LITMIR.BIZ

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pledged that the patient would walk out whole and healthy. She’d promised she would do all she could and then some. Smart woman.

      Kingsley heard her high heels retreating on the tile, the sound of her shoes as crisp and efficient as her voice. The sound died and Kingsley knew he and the visitor were now alone in the room. He struggled to open his eyes but couldn’t find the strength.

      “Rest, Kingsley,” came the voice again. And he felt a hand on his forehead, gentle as a lover’s, tender as a father’s.

      “My Kingsley …” The voice sighed and Kingsley heard frustration mixed with amusement. Amusement or something like it. “Forgive me for saying this, but I think it’s time you find a new hobby.”

      And even with the tubes in his throat, Kingsley had managed a smile.

      The hand left his face and he felt something against his fingers. The dark came upon him again, but it wasn’t the deep dark this time, merely sleep, and when he awoke again the tube was gone and he could see and speak and breathe again. And the thing that had touched his fingers was an envelope containing paperwork for a Swiss bank account someone had opened in his name—a Swiss bank account that contained roughly thirty-three million American dollars.

      He took the money and he took the advice of his one and only hospital visitor. He returned to America, to the country where he’d once experienced true happiness.

      And in America he did as he’d been ordered.

      He found a new hobby.

      Kingsley finished dressing. He tucked his shirt in and pulled on and buttoned his embroidered black-and-silver vest. Once more he looked dashing and roguish all at the same time. The household knew something had happened and for their sake he would act the part of their fearless leader as always if only to comfort their minds. In truth, he’d never been so scared in his life, not even that day in the hospital.

      He yanked on his jacket as he stepped away from the mirror. Never before had he dealt with a crisis of this magnitude in his world. As soon as he’d built his Underground, his Empire of S&M clubs that catered to the wealthy and the powerful as well as the scared and the shamed, he’d begun stockpiling blackmail fodder on all the police chiefs and politicians, on the media and the Mafia, anyone who could potentially threaten his borders. Now the thing he’d feared most, harm—real harm to a citizen of his kingdom—had befallen them. And he had only himself to blame.

      As soon as he left his bedroom, his night secretary, Sophie, met him in the hallway. She rattled off half a dozen messages and meetings.

      “Cancel all the meetings,” he ordered as they reached the stairs. “Ignore the messages.”

      “Oui, monsieur. Master Fiske is in your office.”

      Good. Griffin was on time today.

      He dismissed Sophie and headed to his private office on the third floor. When he reached it, he found Griffin standing by the window talking in hushed tones to the young man with him. Kingsley watched them a moment, waiting for them to notice him. But they had been afflicted with the tunnel vision of new love. Griffin raised his hand and cupped the face of Michael, his new lover. One kiss turned into a second one followed by a whisper. Michael nodded and leaned into Griffin, and when Michael’s silver eyes finally looked at something other than Griffin, Kingsley saw the terror in them.

      He could sympathize.

      “You should have left your pet at home,” Kingsley said, unable to resist goading Griffin.

      Griffin raised his chin as he wrapped an arm possessively around Michael’s shoulders, pulling him tight against his chest.

      “Somebody has Nora, King. I’m not going to let Mick out of my sight until we get her back.”

      “Your pet is not in danger. I don’t think la Maîtresse is, either. Not yet.” He spoke the words with confidence and hoped they believed the half-truth.

      “I don’t care. We protect our property. You and Søren taught me that.”

      “C’est la guerre.” He sighed. Kingsley had no counterargument. Wasn’t that why he’d sent Juliette away? To protect his property?

      “Hey, where is Søren, anyway?” Griffin asked.

      “He’s tied up at the moment.” Kingsley chose not to elaborate on the literal truth of that statement.

      “What do we know? Anything?”

      Kingsley shrugged.

      “It’s a long story. Too long to tell. A waste of time. The priest and I, we have an old enemy we’d thought long dead. She’s not. I don’t know what her game is, but rest assured, it is a game.”

      “Nora’s been kidnapped. What the fuck kind of game is this?”

      “A very dangerous one. Luckily I’m something of an expert at dangerous games.”

      “I’ll break any legs you tell me to,” Griffin offered, and Kingsley gave the slightest laugh.

      “I appreciate the offer, mon ami. I think a more subtle approach might be necessary with this adversary. What I need from you is this …” Kingsley reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver key ring adorned with a fleur de lis. On it were eight keys—one to each of his clubs and the town house. “I will be occupied for some time dealing with this nasty business. Someone needs to keep an eye on the Empire for me.”

      Griffin’s dark eyes widened. He held out his hand and Kingsley placed the keys in Griffin’s palm.

      “The keys to the Kingdom,” Griffin said. “I’d say thank you for the honor but I know you’re only giving them to me because you don’t have any other choice.”

      “I have dozens of staff on my payroll, many choices. I trust you. You can keep everyone in line until I come back.”

      “Do you know where Nora is? Do we know anything? Do you think we should call—”

      “The police? I know who we’re dealing with and I’m fairly sure what she wants. I wouldn’t call the police unless you want la Maîtresse dead.”

      Michael inhaled at the word dead and Kingsley had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. The poor boy, so young and innocent. He wouldn’t stay innocent long under this roof.

      “If anyone hurts Nora …” Griffin let the words hang in the air, the unspoken threat more potent than any words.

      “If anyone hurts Nora, you will have to stand in line for your retribution. I know a few who have the greater claim to her.”

      “Point taken.”

      “Now go see Sophie. She knows everything you’ll need to know. Remember, in this world it is better to be feared than loved. Keep everyone in line. Use a firm hand. You can stay in the house if you wish. Your pet, too. Although whatever you do, don’t go into my room.”

      “Do I want to know why not?”

       “Non.”

      Griffin nodded and shoved the keys into his pocket.

      “I’ll take care of the Empire. You find Nora, okay?”

      “That is the plan.”

      Griffin, with Michael trailing behind, headed toward the door. In the doorway, Michael paused and turned around.

      “Mr. Edge?”

      “What is it, Michael?”

      The young man went silent for a moment and Kingsley waited. Usually he would have scolded someone for calling him Mr. Edge. It was monsieur, Kingsley, Mr. K., or nothing at all. But today he couldn’t care less.

      “It’s only …” Michael began again, and Griffin put a comforting hand on Michael’s back. “Nora’s one of my friends.”

      “I

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