Siren Unleashed, page 30
part #13 of Texas Sirens Series
He didn’t like the idea of her running around on her own. Even just around the ranch.
“I think that’s worth at least twenty.” Chase obviously agreed.
His brother was always thinking of punishments. It filled his brain. It wasn’t like Ben didn’t think about getting his hand on Natalie’s ass, too, but it wasn’t his default position.
Except it kind of was now that Natalie wasn’t peacefully sleeping in between them. What the hell time was it?
He glanced at the clock. Ten a.m. Damn. He’d overslept. His stomach growled because he’d skipped dinner, too. He’d had an excellent time eating Natalie, but he still required calories. Ben sat up, stretching. “What went through your head last night?”
Natalie was probably in the bathroom. It was the perfect time to figure out exactly what had given his brother pause last night. There had been no way to miss that look on his brother’s face. He’d seen it many times before. As Chase had been tying Natalie up, he’d solved something on the case, and he hadn’t liked the conclusion. Ben had felt Chase’s anxiety and figured out it was about the case because his brother loved Natalie. There was no doubt in his mind about that. Chase was in. Ben didn’t have to worry about it. He did have to worry about who got to legally marry her. He would have to fight his brother for that honor, but it was okay. He trusted them. If he lost, Natalie would still be his wife. Chase would still be his brother. He would still have the family he’d longed for.
Chase turned to him. He sighed as though settling in to an unwanted task. His voice dropped to a whisper. “You remember that wall of pictures at the strip club?”
Ben had considered it a wall of horror. Pictures of clients and strippers. He tried to remember. It had been a bunch of photos of men in suits or uniforms or jeans and T-shirts, with their hands around women who weren’t their wives. It was prurient and he’d turned away, but good for Chase. He’d stared at that wall and memorized it, his brilliant brain holding on to the memory. “Yeah. I remember it was creepy as fuck.”
Chase lay back, looking more relaxed than Ben could ever remember him being. “So I studied that creepy-as-fuck wall of pictures, and I found someone who shouldn’t have been there.”
His brother was a bastard who wouldn’t simply give up the information. He had to make a scene out of everything. He really would have been good on the stage. “Who? Tell me Juliet Kirkman used to be a stripper.”
“I wish.” Chase’s voice went low. “It was Natalie’s friend. Gretchen. She was trying to hide her identity. She had a wig on and way more makeup than I’ve seen her wearing before, but she has a scar on her face, just above her left eye. If I had to bet, I would say she got it from a nastily tipped flogger.”
Ben had seen that scar. “Who the hell would use a flogger on a woman’s face?”
“Well, they could have been newbie Doms trying it on her breasts and the falls went wide, but I think it was probably the psycho who kidnapped them all.”
God, he didn’t like to think about what Natalie had suffered through. Or Kitten. Gretchen had been there, too. She’d actually suffered the longest. “Okay. So Gretchen likes to strip on the side. Lots of women need the money.”
Chase huffed, his mind obviously working on the problem. “I ran her financials before I got here. She’s got plenty of money in the bank. Julian settled a ton of cash on each woman after Natalie killed the bastard. For all his chilly demeanor, the boss has a soft heart when it comes to strays.”
Ben slapped his brother’s arm. Hard. Yeah, that hurt. “Don’t call Natalie a stray.”
Chase winced. “Well, she isn’t a stray anymore. We domesticated her. I’ll get a collar on her in the end, you’ll see. All I’m saying is that Gretchen has had a hundred grand in the bank for the last couple of years. Until two months ago, and then she started spending like crazy.”
“On what?”
“I don’t know.” Chase sat up, his whole demeanor turning vaguely sheepish.
That was a shock. “How can you not know? You follow every lead. You’re the one who sees a tiny rabbit hole and jumps right down it.”
Ben would almost swear his brother blushed. “I saw Natalie’s hole, and I tried really hard to jump down it. I didn’t truly succeed until last night.”
How the mighty fell before one petite pink-haired cutie. “Okay. So we need to refocus that big brain of yours on the problem at hand. You got into Gretchen’s bank accounts?”
Chase shrugged like that bit of hackery was no big deal. “Sure. I have the last couple of months’ reports on my computer, but the thing was the daily shit hadn’t changed. She bought a few groceries, though it looks like for the most part she eats out at the resort. She has an active Amazon account. The girl likes some nasty BDSM books. I’m not talking about Lexi’s little romances. Gretchen likes hard-core shit.”
He wasn’t sure what that had to do with anything. “She’s spent a hundred thousand on sex books?”
“No. The money missing from her accounts has come out in seven wire transfers,” Chase explained. “All the exact same amount. Would you like to take a guess?”
Ben didn’t have to. He knew the drill. “Nine thousand, nine hundred, and ninety-nine dollars.”
Anything over ten thousand and the bank was required to report it to the IRS. Gretchen was trying to quietly funnel someone cash.
“Exactly,” Chase replied. “I sent out some feelers on the account she’s shipping the money to. It looks like some kind of investment company. It’s weird because if she’s investing, she wouldn’t care about the government knowing. One of the baby Tags is supposed to get me the company info today.”
Chase’s phone pinged. He reached out to the small nightstand and growled. “Looks like Theo came up with something. He just texted me. He’s sending me the company records in a few. Where the hell is Natalie?”
Chase got out of bed and headed straight for the bathroom. Ben groped around for his boxers. Unlike his nudist brother, he felt better with his junk covered up. No one in the Barnes-Fleetwood clan would likely bat an eye, but their sister was still around.
“Do you think Natalie knows Gretchen is stripping?” Ben asked, letting his voice rise because it was obvious to him that she wasn’t in the guesthouse. She’d probably gone to the main house, likely in search of food. It was what he would have done.
Chase strode back into the playroom. “When I talked to Natalie, she didn’t mention anything about Gretchen working anywhere else. She said Gretchen went into town a lot, but not for a job. I have to assume she didn’t know.”
Ben felt his stomach turn. Gretchen was Natalie’s friend. They’d been through hell together, and she counted on Gretchen. “Do you think she knew Stan?”
The grimace on Chase’s face told the tale. “She was in the picture with Stan. If I had to guess, she knew him intimately.”
“Can we investigate her without Natalie knowing about it?” He kept his voice low, hoping Natalie couldn’t hear them.
A brow rose over Chase’s eyes. “Are you willing to let her hang out with some chick who might be a killer?”
His brother had a point. God, he didn’t want to work this morning. He wanted to wait for Natalie and then make love all morning long. He wanted to wrap himself around her and forget that there was a craptastic world waiting for all of them. But he owed her. “Okay, well, you need to check out the report Theo sent, and I need to go lean on Gretchen.”
He would have to be careful how he did it, but he needed to get a feel for her. If she was merely in trouble, then he could quietly handle it, and Natalie wouldn’t need to know.
Chase was firing up his laptop when Ben saw the note. It was written in Natalie’s precise feminine hand.
I’ve gone out to the spa to pick up a few things I left in my locker and to hand in my two-week notice. I want to be ready to go to Dallas when the time is right. Hopefully soon. Love, Natalie.
He nearly growled because that was stupid. How could she have run off on her own?
P.S. I’m not stupid. I made Logan drive me. Unfortunately, I think that means I get Kitten and your sister, too, so maybe I am dumb. Sleep well, babes.
“Natalie’s gone. She went out to the spa to turn in her notice, but at least she had the good sense to take Logan with her.” She had an entourage. It would be all right, but there was some definite punishment coming her way. She should have woken them up. “Do you think part of Leo’s therapy with Logan is forcing him to be every female at The Club’s errand boy until he decides sanity is better than being forced to follow around a bunch of women he can’t sleep with?”
Chase’s fingers were flying across the keys. Ben didn’t take it personally. Chase and his computer had a deep and spiritual connection. The damn thing had been almost like his girlfriend for years. It was a testament to Natalie’s charms that his brother hadn’t touched it in nearly twelve hours.
And it was time that his almost wife figured out that she was in trouble. It would do her good to have to worry about what her punishment would be all the way back home. He picked up his phone and noticed Chase wasn’t the only one with a couple of texts. The first was from Logan. It was short and pithy and explained that he had a herd of women and he hadn’t signed up for this deal and Ben was an asshole. And there was an emoticon that looked oddly like a pile of smiling poop.
So Logan was happy.
Georgia had sent him a text, too. This one was from Kitten’s phone, but as always, it was filled with bright, shiny, confusing emoticons.
“Georgia texted me. I’ll give you a reading. ‘Hey, bro. Nice work with Natalie.’ Clapping hands. Clapping hands. ‘Can’t wait for the wedding.’ Red heart. Green heart. ‘We’ll have her back to you in no time at all.’” He stared at the screen. “It looks like an erect caterpillar. Yep. Erect caterpillar. ‘BTW Logan’s a jerk wad.’ Oh, good, she likes the smiling poop one, too. I don’t get the emoticon thing, man.”
“Hush, I’m onto something.” Chase never looked up. He wasn’t particularly interested in erect caterpillars. Or exploding horns. Georgia had ended her message with a flurry of them. Yeah, she was so not helping Nat plan the wedding.
He sighed, thinking about the fact that his brothers likely wouldn’t allow them to elope. They would want something big and probably formal. Winter and Mark and Dare would likely give him hell if they didn’t have a proper collaring ceremony, too. When had BDSM become his family’s religion?
Ben found his shirt and pulled it over his head. If he hurried, he might be able to catch up with Natalie at the spa. Chase would be too involved with his hard drive to come along. He would have a chance to give Natalie his own version of erect caterpillar. Oh, yeah.
“I’m going to head to the spa and help Logan out. That’s a whole lot of woman trouble for the poor boy to take care of. Georgia alone is more than any one man could handle.” A thought struck him. “Hey, you don’t think Logan has a friend he shares with, do you?”
It really would be easier to handle his bratastic baby sister if there were two men to corral her. And she should be collared. She tended to wander off.
Chase simply frowned down at his computer, the light from the screen shadowing his face and making him look brooding and dark.
He wasn’t going to get a reply. Ben sighed. Chase was off in la-la land. He was reaching for his wallet and keys when his phone trilled again. Another text.
A local number, but he didn’t recognize it. No happy emoticons on this one.
I have something more fun than a little bit of pot happening tonight. If you’re interested and like blondes, maybe you would care to bid. I have a lot of three to auction off this evening. Contact me at this number. Your host.
Yeah. This was what they’d been waiting for. An auction? Was someone continuing Hawk’s work? A cold shiver made his gut clench. Barnes had mentioned some missing women. Were they being sold off? It wasn’t unheard of. All some fucker needed was an Internet connection, the right buyers, and a way to smuggle the woman out of the country because many of the buyers would be from abroad. This was Texas. Getting across the border was no problem at all.
From Mexico they could move women across the globe.
But Barnes had only mentioned two young women. Who was the third?
“Fuck a duck, Chase. I think they’re selling subs.”
Chase looked up from his computer. “I know they are. And I know who’s doing it. Goddamn it, Ben. I know who tried to buy Natalie from Hawk. He’s found her again, and I think he’s going to nab her. This time he won’t let her get away.”
* * * *
Gaby hugged her, pulling Natalie into her embrace. “I’m so, so happy for you.”
Nat was well aware she was probably glowing. “Thanks. I can’t tell you how much working here has meant to me. You and Cal and Cody have been family to me. I couldn’t have asked for more.”
Gaby grinned at her. “I thought Julian was insane when he mentioned this plan. You know he’s gotten to be quite the matchmaker lately.”
Nat pulled back. “Matchmaker?”
Gaby winked before sinking into the chair behind her desk. “Yes. Ever since Danielle got pregnant, he’s been busily trying to match up his Doms. He wants his kid to have a circle of friends, and he’s prepared to strong-arm his employees into happy marriages. A few weeks back he called me and asked if I wouldn’t mind him setting you up with someone.”
Nat felt her eyes go wide. “Are you serious?”
Who the hell had Julian Lodge decided she would be good with?
Gaby laughed. “Yep, he did. I actually argued that you weren’t ready. I told him to give you time, and he said he didn’t have it. I think he giggled with glee when I told him you were in trouble and we needed a PI.”
Her heart clenched at the thought of Julian carefully weaving his family together. “He wanted to set me up with Ben and Chase?”
Gaby nodded. “Yep. One way or another you were going to meet those men. Julian has a gift for knowing what a sub needs. Did I tell you the story about how Cal and I met?”
She’d heard it before. It had given her hope. “You went to a BDSM club.”
“Yes. Cal and his friend Greg had started one, but they were friends with a man named Julian Lodge. I had been to The Club several times when Julian invited me into his office and said I should try this new club. He introduced me to Heather, Greg’s wife. At the time, I thought he was kicking me out of his own club because I wasn’t pretty enough.”
Nat knew Julian. He wouldn’t do that. “I don’t think so.”
“I know that now. He was setting me up. He knew Callum would take one look at me and want me. He knew we would be good together.” Tears pooled in her eyes. “Julian is a good man. He was then. He is now. And he knows what subs and Doms need. Julian thought you were what Ben and Chase needed.”
“He was right.” They needed her. No doubt. And she was madly in love with them. They had opened her up to possibilities again. Her whole life was in front of her, not something to be endured, but something to be experienced. Something to be devoutly grateful for.
“I’m so glad for you. And I accept your two-week notice with great sadness. I think Julian will find some work for you at The Club.”
She wasn’t sure she wanted to work as a massage therapist anymore. Not publicly. She would love to work over her men, and if any of her friends got knots, she would totally work them out, but she was an artist, and it was past time to start behaving like one.
She might even be a diva artist. Yeah. That would be kind of awesome.
“I think I’m going to concentrate on my marriage for a while.” She would concentrate on Chase and Ben and getting back to her artistic self. As far as she could tell, they didn’t exactly need her pittance of an income.
“You be happy, Natalie.” Gaby pushed a piece of paperwork toward her. Her resignation. God, she was really doing this. She was leaving. This place had been her home for years, the first place she’d felt halfway safe in.
“Thanks, Gaby. For everything.” She scooted around the desk and hugged her again. She didn’t hold back because she was suddenly full. Full of hope. Full of love. Full of gratitude. “Now is this all you needed? Your text said I had some things to clear up.”
“Text?” Gaby shook her head. “I didn’t send you a text, sweetie.”
The text had been specific. It had come from the resort’s main number and explained that she needed to fill out some paperwork for her leave of absence.
“Could it have been Cody?”
Gaby shrugged. “Maybe. I think he’s out at the delivery dock. We’re getting a new Vichy Shower today, and he’s overseeing the delivery and installation. He might know about the text, but this is all I need. I can have payroll do your final paperwork from this resignation letter. As far as I’m concerned, you can go and enjoy those men. You might want to clear out your locker and say good-bye to the staff, but you’re always welcome back. I hope you’ll come and see us from time to time.”
She couldn’t see herself staying away. She had friends here. Cody and Gaby and Cal and Gretchen. God, she had to explain this to Gretchen. “I promise. Is Gretch working today?”
She wanted to get it out of the way. Talking to Gretchen would be a downer most likely. Even though Gretchen had encouraged her to play around with the Dawsons, she had a way of seeing the absolute worst in any given situation.
“Yes. But I think the spa was light on appointments today, so you should be able to find her.”
Nat gave Gaby one last hug. She would miss this place.
Logan sat out in the lobby, his mouth turned down. He hadn’t been thrilled when she’d asked him to come along. He’d been deeply engaged in an Xbox match against Sam Fleetwood. Some football game. When Nat had announced she needed an escort, he’d told her flat out to go and wake the men who got a little something something from her and leave him be.
It was only after she’d taken the keys to his SUV that he’d decided to come along.
