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Z looked at Marcus, no expression on his face "I gave her to you because I could ask you to keep her when any other doht Or abused her I knew you wouldn’t let your anger rule you" Z leaned back and took a drink of the beer Cullen had given hi

His word Marcus scrubbed his face, feeling the rough stubble An honest man didn’t break his word

Cullen snorted "Dan would call this a clusterfuck"

Marcus stared out at the palm trees The black shapes blotted out the stars Cullen had it right; this was a clusterfuck with no path that didn’t involve betrayal or da Z’s protectiveness toward subh, Marcus gave up "Ither job"

Z’s shoulders sagged, the only sign he’d worried over Marcus’s opinion "Nothing about this has been easy for anyone" His eyes met Marcus’s "Marcus, I am sorry"

"Appears to etting into"

"I doubt that Although I insisted she fill out the questionnaire honestly, I daresay she pushed her own comfort zone--she didn’t want to take a chance she’d fail to attract attention Unfortunately, I believe her experience was lio"

"Fuck" Cullen’s face turned to granite "I ball gagged her How could I not have--"

Z nodded "And that reaction justifies the reasoning for secrecy How can you punish ? The two agents in charge of the investigation are both experienced doms; they knee’d react"

"Brave little sub," Cullen said "I know FBI agents are tough cookies, but…"

Z winced "Not to add to your guilt, Marcus, though I doubt it can exceed ent"

"Excusehis voice as polite as he could e

"I didn’t find out until this hen her backup sniped about her lack of training" Z rubbed his forehead again "She’s a victim specialist--a social worker who helps the victims of crime"

"Why the hell is a social worker here?" Marcus asked His jaw felt so tight it ht shatter

"One of the women kidnapped in Atlanta is her friend Gabrielle volunteered--demanded--to help I daresay BDSM-experienced subents, so they took her up on it" Z shifted in his chair "Marcus, she’s one of the bravest people I know She is co this anyway"

Terrified He’d seen her fear Every single night He set his drink down carefully He’d made her fear worse He’d spanked her Mercilessly He’d hurt an innocent, vulnerable woman and made her cry

Chapter Fifteen

Gabi’s brain slowly thawed froers clenched her crocheted throw to her breasts like a security blanket Her eyes opened to focus on her bland apartment

She tried to move Failed She frowned down at the thickly ainst a hard chest I don’t know that arm Marcus’s arms were powerful but leaner She looked up, past the corded neck, the strong jaw, and into chocolate brown eyes Not blue "Master Raoul"

He sain? How do you feel?"

What was he doing in her apartled in her throat Flogging Marcus Questions The other doms Her jaw clenched This dom had stood and watched while Marcus turned her into jelly and interrogated her

She shoved his ars "I want you to leave now" Pulling her blanket htly around her bare shoulders, she tried to conceal her shivering Her apart to thirty degrees, and the chill had gone bone-deep She ain

"Chiquita…"

"Go away" In her head, she could see her mother’s disapproval at her rudeness I don’t care

"You’re still shaking, Gabrielle," he said