“The dungeon and the bedroom.When we’re playing and whenthere’s danger.”Garrett stared at him, his eyes shining with emotion.“But,Master, how can I sit back?”
“This is the hard part.”Oddly, it was Tessa who stepped up.“In my relationship I’m the sub in the bedroom and dungeon, but when things getdangerous, I take over and my husband knows his job is to not distract me.Iknow it’s hard for him to watch me walk into scary situations, but he does itbecause he trusts me.Is this man your Master?”
Garrett nodded.“He is.He has been for a long time, but wejust started giving it a name.”
“Do you trust him?”Tessa asked.
“With everything I have.”Garrett lowered his head slightly.“I will stay behind, Master.Please tell Olivia how much I love her.”
Keane’s heart felt like it might overflow.He put his handson Garrett’s shoulders.“You’ll tell her yourself when we come out of there.Wewill need your kind and thoughtful care.Our sub is going to need a lot oftenderness.”
Taggart snorted.
Keane glared at him.
Taggart had the grace to look slightly embarrassed.“Sorry.I was thinking about the time when she was eight and she punched a boy twiceher size because he bullied her little brother.I don’t associate her withtenderness.Also, Keane, I’m going to need a lot of intel on this.Thekidnapping bracket is coming up soon, and I need to know how to bet.My niecewins if the main criteria is volume.Olivia is a dark horse, but she has analmost kidnapping from the bar and this one.”
Keane managed not to yell at the guy.He kept himselfperfectly controlled.“I need you to get me ready.I’m walking to that door inthree minutes whether or not I’m wearing all the tech crap you want me in.”
“Yeah, okay.”Taggart nodded and Keane found himself inbetween Landon and Tessa.They fitted him with a tiny earpiece and what theycalled a micro camera, which would send them a feed of what he saw.Or ratherwhat his chest saw since it was pinned to his jacket.He was surprised.Hewouldn’t be able to see it if he didn’t know it was there.
“Testing,” a voice said in his ear.
He nodded.“It’s working.”
Taggart came to stand in front of him.“You keep your cool.Tell them you managed to follow them.You didn’t go to the police.You justwant Olivia.This is about information, right?”
“Yes.At least it is for Gladen,” Keane replied.“JessicaFellows is another thing.”
“If they want information, they’ll hurt her,” Taggartpointed out.“Let them know she’ll talk faster if they hurt you.”
“What?”Garrett began.
But Taggart was right.“You would take the pain for her.That’s our job if it happens.We might both need your care.”
Garrett moved in and wrapped his arms around him.It was warmand loving and everything Keane needed.
“I will bring her back,” he whispered.
“Bring yourself back, too, Master,” Garrett said and thenstepped away.He turned to Tessa.“What can I do?”
Tessa drew him away and he was left with Taggart.
“We will be no more than three to five minutes behind you,”Taggart said.“You say the word and we come immediately, but I would like toknow what we’re dealing with and that someone in there is willing to throwtheir body over Olivia because we’ll come in hot.”
“I will.”He felt oddly calm.Like this was supposed tohappen.The world seemed to fall away, and he turned and walked down the dirtpath.
As he cleared the trees a small house came into sight.Itwas dilapidated, with shutters hanging off windows that had seen better days.
“Only one car,” he said quietly.“But it’s a large SUV.”
“Good,” Taggart said in his ear.“You’re doing great.Staycalm and we’ll get you and Olivia out of this.Do you see any cameras?”
He took a long breath and glanced around.“I don’t see any.I would be surprised if they have electricity out here.The place looksdeserted.”
“Good,” Taggart said.“Go to the door.Be careful.They’redesperate.”
Keane practically ran.He wanted to see her.Needed to knowshe was okay.The steps squeaked and he worried the porch wouldn’t hold hisweight, but it stayed steady.The door had peeling paint.He knocked and hopedthe door didn’t fall apart.
