Page 32 of Boneyard HEA

“Fuck.” When I say that, Juniper chuckles. “Your ass will be hurting later.”

“For sure.” Aaron beckons to her as he sets off. The hotel sign is three shops further along.

She’s fallen silent apart from a groan then she meekly follows him. A fresh wind starts blowing and scurries leaves past us in tune with the suitcase wheels. I bring up the rear, so I can watch hers twitch from side to side in a dress that the wind is making dance about her.

12

Juniper

Dragon Island

The drive to the resort the fraternity has reserved for a week only takes ten or fifteen minutes in one of the island buggies. A large hill teems with forest in the center of Dragon Island, and the road dodges around it, hugging the beach. I get a view of endless but serene ocean and smell the salt in the breeze that ventures onto the island. Seagulls cry above the palms and circle in small flocks, and the sky is so damn blue. It needs at least one cloud to qualify as real. A tall white-brick wall topped with ornate metal separates the resort from the rest of the island.

A guard holds up his palm to stop us at the sliding entry gate.

“Yes, sir? ID?” He’s wearing a navy jacket, buttoned shirt, and long pants, despite the early autumn heat.

“We’re guests.” Tomás displays some sort of ID then gestures at me. “She’s with us. We’ll give her details at reception.”

“Sure, sir. You can go in.”

The gate slides fully open, and as we drive deeper into the resort, a low, two-story building spreads across the horizon beyond a landscape of scattered palms. Yellow, white, and red flowers swarm beside the road in mounded embankments, and at the circular driveway, Mr. Loxland parks the car. A valet trots up to take the keys. The yellow buggy looks dismal beside a Porsche and a Bugatti, leaving me wondering why anyone would even bring those cars here—a simple display of too much wealth.

A short but meandering path through a garden brings us to an expanse of weathered stone stairs. Ascending them makes me imagine myself some sort of sacrifice.

Above the wide entry, DRAGON RESORT is written in gold letters half the height of the door. The reception foyer is empty of other guests, and a lost sparrow flits about tweeting near the ceiling, in the open space three stories above us. Light shafts down through panels of etched glass.

This place is built for giants, very rich giants. I shiver at a sudden perception I have of myself as something small, insignificant, and weak. I do need to be strong. The collar intrudes and whispers to me of my situation.

Whatever I do here, I must be bold and brave, whenever I can be, though there will be times when that is impossible.

I breathe in and bring my gaze back to ground level.

“Good morning. Mr. Loxland. Mr. Zambrano.” A woman in a navy suit and a neat, brunette bun beams at us. “Your room key. Your luggage is in your room. And please surrender all electronic devices.”

Key? Only one room for us? Of course it’s only one. I know how these two operate.

The key is two cards, but I guess those are identical.

“You want to know who Juniper is. Juniper Skye.” He slides a printout across the shiny desk that I assume has more of my details on it. Then he surrenders his phone, and Tomás does the same. I merely shrug. Mine is back at the hotel.

I had hoped to be anonymous, to avoid the chance of the police descending on us, but that’s now blown. If they find out anything at all about my involvement in Nathan’s demise, they will find out I’m here.

“May your stay be pleasing, sirs.”

“They will.”

Tomás nods, digs in his pocket, then looks to me and points at the polished timber floor near his feet. My leash jingles as he lets it uncoil from his hand.

“Oh.”

He beckons with one finger, and I go to him, waiting while he attaches it. “Ours.” His eyes have the dance of a devil in them.

I’m not here for sex, I remind myself, as we head further into the building and wait outside an elevator.

“We’d have made you crawl but it’s a bit too far,” Mr. Loxland drawls. “However, once we are in there, drop to your knees.”

Obedience is in the deal. I nod and say nothing.