Page 62 of Serpent & Saviors

Victoria grew closer to me as another patron entered the shop. I wrapped my arm around her and led her closer. Lysander pulled the ornate box out and made a big show of opening it. I stood there, smiling. It was absolutely perfect. Nestled in the box was a collar with a solid gold chain.

The centerpiece had the signature round part, but the chain looped through kitten ears. Dangling from the round center were three symbols: an hourglass, a crow with vivid emerald eyes, and a blade. One for each of Kinsley’s men. Victoria stiffened slightly. The man who’d come in a second ago had approached and was looking over her shoulder at it.

“Victoria Evans?” the man asked. “Long time no see,” he said with a leering grin on his face.

Her body coiled tightly, and my protective instincts kicked in. I firmly guided her to the other side of me, putting myself between her and the man. My guard was up, senses alert to any sign of danger from him. Victoria’s unease made her body shake.

“Do we know you?”

“Adam Jones. I’m a friend of Victoria’s husband. Exquisite piece of jewelry you have there. I thought Cameron had already collared you?” He directed the last part to her. “A little change in status, huh? I wish I had known. I would have thrown my hat in the ring.”

He turned his attention back to me. “You’re a lucky man. I’ve been blessed enough to see her scene a few times before. I love a sub who can stand the sadistic nature of the beast. This one has one of the highest pain tolerance levels I’ve ever seen.”

Fixing him with a steely gaze, my jaw clenched. I turned and focused my attention back on the elegant collar. “It’s perfect as always, Lysander. You nailed the design flawlessly.”

“The other pieces will be ready by next week,” he said.

I nodded and stepped up to the man. “If you ever speak about her again in such a vile manner, it will be the last thing you ever say. I’ll rip your tongue out and shove it so far up your ass they will have to surgically remove it.”

The color drained from the man’s face. It was as I thought, another sad excuse of a coward who beat women into submission and thought it was consensual.

Lysander closed the box, handed it to me, and said, “See you next week, Counselor.”

I took Victoria’s hand and led her out of the shop and straight to the car.

“I’m sorry about that. How embarrassing.” Her cheeks were red.

“Don’t apologize for that piece of shit. In fact, put him out of your mind completely. Is what he said true about the collar?”

Her eyes fell, and she moved to trace her neck. “Yes, and the other part, too. Cameron only made me wear it when we were out or when I was locked…locked in the base…”

Marcus’s head whipped around, and he made eye contact with me. His jaw clenched hard. I hadn’t had time to update him on the extent of what she’d shared.

After a nod from me, he turned back around and mumbled under his breath. “That man needs a date with destiny.”

I chuckled at his response. Since Kinsley had wormed her way into our lives, another side of Marcus emerged. It made my heart soar that he was now extending some of that concern to Victoria.

“Where to next, Boss?”

“Elena’s, please.”

“Is that your other sub’s name?” Victoria asked.

Her voice filled suddenly with snark. Marcus pulled out into traffic. My head fell back and I roared with laughter. Elena was the stylist I’d booked for her spa treatments today. She did the girls’ hair, so I thought it best to keep things simple.

“What’s so funny?”

She blinked, and in the depths of her eyes, I swore there was a hint of jealousy.

“The thought that you think I have more than one sub is quite comical. I’m far too busy for that level of commitment.”

“Yes, rescuing women left and right from auction houses is pretty taxing, I’m sure. And let’s not forget engaging them in conversation after. Conversation, which I’m pretty sure you told me, was your idea of foreplay. So how did you and your crew get into rescuing women?”

“That’s a long story.”

“We have time,” she said.

I had to bite my cheek to keep from laughing again. “Very well. One day we rescued a woman and haven’t stopped since.”