Page 181 of To Catch a Sub

Enough. Colette swung her legs out of the calf rests and stood. Landon, Andrei, and Rolf turned to her, Landon and Andrei acting like a living screen as Rolf helped her wrap the blanket around herself. Landon started to lead her away, back to the private rooms, but that wasn’t why she’d stood up.

The newcomer and Andrei were still trading barbed comments as Colette stepped out from behind Landon, smiling.

She had a lot of pent-up rage, born of terror and frustration, and this man had just walked in here slinging insults as if he had every right.

The stranger was tall and lean, like a swimmer or a dancer. His hair the brown of soil after the rain, his eyes a startling bright green.

He was wearing Dom leathers.

That surprised her, but she didn’t let it show.

“Hello,” she purred. “And who are you?”

“Mateus Carvalho.” Mateus looked her up and down. “You’re the club sub who was kidnapped?”

“I was, rather traumatically.” She stepped off the stage, the blanket sweeping the floor after her like a train.

Landon was a step behind her. Knowing he was there, a dangerous presence at her back, made her bolder.

“That’s unfortunate,” Mateus said.

“Unfortunate? No, I think it’s more than that.” Colette smiled. “And I should know.”

Mateus looked a little uncertain, his gaze jumping from her to Landon.

“No, look at me and tell me again that my kidnapping and torture was unfortunate.”

Mateus sucked in air, then cleared his throat. “I’m sorry?—”

“Are you?” Colette circled him, swishing the blanket dress as she completed a revolution.

“I am. I misspoke, and that was crude of me.”

“It was. I thought maybe you were one of their bosses, but you’re not, are you?” She tipped her head.

“I do not work for Interpol,” he confirmed.

“Then why do you think they have to answer to you?” Colette raised a brow.

Mateus blinked.

“You’re clearly a Dom, so I’m going to guess. You think your questions should always get answered, because knowledge is power. And control. And you don’t just want control, you need it. I bet you have a job where you can force people to answer every one of your questions.”

Mateus reared back like she’d slapped him.

Andrei barked out a laugh.

Colette stepped into Mateus’s space. “You saw me when you walked in. Not all of me. Nothing specific, but you knew there was a woman lying on a bondage chair. Vulnerable. Probably naked. You knew they’d gone to rescue someone, so if you didn’t also realize the woman on the chair was probably that same person they’d rescued, you’re stupid. And you’re not stupid, are you?”

“I…Your Dom…”

“My Dom is right here, but it isn’t about him, is it? It’s about you.”

Colette knew her reaction was out of proportion. The man was an asshole, but he’d apologized, and looked like he meant it. She was verbally attacking Mateus because she hadn’t been able to tell Damien exactly what she thought of him.

“You never stopped to ask if you walking in would scare or harm me.”

“I—”