Part Three: Stormy WeatherZane Colby checked the time on his computer screen. Six o'clock. His heart rate sped up just a little. Dara would be coming through the door any minute now. He could not believe how much his life had turned around in six short months. When he'd left the military lugging with him a heavy case of PTSD, he had never dreamed his life would ever approach anything resembling normal ever again. But the day he fished Dara Hanover out of Estero Bay, for the first time in what seemed forever his life changed for the better. Dara's, too. What he and others called a copycat Dom had kept her under his thumb until she feared for her life. She had still never told him how they'd met or how she'd ended up a virtual prisoner. And as someone who was finally dealing with his own PTSD, a lot of it because of Dara's care, he hadn't pushed her. She'd been scared enough, though, to risk an escape in a small boat on Estero Bay in the middle of a heavy storm. He still remember

Zane had removed his shirt and shoes and left them in their bedroom before he went to put things together for their evening. They had turned one room of their little cottage into a playroom. Derek had offered to get them guest passes to The Playroom, the private dungeon where he was a member. Zane had turned him down, at least for now. He was sure Dara was a long way from having sex in that environment. The man she'd been with belonged to a dungeon that Derek told him had one of the worst reputations in the area. The man had pimped her out to his friends, putting no restrictions on anything. She had both physical and mental scars from that experience. Zane himself wasn't sure he was ready for a club environment again. He had his own bad memories, wrapped up in the whole situation with Lily. No, they were much better off in the privacy of their own home. Little by little he'd learned what turned her on, what level of pain gave her pleasure and what level frightened her. He learned wha

"How did the girls enjoy Phillip Hansen?"It was Saturday morning, the day after the Hansen speech. Dara had attended with her friends at work. Because Zane worked the event she had driven herself and gone out for a drink with the girls afterwards. Now they were having breakfast on their little back porch, enjoying the soft breeze in the air and the sun-kissed scenery. One thing the house had that they loved was a vow of Estero Bay. That particular body of water would always have a special significance for them. Dara took a sip of coffee before answering him."It was all they could talk about." She set her cup down. "I'm telling you, Zane, they were like kids in a candy store.""Did Elise go with you?" He wanted to know more about this person who had turned them onto Hansen and who had some kind of connection with the new dungeon.""Oh, yes. She kept asking them what they liked, what intrigued them the most, if they thought they wanted to try any of those things.""Did she eve

It had taken every bit of Zane's restraint not to go back, find Jason, and smack his face to pieces. And he hadn't even heard the whole story yet. He drove one-handed, holding onto her hand with one of his. After he parked he all but carried her into the cottage, tossed their packages into the bedroom and had her lie down while he removed the little dildo. He'd keep that for a better time, when his girl hadn't had the life scared out of her.He wanted her to put on her nightgown and get into bed but she shook her head."It's two o'clock in the afternoon, Sir. Please don't make me get into bed. I want to sit on the porch with you."Zane nodded, but he made her put on her short robe so he could get his hands on her. He knew just how to ease the tension gripping her body. He also poured two glasses of wine and set them out there before he led Dara to the lounge chair on the porch and sat her in his lap. He made sure she'd taken at least two sips of the wine before he settled her in his

When they returned to the porch Zane was glad to see Derek had salvaged the steaks from the grill and placed them on the waiting platter. Dara held tightly to his hand as she looked at the two men then bowed her head."I apologize for my, um, reaction. I am so sorry.""Dara, look at me." Derek's voice was low and mellow, but commanding, nonetheless.She lifted her head slowly. "Please don't be angry with me.""They aren't." Zane wished he could take a cloth and wipe her years with Jason Reynolds out of her memory. One of these days she'd be completely healed. He planned to make sure of it."Zane's right," Derek assured her. "The people we are angry at are Reynolds and his partners. They've run this game for far too long.""I called my detective friend before I came over here," Pat added. "He's not on shift tonight. I'd like to call him and ask him to join us here, if that's okay." He looked at Zane, then at Dara, then back to Zane."I'm not sure we should - ""Discuss it when I