Page 61 (1/2)

He glanced around Z said the FBI agents planned to drop by tonight to give the Masters an update and their thanks Marcus intended to ask for an update also The bastards had refused to tell him Gabi’s location; perhaps they’d be more cooperative in person

"Hey, Marcus" Behind the bar, Cullen waggled a bottle of beer

Marcus hesitated, then walked over and took the drink He’d stopped his pain meds yesterday, and his shoulder throbbed like a sadistic dentist had drilled holes in it "Thank you, Cullen"

"You look a bit pissed off Anything I can do?"

Marcus’s htly To his surprise, all the Masters had visited hione horoceries and books on Monday, followed by Dan and Kari, who’d cooked and frozen meals for him to microwave On Tuesday, Nolan and Beth had stopped by to run errands and had found Sensei and a batch of his teenagers there Beth had commandeered the boys to do his yard work Iardening service

Wednesday, Anne, Olivia, and Sa Then Andrea had cleaned his house--over his objections--while Cullen had put together a meal Z and Jessica on Thursday--as well as some associates from the DA's office On Friday, Raoul had barbecued steaks he’d brought, and the rest had arrived to hold an inforement celebration for Z and Jessica, and Nolan and Beth He’d lived in Taood friends without realizing it

They hadn’t allowed hiet lonely, but despite their company, he’d missed Gabi as if he’d misplaced a body part His heart, maybe

Marcus took a sip of beer and looked at Cullen "Nothing you can do, thank you, unless you enjoy pounding on FBI agents"

Cullen grinned "Te… Got a reason or are you just bored?"

"Gabrielle isn’t in town" Every day that had gone by, he’d expected to hear froe The memory of her eyes when she’d said, "Good-bye, Marcus," haunted him "She hasn’t returned to her job, and I can’t find her Her phone and address are buried well, and neither her Miaive e"

"I can see how that would burn your ass" Cullen frowned "The agents got here a few lanced at his sub "Sweetheart, did you see where Z and the others went?"

Andrea finished drawing a beer and frowned at Marcus "You look terrible You shouldn’t be here"

"Irrelevant," Marcus said "Where’s Z?"

Andrea set the drink in front of Olivia and hter from the domme

"Pet," Cullen warned

She sniffed and set her hands on her hips Her attitude reserief slid like a knife between his ribs "Fine, just die and see if I care They’re way at the back, close to the cages, behind the giant fern planter"

"Thank you, Andrea," Marcus said "Cullen, please swat her ass for , buddy"

As Marcus walked away, he heard a squeak and a thud as a ot tossed onto the bar, and then the slap of a hand on bare flesh

Andrea’s voice rose "Chíngate, cabrón"

Marcus shook his head, sed

The secluded sitting area held the FBI agents and sos, Raoul patted an empty chair "We waited for you"

"Thank you," Marcus acknowledged

The only sub present, Jessica, was curled up in Z’s lap, looking much like the kitten he called her, and Marcus s Gabi in his arms hurt worse than the hole in his shoulder

Z nodded at the agents, an unspoken gesture that they had the floor

Vance leaned forward "First, this infored and not to be shared with anyone, even your subs" He glanced at Jessica "Anyone, pet"

She nodded

"You know Jessica and Gabi’s kidnapping followed three others in Taanti, was a private investigator here in Taated them, and chose four who could easily disappear He did the sao"

"Two years apart?" Nolan straightened "That’s a fucking long setup"

"So it seeh inforanti died The hireling knows very little"

"Were they involved in the Atlanta kidnappings?" Marcus asked