Free I Spy a Dark Obsession by Jo Davis

Bastian clarified.
    Made sense, but she didn’t like it. Problem was, she couldn’t tell them what to do. They weren’t her men, as much as she wished differently. Even if they were, she silently amended, she still wouldn’t be able to order them around.
    “Knock, knock.” They all looked to see Emma standing in the doorway, concern marring her attempt to appear chipper. “A great big birdie named Blaze told me that our fearless CEO almost got his ass killed. You okay?”
    “Not even close, and I’m fine ,” Bastian muttered. Sitting up, he swung his legs off the bed. “That’s it. Somebody tell McKay to sign my papers. I’m going to my office, changing my shirt, and getting some work done like I’d planned to do all along.”
    “You’re going home,” Michael ordered.
    “No, I’m not.” Bastian glared back at his friend, and then addressed the room in general. “In fact, I’m having a drink or three after work, if anyone cares to join me. I’ve earned it.”
    “Whether you want to admit it or not, you’re not going to feel like going out tonight,” their boss insisted. “Wait until tomorrow and we’ll see if you’re up to it.”
    Emma cleared her throat. “I have an idea.” Once she had everyone’s undivided attention, she continued. “Katrina and I had plans to have a few drinks tomorrow after work, but in light of this morning’s attempt on Bastian, my overprotective man has strictly forbidden me to go out without him escorting me.”
    This came as no surprise to Katrina, or anyone else in the room, she figured. Just weeks ago, Dietz had kidnapped Emma and held her hostage when he escaped from one of SHADO’s prison cells. The bastard had intended to kill her before Blaze and some other agents located and rescued her. Emma posed no more threat to Dietz and he had no reason to harm her now, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t, given how unstable Michael and Bastian believed he’d become.
    “What do you have in mind?” Michael asked curiously.
    Emma went on. “A group outing with the five of us—me, Blaze, Katrina, and you two. I know Blaze will be fine with going, and I’m pretty sure Katrina won’t mind having two gorgeous dates.”
    “Mind? Are you kidding?” Katrina teased. “With these guys along, I’m more than capable of amusing myself if you guys get . . . occupied.”
    Emma grinned. “Great. It’ll be fun! If Bastian is feeling up to it by then, that is.”
    “I don’t know . . .” Michael began.
    “I’m in,” Bastian said. His smile lit the small room. He smacked his friend on the arm. “Come on, don’t be such a stick in the mud. We’ll have a great time.”
    “Some of us more than others.” The glare Michael shot his friend could have stripped paint off a car.
    Bastian seemed puzzled for a moment, then his face flushed. “You’ll have a blast, I promise.”
    Emma glanced between the two men, a hint of a smirk teasing her lips. “Guaranteed, or your money back.”
    Apparently, Bastian got the comment, but Katrina was lost. If she didn’t get some answers soon about the strange tension between her bosses, she’d scream.
    “I, for one, would adore having two hot men on my arm,” Katrina couldn’t resist saying. Bastian’s eyes twinkled as he grinned at her, and Michael gave her a long, searching look, as though he’d never seen her before. As a woman. Awareness touched all her nerve endings with delicious heat.
    “Fine, I’ll come,” Michael said, relenting. “A regular club, though, not Blaze’s D/s hangout. I don’t think the rest of us are into the public scene.” Everyone nodded in agreement, and Emma laughed.
    “I’ll let him know. How about eight o’clock, drinks and dancing at Daddy’s Money?”
    “Um, the crowd there is kind of young. How about Shakers?” Michael asked the group, and no one seemed to care.
    Emma hugged Bastian, careful not to squeeze too hard. “Don’t overdo it, and get some rest, okay? See you