Master of My Mind BN (21 page)

Interrupted by the muffled ring of Tony’s cell phone, he
slowly released me and stood.

“What’s up?” he asked into the device as he stepped toward
the foot of the bed. Resting the phone against his shoulder, he untied my feet.
“Hang on; let me ask her.”

Sliding my legs together, I felt my brows wrinkle in
question.

“James is on the phone. He’s running the camera board in
Mika’s office. Did you call an on-site mechanic to work on your car?”

“A what?”
I blinked. “No. Is
someone messing with my car?”

“No. She didn’t,” Tony barked into the phone. His body
tensed. “Call it in. Let me get someone to stay with
Leagh
,
and I’ll meet you at the back door in five. You’re armed right? Good. See you
in a few.”

Ending the call, Tony shoved the phone into his jeans
pocket. Worry lined his face as he scrubbed a hand through his ebony hair.

 
“What’s going on?” I
demanded, fear rising inside.

“James said a tow truck pull into the back lot a few minutes
ago. Some guy is working under the hood of your car with a flashlight. We’re
going to go see what that clown’s up to, but I want you to stay here.”

A different sort of panic stormed through me. Had Matt
finally found me or was Hayden attempting to make good on her threat? Neither
scenario made sense. It had been weeks since our clash in Reed’s office, surely
Hayden had cooled off by now. And Matt wouldn’t dick with my car. He’d just put
a bullet in my head; quick and clean. My imagination ran wild. Maybe it was
just a mix-up, and the guy was working on the wrong car. If not, Matt or Hayden
had orchestrated some nefarious plot, and Tony would be in danger.

“No!” I cried, fearing for his safety. “Don’t go out there.
Let the police handle it.”

Tony plucked my robe from the chair and helped me slip it
on. “Sweetheart, that guy might be long gone before the police arrive. James is
just going to flash his badge and we’re going to ask some questions. That’s all
that’s going to happen. Relax.” Cupping my chin, he raised my head bestowing a
reassuring gaze. “Don’t worry. I’ll be right back.”

Before I could open my mouth to argue, Tony stepped to the
door. When he jerked it open, Drake’s big body stood in the portal concern
etched over the big man’s face.

“Need some help?” the big Dom offered.

“Thanks. Hell, I’m not even sure what we’re walking into.
But I need someone to guard
Leagh’s
door until we
find out what that fuck-knuckle’s up to.” Tony’s voice
resonated
an icy edge.

“You got it. Nick and Dylan just walked in. I’ll get them
back here and up to speed.”

“Thanks, man. See if Savannah can come inside and stay with
Leagh
.”

“Will do.”
Drake nodded before he
dashed down the hall.

“Tony?” My voice quivered.

As he turned, I could see anger clouding his coffee colored
eyes. The reassuring smile he flashed my way failed miserably. “You’ll be safe
and sound. Just sit tight until I come back. Okay?”
 

“Wait. Don’t you think you big bad
Doms
are overreacting a little?”

“You tell me. I’m floundering in the dark here,” he replied.
A hint of confrontation laced his words. “Until I find out
who
you’re hiding from and why, I’m not taking any chances with your safety.”

Guilt and fear left an acrid taste in my mouth. Tony
deserved the truth, and I knew it. But it wasn’t the time or the place. A
flurry of commotion outside my door drew my attention. Savannah rushed in, her
brown doe eyes wide with concern. Climbing onto the bed, she hugged me tight.

“We’ll be right outside the door if you need us, kitten,”
Dylan vowed. There was no hint of his dashing dimple, but a reassuring promise
laced his voice.

“Don’t worry, precious; no one’s going to get past us. You
two kick back and try to relax,” Nick pledged.

“We will, Sirs.” Savannah forced a smile.

“Thanks, guys.” Tony issued a grim nod. Glancing over his
shoulder he issued me a look of warning. “Don’t leave this room.”

The door closed behind him with an eerie click.

“
Leagh
, what the hell is going
on?” Savannah gasped before nibbling her bottom lip.

“I don’t know. Obviously the guy out there’s made a
mistake.” It’s what I wanted to believe.

“For his sake let’s hope so,” Savannah replied. “Poor guy’s
probably going to crap his pants when Tony, James, and Drake confront him. I
sure wouldn’t want to be in his shoes.”

I managed a tight smile as I tried to convince myself it was
an innocent blunder. But my woman’s intuition screamed otherwise.

“Why would someone want to mess with your car? You know;
don’t you?” Savannah’s keen gaze bore into me. “I won’t breathe a word. If my
sister
Mellie
was here, she’d tell you… I keep
secrets like Fort Knox.”

I couldn’t tell her about Matt so I took a deep breath and
relayed my suspicions about Hayden. Savannah took it all in stride, but I could
see in her eyes she was doubly worried.

“I hate having to sit here and wait. I should be out there
asking him questions, but I’m too scared. Dammit, why do I have to be such a
wimp?”

“Wimp?”
She snorted. “
Leagh
, you’re one of the strongest women I know. You’re a
damn rock in comparison to me and every other sub in this place. Hell, you’ve
got more backbone than that big
ol
’ T-Rex at the
Field Museum.”

Her scolding brought a smile to my face. I reached out and
hugged her tight. “You do wonders for my self-esteem, sis. Thank you.”

“I’m not saying that to pump you up,
Leagh
.
It’s the truth.” She nodded with conviction after pulling back. “Everyone here
loves you. No way Hayden will ever lay a finger on you, not with us around.”

Long minutes later the door opened, and Tony stepped inside.
His expression was grim and his eyes were wild.

“What happened?” I swallowed tight and held my breath.

“As soon as we ran out the back door he dropped a
screwdriver and took off in his truck. He got away but not before James got a
license number. The cops just got here. They’re tracing the plates, and James
is running interference for you and answering their questions.” I could feel a
tremendous rage pouring off Tony.

Undaunted by his intimidating anger, I had to know if it was
Matt. “What did he look like?”

“Short, about five foot-five.
Black hair.
Beady little eyes.
A couple days growth on his face.
He looked dirty and mangy.
Who the fuck was he,
Leagh
? And what’s he holding
over your head?”

I blinked as my mouth gaped open. I had no clue who Tony was
talking about. Matt was tall with thinning blonde hair and blue eyes, the polar
opposite of the man Tony had described.

“I…I don’t know,” I stammered.

“
Goddamnit
,
Leagh
.
Tell me the truth,” Tony bellowed.

Raising my chin I squared my shoulders. Just because I was
at a postural disadvantage, I wasn’t going to give him the upper hand
especially when I was being honest.

“I
am
telling the
truth,” I hissed. “I don’t know a man by that description. And I have no idea why
someone would be messing with my car.”

“Let’s try this again,” Tony snarled as he prowled toward
the bed. “You weren’t born and raised in Chicago. You’ve probably spent hours
trying to get rid of that southern accent, but it’s still there… in your voice.
Where are you from originally?”

“Atlanta.”

“Why did you come to Chicago?”

“I like the snow,” I quipped sarcastically.

“Oh boy, I think it’s time for me to leave,” Savannah
squeaked casting a wary glance my way.

Tony exhaled a deep sigh and closed his eyes. Nodding, he
sucked in a ragged breath before escorting Savannah out the door and back to
the waiting arms of her Masters.

Lucky girl.
She gets to escape.

 
“Thanks all for your
help,” Tony conveyed before he closed the door.

“Are you going to continue this little inquisition?”

“Indeed, I am, unless you want to
safeword
out. In which case, I’ll gather my stuff and go back to my room.” Stalking back
to the bed, he cupped my face in his hands. “Open up and trust me. Just once,
take a goddamn chance. How much longer do I need to prove myself to you? Maybe
if you told me why it’s so hard for you to trust, I might understand why you’re
deaf, dumb, and blind about how much I love you.”

Tony spat the words as if they’d been laced with poison. But
that didn’t stop my world from titling on its axis.
He loved me? How? When? Why?

“You can’t love me,” I choked in disbelief. “You don’t even
know me.”

Tony launched a humorless laugh. “I know you better than you
know yourself, angel. Nearly everyone in this club knows how I feel about
you…everyone
except
you. Tell me what I
want to know. We’re not leaving this room until I have some answers.”

It had been much easier side-stepping Savannah’s questions.
He already knew about Hayden’s threats. No way would I be able to pacify him
with half truths about Matt. But telling Tony the whole story…he might easily
change his mind about me. On one hand, it might be a good thing. We were worlds
apart in regard to the lifestyle. But on the other, it would be devastating. I
didn’t want to lose him.

Tony studied me for a long moment then sat down on the bed
beside me. “You really don’t know who
that dude
was,
do you?”

“No!” I replied adamantly.

“Why do I get the feeling you were expecting me to describe
someone else. You were weren’t you?”

“Yes,” I mumbled with a heavy sigh.

“Who is it,
Leagh
? Who are you
hiding from?”

 
“A man named Matthew
Price,” Pausing, I sucked in a deep breath and closed my eyes. “I think he
wants me dead.”

Cringing, I readied myself for Tony’s explosion or implosion,
or some other combustible caveman reaction. After deathly quiet moments passed,
I gathered my courage and peeked up beneath my lashes. The expression on his
face was a combination of disbelief, confusion, and indisputable rage.

“Who is he, and why does he want you dead?”

Oh, how was I going to explain all this to him? “He and my
dad grew up together. They were like brothers. He was like an Uncle to me. I
trusted him.”

“Matt is the reason for the restraining order?”

“Yes.” Guarding my responses, I nodded.

“Does he know where you are?” Tony asked. I could almost see
the wheels turning in his head.

“No. George had the papers drawn up as a safety precaution,”
I explained.

“Help me out here, angel. A trusted family friend wants to
kill you? Why?”

“I can’t tell you,” I mumbled, casting my eyes to the silk
fabric of my robe.

“Can’t or won’t?”

“Both. If he finds me, he’ll find any and everyone who knows
his secret. I won’t have your blood on my hands, Tony.”

“You think Matt is going to kill me if I know his secret?”

“He will,” I declared.

“Start at the beginning and tell me the whole fucking
story.” Tony’s icy edict chilled me to the bone. “If and when the time comes,
I’ll deal with the prick. Tell me what happened in Atlanta, angel?”

I closed my eyes. I couldn’t bear to see Tony’s reaction
when I revealed my ugly sins. Suddenly, it all came rushing back in a huge wave
of regret.

“I was seventeen, three months until I graduated high
school. I went to a party with a girlfriend at some guy’s house. I didn’t know
him, but her older brother did. Anyway, there was alcohol and pot and tons of
people. I wanted to act like I was all grown up, so I had some drinks, smoked
some weed, and got pretty wasted. This really hot guy had been watching me all
night. He had stunning blue eyes and a sexy, lazy smile. He waited until I was
blasted before he introduced himself. His name was Craig Walters. He was
twenty-six and a broker for a big investment firm in Atlanta. He got me another
drink and invited me outside to look at the stars. He led me to the side of the
house where it was nice and dark. I remember it was really quiet out there; I
couldn’t even hear the music from inside.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat as a tear slipped down my
cheek.

“He raped you,” Tony whispered softly as he swiped the tear
away.

I
nodded,
thankful I didn’t have to
utter the vile word. “He didn’t use a condom, and I got pregnant.”

“Nathan?”

A mournful sob slid from my throat, and more tears spilled
over my cheeks. I nodded once again and Tony wrapped me in his arms, holding me
tight until I could go on.

“My folks were devout Southern Baptist. My mom taught Sunday
school, sang in the choir, and led prayer groups three times a week. My dad was
a Deacon and mentored disadvantaged kids. When they found out, they went
ballistic. I thought my dad was going to stroke out, he was so pissed. My mom
just cried…God, she cried so hard. My dad called me horrible names. He was more
worried about being shunned by people at the church than he was about me. Both
my parents decided they weren’t going to let a whore and her bastard
child live
under their roof, so my dad hauled me to my room,
packed a bag and tossed it out on the lawn before shoving me out the door.”

“Jesus, baby,” Tony groaned. “Where did you go?”

“I called Matt from a gas station down the street. I wanted
him to talk to my dad and try to reason with him. But he said no. He told me
that once my dad made up his mind, there was no way to change it. So he picked
me up and took me to his house. He took care of me.”