‘Is that your phone, darling?’ Judy asks, bringing me back into the plush bar, my lips hovering over my straw. I reach for my bag and fish out my mobile, but it cuts off before I get to answer. ‘It’s Theo,’ I say, dialling him back.

Judy laughs, a little exasperated. ‘He’s probably checking to see if I’ve scared you off.’

I smile, hearing his voicemail kick in. I start to leave a message as Judy collects her own bag, holding up her phone, which is ringing. Theo’s name flashes at me, and I disconnect my call as Judy answers him. ‘Darling,’ she greets him brightly, but then her happy expression disappears, being replaced with one way too serious for my liking. ‘No,’ she breathes, looking at me. ‘Yes, she’s with me.’

My back straightens, my pulse quickening as Judy glances at me. I have no idea what the cause for her worry is, but all of her anxious vibes are feeding my own concern.

‘I’m on my way.’ She stands, signalling for me to do the same. ‘Well of course I’m bringing her,’ she snaps, showing a rare display of annoyance before hanging up and grabbing her purse, tossing a fifty on the table.

‘What’s going on?’ I ask, letting her lead me from the bar, out to the front of the hotel.

She doesn’t answer me, waving for her driver instead.

‘Judy!’ I shout, panic getting the better of me. ‘What’s happened?’ The driver pulls up and she rushes to usher me into the car, then drops to the seat next to me. ‘There’s been an incident at the Playground,’ she tells me. ‘Get us there as soon as possible, Gerard.’

Her driver nods and zips out into the traffic quickly. But not as fast as my heart goes from zero to sixty. ‘What’s happened? Is it Theo? Is he okay?’ My mind gallops with possible causes for the rush and panic.

‘He’s fine.’

Relief sails through my veins at an epic rate. ‘Then what?’

Judy rests her palm over her forehead, appearing to soothe a pounding head, and her phone rings again. She answers that instead of me, listening intently, nodding and seeming to become more and more troubled, maybe even angry. Whatever has happened, it’s not good.Chapter 22

Judy’s driver enters Theo’s property via a different gate under her instruction, pulling up in a car park that serves the Playground. Judy jumps out and runs up the path lined with neatly trimmed topiary trees to the entrance. I’m hot on her heels, searching for Theo as I pass through a reception area and enter the main club. The subdued atmosphere hits me like a brick. There’s no music, no dancers on the stage, no fighters in the cage, and no clients. The staff are hovering around the bar, their hushed whispers urgent and fearful. One of them nudges the other as Judy marches through the club, and a domino effect of further nudges ensues until they are all quiet.

‘Where?’ Judy asks curtly.

‘Dressing room,’ one of the dancers answers quickly. She’s wrapped in a thin robe, looking shaken.

As I keep close to Judy’s heels, the sound of Theo’s thundering shouts sounds through the club, and Judy’s pace quickens, as does mine. ‘How the fuck did this happen?’ he roars.

I nearly collide with Judy’s back when she comes to an abrupt halt at the dressing room door, and I take in the scene over her shoulder, struggling to comprehend the sight. Penny is lying on the floor, unconscious, her body half-naked under a blanket as Callum kneels beside her, stroking her hair back from her face.

‘Oh my God,’ I exhale, catching Theo’s attention. His shirt is half tucked into his trousers, his tie loose around his neck.

‘Izzy.’ He rushes over, and Judy moves to give him clear access to me. My cheeks are cupped in his palms, his worried face nose-to-nose with mine. He places a long, lingering kiss on my lips, inhaling deeply. He’s so relieved to see me, I can feel his hammering heart slow as he holds me close.

‘What’s happened?’ I ask, breaking away from him and hurrying across the room to where Penny is lying on the floor. Callum looks up at me, a sad smile on his face. ‘Well?’ I ask, beginning to get a little rattled. ‘Will someone tell me what’s going on?’ I kneel beside Penny and take her wrist, feeling for her pulse. It’s there and it’s strong, but she’s out for the count.

‘She was attacked,’ Theo explains, kneeling beside me. A flash of violence travels across his face as he speaks.

‘What? Here?’ No. No, that can’t be. The dancers are safe here. Protected. Theo makes sure of it.

‘Yes, here,’ he practically growls, looking insane with anger.

I feel Penny’s forehead before pulling her eyes open one by one. Her pupils are big, wide as saucers. ‘She’s been drugged.’

Tags: Jodi Ellen Malpas Erotic
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