The Dom Identity (Masters & Mercenaries Reloaded 2)

Michael moved back into the conference room and picked up the contract they’d both signed. He glanced down, and her signature was neat on the document, her name written in a precise script. That had been a surprise. He’d thought she would sign it like she would a head shot.

“That was unexpected,” a deep voice said.

Well, he had expected this talk. It was why he hadn’t walked her to the elevators himself. He’d known Julian would want a debrief. “I thought it went rather well.”

Finn followed his husband in, a grim look on his face. “It depends on what you think well means in this situation. She certainly seemed to respond to you.”

“Yes, that was what I hadn’t expected.” Julian unbuttoned his jacket and sank down onto the seat at the head of the table. “I expected her to hold you off, to tease you.”

“I told you she’s not what you think,” Finn said under his breath. He didn’t sit down. He paced. “And the way Michael handled her. This could end up hurting her quite badly, and you need to think about this.”

“Your opinion is noted, love.” Julian’s eyes were steady on his partner. “I think it might be best if I left you out of the rest of this. I wouldn’t want Danielle to think you had anything to do with it.”

Finn sighed and rested his hands on the back of the chair opposite from Julian. “We could sit her down and ask her. Have you thought of that?”

“Why would she tell me the truth?” Julian looked tired as he sat back. “I’ve gone over this with you. There’s money missing, and Chase has reported a couple of incidents of someone attempting to get through our firewalls to sensitive data. I would fire the woman, but the very thought of it upset Danielle. Given that Ms. Jones’s sister was one of Danielle’s closest friends, I have to prove to her that Vanessa is not Nicki.”

“And if she’s innocent?” Finn asked.

Julian’s expression went blank. “What do you want from me, Finn? Do you want me to ignore all the advice of the people who I pay quite well to keep us and our businesses secure? Do you think our children will be less traumatized by someone plastering their family across magazine covers if it happens because I was trying to be nice? That’s where I fear this is going.”

Julian hadn’t mentioned anything beyond the missing money before. If she was trying to get through Julian’s firewalls, she might be doing something worse than stealing some cash. “You think she’s looking for dirt?”

Julian frowned. “I’m sorry. Ian knows about someone attempting to get into the part of the system where I keep The Club’s records. Obviously it’s a sensitive subject, and I would prefer you keep that knowledge to yourself. I’ve asked Ian that only the tech people are informed.”

Because those files contained information on Dallas’s elite. On some of the world’s elite. If anyone got those files… “You think she wants to blackmail your clients?”

“He thinks she wants to either blackmail us or go to the press,” Finn said with a long sigh, and he moved toward Julian. “It’s why he believes she’s pushing to get access to The Club.”

“But at least in this case, I have someone watching her, and the contract she signed means I can sue for everything she’s worth if she breaks it,” Julian replied in a hushed but savage tone. “You have to understand that if she attempts to blackmail me, I will have her quietly disposed of. I rather thought this was a better way to avoid getting blood on my hands, but don’t think for a second I won’t do it.”

He made a mental note to not fuck with Julian Lodge. Of course he sort of worried Julian would shove at least the burial job on McKay-Taggart. “I can figure this out for you, Mr. Lodge.”

Finn sank down to the seat beside his partner and covered Julian’s hand with his. “I’m sorry, Master. I hadn’t thought of it that way, and yes, we need to protect our wife and our kids. Michael’s demeanor threw me off, and I have to admit I find this part of the business unsavory.”

“Says my bloodsucking lawyer.” Julian’s palm turned up, and it was quite easy to see that physical contact with Finn had eased the beast within. “I promise you that I have looked at this situation from top to bottom, and this is how I have selected to move forward. If I am wrong, then I’ve done nothing but allow her access to The Club and given her a training Dom who can walk her through an experience she claims she wants. If she’s done nothing wrong, then we can move forward with trust, and once I trust someone, you know I can move mountains for them.”