Free Essential Master (Doms of Napa Valley) by Dakota Trace

in his friend’s voice had
Ethan pausing. He’d never heard such a tone from Davis before. Maybe he should
talk to Lauren and warn her that Davis’s patience was wearing thin. Something
had changed between the two of them since the night Davis had carted a pissy
Lauren out of his dojo when she’d confronted Ethan, thinking he’d done
something to Bella. He’d never asked Davis what had happened after he carted
Lauren off to his private rooms. Perhaps he should’ve.
    “Then go and find another sub and at least
get laid, so you don’t scare her when she finally submits to you. Call up
Eileen.” Even as he gave Davis the advice, he knew the man wouldn’t be calling
his friend with benefits.
    “Nope, I’m waiting for Lauren.” Davis
cracked his knuckles. “Everything else seems hollow.” Then he reached for his attaché
case and pulled out a sheaf of papers. “Don’t you a have a staff meeting to
tend to?”
    Ethan sighed. “Yes. Remember to holler if
you need me or if the hospital calls.” He grabbed several small clipboards each
D.M. carried while in the club. Sticking a photo of Allison with a couple
others already on the clipboards, he checked to make sure the list of rules
were on top, covering the banned members names.
    “I won’t forget. Go get through getting the
troops ready. I need to check out this contract Zebadiah signed with Allison,
and see if there’s any way to get him out of it.”
    “Good luck. I’ll be on the floor. I’ll send
up one of the house Doms to monitor the security cameras after the meeting.”
Then he slipped out of the office and headed towards the bar inside in the main
part of the club. He had a feeling tonight was going to be a zoo.
    * * * *
    Zebadiah
was watching the small television in his hospital room wishing he was anywhere
but here. He couldn ’t believe the damned doctors had made him
stay at the hospital. He could’ve been home watching TV, even if Ethan wouldn’t
let him go to the club, or talking to Nicky and Steph on the phone. His head,
while it still ached, was the least of his worries at the moment. After
speaking with Ethan and giving permission to the other man to give Davis the
contract he’d signed with Allison, he couldn’t help but think about the
confrontation earlier in the day. He’d thought Ethan and Davis’s protection
would be enough, that Allison wouldn’t dare come after him, especially if she
knew he was always surrounded by his friends. He should’ve known better. He
truly wished he’d never met the woman. Not only had she hurt him physically,
she’d also cost him his job, or so he’d found out when Davis had spoken with
him before leaving. Not that he’d miss the arrogant Harmond, but he’d enjoyed
his position creating lavish deserts and baked goods. His future looked bleak
without a job. He’d have to dip into his savings to live until he could find
another job. And in Napa with Harmond black-balling him, he might have to move
someplace else to find work.
    The phone rang on the table next to him,
drawing him out of his morbid thoughts. Reaching for the receiver he picked it
up on the third ring.
    “Hello?”
    “Mr. Pellegrino? This is Arnold Rathowitz,
I’m council for Allison Teelen. Could I have a moment of your time?”
    His mouth dried out. “I won’t answer any
questions without my lawyer present, Mr. Rathowitz.”
    “Relax, Zebadiah. All you need to do is
listen. My client has a very convincing case. In fact, I’d have to say most of
the facts are on Ms. Teelen’s side. But even if they weren’t, you had a loving
relationship with my client once upon a time. Do honestly want to drag her name
through the mud because of a lover’s quarrel?”
    Zebadiah clenched his jaw as the man
continued to ramble on and on. Incensed at the idea the man thought the attack
was nothing more than a lover’s quarrel, he had to bite down on his tongue
hard. He knew what the man was attempting to do. He wanted to get him to