Empowered [Sexual Magic 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (23 page)

“No shit,” Gabriel replied and then laughed.

Noah chuckled, too. Madelyn giggled even as she was sitting up and adjusting her clothing. “Don’t worry, I expect this lesson to continue as soon as we’re able.”

Gabriel bent and kissed her hard. “I’m looking forward to it.” He looked up. “Want me to stay while you get that?”

“No,” Noah said dryly as he strode forward. “I think I can handle whoever is out there.”

Just as he reached the knob, water sounded from the bathroom. He pulled the door open, expecting to see Patrick Locke or someone as large and intimidating. Instead, Natalie stood there, jumping from foot to foot.

“Natalie?” He looked down the hallway but saw no one else. “What are you doing here? How did you find us?”

She cleared her throat and gave him a wide smile. “I have a message from the desk manager. I guess maybe he knew we were friends—”

“We’re not friends,” he said.

Natalie faltered, her gaze dropped and she sucked in a deep breath then looked up again. “Yes, well maybe he just knew we were acquainted.”

“What’s the message?”

“Uh, there’s someone from the Council downstairs. What’s the Council anyway?”

He ignored her question. “Who?”

She shoved dark hair out of her face and squinted into the room. “Mason Shaw or something like that.”

He felt Gabriel’s presence a moment before he spoke. “I thought you said they wouldn’t send him?”

Noah shrugged. “I’m surprised, but he is an ex-cop. Good at surveillance and subterfuge. Maybe Clarissa decided that was better than brute force. Plus, he
is
familiar with Krista.”

“Well, that does make sense.”

“Hi, Gabriel,” Natalie said, practically licking her lips.

Noah was suddenly repulsed by her. Cute as she may be, the girl had manner issues and ones he sure as hell didn’t feel like addressing. Not for the minute pleasure of a play date.

“Is there anything else?” He started to shut the door, surprised when her hand flattened against it, something akin to panic on her face.

“Yes,” she said quickly, gaze bouncing between them. “You and Gabriel are supposed to go downstairs to meet him, but he said Madelyn was to stay here.”

“Hell no,” Noah said, echoed a scant second later by Gabriel.

“What’s going on?” Madelyn’s mellifluous voice sounded behind him.

“Mason is downstairs,” he replied. “He wants to talk to me and Gabriel but not you. I’m not leaving you alone.”

“Not me?” She looked puzzled.

“Not yet,” Natalie inserted. “But maybe you could come down in half an hour.”

“What does he want?”

“I don’t know,” she replied. “Just something about an update for Noah and Gabriel.”

“He can come up here,” Noah said. Gabriel nodded emphatic agreement.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Noah,” Madelyn said. “He has a reason for wanting privacy. Just go downstairs. I won’t leave the room.”

“No.”

“Stubborn ass,” she muttered. “All right, Natalie can stay with me.”

“Me?” Natalie squeaked.

“Yes. You can stay here until they get back. See, problem solved, I’m not alone.”

“Uh, I don’t think it’ll take very long,” Natalie said, tucking her hair back behind an ear. “Probably five or ten minutes.”

“Go on,” Madelyn said. “You know it’ll be okay. For God’s sake, Noah, I’m not a toddler. Give me some space and credit for being able to take care of myself.”

Her scathing glare bit at his conscience. He knew the things she’d done in the past three years to ensure she would not be in danger, but damn it, his job
was
to protect her. To take care of her.

He wrestled with his decision, one hand rubbing at his nape as he considered all the angles. “Fine, hell. We’ll be back as soon as we can.”
Don’t open the door
was on the tip of his tongue, but he refrained from saying the words. She was already ticked at him as it was. He didn’t want to give her any further reason to consider him overbearing or heavy handed.

He pulled her to him, kissed her hard, long, and deep. Her arms wrapped along his neck, holding him close, returning the kiss with fevered passion. “Be careful, my love,” she whispered against his mouth.

He gave her a crooked grin. “I can handle Mason.”

She rolled her eyes and pecked Gabriel on the cheek. “Look after him,
d’accord
?”

“Sure thing, sweet cheeks.” He kissed her lightly. “All right, big man, let’s go see this Mason guy.” He winked at Madelyn. “I have something to plunder, and I want to hurry up and get back to it.”

Noah grinned. “Yeah, sounds damn good to me. Natalie, get in there with Madelyn. I want to hear the dead bolt turn before we leave.”

“Would you like something to drink?” Madelyn asked Natalie as the girl settled onto the couch. Well, more like perched on the edge of the couch. As if she’d fly off at any second given half an opportunity. “Are you upset about being here with me?” She bit her lip. “I didn’t mean to impose. If you’d prefer to leave, I’m fine with that. Really.”

“No! It’s okay. No imposition, really.”

Madelyn smiled in relief. “Oh, good. I really didn’t want to be alone. So, how about a drink? We have tea, soda, wine, water, even some milk.”

“Um, water is great, thank you.”

Madelyn scooped some ice into two glasses and filled them with sparkling water, adding a lime wedge to each. She handed one to Natalie as she sat on the love seat across from her.

“Did you enjoy your evening with the constable?”

Natalie’s face lit up. “Oh, my, yes. It was incredible.”

Madelyn smiled and leaned back, tucking her legs underneath her. “Want to tell me about it?”

The girl flushed and took a long drink of her water. “I think it’s safe to assume I’m a submissive,” she said then giggled. “I didn’t feel it so much with the lady, but with the constable, well, the feeling was completely different.”

“That’s the second time you mentioned the lady. Who is she?”

Natalie shrugged. “I told you, someone from the bar. She liked to whip me.”

Madelyn tensed.

“Not too much, though. She could tell I wasn’t really into it. She did other stuff. Why is that?”

“Why is what?” Madelyn asked, hoping the relief didn’t show in her voice. Would every nameless Domme who liked to whip her subs forever be tainted in her mind as Krista now? She could not allow that. Some of her best friends were Dommes, and they weren’t bat-shit crazy.

Insane.

“Why is it that I enjoyed what the constable did much more than the lady and it was basically the same thing? They both tied me up, both whipped me, and both made me come until I almost blacked out.” Her hand flew to cover her mouth, and she stared wide-eyed at Madelyn. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “That was probably a little too much personal information, huh?”

Madelyn shook her head. “If you stay in this lifestyle, you’ll soon learn there is no such thing as TMI for a submissive.”

“Would you like to hear more?”

She nodded, remembering fondly her first few encounters and how awe-inspiring they’d been and how she had to regale absolutely everyone she ran into with the stories of being bound and beaten and what a high the experience had been for her.

“Sure.”

Natalie was in the middle of a rather panty-drenching description of her night when a knock sounded.

Madelyn shushed the girl and stared at the door.

Definitely not the guys, they would have used Noah’s key.

“Shouldn’t we answer it?” Natalie asked.

Madelyn shook her head. “No. They’ll go away.”

“Uh, what if it’s something important?”

“It’s not.”

“How do you know?”

Another knock rattled the door. Natalie rose and pressed one hand to her chest. “Do you think something happened to Noah or Gabriel?”

That made Madelyn surge upward, her heart suddenly kicking into racehorse tempo. She bit her lip. She should not answer the door.

“What if it’s the constable?” Natalie asked.

“Damn,” Madelyn whispered. She edged toward the door. She’d take a quick peek through the eyehole. If it was the constable, she’d let him in. Anyone else and forget it.

Though, if it was another hotel employee they might have a note from Noah or Gabriel. Or Mason. God, what if something had happened? What if they’d run afoul of Krista?

A third, heavier knock.

Madelyn remained still and paralyzed, half in the entryway, half in the living room.

Natalie swept past her, nearly knocking her over as she flipped the dead bolt.

“No!” Madelyn said, trying to lunge and stop her.

The door slammed inward, pushing Natalie down and to the floor.

The tall, redheaded demon who haunted her nightmares strode into the room, shut the door, and smiled evilly. “Hello, Madelyn.”

“Krista,” she rasped. Her throat was dry with fear, but she would not show it. “What are you doing here?”

“Ma’am, can I go now?” Natalie begged. She lay exactly as she’d fallen, legs and arms akimbo on the tile floor. Naked fear shone in her eyes, and Madelyn inhaled sharply.

“Mason isn’t here, is he?”

Krista’s short barking laugh chilled her. “No, he’s not. Pity, too, I never got a chance to finish with him, either. Thanks to your damn boyfriend.”

“Ma’am?” Natalie asked again. She’d scooted backward, her back now up against the wall.

“No. I do appreciate your help, but I’m afraid you’ve become a liability.” In one fluid motion too quick to counter, Krista pulled a gun from beneath her light linen jacket. The barrel was covered with a silencer.

Madelyn screamed. “No, don’t—”

Face set in cold and unemotional lines, Krista pulled the trigger. Despite the silencer, the muffled roar was audible and the sharp, acrid taste of Cordite hung in the air.

Madelyn looked down at Natalie, crying out when she met the girl’s dead brown eyes. Blood trickled from her mouth and a widening red stain spread along her chest.

She swung back to Krista, dropping down into a neutral stance. No way in hell was this bitch going to take her down without a fight.

“You won’t kill me,” she said.

“No, I won’t. I have too many plans for you. At least, I don’t plan on killing you with a gun. You might die from pain, but I’m betting you won’t do that, either, considering your unique talent.”

All the air sucked from Madelyn’s body, and she swayed. The woman was insane.

“Someone heard me scream, they heard the shot.”

“Have you forgotten where you are, you idiot? These rooms are soundproof, remember? The comfort of the guests and all that. Come willingly, and I won’t kill your boyfriend. If you don’t, I will wait until he steps into the room then I will gladly put a bullet between his eyes and take you anyway.” She spat on Natalie’s dead body. “I’m hoping you resist, to tell you the truth. I want that bastard dead.”

Madelyn knew she couldn’t worry about Noah or Gabriel. They would have to take care of themselves. Right now, she needed to worry about herself. She waggled her fingers at Krista.

“You’ll have to turn your back to shoot him. You won’t have the time. You want me, bitch, come and get me.”

Krista’s glare was malevolent and irritated. Finally, she tucked the gun back into its hiding place. Just as Madelyn was sure she’d approach and try to physically take her down, the woman plucked a long, wooden straw from her purse. She smiled and winked.

“Nighty night, Madelyn.”

Then she lifted the straw to her mouth and blew.

The dart caught her just below her neck, in the fleshy, vulnerable space between heart and collarbone. It stung but didn’t really hurt. Madelyn frowned and tried to pluck the damn thing from her chest, but her fingers wouldn’t work. Her arms refused to lift and felt like deadweights hanging from her shoulders.

“What’s happening?” she asked. The room spun and swirled as lethargy poured over her.

Krista grinned maniacally. “I’m taking what’s mine.”

The room dimmed into darkness, and Madelyn felt herself falling. Down, down, down until at last, the carpeted floor jarred her to a stop.

She struggled to open her eyes and focus, but it was no use.

She groaned and finally passed out.

* * * *

Gabriel had to run to catch up with Noah. “Slow down,” he demanded. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“Krista.”

As if that explained why no one from the Council had been waiting, why the desk clerk adamantly denied sending Natalie to the room, and now why Noah sprinted up the stairs like a madman.

Hell, he was in good shape, but not enough to take ten flights of stairs without getting winded. But Noah looked like he was out for a Sunday stroll—if you could ignore the fury and fear warring in his eyes.

They finally reached the landing to the tenth floor, and Noah stopped abruptly, one palm up. Gabriel wheezed and leaned against the wall, sucking in air. He had a stitch in his side that felt like a damn alien trying to bust out of his gut, his lungs burned like he’d swallowed napalm, and his legs were as rubbery as overcooked spaghetti.

“What about her?” he gasped out.

“She’s behind this. If she weren’t so smart, I’d bet she’s in the room with Maddie right now. But as crazy as she is, Krista is too intelligent for that.”

Gabriel’s head jerked up. “You think she took her somewhere?” Adrenaline surged and pushed aside any feeling of pain or fatigue.

Noah’s face was grim as he looked at him. “Yes, I do.”

He swallowed hard. “You don’t think she’s…dead, do you?”

“God no,” Noah said, face going gray. “She has plans for Maddie, I’m sure of it, and none of those include her death. At least, not right away.”

“Fucking hell.”

“My thought exactly. You ready?”

Gabriel shoved away from the wall. “Yeah. Tell me what you want me to do.”

“Stay close behind me, watch for anyone suspicious. When in doubt, deck the hell out of anyone you see.”

“Got it.”

“When we get in the room, stay low and go in fast. I’ll go right toward the kitchen, you go left into the bathroom.”