Page 3 of The Fixer
Jake's lips curved into a satisfied smile, his eyes sparkling with pride."You did well, pet. But I think your husband has reserved one of the private play spaces. I don’t think you’re done for the night."
As he released her from the cross, the woman’s body seemed to still be softly humming with the aftermath of her climax. Jake motioned for her husband to come and get her. As the young man scooped her up in his arms, Jake was sure the wand had simply been a prelude to an unforgettable night for both.
The bass from the music pulsed through Club Southside, the upscale lifestyle club in Chicago that served not only as an exclusive BDSM dungeon but the American headquarters of Cerberus—one of the premiere black ops, intelligence, and security firms in the world. Kingston Coltraine stood near the bar, his eyes scanning the dimly lit room. From his vantage point, he had a clear line of sight to the corner booth where Dr. Lyndsey Marrin sat with his wife, Samantha. King couldn’t decide which he hated more: the crowd pressing in around him or the tension simmering in Lyndsey’s expression as she spoke with Samantha.
She didn’t belong here. The elegant lines of her black dress and her casually styled auburn hair set her apart from the brocades, leather, and sparkles of the club’s female members who were normally attired in some kind of fet wear. Yet even from a distance, her discomfort tugged at him.
King wasn’t here to take part in the Club’s normal business, but in his capacity as the Operations Director for Cerberus. Dr. Marrin wasn’t here for her comfort or pleasure, either. She was here because she was in danger. Real danger. The kind that didn’t go away with a locked door after a few empty threats.
“Is she buying it?” Jake’s deep voice interrupted King’s thoughts as he joined him at the bar.
The men of Cerberus rarely used a lot of words if a few would do, and tonight was no exception. Jake leaned against the bar, his commanding presence blending into the shadows.
“She’s listening,” Jake said, keeping his gaze fixed on Lyndsey. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest as Samantha leaned in. The conversation was hushed but appearedto be animated. “She trusts Samantha, but I suspect she doesn’t like being told she needs protection.”
King let out a humorless chuckle. “She’s smart. Smarter than most. But that makes her a tougher sell.”
“She’s also scared,” Jake added, his voice lower now. “Even if she won’t admit it.”
King nodded. “That’s where you come in. Keep her safe. Keep her alive.”
Jake’s jaw tightened. He didn’t need the reminder.
A commotion at the booth caught his attention. Lyndsey stood abruptly, her face pale but determined. Samantha reached for her arm, but Lyndsey shook her head. She was leaving.
Jake moved before King said a word, intercepting Lyndsey just as she started to leave.
“Dr. Marrin, I’m Jake Sands,” Jake said, his voice steady. “We need to talk.”
Lyndsey stopped short, her eyes narrowing as they met his. “You’re with Cerberus, aren’t you?” she said flatly. “Samantha warned me you might try to step in.”
“It’s not about stepping in,” Jake replied. “It’s about keeping you safe.”
Her chin tilted up. “I’ve been handling my own safety for years.”
“Handling it isn’t the same as surviving it.”
She crossed her arms again, her gaze piercing. “I don’t need a babysitter, Mr. Sands. I’m perfectly capable of...”
“This isn’t about what you’re capable of,” Jake interrupted, his voice sharp enough to cut through her protest. “It’s about whatthey’recapable of. Armed men trapped you in your lab. You only managed to get out because you got a message to Samantha, who rightly called us in. And you only reached out because you knew you were out of options. You shouldn’t see that as a fluke. You should see it as a warning.”
Lyndsey flinched, but she didn’t look away. “And you think hiding me away will solve the problem?”
“No,” Jake admitted. “But it gives us time to figure out who’s behind this and why, so we can solve the problem.”
She hesitated, the fight in her eyes warring with the fear she couldn’t quite hide. “Why you?”
Jake’s lips pressed into a thin line. He wanted to tell her it was just a job, just another assignment. But as he stood there, close enough to see the faint freckles across her nose, he knew it wasn’t that simple.
“Because I don’t fail,” he said finally.
She studied him for a moment longer before exhaling, a reluctant surrender in the set of her shoulders. “Fine. But I’m not hiding. And I’m not following orders like some damsel in distress.”
Jake’s mouth twitched in what might have been the ghost of a smile. “Wouldn’t expect anything less.”
Lyndsey made a kind of low growl as she walked past him. Jake couldn’t shake the thought that she might be the most dangerous assignment of his career—and not just because of the people trying to kill her.
She reached and opened the door before he could stop her. The night air was brisk as Lyndsey stepped out of the club, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement. Jake followed a few paces behind, scanning the area and keeping his distance but ready to close it in an instant. Her posture was rigid, her shoulders squared with anger and defiance.