Page 9 of Drake
I think about that and decide that exposing him in daylight going in and out of a sex club is too risky. Add the comment he made earlier that sounded very much like regret, and it’s a bear I very much don’t want to poke, for fear of the answer. “No, it will just be me.” Didn’t that sound fatalistic, am I self-prophesying the end of us or being overdramatic? I’m not sure of the answer.
An hour later, I’m walking up to the back of the club, using the staff entrance to gain entry. Before I can knock on the door, it opens to Warwick standing in front of me. “Good timing. Lucien will be here shortly. He’s not a very happy man.”
“I know the feeling,” I say without any humour. “Honestly, I can’t believe it’s happened. It was a very special night for both of us, and now it’s ruined and has the potential to ruin more than my relationship with Rafe. This will end his career; no parent is going to let their young teenage kids go to see him if this gets out. He’s a teen idol, not Alice Cooper. This is my fault; I suggested trying this. He was going off the rails, partying every night, too much booze and drugs. I noticed he slept alone, though. None of the beautiful models that threw themselves at him, no one.”
The irony of losing his career over something that saved him isn’t lost on me. That the whole debacle of his life would’ve have been more acceptable than loving a man is a travesty.
Lucien arrives as we talk, and thankfully, Warwick has already explained it all, saving me the hassle of doing it again.
He’s all business and immediately takes us through to his office. “This isn’t the security room, but it has the same camera set-up.” He points to a large flat screen that, when he presses a few buttons on his computer, lights up to show twelve differentcamera views. “As you can see, we have a camera in each room, as well as the demo areas and behind the bar. We video digitally and keep them for six months. It won’t take long to bring up the video and the security roster for that night.”
I move back from the desk area, leaving Warwick and Lucien to talk through the implications a leak of privacy could have on the business. Pretty catastrophic, in my opinion. Not that it would come from myself or Rafe.
It’s easy to tune the two men out and concentrate on Rafe and how I can comfort him and explain that all this is being dealt with and with minimal fuss. There’s no way whoever did this will survive the wrath of Warwick Barclay and all his contacts. It’s not until I hear a low but very audible expletive.
“Fuck!” he says.
I look up from my phone, closing down a message I’m typing to Rafe.
“What? Have you found it, found out who did this?” I stand up from the sofa and stride the half a dozen steps to reach them.
“We have, and it’s not good.” He’s angry in a way that frightening. I’ve seen angry men. I’ve been that angry man, and I know it’s not a good emotion.
“We can sort it for you, but I’m sorry; it was one of our security operatives, they are all vetted and know the rules. I’ve got him in the security room and logged into the computer system. This is a secure system. He’s taken a still image and printed it. I can see on the printer log that it was only one image,” Lucien says, and I’ll give him his due, he looks as disappointed as he does angry. “I’ve never had this happen in the ten years we’ve been open. You and your partner are not the only men known by the public, and really, I can’t understand why he did this.” He looks back at the screen on his computer and another well measured ‘fuck’ is spoken. “There’s more. Here, if you look at the footage from above the back door, he’s handing it to someone.”
It’s a great camera, not grainy or distorted in any way. I recognise the recipient, and it’s my turn to swear. “That’s Louis. That man has been Rafe’s mentor for the last year. Why? Whywould he do this to us? He’s demanded five-hundred grand to keep this quiet. I’m trying to persuade them it a Photoshop or AI prank. But Rafe’s not a good liar, and his face spoke volumes.”
Warwick spoke next. “What do you want to do next, Drake? Are you going to involve the police or are you happy to let us deal with this. I promise you, neither of them will get off lightly.”
“I’m happy to leave it with you, and I think Rafe will too. I’ll have to check, but it shocked him, scaring him that after all this time someone has hurt us this way. We haven’t had any looks or negativity from anyone at Bent. You do have a wonderful club, guys. It would be a shame for this to get out.”
Lucien nods. “Thank you. I appreciate your understanding and composure. I’m not sure I would be so gracious. Let us know what Rafe says.”
Warwick stands up from the desk. “I’ll walk out with you, Drake.”
When we reach the cars, he stops and leans against the driver door of his. “Shit, Drake. I’m so bloody sorry. I can’t believe it. Louis is a well-respected Dom and has been a member here from the start. Never would I have thought he would do something like this. Iwilldeal with him; he will not get off with a slap on the wrist. I’ll sort it. This man’s life as he knows it is over, I promise.”
“Yeah, thanks. It’s been a clusterfuck of a day. I’d better get home; I don’t want to leave Rafe with his worry and fears running rampant for any longer. He’s seriously shaken, Warwick. I don’t know what he’ll want to do. I’ll call you later. Thanks for dealing with this so quickly.”
I drive home, wishing that knowing made me feel better. Rafe is going to be distraught when I tell him, even telling him nothing more is going to happen won’t help the feeling ofbetrayal. I don’t expect to see Grant’s car in front of the house when I pull up to the garage.
“What’s going on?” I ask as I walk into the kitchen and see Grant standing next to Rafe. I’m definitely not happy about Grant’s hand resting on my boyfriend’s shoulder.
“Your contract has been terminated. You no longer work for Rafe. This is all your fault, and you’re lucky we’re not involving the police,” Grant says, sounding disgusted with me. What the fuck has gone down here while I’ve been out? Out trying to fix this.
I stare at Rafe. His eyes are red-rimmed. He’s been crying, and by the state of his lip, he’s been chewing on it for god knows how long. Has he confessed to Grant?
Grant huffs. “I think I’ve told you what Rafe wants, Foster. So, get your stuff together and leave.”
Ignoring Grant, I step towards my lover, my Dom. “Rafe, look I know this is a shock. Can we go and talk privately?” I wait for Grant’s refusal, but Rafe nods, and we walk down to the office. “I know who’s behind the photograph. Louis,” I tell him.
Rafe’s eyes shoot to mine. “Louis? Why? I thought he liked us?” His voice a quiet shock filled with so much sadness, my heart breaks. “How did you find out?”
“I’ve been with the owners of Bent. They checked the security and computer logs, and it was him and the security guy. Rafe, we need to talk about this. You can’t give up on what we have. Please, baby?” I’m not averse to begging for this, for us. I know this is the real thing. I look to the closed door, then gesture to it with my head. “What’s he said, babe? Why has he turned up?”
“He was worried about me. He says you must’ve coerced me into everything.” He struggles to look at me now. I can hear the anguish in his tone.
I take his hands and feel a little hope when he clasps mine. “I’m sure if I was the one coercing you, I’d be the one holding the crop, don’t you think?”
