“Yes, sir.”

  Montana ended the call and immediately dialed the precinct. “Yeah. I need a location trace on a cell phone.” He prayed to God she had it with her. “Yes. Immediately. Here’s the number.” As the officer began to follow his directions, he concentrated on his breathing and in a few seconds he could see her face.

  “Are you okay, buddy?” Grant inched closer.

  “She’s unconscious. We have to go.”

  “What do you mean? How the hell would you know that? Go where, exactly?”

  “I know. Just believe me when I tell you. She’s in real danger. We have to find her before it’s too late.”

  “Montana, we’ll find her.”

  “What in the fuck is she doing in Goochland?” He bypassed several cars, zooming onto the interstate on ramp.

  “We have several officers headed in the direction where the phone is stationary. She’s not going anywhere.”

  “Is this one of Worth’s locations?” Montana’s nerves were frazzled. He knew it was only a matter of time until the asshole killed her.

  “Not yet. The place has been abandoned for years. The owner died and the bank took it back months ago. There is a pending contract with a Mr. Stephen Drummand.”

  Exhaling, he hit the gas, accelerating to seventy-five. The name didn’t register. “What did Sargent Wallace say?”

  “Jade disappeared.”

  “Of course she did. She’s in on this.”

  “Maybe,” Grant mused. “Why? What does she have to gain?”

  “There is a connection.”

  “But what? The club?”

  Montana nodded. “What if she’s the killer?”

  Snorting, Grant shifted in his seat. “She would have to be pretty strong.”

  “Not if she was working with someone.”

  “Are you thinking Worth?”

  “Hell, I don’t know what I’m thinking.” He rubbed sweat out of his eyes. “Jade knew Destiny told a cop about Mr. Peterson. We know that because Peterson complained. He’d certainly issue his concerns to the owner of the club. Don’t you think?”

  “Probably. Then you think this is a set up?”

  “I do.” Montana had attempted to connect with Destiny again, but something or someone was blocking him. “She needs to be found. She knows what’s going on and why. My gut tells me.”

  “That shit you said back there. What did you mean? How do you know she’s unconscious?”

  “Hard to explain.”

  “I think you need to try and slow the fuck down. Jesus!”

  Montana responded by pressing on the gas pedal. “We have a connection. I can sometimes see what she’s thinking or feeling.”

  “Uh-huh. Right. You okay, partner?”

  “I can’t explain why. Had this since I was a kid, although I thought it was gone.”

  “It? You mean psychic abilities?” Grant asked, an incredulous tone in his voice.

  “Yep.”

  He coughed and looked away. “Okay. I’ll have to process that.”

  Hearing his phone, he snarled as he answered. “What do you have?”

  “Jade Devereaux. She insisted that Mr. Worth is the killer,” Sergeant Wallace stated.

  Montana looked over at Grant. “Meaning?”

  “She said in no uncertain terms that he demanded she take Dr. Blade to him.”

  “Same address?”

  “Yeah. She dropped her off then thought better of what she did. She voluntarily came in. There’s something else too.” Sargent Wallace sighed. “She runs the business with Mr. Worth. He’s her silent partner.”

  He swallowed hard as the Sargent gave him the details. “Shit. We’re on our way to the abandoned house. Any luck finding Mr. Worth?”

  “None, but I did talk with his assistant.”

  “And?”

  “She stated that Mr. Worth was in a very agitated state after some issue with a contract. Bad blood between the opposing parties,” Sargent Wallace offered.

  A knowing settled into Montana’s system. “Did she say who?”

  “Some guy by the name of. Stephen Drummand. We’re running him now. I’m going to have an officer pick him up.”

  His blood chilled. “We’re on our way to the house in Goochland.” Montana slapped his hand on the steering wheel. “Son of a bitch.”

  Destiny opened her eyes, wincing as she tried to move. She heard voices as she tried to focus. The room was devoid of any light as well as ice cold. She wiggled then realized she was tied to something. As she became more awake, she realized her arms were over her head, her legs spread. She maneuvered her hand and her fingers touched what felt like metal. A cross. She was strapped to an “X” cross. The space had a damp and putrid stench, much like mold and urine.

  She licked her bottom lip and controlled her breathing, listening for any additional sounds. Suddenly the voices moved closer. They were full of anger.

  “I should kill you right now.”

  “You’re not going to kill me when your precious Destiny is in the next room. You’re off your game, Chris. I found your single weakness. A woman.”

  She recognized both, the man from before was arguing with Chris. Blinking several times, she tried to make out anything in the room. Nothing. She struggled with her bindings. Her wrists and ankles secured, she accepted she wasn’t going anywhere. Why was Chris here? To save her.

  “What do you want, Stephen?” Chris asked, anger flowing through his words.

  “What do I want? What’s mine.”

  “The damn contract?”

  “You’re such a fool. There’s much more at stake here. When the police arrive, and I have no doubt they will, they’re going to find a monster.”

  Destiny wanted to call out, scream for help, but she knew her interference would only escalate the heated debate.

  “She had nothing to do with this,” Chris hissed. “You’re a murderer.”

  “I like to think of it as relieving the world of tramps and sluts. They bitches got exactly what they deserved. I had some help. It’s amazing how much control you learn with BDSM. Mastering my brother was the perfect ruse.” He laughed.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Let’s just say I the police are going to find one of the victim’s blood all over your clothes. You’re going to be exposed, Christopher. What a joy to sully your reputation and to see you arrested.”

  Wham! Whoosh!

  “Get your fucking hands off of me or you’re never going to see her again,” Stephen growled.

  She continued to struggle, trying desperately to free her hands. After jerking and twisting, she managed to free her right hand. She reached for the other, her fingers touching the smooth buckle. You have to get free. You have to.

  “You’re insane,” Chris said between clenched teeth.

  Stephen laughed. “No. I’m just a better man.”

  Bam!

  A series of thuds jerked her attention to the door. She wiggled and pulled, slapping her hand up toward the buckle. Sweat rolled down her face as she worked to unfasten. Every muscle in her body ached. Her head was swimming and as she licked her lip, she tasted blood.

  “You’re insane,” Christopher yelled.

  An odd smell assaulted her senses. She sniffed. Fire? Was she smelling smoke? Frantic, she used almost the last of her strength, arching her back until she was able to finally slip the loop from the strap, freeing her other wrist. Panting, she shivered as she slid down the cross until she was crouched enough to unfasten both of her legs. She tentatively took a step forward, tripping as she moved in the darkness. She was weak, the chill in the room creeping into her bones.

  “Goddamn you! I will enjoy watching you die!”

  Chris’ voice was hollow, his words stilted. She sucked in her breath and continued forward toward the sound. The fight continued as she took several deliberate steps. She held out her arms and when her fingers touched what had to be the wall, she sighed with relief. She was able to see light from under the door and when she managed to focus, she slapped her hand against the wall, searching for a light switch.

  Her fingers touching a metal plate, she sighed and flipped the small knob. Biting light flooded the room. She placed her hand on the doorknob then turned to see where she’d been kept captive. Frozen, she let out a scream then slapped her hand over her mouth. Her legs shaking, she fell against the wall, her nails clawing the plaster. “No!”

  Destiny blinked and while she was able to focus, she refused to comprehend what she was seeing. Several dead women were tied to various apparatuses, their sunken eyes and engorged faces a sign of the horrors they’d faced. She was in the killing zone of a madman. Please God, get me out of her. Please…

  “I’ll never allow you to hurt her. She’s not part of this. You can have the contract, the business. I don’t care. I can’t believe you’d kill all those people to get back at me.”

  “You’re such a fool. I enjoy the art of Shibari. I love watching women beg for release. Only the true submissives can understand. Dr. Blade. I thought she was such a woman.”

  Wham!

  Destiny jerked open the door, racing out.

  “And you’re going to die.”

  In Christopher’s hands was a gun, pointed at Stephen. “Christopher!”

  In a split-second decision, he turned in her direction. At that moment, Stephen lunged forward, tackling Christopher to the ground.

  Smoke rolled down the hallway toward her. She covered her mouth and raced toward them as flames crawled up the walls.

  “Stop. Police!”

  In slow motion, she watched as Stephen grabbed the gun from Christopher’s hands. He stood tall, a beaming smile on his face, and took aim. She took a giant leap toward the madness.

  Boom!

  Destiny stretched and opened her eyes. A shimmer of sun slipped past the blinds. She rolled over, expecting Montana. Sighing, she twisted in the sheets and thought about the night before. The cool linen scratched against her ass and she moaned, her pussy instantly wet. The spanking had been particularly tasty. She giggled and rolled over onto his side of the bed. His side. The words were delicious. He spent more time at her house than his and had since…

  Ugly memories drifted into her mind. In the month since the horrific events unfolded, she’d been able to block out the majority of the images. Her nightmares had ceased and she was no longer hearing Chris’ voice inside her head. She was the only one convinced her mystery lover and Chris were the same. Science and common sense had intervened and she’d stopped talking about the concept after the first few days.

  Montana’s wound was almost healed. The gunshot had missed his heart by inches, the police said thanks to her. She was no hero. She’d gotten him into the wretched situation.

  Inhaling, the scent of sex lingered. She sat up and listened for any signs of Montana. She heard what sounded like muffled voices coming from the other room. Slipping out from under the covers, she grabbed her robe, tying the sash tightly before walking toward the bedroom door. She cracked open the door and eased out into the hallway. From the top of the stairs she was able to see Montana’s back. Who was he talking to?

  “I’m sorry to interrupt you on your week off.”

  “Hey. I can’t live on sex and wine forever,” Montana joked.

  She recognized the partner’s voice from the various interrogations. They’d even met with him for drinks a couple of times. Remaining in the shadows, she continued to listen. Montana had refused to tell her but so much about the case. She knew that Stephen Drummand had been someone in Christopher’s life at least in business. What had been found is that the man tried his best to frame Chris for the murders, when in fact he’d used Michael as a killing machine, manipulating the young man into a killing spree. She’d completed her own investigation, finding out more about Michael’s family. The man had tried desperately to get out of his madness, only to shift back into the past when his brother arrived on the scene. Stephen Drummand was the master of manipulation.

  “I talked to Michael’s mother in length. She admitted that she had another son, one she’d put up for adoption before she met Michael’s father. We were able to trace the birth records after some doing.”

  “The asshole fed information to Jade as well as the press that Christopher Worth was the brother,” Montana said quietly.

  “Oh, the dude tried to pin everything on him. He also had Jade believing. What I’ve been able to ascertain is that Stephen thought he’d found the perfect way to get rid of his enemy. The bloody clothes were a nice touch. The DNA is from the second murder victim. Mr. Worth has no memory of how the blood got on his clothes. Headaches and blackouts. The guy might have been drugged. We may never know.”

  “Well, the guy’s mental faculties were intact enough to plot out a hefty blackmail scheme.” Montana shook his head.

  “But you don’t believe?”

  “Just my nagging feeling there’s more to Mr. Worth than yet another victim. I’ll get over it.”

  “Hey, partner, seems Stephen had a horrible childhood, transferred from one foster family to another. By all reports, he started killing at an early age. Animals at first, but my guess he escalated quickly. There’s even reason to believe that he committed the murders Michael was almost convicted for years ago. At least we were able to recover and identify the remains of several missing girls. They are finally at peace.”

  Montana whistled. “Shit, Grant. This is crazy. So both of them were responsible.”

  “The couple at the bar? That was definitely Stephen,” Grant said quietly. “That’s why the murders seemed different, angrier.”

  “So the information gathered at Michael’s place was all about Stephen?”

  Grant sighed. “As far as we’ve been able to tell.”

  “Why go to those lengths?”

  Destiny crept down the stairs. “Because the mentally ill create a world of their own to live in. There isn’t the same kinds of logical reasons that you or I might facilitate. Michael was being haunted by a family who was mired in evil. The mother said so herself. Michael was evil, but there was also good in him. Perhaps Stephen was getting back at the mother who left him. Evil begets evil. If you believe in religion, then perhaps the genes of the mother created true monsters.”

  “I didn’t know you were awake.” Montana gave her a wry smile.

  “My sir left our bed,” she countered and winked at Grant. “Coffee?”

  “Not for me,” Grant managed, his face reddening.

  “Don’t go on my account.” She flanked Montana’s side.

  Grant held up his arms. “No. I have work to do.”

  “Thanks for dropping by. Back to work day after tomorrow.”

  “No hurry. I think you have some new priorities.” Grant tapped him on the arm and nodded toward Destiny.

  “Funny guy.”

  She folded her arms as Montana closed the door. “How was Jade involved in this? Grant said she knew.”

  “How?” He grabbed her around the waist. “Well, she owns Club Noir with Christopher Worth. They were a couple several years ago and they created the business then.”

  “But she called the police.”

  “Yeah. She was afraid of him. Stephen was her lover. Filled her head with many stories.”

  She frowned. “What a mess.”

  “Mmm… But it’s over.”

  “Thank God. Time for coffee.” She rose onto her tiptoes, kissing his lips before moving into the kitchen. She wanted to feel at peace, but recovering would take months.

  “Not so fast.” He pulled her away from the coffee pot.

  “What?”

  “I told you last night that we would begin regular discipline,” Montana said as he grinned.

  She blinked several times and gave him a coy smile. “Today?”

  “Right now.” He grabbed a chair and pulled her over his lap, lifting her robe. “You’ve been a very bad girl.” Without hesitation, he issued several hard cracks of his palm across her bottom.

  “Oh!” she squealed and slapped her hands on the floor. His mood regarding a D/s relationship had completely changed. The next volley of hard slaps brought a wave of agony into her system yet she was hot and wet.

  “Every morning I’m going to give you a maintenance spanking. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Her pussy tingled and she closed her eyes, accepting her punishment. This was exactly what she’d craved.

  “Ten more.”

  She smiled as he continued to spank her, falling into a new found peace. He was the perfect man. He was her Sir and she wanted nothing more than to please him.

  “You did very well.”

  When her spanking was over, she let out her breath as he rubbed her ass. As he helped her stand, he leaned her over, kissing her lips.

  “You’re an amazing submissive, you know.” His eyes twinkled.

  “Only for you, my sir.” She straddled his legs, fumbling with the button and zipper on his jeans.

  “And just what do you have in mind, bad girl?”

  “My treat. Don’t all good girls deserve a treat?” She licked across the seam of his mouth, drinking in his masculine scent. She freed his throbbing cock, using both hands to pump the base.

  “You’re a tease.”

  “I am. What are you going to do about it?”

  “Let me think,” he whispered as he lifted her hips, pulling her forward. “I think I know.” He yanked her down, thrusting his cock inside her pussy.

  She threw her head back and moaned as her entire body tingled.

  Montana tugged at her robe, freeing her breasts. He cupped and squeezed both, twisting her nipples between his fingers. “Very bad girl.”

  She chuckled and placed her arms around his neck, moving up and down on his cock and arching her back. The angle created friction until she was left breathless.

  “God. You feel so damn good.”

  Using her thigh muscles, she rode him hard and fast, going up and down until the chair rocked back and forth. She lowered her head, capturing his mouth and sliding her tongue inside.