Chapter 21

*Ryker*

My heart is pounding while I watch the light slowly turn green. I never bring out my 57' Aston Martin, but I wasn’t about to allow Deacon to leave her alone after that damn note. Why are they doing this now? I know they are trying to scare her away from me. Only a week in, but I couldn’t lose her now. She stirs things inside of me I didn’t know could be stirred. Makes me feel things I never thought I could, Genuine happiness, amusement, other things I won’t allow myself to admit. I can’t lose her now. I can’t. I will park in a parking garage and walk the rest of the way. This car is such a showboat, I don’t want to get that much attention. Deacon was going to convince her to go for a walk and get some fresh air. She was thoroughly freaked out by everything. He had already talked to everyone, pretending to be a detective. Apparently, some young boy gave the note to the Mage girl and told her to give it to Iris. He told her he had a crush, and she thought Iris had seemed so off, a crush may help her. Silly girl. I can make her feel better, I can make her feel uncontrollably better. When I finally made it to the Madison parking garage, I parked far away from all other vehicles. I ran to the elevator, calling Deacon and telling him to bring me my girl. He told me he would try but she was still pretty freaked out. I walked in the tunnel between the garage and the college library. No lights, and no cameras. I waited, trying to understand why, after all the time that had passed. Why would they come after me now?

"Ryk, You in here?" I heard Deacon whispering into the darkness. "I'm here." I said, trying to calm down my mind. "What the hell is going on?" I heard her speak louder than both of us, an echo repeating her voice. "Listen Iris, you have to understand, I wasn’t the man I am now in the city. I had a lot of power. My hand was in a lot of different cookie jars. I came here to clean my soul, to clear my consciousness, and to earn some redemption. There are some who aren’t happy with my decision. There are people with rage towards me, my abuse of power, and how I used my place to win." I tried to walk closer to her and felt her back away. "What kind of cookie jars?" she asked through what I would imagine was gritted teeth. It was dark in the tunnel, and all I could see was a silhouette. "I am not comfortable disclosing these things this soon. Please understand." I said pleading with her, hoping she would back off and give me a chance to explain what I was able to. "Ryker, someone sent me a creepy ass note. It came to my dorm; through someone I know. How can you expect me to accept that piss poor answer." She was angry now, not scared. "Iris I would never let anyone bother you. This is my problem to solve, but I promise you it won’t blow back on you." This damn cult, this group, I was a part of but inevitably took down. They wouldn’t hurt her. They would make her hate me; I am sure. I wouldn’t back down, I wouldn’t keep their leader out of prison, and now they want me to pay for it. How could I? When he was making such a mockery of what I lived as a lifestyle? When he was evil, sadistic, and cruel. What he did was unforgivable. I was in too deep back then. I was walking on a thin line between for justice and because I could. I was placing myself in groups and situations that could have caused me a long list of problems. I know who sent the letter though, and it had nothing to do with what I was doing. It had everything to do with what I refused to do. The babydolls, were submissive women who were owned by a leader of a BDSM club. The punisher. This club was deep underground and my connections to the darkness in the city led me there. Thats where I met Ivy.

Deacon talks about my last submissive as if she is the one with whom I attended her wedding. Ivy was after her. Ivy was the reason I left the city. The first night I entered the club She stole my full attention. Black hair and green eyes, leather teddy, and fishnets. Black lined eyes, and deep blood red lipstick. She walked up to me simply smiling and I was lost in her seduction. The club owner paid these girls to walk around and take our money. They would consent to sessions, and we would pay big money to enjoy them. Completely illegal. Completely unethical. When I first arrived, I thought this club was a legal BDSM establishment. Meet some likeminded people and maybe make a connection or two. I was wrong, but I didn’t know how wrong I was until it was too late. I didn’t know what was happening beyond Ivy. I was dumbfounded when I saw her. When she offered to take me to a VIP room I accepted more out of curiosity. There was a built in X plank, toys, clamps, and vibrators all cleaned and ready to go. Her name was above the X, IVY, all in red glitter and lights. This place was like a BDSM sex ring. She was so enticing, so beautiful, so confident. She made me feel like I was the only Dom she had ever wanted, and I ate it up. My ego and power taking over my common sense. I smiled at her licking my lips before she kneeled before me. The first session was something I had never experienced. I wasn’t a young pup, this wasn’t my first time, and somehow, she had opened my eyes, bigger and brighter than they had ever been. It didn’t take long before I met her outside of the club, making her mine, begging her to stay with me. I asked her to never return to The Punisher, and she accepted. Rodrick, the owner, a big brute with a handgun and a big mouth, didn’t want to let her go. I used my power to try to protect her. I wanted to save her.

"Ryker, Say something." I jumped, lost in memories. "Iris, just give me some time. I will explain. The person who left you the note won’t hurt you. They want to destroy me." I said again trying to make her understand. "I need to go back to my dorm. I can’t do this Ryker. I can’t be in this. I am sorry. I am so sorry." she said, turning and running away from us. Deacon asked if I wanted him to follow her. "No, let’s give her some time to calm down. I will contact some of my people from the city and put a stop to this. I can’t believe this is happening, Deac, the moment I find someone to give me some sort of happiness." I started to walk down the tunnel back towards the garage. "I’m sorry Ryk, I don’t know why they are doing this. Unless..." He paused, breathing heavily as we walked. "Just say it." I said, grabbing his shoulder right outside of the tunnel finally able to see him better, and his eyes. There was a mix of anger and worry in them. "Unless he was paroled. Rod, that prick, he is the only reason this would be happening. It’s like a damn ghost haunting you Ryk, it’s sick." he shook his head walking ahead of me, clearly irritated with my lack of anger. How could he get paroled after everything I pinned on him. Impossible. I will call my father, as much as I hate to, and see what is going on. He helped me gain this fucking power, this reputation. He taught me how to use it to my advantage. He also hesitantly helped me escape that life to come here and teach. He would never leave his throne to come here, so I will unfortunately have to report to his office. My father is in his 70s and needs to retire. He holds so tightly to his legacy that he will die in that office. Where he has spent the last 50 years of his life. Where he watched my mother leave, leaving me to deal with him. Where he sat when I graduated and told me I would be a lawyer like his father and like him. Where he called me a failure when I told him I wanted out. Where he created the darkness inside of me.

On the ride home I was filled with many different emotions. Sadness. Anger. Regret. Grief. I was dazed, pulling into my driveway. I couldn’t even recall the drive to my house. When I walked in the door, I could make myself walk past the kitchen yet. For some reason knowing Iris didn’t want to come back was making me more upset than it should. *It’s only been a week Ryker, get your shit together* I thought to myself while I grabbed a bottle of vodka from the bar. I got a cup of ice and walked over to sit down on my love seat. Leaning my head back, I closed my eyes picturing just earlier in the day. Iris, smiling and giggling, sitting close to me, making me want her more each minute. So proud that I chose to make her mine. I must find a way to make her understand. To show her that no one will hurt her. I pulled out my phone and stared at the number for minutes before gaining the courage to press the green call button.

"I knew you would need me son, I knew you would call eventually."