Authors: Stacey Kennedy

Commanded (17 page)

BOOK: Commanded

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“Close Club Sin?” a submissive squeaked in concern.

Presley hugged herself, reeling in uncertainty as she saw Dmitri’s jaw tighten. “I
wish it weren’t so, but this is the right decision for now,” Dmitri said. Turning,
he addressed the Masters behind him. “Anything you’d like to add?”

Each Master—all of them dressed in black, all powerful, all strong—shook his head.
The haunted expressions on their faces indicated the gravity of the situation. Presley
felt the weight of it with each slow breath she took.

Dmitri lifted his shoulders and faced the crowd again. “Please gather your things
and go home. I’ll be in contact with you as our investigation continues, and I will
inform you of any new developments.” His voice warmed slightly. “If you have any concerns,
please contact me. I hope you know that I’m here for you.” When he saw nods from the
members, he continued, “I promise you I’ll handle this matter with the greatest care
possible. It will be dealt with immediately.” Then he narrowed his eyes and, lowering
his voice, gave a Dom order: “Please go home.”

It took a moment for the crowd to respond, but soon they dispersed. Presley, however,
stood frozen, unable to grasp what this meant for the future. Club Sin was an extension
of Dmitri. What would happen to him if the club he’d built to honor Charles was gone?

Presley was jolted out of her reverie when Cora reached for Presley’s hand and exclaimed,
“Oh my God! I can’t believe this.”

Presley twined her fingers with Cora’s, squeezing tight in an effort to hold on to
some sense of normalcy. “This is awful,” she whispered.

“This could be really, really bad,” Cora said, her blue eyes wide.

An icy shiver sped down Presley’s spine. She knew most members didn’t have to worry.
While a few submissives had teaching jobs, many of the others had standard nine-to-five
jobs. Of course they wouldn’t want their private lives shared, but Presley suspected
the tabloid would focus on the men who stood out in the professional world in Las
Vegas.

Dmitri, president of Aces Casino. Aidan, a respected defense attorney. Porter, Vegas’s
top private investigator. Kyler, the police chief’s son and a police officer himself.
Ella, Cora, and Kenzie would be exposed, too, because they had married those men.
Presley suspected she’d be thrown into the mix as well, since she’d been dating Dmitri
for almost two years.

Tears filled Presley’s eyes as those scary thoughts and more overwhelmed her. The
room had emptied, but she couldn’t find the strength to move. Not because Club Sin
had to close for the time being but because of Dmitri’s desolate stare.

I need you. Come close,
her heart begged.

He stared right through her, though, his eyes glassy. He was so withdrawn into himself
that for the first time ever, he’d become blind to her emotional state and needs.
When he turned to leave the dungeon without coming to check on her, Presley’s knees
buckled.

“Aidan needs me,” Cora said, dragging Presley’s attention away from her misery and
Dmitri’s despair. “I have to go. Will you be okay?”

“Yeah.”
No,
her mind screamed. She wasn’t okay. Dmitri wasn’t okay.

For the first time since they’d started dating, Presley had the oddest sensation that
things between them weren’t okay, either.