courted nearly every day.
Alan looked Cole in the eye. “This is a
difficult situation, son. I’m thinking there’s only one choice for you, other
than imprisonment.”
Cole made a feeble attempt at levity. “I
didn’t realize there was any choice at all.” He attempted a smile, failed. “I
thought I was destined to have a prison job for the next five years.”
“No. Not even if I have to collect on every
bit of political capital I’ve accumulated.” Alan paused for a moment, then
continued, “You know, you’ve amassed an impressive portfolio yourself while
running my companies the past few years. And you’ve earned every credit. You’re
a sharp businessman.”
Right then, Cole didn’t feel very proud.
“I’m afraid that what I did tonight doesn’t reflect well on me. Or you.”
Alan shook his head. “Treating the women as
helpless victims was a clever stroke. You knew their identities wouldn’t be
revealed that way, and only your name and that of the other man would be
involved. I’m not such a fool, though, that I don’t realize you got into this
mess because of your sister.”
Ciel? In his mind, Cole saw Amber and felt
the pain that had radiated from her, from every bleeding welt that Dax had
caused with his metal-tipped cane. She’d been a helpless victim—not only Dax’s
but also Ciel’s.
Not for the first time, Cole wondered what
motivated Amber to allow such extremes to be done to her without availing
herself of a safe word. “What are my choices, Father? What will help you the
most?”
“It’s not about me, son. It’s about you.
And exile is the choice. Permanent transportation off planet Earth.”
“What?”
“I can arrange for you to be sent to
Obsidion. There’s been talk of letting private investors turn it into an
off-world pleasure resort.”
Excitement caught Cole up for the first
time since his arrest. “I could open a club there.”
“That’s what I was thinking. You could
capitalize on the fact there are many Earthlings who espouse a lifestyle that
is no longer acceptable here. I imagine a man with your business acumen could
create a resort that would allow BDSM aficionados to indulge their inclinations
safely. A place that might allow fathers like me not to worry quite so much.” A
hint of a smile played on Alan’s otherwise somber face.
“I could build a resort.” Cole pictured not
just the upscale sex club that had first crossed his mind, but a full-fledged
vacation paradise. He envisioned a glitzy complex including a five-star hotel,
restaurants, casinos and nightclubs featuring imported talent from Earth. His
off-planet paradise would boast all the draws of Las Vegas before the
Federation had taken over but with the added attraction of the open, guilt-free
practice of the BDSM lifestyle. “I like the idea.”
That prospect certainly beat spending the
next however many years in prison. “I believe I’ll start out by building the
kind of club that will attract the more desirable elements of the lifestyle,
then start on construction of the resort.”
His father nodded, his expression sobering.
“I will miss you, but going to Obsidion is the best choice for you now that
you’ve run afoul of the ruling council. I hope you will find the happiness that
has eluded you lately. Perhaps I will send Ciel there too. You managed to save
her from arrest this time, but if she stays here, sooner or later she’ll be
caught.”
It terrified Cole to know that when his
sister went down, Amber would most likely be dragged along with her. “If you
send her to me, I’ll do my best to take care of her. Father, I’m sorry.”
“You will not be as sorry as I, for I will
miss my youngest and dearest child.” Rising, Alan circled his massive desk and
held out his arms to Cole. “Perhaps someday I will visit Obsidion and try to
comprehend what it is about BDSM that makes people risk their freedom here on
Earth in order to practice it.”
Cole hugged his father,
Alan looked Cole in the eye. “This is a
difficult situation, son. I’m thinking there’s only one choice for you, other
than imprisonment.”
Cole made a feeble attempt at levity. “I
didn’t realize there was any choice at all.” He attempted a smile, failed. “I
thought I was destined to have a prison job for the next five years.”
“No. Not even if I have to collect on every
bit of political capital I’ve accumulated.” Alan paused for a moment, then
continued, “You know, you’ve amassed an impressive portfolio yourself while
running my companies the past few years. And you’ve earned every credit. You’re
a sharp businessman.”
Right then, Cole didn’t feel very proud.
“I’m afraid that what I did tonight doesn’t reflect well on me. Or you.”
Alan shook his head. “Treating the women as
helpless victims was a clever stroke. You knew their identities wouldn’t be
revealed that way, and only your name and that of the other man would be
involved. I’m not such a fool, though, that I don’t realize you got into this
mess because of your sister.”
Ciel? In his mind, Cole saw Amber and felt
the pain that had radiated from her, from every bleeding welt that Dax had
caused with his metal-tipped cane. She’d been a helpless victim—not only Dax’s
but also Ciel’s.
Not for the first time, Cole wondered what
motivated Amber to allow such extremes to be done to her without availing
herself of a safe word. “What are my choices, Father? What will help you the
most?”
“It’s not about me, son. It’s about you.
And exile is the choice. Permanent transportation off planet Earth.”
“What?”
“I can arrange for you to be sent to
Obsidion. There’s been talk of letting private investors turn it into an
off-world pleasure resort.”
Excitement caught Cole up for the first
time since his arrest. “I could open a club there.”
“That’s what I was thinking. You could
capitalize on the fact there are many Earthlings who espouse a lifestyle that
is no longer acceptable here. I imagine a man with your business acumen could
create a resort that would allow BDSM aficionados to indulge their inclinations
safely. A place that might allow fathers like me not to worry quite so much.” A
hint of a smile played on Alan’s otherwise somber face.
“I could build a resort.” Cole pictured not
just the upscale sex club that had first crossed his mind, but a full-fledged
vacation paradise. He envisioned a glitzy complex including a five-star hotel,
restaurants, casinos and nightclubs featuring imported talent from Earth. His
off-planet paradise would boast all the draws of Las Vegas before the
Federation had taken over but with the added attraction of the open, guilt-free
practice of the BDSM lifestyle. “I like the idea.”
That prospect certainly beat spending the
next however many years in prison. “I believe I’ll start out by building the
kind of club that will attract the more desirable elements of the lifestyle,
then start on construction of the resort.”
His father nodded, his expression sobering.
“I will miss you, but going to Obsidion is the best choice for you now that
you’ve run afoul of the ruling council. I hope you will find the happiness that
has eluded you lately. Perhaps I will send Ciel there too. You managed to save
her from arrest this time, but if she stays here, sooner or later she’ll be
caught.”
It terrified Cole to know that when his
sister went down, Amber would most likely be dragged along with her. “If you
send her to me, I’ll do my best to take care of her. Father, I’m sorry.”
“You will not be as sorry as I, for I will
miss my youngest and dearest child.” Rising, Alan circled his massive desk and
held out his arms to Cole. “Perhaps someday I will visit Obsidion and try to
comprehend what it is about BDSM that makes people risk their freedom here on
Earth in order to practice it.”
Cole hugged his father,
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