“When your number comes through from the gate I get notified. It’s extra security I installed for added protection.”
“A little much, don’t you think?” Stephen sat down looking at the several piles of files on his desk. “What’s all this?”
“Member requests, petitions, and complaints. Also, I got a call from a Mr. Black who asked to speak with you,” Lucas said.
Stephen looked up, surprised by the name. “Did he give a first name?”
“Yes.” Lucas looked down at his notes. Impatient, Stephen began tapping his desk. “Lloyd Black. Does the name ring a bell?”
“Fucking bastard.” Stephen slammed back his chair and started to pace. He had hoped to never hear that name again. “I think you need to bring Tate, Kevin, and Cadeon in here.”
“Sean won’t accept being left behind.”
“Then bring him in. Did you speak to that f**ker?”
Lucas nodded. Stephen looked down at his desk and saw the note for Lloyd Black with a phone number underneath. He wished he could have stayed at home, convincing Ursula to stay with him. Running his fingers through his hair he continued his pacing. He needed to clear his head.
Lucas came back after several minutes followed by Tate, Kevin, Cadeon, and Sean. He glared at Sean for the problems the bastard was causing. Possessive men were really starting to piss him off. Shutting down the club seemed like the best solution.
They took their seats without saying a word. “I don’t know why, but Lloyd Black seems to have called me earlier. I wasn’t here, but Lucas took the message.”
All the men, barring Lucas, froze at the mention of the name. Lloyd Black had created so much anger. Stephen had forgotten how much he despised the man.
“What do you think he could want?” Sean asked.
“I don’t know, and I don’t care. I want to make sure that Rebecca has all the security she needs. If he’s making calls then I know something is happening,” Stephen said.
“I’ll arrange everything,” Cadeon said.
“Won’t your woman have an issue with your involvement?” Stephen asked.
“Since Tate and Kevin are not making much headway, she only responds to me. I took Violet with me, and Rebecca liked her. The two women talked for a long time. In fact, that’s where Violet is now.”
Tate and Kevin glared at Cadeon.
“Okay, for those of us who have no real idea who this woman is, or the guy, what’s going on?” Lucas asked.
“Finally something you don’t know.” Sean sneered at the man. There was so much testosterone in the room, Stephen wanted to cause damage. These men truly believed in their possessive instincts. Instead of disputing their belief he chose to ignore his own problems.
“Lloyd Black was a member of the club several years ago. He’s our age and comes from money, wealth. He married a young eighteen-year-old woman, Rebecca. She was sweet and charming. What we didn’t know is that behind closed doors Black was a sadistic f**k who used her to get what he wanted.” Stephen stopped explaining and allowed Cadeon to take over.
“They were together for five years, but he did enough damage. We do not abuse women. This is not what the club is about. We’re possessive, and the club is designed for us to be with like-minded men who feel the same urges when it comes to their women.” At the last part Stephen felt uncomfortable. He never knew any of the urges he heard men talk about. Cadeon was still talking.
“Behind closed doors, Black was beating his wife, and any man who talked to her he was taking it out on her. She became his slave without thought. The punishments he dished out, she took. There was nothing to her. She didn’t talk to anyone unless he forced her to. It was too late when we all noticed the changes. One night they came to the club. Someone spoke to her, and Lloyd went ballistic. He locked them in a room and started hitting her, kicking her. We saw it all on the monitor before any of us had time to react. Anyway, since then she’s been trying to regain her life one bit at a time. We don’t know everything that happened to her, but Lloyd ended up in jail serving time. He’s not allowed any contact with her.”
Cadeon finished his explanation. Stephen was sick to his stomach remembering the events. He got angry, but he’d never take it out on a woman.
“How we managed to keep this club out of the media still surprises me,” Stephen said. “At the time, Black had tried to blame his whole personality on the club. He tried to make his defence based on multiple brain-washing in turn making him believe that beating a woman was the right thing to do.”
Lucas cursed, and so, too, did all the other men.
“I’ll contact James and let him know what’s going on. Black is still a powerful man. If I know him like I think I do then he’s already on the steps to getting out of jail.”
“Wouldn’t his money have gone to Rebecca because of the divorce and his being in prison? She’d have to help him,” Lucas said.
“No. The money remains with Lloyd. Rebecca got nothing in the divorce settlement. I would guess that his oldest son from his previous marriage would be handling all of the business until Lloyd got out. But Rebecca didn’t get a penny of his money. The moment he was arrested she had nothing to her name. Everything she has now is what all the members of the club have banded together to support her. We look after our own,” Stephen said. “The son needs looking into. I’ve denied his request to join. The rumour about him is that he’s as sick as his father only worse. He likes to cause pain. Lots of it. I’m talking seriously kinky, verging on being kicked out of the kinkiest club.”
“I’ll handle the son,” Sean said.
“Are you ready for that?” Lucas asked.
“Yes. You’ve given up, and I need to fill my time.”
Stephen watched the two men, curious about the tension between them. “Right, until we know anything further, petitions and applications will stop. I’m not dealing with this shit without this behind us.” He tossed the files into the trash can.
“You’ll need to talk with the rest of the men,” Cadeon said.
After the meeting in his office Stephen gave a brief talk before leaving for the night. He wasn’t interested in being at a club where he felt like he didn’t belong. At home he sat down in his sitting room staring at the television. He hadn’t turned the unit on. The thought of sitting down and watching something left him depressed. Looking at the whiskey decanter he considered losing himself to the alcohol haze that would allow him to sleep without dreaming.