies.” He would keep the virgin part to himself for now, because it still made his stomach churn to think about it. “Which wouldn’t be an issue except for the part where they’re being paid for said sexual fantasies.”
“Holy shit.” Shaking his head, Martin let out a low whistle. “Do you want me to do some digging? If you send me the site, I can probably track them down.”
“I appreciate the offer, but the police are already looking into it.”
“That’s good.” Martin’s smile flashed, a rare show of confidence. “But I’m better.”
The laughter knocked some of the tension from Braden’s shoulders. “If they don’t find something soon, I may take you up on that. In the meantime, send any guest applications through me, and just keep a general eye on things for me.”
“Got it, boss.”
“Dismissed. Oh,” he said as Martin turned to go. “Do me a favor and find Ivy and Cordelia, and send them to me. I believe they’re working tonight.”
