Chapter 1

1

Second Thursday in January

On Thursdays Caden Donovan had breakfast at his brother-in-law’s house. This morning Danny, his brother, didn’t wait long before he began to nag.

“Why don’t you admit that you don’t like the work?” Danny Donovan made his brother a cup of coffee. “I know you studied at John Jay but a degree in criminal justice doesn’t prepare you for the boredom of the actual job.”

“Who said I didn’t like police work?” Caden poured a little half and half into his coffee. Caden had just graduated from the Trenton Police Academy.

“Admit it—you don’t like it any more now than you did when you began at the academy. The physical training was easy for you, but on the job, the paperwork is mind-numbing. Traffic stops and accident reports are not your thing. It will be three years before you can become a detective and even then the salary is for shit.”

“That’s true, but what am I going to do for a living? I have no skills except for what I learned in the service and online from John Jay, and I don’t want to go back to school again. Unlike you, I was never that interested.” Caden sipped his coffee slowly. It was hot.

Danny cradled his mug of tea in his hands. “The John Jay College of Criminal Justice doesn’t only train police officers. Security firms hire their graduates all the time. Just because you got your degree there doesn’t mean you have to be a cop.” Danny sat down at the kitchen table

Gary Sayer, Danny’s husband and Dom, came into the room. Danny got up from the kitchen chair and began to fix Gary and Caden breakfast.

“It’s time to admit you’re being a stubborn son of a bitch and take the job Bear Drummond offered you as his Director of Security at Indiscreet. He definitely wants you or he wouldn’t have made you the offer the night you first met.” Gary joined them at the table.

“The new building opens in eight weeks and they still haven’t found someone suitable to serve as Director of Security. Brian said both Bull and Reed are pulling their hair out.” Danny slipped two cheese, onion and mushroom omelets on plates for Gary and Caden, then went back to the stove. Danny turned to Caden. “You have all the qualifications for the job. You have a concealed carry permit for New Jersey. Your service experience in Iraq and Afghanistan shows you can lead men and the additional training at John Jay and the police academy give you an edge. You already passed the extensive background check and went through Bull’s training with all of the implements. This is the perfect job for you.” Danny sat down with his own omelet and passed a rasher of bacon and a plate of toast and home fries around the table.

“Along with a six figure salary, generous medical and pension benefits through Bear’s real estate company, employment at Indiscreet comes with full membership in the club. Bear and Reed would give you a refund for the membership fees you already paid. This position can’t go to an old cop looking to supplement their pension. It has to go to someone who can supervise twenty or more people and doesn’t shy away from the fact that the club and its membership are gay and practitioners of BDSM. Isn’t that right, Sir?”

Gary held out his cup and Danny poured him some more coffee. He looked at Caden. “It’s a good deal and you are uniquely qualified for the position. If you want to move on from Indiscreet eventually and start your own security firm, the experience would be invaluable. Even if you go somewhere else, the reference would come from Bear’s real estate office so it wouldn’t hurt your resume.”

“How bad a place can it be to work? You arranged a job for me there.” Danny looked at Caden in triumph, feeling that he closed the deal.

“Caden, it would be the perfect job for you. I know it and so do you. You’re just being stubborn.” Danny scolded.

* * * *

It wasn’t as if Caden hadn’t asked around. He spoke one afternoon to Bull Raleigh and his sub Jamie about the job at Indiscreet when they went with him, Danny and Gary for lunch in Lambertsville. Caden had teased Bull, “There ain’t nobody here but us chickens so you can talk turkey.”

“Seriously, I know you’re loyal to Bear and Reed but what is it like working for them?” Caden was, as usual, peeling the label off a bottle of beer.

“When Jamie and I were getting together we created havoc at the club. The subs and their Masters helped us through a real bad time. Without them we wouldn’t have the loving D/s relationship we enjoy. I can’t think of three better guys to have my back than Bear, Reed and Cisco.” Caden knew that Bull was a hard-ass and had been a captain in the Marines. As Bull was also former military his recommendation weighed heavily in Indiscreet’s favor.