Page 46 of Bound Between You


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Shit.

Niall froze completely for a few secondsbefore he started moving again, cutting into his food. “Oh, really?”

“Yes.” They were both responding soblandly, I knew whatever happened hadn’t been good. Mom took a sip of her waterbefore continuing like everything was perfectly normal. “It was kept quietbecause a few of his victims were local celebrities and more than a few werepoliticians.”

Which made sense…but what had the guy done?

Victims?

The most logical leap said it had somethingto do with him being an asshole masking himself as a Dom and taking advantageof people…but what did that say about his relationship with Niall?

“I never heard about it, so they must’vekept it quiet.” Niall’s response didn’t answer any of my questions.

“They had enough evidence with a few of hisvictims that they didn’t need to go wider to get more.” She shrugged. “I’m notsure I agree with that part, but from what I understand, the police wereworried it would turn into a witch hunt and the victims would end up beingdragged through the mud too.”

Not an unrealistic fear.

Niall seemed to think so too. “I canunderstand that. Especially if the people he…well, if the people involved were alreadyhigh profile.”

Mom sighed, looking conflicted. “Yes, it’slogical, but I’ve always worried there were a lot of his victims out there whonever got help and might not have realized how…troubled the man was.”

Troubled?

What the fuck?

“I’m sure if anyone felt they were…if theyfelt there was trouble, they would’ve gotten help.” That didn’t give me anyinsight either, but Niall seemed to be done with the topic because he changedgears again. “Now, I think I need to hear more about this first shipment oftoys our mischievous boy acquired.”

Happy to be his distraction since it reallydidn’t seem to be the time to ask nosy questions, I giggled and did anadmirable job of performing like the sweet sub he needed. “The internet is afabulous place when you’re a teenage boy.”

Laughter echoed in the kitchen and Mom wasback to sighing and rolling her eyes. “You just looked at me like I was anidiot when I asked you if there was something you wanted to tell me.”

“Because it really should’ve been obvious. Imean, I nearly sparkled, I was so gay.” I grinned as she huffed. “Yes, it’sgood not to make assumptions, but I mean, is it really making assumptions whenall I was drawing was naked men and everything I owned was rainbow?”

I think a few assumptions would’ve beenwarranted in that case…especially since I hadn’t realized there was a closet Iwas supposed to have come out of.

She waved her hand as the guys laughed.“You’re an artist. You went through that whole phase where all you wore wascamo as a child and I didn’t assume you wanted to be a soldier.”

No, I’d wanted to be able to blend into mysurroundings so I could watch people.

Not creepily, but people were sointeresting when they thought no one was looking. The first paintings I’d donethat were noticed widely had been from that idea. Primarily because no one hadbeen comfortable showing the nudes that I’d done until I was over eighteen.

I waved her off and shook my head. “I wasvery cute in camo.”

More laughter ensued and I was glad thatthe mood had lightened, but as I caught Julian’s gaze, I knew we were bothstill thinking about what Niall and Mom had said…and what they hadn’t.

What had happened with the man who’dclaimed to be a Dom, and had Niall truly walked away unscathed?

Chapter 14

Julian

Dinner had been…illuminating.

Unfortunately, it’d also given me morequestions and I wasn’t sure it would ever be the right time to ask everythingthat was running through my head.

Thankfully, Keegan was in full distractionmode.

Shifting, he straddled Niall’s lap andwiggled his ass against his Master’s cock. “I can’t decide if I need to getchairs so we have someplace beside my bed to sit down or if this is perfect andchairs would be a distraction.”