Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Our day by the pool was now something else entirely. My folks would watch the girls, thank God, because in no way could I process this news with them around.
Mr. West’s text would be embedded in my memory forever. And possibly haunt me in my dreams.
This text is going out to everyone in our immediate Mclean circle. Please read the article attached for more details. This happened to the friend whom the Tenleys were flying out to visit, and it seems Shay is unfortunately one of the people who was taken.
Colt, Kit, and I are heading out to Mclean. We don’t know much yet, but if you wish to be around people, feel free to join us. Can someone with full admin rights cancel all events for this weekend, as well as next week?
Whatever you do, refrain from reaching out to the Tenleys. Those of you who are close to Shay, I hope you’ll come out to the house. We need to get in touch with his family to see if there’s anything we can do.
I sniffled and scrolled through the last of the events. Most had been canceled by someone else, and I made sure to cancel the last three.
Oh God, Shay had to be all right. They had to rescue him and bring him home!
“Fuck,” I blurted out as a thought struck. “I have to call Lane.”
Kingsley and I were one of the few couples who happened to know that Ty and Lane had recently established a kink dynamic with the Tenleys. I didn’t know what kinds of feelings were involved, but I did know Shay and Lane were extremely close.
“Remember to process your feelings, pet.”
Pet.
I drew a deep breath. I’d needed that reminder. It centered me.
“Come here.” He lifted an arm.
I was quick to scoot closer, and he draped his arm around me.
“They’re gonna find Shay,” he said. “River and Reese—they will bring him home.”
I swallowed hard. It was insane how swiftly the pain in my chest came back. And it proved that I couldn’t talk about him. I needed to be useful. I wanted to help and…
“I know you, Tate,” he murmured. “You’re gonna try to stay busy.”
“Lee, I…” I deflated and felt my eyes well up. Fuck, I just couldn’t deal. “He can’t be gone, Master.”
“He’s not gone. He’s…temporarily unavailable.”
I sniffled as tears spilled over, and I shook my head. This was bigger than Shay. It was about…River and Reese. They needed Shay like they needed air. It was about the evils in the world and how they were now on our doorstep. It was about the society in which we raised our two daughters. And it was about vibrant relationships. Memories. Heart. Shay once tried to teach Noa and Kit self-defense. Christ, that had been a fun Saturday. Or the time Shay and Nora pushed both River and Reese into the pool on the first day of spring? I’d laughed so hard I’d almost cried.
With Shay kidnapped, every memory went dark.
Hundreds and hundreds of memories just…cloaked in darkness.
Replaced by cries for help and despair.
I clutched my stomach.
Oh my God, they had to find him.
Lucas Carter
“Mr. West? Can you please give me something to do?”
I stopped and glanced over my shoulder, spotting Cameron coming out into the lobby from the kitchen hallway. He looked just as helpless as the others who’d arrived.
“Master keeps telling me to sit down and just be, and I…I can’t,” he finished.
I swallowed and nodded with a dip of my chin, and I brought out my phone to check my list. I’d sorted it already, after the fourth sub had asked me for something to do. Most recently, Kit and Gael, both of whom were now bringing down blankets and pillows from the guest rooms.
In other words, I had a list of things for those we tended to coddle because of our lifestyles.
“Of course, sweetheart,” I replied. “If you’re up to it, you could take down the picture frames that show anything revealing.” I pointed to the wall behind the front desk. “Just put them in the office.”
He glanced back at the wall, then at me again. “Sir?”
“We don’t know how long this hell is going to last,” I explained. “It’s highly possible members will need to bring their children at some point, so we’re concealing anything kink-related.”
Our plan was clear. The club area was going to be our crisis center. Members could come here and share their worries, talk, follow the news, and simply…not be alone.
“Okay.” Cam nodded. “I’ll get started right away.”
“Where is Lucian, by the way?” I wondered.
“He and Master Greer are picking up a big TV at our place,” he answered.
“Ah—good. But you make sure to let your Owners know what you’re doing,” I told him. “I’m happy to hand out chores, but nobody’s suppressing their emotions on my watch. Are we clear?”