The Shepherd (The Game 6)

I hoped Corey still showed up tomorrow. Kingsley had covered the safety discussion with Marcus already, and the boy was listed to attend. And since it was an event where we relied solely on the Tops, because the whole point was to take the brats by surprise, we knew for certain that Marcus had all the information. He was the one who had cleared Corey for play.

“Daddy!” Kit called. “Can I go have a drink with Cam and Gael?”

“Of course, little one.” Lucas pulled out his wallet and gave the boy a ten-dollar bill. “Make sure to get a snack too. You didn’t eat that much for dinner.”

“Yes, Sir!” Kit hopped up and kissed Lucas’s cheek before he darted off toward his friends.

Corey should be with them. He sure as hell shouldn’t be kneeling next to a Daddy who allegedly couldn’t sate his Little’s masochistic needs, but had no problems turning another sub’s ass pink.

In my ears, that sounded like a too-hurtful punishment for Corey.

“Are you spending the night?” Lucas asked me.

I shook my head and watched Corey sneak a glance at Marcus. “I just forgot to drop off the keys to the van. I’m going home again.”

“I figured.” He clapped me on the back. “I’ll keep an eye on Corey.”

I appreciated that, but it wasn’t good enough. My heart went out to the kid, and I had to do something—throw out a lifeline of some sort.

“Excuse me while I bend the rules a little bit,” I said. Then I made my way across the floor and sidestepped the oblivious kinksters who were having a blast. Technically, it was within my rights to approach a member in the middle of a scene, whether they were participating or kneeling to the side—if I had a genuine worry about anyone’s safety…and if I wore a DM patch.

Anger toward Marcus kicked up my heartbeat, but I ignored him completely for now and immediately squatted down in front of Corey, who flinched at my sudden appearance.

The surprise was evident in his eyes, and so was the wariness that followed.

A wary Little…? I didn’t fucking think so. I’d observed enough. We weren’t imagining anything—Corey was being mistreated somehow. I cupped his face in my hands and spoke in his ear.

“Try to lean away from me,” I commanded, because I didn’t want him to risk getting into trouble when I was the one approaching him. “I got worried when you didn’t show up on Monday, Corey. I hope everything’s all right.”

He did try to lean away, though not until I’d said those last words about our session earlier this week. His response could be a delayed reaction to my first order, or it could be his confusion at the final part, because he did look confused, which was what I’d feared. Marcus must’ve fucked with our line of communication, maybe inserted himself in some way.

“But you were sick,” he blurted out. “I asked Daddy to pass along a get-well message.”

I suppressed a sigh. Just as I’d suspected.

I shook my head and leaned in again. “Maybe there was a misunderstanding,” I lied. “Let’s focus on the future instead. Do you wanna see me again for a pain session?”

He nodded hesitantly, appearing confused by the previous topic. I couldn’t blame him.

“Good,” I said, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. “I’ll set something up with Marcus. Say, thank you, Dominus.”

He flinched back once more, to look me in the eye, and something new seeped into his gaze, a connection, a determination. And a pinch of affection.

“Thank you, Dominus.”

“That’s a good boy.”

I held his gaze a while longer and touched his cheek, even when I sensed we had Marcus’s attention behind me. The rules meant fuck-all. I was gonna make sure this boy got away from that rat bastard.

Then I rose to my feet again and turned around to face Marcus, who stared at me with an impatient, irritated look. While his pink-assed sub—he had to be new because I didn’t recognize him—was restrained to the whipping post and trying to look over his shoulder.

I clamped a hand across the back of Marcus’s neck and stared him down. “Corey will show up tomorrow, Marcus. If he doesn’t, we’ll think something is wrong, and you don’t want me knocking on your door. Do you understand me?”

He stiffened and glared at me. “Is that a threat, Greer?”

“It sure as fuck ain’t pillow talk.” I let go of him and brushed some invisible lint off his shirt. “I promise I won’t be sick tomorrow.”

He clenched his jaw but said nothing.

So I spoke my final piece. “Treat Corey like a fucking prince, or you’ll answer to me. To all of us out here.” With a smack to his cheek, I left them alone and returned to Lucas closer to the entrance of the club area.