Free RequiredSurrender by Riley Murphy Page A

invested.”
    Patel’s eyes fell shut and Ted tapped him hard on the cheek
to make sure he stayed awake long enough to hear these last words. “Go to
sleep, you rapist, motherfucking bastard, and know that when you wake up this
time, you’ll have to do a little accounting to keep your head above water and
your ass out of court.”
    Ted fished through his coat pocket. Taking out the folded
papers, he held them up. “Those loans you were hoping to pay off over the next
ten? They’re now due. Oh, and that line of credit you’re schmoozing the bank
for? Could be held up if I don’t get my money. Jerry Teft is a close personal
friend of mine. It’d be a shame if I forgot myself and mentioned the deadbeat
doctor who owes me a boatload of cash.”
    Patel tried to hang onto consciousness. He did a damn good
job too, but eventually his body gave in and when it did, Ted smiled. There was
just one small detail left. He didn’t consider it gathering blackmail material,
instead he thought of it as insurance. Yeah, the start of a fucking ironclad
policy.
    * * * * *
    Five hours later, Ted sat in the lounge area of Crystal’s
Storm, the first of the three clubs he and his partners had opened. Aside from
the newly established resort, this place was his favorite. It was large, but
not too large and unlike the other clubs around, including theirs, Crystal’s
greeting area was open and airy. High ceilings, bamboo floors and light-colored
walls. The theme was somewhat nautical in nature with rich blues and reds that
played off crisp white trim and walls in places. It wasn’t until you went
through one of the twinset French doors at the side of the room that the
lighting became more subdued and the place was compartmentalized.
    Crystal’s was unique in another way too in that the majority
of play took place behind the French doors. This lounge with the surrounding
clusters of seating that wrapped around the bar was mostly deemed a traditional
meet-and-greet setting, but tonight he was going to break with tradition and
give the lucky patrons a show. If Jo was up to it. He was hoping she’d balk
right at the beginning so that they could get the inevitable over with quickly.
The sooner they did the sooner he could find her a Dom.
    “Good evening, sir. May I get you some lemon water? Or ice
tea perhaps?”
    “Water would be fine, thanks. And would you turn up the
lighting over this section? Just until I’m done here then you can dim it
again.” Ted had reserved the sunken lounge for the express purpose of dealing
with Jo and with that in mind, the more light the better.
    “Certainly, sir. Right away.”
    His phone vibrated. It was a text from Cam telling him he’d
just dropped her off at the door. He leaned back in the overstuffed leather
chair and smiled. Game time.
    He saw her before she spotted him and when the server
arrived with his water he looked away. He was glad for the distraction because
she looked great and he didn’t want to be caught staring. Clearly she had
dressed for the occasion. Didn’t she know that was pointless? If she managed to
get through the paces he was going to put her through she’d be wearing an
outfit of his choosing—he eyed the suit folded on the table—and sighed. There
was no way she was going to do what he intended and that would be his out with
her. Wasn’t this the whole point of the exercise?
    “Thank you.” The server left and Ted watched him head up the
four steps while Jo came down them.
    She walked around the couch and gave him a half smile. “Hi.”
    Picking up his glass, he eyed her over the rim. “You’re a
little overdressed.” She really wasn’t. Her short skirt and tight shirt were
skimpy enough, but he didn’t want her comfortable. She needed to be off-center
right from the start if he was going to scare her away.
    Her eyes narrowed but her tone was even. “I’m sorry. If you
wanted me to wear something specific you should have said so.”
    He put his glass down and