Bailey: Independence #1 (33 page)

“He doesn’t understand,” she whispered fervently.

“Explain to me. I believe I do understand but I want to be certain,” Dianna said gently.

Bailey drew in a shaking breath. “Someone wants to hurt him. Someone wants to use me to hurt him. How could I…I know it’s only been a week and part of that we weren’t together or talking but…he ordered me to hide! To hide like…like a coward!” She ignored the tears falling over her cheeks and was glad her hair hid her from view. “I don’t think I could stand it…he just went outside and…and…what if he needed me? What if I could have helped…”

“Shhh…” Dianna placed her hand gently on Bailey’s head, stroking over the soft hair. “I know. Men think we’re so very fragile, don’t they?” She felt her head nod. “Is that why you were on the bench?”

“No, ma’am,” Bailey sighed wearily. “It’s because of work. It’s like…like high school all over again because people…the staring and whispering and catty comments.”

“You work at the same place,” Dianna guessed.

“Worse. He’s the owner,” she whispered. “I’d never met him before I came here. I didn’t know who he was and…and I kept the mask on all night and he never saw my face until…until Monday when I went to his office to fix his computer. But now people see him with me…and we went to work in the same car…” The words came out in a mixed jumble that had her shaking her head in defeat. “And if I go to the elevator, it’s like they automatically assume I’m being summoned and…and…”

“And all the catty bitches came out of the closet,” Dianna guessed. “And Gabriel being Gabriel, first, doesn’t even notice it and second, he wants to handle that problem for you.”

Bailey forgot and looked up at her with a rapid nod before shifting back to stare at the floor.

“He doesn’t understand. I have to be able to hold my head up and deal with them myself,” she said softly. “That’s why I was in trouble, Mistress.”

“Hmm…that one is a little more difficult to explain to a man. We want them to defend us, but we’d also like to show them we can handle ourselves,” Dianna, straightened when the noise began at the front of the large room.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

“I want her now!” Shouted the shrill, angry voice. “I know she’s here. I’ve been looking for her. Her car’s at her apartment, but she’s not there. Which means, she’s with you. In this…this hell-hole!”

Dianna shifted her long body to the edge of the chair. “Bailey, I want you up and over my knees, now. Face the fireplace. We need to hide that hair.”

Bailey moved without questioning, her head hanging down and her stockings and panty covered behind aimed toward the noise.

“And I do not want you to make a sound,” Dianna warned firmly, one palm in the center of Bailey’s back as she listened.

“I’ve given the police open access, Detective Fields, but I believe you’re abusing the privilege.” Gabriel ignored Dianna and Bailey as he walked toward the angry detective.

“I know Bailey O’Conner is here. I’ve checked her apartment and I’ve been waiting for her since four in the afternoon.” She turned and strode to stand toe to toe with Gabriel Garrett, her chin up and scowl defiant. “I know you’re keeping her. Now where is she?”

“Keeping her? She’s an intelligent, independent woman. She doesn’t need keeping.” Gabriel studied her for a long quiet minute. Crazed was the best way he could describe her. Pupils dilated and a slight sweat on her brow.

“Try the bullshit on someone else, Garrett. You latched onto her the instant she came in your club.” Casey Fields looked around at the faces watching her, the derision in her eyes sparking and bold.

“How would you know that, Detective? Did you attend the Halloween party?” He definitely had to check his guest list.

“I want her, Garrett. She should never have come in here,” her head shook. “She shouldn’t have come through that door.”

“Bailey isn’t a suspect. What do you want with her?” Gabriel didn’t try and stop her from looking around the large room. He knew the detective would be looking for a redhead and Dianna had managed to keep her hair hidden by having her over her knees. A position and view that had his body reminding him just how much he wanted his redhead.

“That isn’t your concern. I’m taking her into custody for questioning and possibly her own protection from you and people like you.” Casey Fields paced from one scene to another, spinning angrily and storming back to Gabriel. “Where is she?”

“She’s supposed to be at my home in an hour. You present a warrant and I’ll allow her to speak with you in the presence of her attorney.” He turned quietly and nodded to Jess. “You wouldn’t mind representing Bailey, would you Jess? Seems this police detective wants to harass her about the murders.”

“Not at all, Gabe. Especially since all the evidence says Bailey is being used.” Jess leaned against the bar, his booted foot on the brass ledge that ran around the bottom. “The evidence and the Lieutenant in charge of the case. Are you here at the direction of your superior?”

Gabe watched the answer flare to life in her eyes and continued to watch her.

“If you believe she’s so innocent, why are you hiding her? She may have been innocent when she came in here, but the instant she hooked up with you, she lost the chance to be saved. She should never have made it inside the club,” she shook her head and shoved past him toward the door, muttering to herself.

“That woman is not stable, Gabe.” Jess frowned after the detective. “She thinks she has to save Bailey? Save her from what?”

“That’s a damn good question.” Gabriel pulled his phone out, tapping the number Lieutenant Templeton had given him. “Lieutenant, I’m sorry to disturb you, but has there been a change that requires you to take Bailey into custody?”

“Of course not. Miss O’Conner has never been on the suspect list.” Natalie leaned out of the arm that held her while they paused the movie. “What happened?”

“Your detective just stormed my club demanding I surrender her.” Gabriel looked over at Dianna, relieved to see her helping Bailey back to her feet and sending her off to the restroom. “What’s going on, Lieutenant?”

“I’ll get back to you. Thanks.” She ended the call, the anger in her voice evident.

Gabriel closed the phone and dropped it into his pocket, his palm on Jess’s shoulder. “Thanks. If I need you, I’ll call but I don’t think we will.”

“She’s gone to the ladies room, Gabriel,” Dianna stood up but quickly placed one palm on his wrist. “Gabe…” she nodded toward the corridor.

“Stop.”

Bailey reacted to the tone and hardness in the unfamiliar voice, wishing she could cross her legs as she stood in the hall. She was about to turn when the thin crop struck across her ass. A surprised yelp of pain left her lips.

“Stand still and quit fidgeting,” the Domme ordered flatly.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Fuck, I thought she’d quit and moved out of state,” Gabriel ground between his teeth.

“We didn’t get that lucky,” Dianna responded. “With her reputation, none of the doms want to permit their subs near her.”

“Why are the police after you, girl?” The woman was about forty, her features drawn and worn as she stepped to the side, peering into the younger face.

“I don’t know, mistress.” Bailey kept her eyes down.

“I expect answers when I ask questions and that is not an acceptable answer.” The riding crop bit across her cheeks again and make Bailey jump. “What did the police want?”

“I don’t know! I was with Mistress Dianna. It’s probably to do with the murders,” she guessed frantically, really disliking the thin crop.

“You’re involved with that,” Mistress Janelle said thoughtfully.

“No, mistress. I’m not,” Bailey yelped at the third strike, her eyes burning. That thing hurt worse than the palms!

“I do not like being lied to, girl.” The crop rose again but was caught.

“You know the rules, Mistress Janelle,” Dianna gripped the crop in one hand and stood easily five inches taller than the older woman. “She doesn’t belong to you and you have no right to strike her.”

“I do if she disrespects me,” Janelle challenged without hesitation, her glare met the one on Gabriel’s face.

“I spent the last half hour with this sub and disrespectful isn’t in her nature,” Dianna said quietly, refusing to release the crop.

“She refused to answer my question.”

“I don’t know,” Bailey whispered, hating the tears and hating the woman behind her.

“You don’t know what, pet,” Gabriel brought one palm up, gently stroking over her face.

“I don’t know what the police want with me, sir. Please…may I…” she looked from the floor to Gabriel to the bathroom door a few feet away. Relief flooded through her when he nodded. She took off before anyone could change their mind.

“Janelle, you have no right striking my sub and even less right interrogating her. I might also remind you that we pride ourselves on confidentiality. Speaking to either the police or the press about this issue will create problems for you that you couldn’t possibly recover from. Not to mention it would be a personal affront to me. I don’t know what your interest is in this matter, but never strike my sub again. You can choose a month of suspended privileges or an hour with Mistress Dianna.”

Dianne released the crop, her head tipped slightly. She knew the older woman had few friends in the club and she also knew Janelle strongly disliked females in control of her.

“I’ll take the suspension.” Janelle looked at Gabriel. “My apologies to you, Master Gabriel.”

“It’s my sub you owe the apology to.”

Janelle laughed and strode toward the exit without looking back.

“Manners appear to be on the severest decline,” Dianna said with a shake of her head.

Bailey left the bathroom with a grateful sigh, her eyes immediately going to the floor when she saw the two of them waiting.

“I’m sorry about that, Bailey. Janelle isn’t one of our better Dommes,” Gabriel lifted her chin. “Alright?”

“A little sore but I’m alright, sir.” She hesitated. “May I speak to Mistress Dianna, please? Alone.”

Gabriel looked from one to the other and nodded, walking off toward the main room.

“A problem?” Dianna asked quietly.

“Do I have to tell him about…about what we talked about?”

Dianna laughed and gestured her toward the main room. “If you’ve accepted him as your Dom, Bailey, you know the answer to that question.” She almost laughed at the sigh.

“Yes, Mistress,” came the resigned reply. “Thank you.”

“Give him time, Bailey. He’s not used to caring about someone. Good night,” she said with a grin, striding off to greet the man who’d come into the club.

Bailey stared after her unaware she was holding her breath until she gulped in a deep draft, her body jolting slightly. Mistress Dianna was mistaken. He’d told her that it was only about the play; only about the sex. He felt responsible for her, she told herself firmly, straightening up and finding him suddenly in front of her.

“Are you alright, pet? Janelle has been suspended from the club because of her actions.” Gabriel closed his palm and put it beneath her chin. “Look at me. I enjoy seeing your eyes when we talk. I’d like to say she’s an aberration but you’ve managed to run into too many who believe they could master you better than I in the week you’ve been in the club.”

“I’m alright. I…she didn’t like the answers I had for her questions.” She looked toward the entrance. “Why did you keep me from the detective?”

Gabriel arched a brow patiently.

“Sir,” she needed to remember that. Being upside down over that horse thing just was not her idea of fun. Not without Gabriel being the one administering the punishment. That thought sent a sexual shiver racing through her.

“Because I don’t trust her. Something isn’t right and until I figure it out, the lieutenant is the only one you’re to trust, Bailey. Is that clear?” He waited for her to nod. “What did Dianna want from you?”

“Just to talk. She asked if I had nightmares because of the murders but I don’t remember any,” she sighed.

“She’s a good person,” Gabriel commented quietly. “Should we sit by the fire for a while or go home?”

“Home, please, sir,” she answered immediately, the draw of the solitude too strong.

Gabriel tipped his head, his palm up and on her elbow, guiding her among people toward his office.

“Home it is,” he said, wondering just when he started thinking of her in connection with the peaceful surroundings of his home. “Do you have the clothing or anything you might need at the house, Bailey?”

“Yes, thank you, sir.” She thought of mentioning her car but decided she would do without for now. She could always get Patsy to drive her out to get it at lunch tomorrow. “Does she believe I killed those women?”

“I don’t know what she thinks,” he answered honestly. “I let the lieutenant know what happened. She didn’t sound pleased.” He ran his palm along her waist and onto her behind, his mouth thinned at the sharp lines left by the crop. He let the woman off far too easily. “I have something to put on the marks.” He took her hand in his and closed the office door behind him. “Stand by the desk. Like in my office, Bailey.” He watched her body tense, the pulse at the side of her throat jumping visibly at the same time his cock thrust against his slacks.