Page 105 of High Reward

Grace

I’monedgeasI make my way through the club looking for Lili or someone else to talk to. Victor and Owen were huddled in an office last time I saw them, looking for more evidence of Kara’s stalking.

Something about recognizing the word game Kara has been playing with the flowers makes Sampson’s death feel more real. I wasn’t still in love with him. I didn’t even miss him. But he was an important part of my life, and the realization that we’ll never talk again makes me sad. Worse, the idea that he even partiallyblamed me for his misery before he made his final choice is overwhelming. Almost to the point of unbearable.

I blow out a breath as I shove into the commercial kitchen hidden at the back of the club. Tyson is at the prep counter slicing fruit and arranging it on a tray. It’s something he does for club nights, giving people fancy finger foods to enjoy between fucking and playing.

Lili sits on a stool nearby scrolling on her phone. Then I spot Matteo and Luke on the other side of the counter staring at each other.

“What’s going on?” I ask as I approach.

“Come sit,” Lili says with a bright smile. “Tyson made pastries. You can watch Matteo and Luke argue. It’s kinda hot.”

Both men turn and glare at Lili, and Tyson just laughs as he slices a fresh pineapple.

“What are they arguing about?” I whisper as I pick up one of the pastries sitting in front of Lili.

“Luke thinks we shouldn’t open tonight.”

My eyebrow quirks up. “Are you seriously considering opening?”

Matteo rolls his eyes as if I’m taking Luke’s side just to spite him. “Yes. We need to keep things business as usual.”

“What about Kara, Griffin Price, all the unknowns with Phineas?” I ask, my heart leaping into my chest.

Lili reaches over and grabs my hand, trailing a finger along the inside of my wrist. “Just hear Matteo out, lover.”

Her touch soothes the edges of my anxiety, but I’m still tense as I look at Matteo expectantly.

“If we shut down, we announce we’re scared. That’s leverage for anyone coming at us. If Victor’s father is right, and the Russians are making a move, we have to appear unfazed. So we don’t change anything about the sandwich shop, the club,none of it. No changes to our posted hours, no public signs of increased security.”

Matteo turns his attention to me, his shoulders squared as he adjusts the cuffs of his shirt. “You have questions, Grace. Ask them.”

He’s not being unkind. Just direct. I can respect that, and I’m used to it from the men who own this club.

“I just don’t get it,” I say, keeping my voice even. “Why risk the club? If Kara’s out there, if the Russians are making a move, why put our members in danger? Sabrina had a bomb in her car, for fuck’s sake.”

Owen walks in at that moment, setting his tablet on the counter next to my pastry. “Routine gives us control, pet. We know every name on the guest list, every staff member, every delivery driver. If something’s off, we catch it faster if things run as normal. If we change the way we do things more than we already have, it’s harder to catch when something isn’t right.”

Matteo nods. “Also, our enemies, whether that’s Kara Lindon or the Russians, expect us to hide. Running scared broadcasts where our enemies can hit us next. If we keep you in lockdown and close the club, they move on to more vulnerable targets that are harder for us to protect. Your apartment, maybe Lili’s friends. Here, not only are we safer, but we can keep running our business while keeping an eye on things.

I flinch at the thought of Sabrina who has already been caught in the crossfire. Trinity Novak too. Matteo sees it, and his expression softens. “Trinity is alive. Sabrina is safe,” he says, putting a hand on my shoulder.

“You said no visible increases in security. But what are you actually doing?”

“Two guards minimum on every entrance. Armed. We’re jamming all cell signals other than key staff after opening. We’llblame it on a VIP with deep pockets who demanded it. If any of our enemies make a move, they’ll be showing their hand.”

I nod. “OK. Then we open. I guess I’ll go prepare then. Can I please be Victor’s shadow tonight?”

Owen nods. “I’m sure he won’t object to that.”

Every owner has a submissive who shadows him for the night. For the others, their collared subs generally fill that role unless they are otherwise engaged. I’ve always rotated with the other submissives assigned to Victor’s space.

Tyson comes over with a tray of finger sandwiches and bottles of water and places them in front of us. His hands are steady, but he glances at the door more than once, tracking movement in the hall. Everyone’s on edge, but Tyson is especially so since Sabrina was nearly blown up.

I should check on her.

“Eat,” he says, sliding the tray closer to me and Lili. “You need something other than sugar.”