Chapter 3

Shikari

"I understand. When do we leave?" I look around my small little studio and wonder why I don't dress it up. It looks as bare as the day I moved in with just a few pieces of furniture that's needed to live. I hung no pictures on the wall, and no personal touches are going to be found in this place. I suppose it's because I'm never really here. With the Establishment, we travel so much it's hard to stay grounded in one location. Security is also a good reason I guess; however, I remember my place with Asshat and how we spent months looking for just the right personal touches for the home we were sharing at the time. I left right after he did…and everything with it. Ugh, why after five years, do my thoughts still go back to him?

"Tomorrow. Pack light, your work attire will be at the safe house once we arrive, and there's also one piece of information you should know…" Ali starts but pauses and a look of horror and sadness flashes in her eyes.

Whatever she was holding back is now about to come to light. I brace myself because the look on her face now tells me she is clearly terrified of telling me. I can't for the life of me think of what could be so bad. Until I hear her words... "Birsha is the other owner of the club and will be our main point of contact."

My throat closes, chest heaves, as the teacup I'm holding shatters in my fist and I don't even notice. I'm in a daze as I still try to soak in the ramifications of what she just said. The Asshat who tore me to shreds and never looked back? Fuck, this day keeps getting worse. I look around and see the sadness and pity on the faces of my closest confidants.

In a matter of moments, I play out possible scenes of what could happen and different scenarios that could play out. It's Mer's voice that cuts through my inner war. "It'll be ok Shi. He is a dick, and you could do better. Maybe this will be the closure you need."

I straighten myself and pull my feelings back. We have over two hundred missing girls and Asshat is the least of my problems. Mer grabs a towel of the tea set and starts to wrap my now bleeding hand. I watch as the blood drips to the floor and try to get my thoughts together as quickly as possible.

"Wait. Why would Reginald agree to this knowing he would be able to identify me and blow my cover?" Realizing how truly screwed up this mission could get if I'm compromised. Before anyone had a chance to answer it dawned on me.

"He's working with us. Isn't he?" I ask, even though I know the answer already. SHIT!

"He was the deciding factor for Reginald. Birsha is well known at the club and being who he is… well, his recommendation for hiring you went far." Ali's voice still holds some hesitation due to her worry for me and I can't help but give her a small smile letting her know I'm alright.

I can't continue to dwell on the personal shit with Asshat and need to focus solely on the mission. I can handle this. I'm a professional damn it. Getting a grip on my thoughts, I pull my hand from Mer and and tuck in the towel to pour myself another cup of tea. I school my face making it free of emotions. Time to get into work mode.

We spend the next few hours going over the intel we were provided and learning as much as we can about the owner and the infrastructure of the group of rogues. I am surprised to find out that the rogue group is relatively small for the amount of girls to have gone missing. I am also shocked to see that it's only human women that have gone missing, not one male has been taken.

"I wonder why only females and why only humans? The clientele at a club like that isn't just women. It's a good mix of both genders and concealed. Do we have any details on what they are doing with them?"

"We don't have those details yet." Ali says as she starts packing up the papers and getting ready to depart. "As we said, you will infiltrate the club as a dominatrix, and it will be up to you to get as many details as you can. We want to be able to keep eyes on you at all times, however the club has very strict rules on video and audio being allowed in the club. Because of that we, have spoken with Birsha and he gave Mer a job as a waitress to assist in the hunt. We can go over the full strategy tomorrow on the trip there. Will you be okay working with him?" Her eyebrow quirks up with a questioning look.

"I'm a professional Ali. You know this, and besides, we've been over for a while now. These missing women are more important than some ex-asshat of a boyfriend." My words come out with confidence that I know deep down isn't really there. This whole thing will be hard, but there's no question that it's worth it. I also know I'm the best and with over two hundred girls to save, the best is what's needed.

"We'll see you tomorrow then." Ali says as finishes gathering the papers scattered on the table. A few moments later she and Mer head for the door and take their exit. I've had enough tea; I need whisky. I make myself a drink and after three shots, memories flood my mind of that dreadful morning.

I awake naked with his beautiful dark eyes staring down at me from above as the feel of him envelopes my body and makes me quiver all over. "Good morning doll." The smirk that's playing on his lips is enough to make any woman shiver in excitement. Birsha's fingers run with precision as he makes invisible lines across the top of my chest.

"Well good morning to you." I wink as I start to wiggle under his touch. He shifts a bit, and I can feel exactly how good of a morning it is for him. "I love waking up to you, my Shikari," he whispers as he starts making a trail of kisses down my stomach. I whimper as I feel his tongue caress the tip of my clit and heat explodes out of me. "My beast." I whisper the nickname I gave him when we first started dating.

"Shh now my little kitten, I will take care of you." He breathily tells me just before he dives into me. His tongue produces magic as the heat surrounds us making me forget about anything else going on. With him, there's neither a beginning nor an end, we are continuous as is the pleasure he provides.

I scream out his name as he thrusts two fingers inside me without warning. He offers no mercy as he plunges in and out of me while swirling his tongue and sucking my juices. I'm at the cusp of exploding with the constant thrusting as he hits the right spot over and over. I grab his hair and push his head deeper into me just before he bites down on my clit and I lose all sense of sanity while I release hard and fast. My hips move on their own as they thrust around and shiver with delight while he continues to lick me clean. With heaving breathing, I try to calm the shaking of my legs as he rises and lays next to me. I turn my head and look into his dark eyes then he gently places a loose curl behind my ear. His intense look turns dark as he says, "You. Are. Mine, Shikari. You always will be." His voice is still husky with lust but holds a hint of power and determination that I don't understand. He leans in and kisses my head as my eyes start to close on their own accord. "Sleep my love." I heard Birsha whisper just as I slipped away with a feeling of relaxation and comfort.

Well, that was until I woke up again and noticed the paper with only one word written

on it. Goodbye. I jump out of bed and look around for him and he's nowhere to be found. His clothes are gone from the apartment we shared. Pictures of us that used to hang on the walls and scattered throughout the home were all gone. Nothing was left of him. He disappeared. No explanation, just one word, Goodbye was the only evidence that he was ever there. All we shared was gone.

I don't remember much of the next few days after. Ali once said that Mer was called by a neighbor when they busted through the door because my screaming was overwhelming. I do not remember any of that, I only remember Goodbye.

The sound of my glass shattering on the floor snaps me back to reality, and I realize it must have slipped out of my hand. I swiftly clean up the mess and decide enough is enough. I cannot and will not allow the past to interrupt my life. I need a release. I of course decide to do what any stupid broken-hearted person would and I call for a distraction.

I know I shouldn't call him, but what can I say? I need to feel something other than this heartbreak. So, I pick up the phone and knowing, but not caring, I make another mistake and call my ex. "Ryan, come to me." Is all I say when I hear him answer. I don't wait for his response; I simply hang up and wait for him to arrive. It was only ten minutes before I heard the knock on the door.