“Son of a bitch.” Tendons bulging from his forearm, Colt hammered his fist to the desk. On the opposite end, the Zoom call stuttered, pixelated blocks disrupting the serrated glare of his eyes. “Jim and Kenzie, two people we trusted implicitly.” Each word, bitter and acidic, carried venom. “Jim was like a big brother to me in certain ways.” Colt dug calloused fingers through his hair, lips peeling back in a snarl. “And this is how he repays me?”
Thousands of miles away, Lindsay stared solemnly at the laptop screen, her lips pressed into a flat line. Seated beside her in the ranch’s main office, Donald clutched her hand, a silent show of support. “I know. I’m still in shock.” Lindsay’s words were hushed, grating against the rawness in her throat. “Jim always seemed like such a caring, dependable guy. And Kenzie …” Her voice trailed off, the memories morphing into shards of disillusionment.
Donald shifted in his chair, his shoulders hunched up. “To think they’ve been plotting against Lindsay all this time.” The cords in his neck grew taut. “Right under our noses, no less.” Arms knotted over his chest. “I want to know how long this has been going on. And why.”
He turned to Lindsay. “Are you sure you’re gonna be okay, sweetheart? This can’t be easy for you. Those two were among the first to take you under their wing when you started working here.”
Shaking with tattered breaths, Lindsay nodded, fingers fidgeting in her lap. “I’ll be fine.” Her tone, though, sounded less than convincing. Jim’s fatherly demeanor, that warm chuckle and easy manner that once put her at ease, now cut like shards of glass. How could someone she’d looked up to, trusted without reservation, harbor such deceit and hatred toward her? “It just hurts, you know?” A gulp jerked Lindsay’s chin as she met Donald’s sympathetic gaze. “I considered them both … family. Kenzie, she … she taught me so many things.”
Pamela leaned forward, her face filling the monitor from Maryland. “You did the right thing by coming forward, Donald. If you hadn’t overheard his scheming and alerted both us and Lindsay immediately, who knows how far Jim would’ve taken this.” She sliced her head left and right, blonde curls swaying. “We’re fortunate you were there to intervene before any real damage was done.”
Donald’s jaw slammed shut and hardened as he met Pamela’s gaze through the laptop screen. “I did what I had to. End of story. There was no way I could stand by and allow Jim to destroy everything the three of you have worked so hard for.” A muscle ticked in his cheek as his eyes found Lindsay’s. “You’ve poured your heart and soul into this place ever since Colt made it clear he wanted you to take over as the new owner. I couldn’t let that asshole Jim sabotage it all on some deranged, vengeful whim.” His large hand found Lindsay’s smaller one, giving it a protective squeeze. “Not on my watch.”
Colt winced and scrubbed a hand over his face. “And then to find out that Kenzie’s swallowing cum with a client. Kenzie, of all the girls? It’s just too much.”
“Breaking the law, risking the ranch’s reputation and license. I can’t wrap my head around it,” Lindsay said, her grip on Donald’s hand increasing.
Pamela’s eyes burned fury-hot. “They left us no choice. Immediate termination was the only option. We can’t have anyone associated with Happy Ending Ranch engaging in illegal acts or plotting against our own.”
“They’re both gone. Fired,” Colt said, working his jaw in a tight circle. “We have to protect the safety and integrity of the ranch, no matter what. And I’ll also alert the other brothel owners that the monger who was with Kenzie, Lucas, should be blacklisted. I guess Kenzie has made it a habit of swallowing cum for him. If Sheriff Spaeth knew about that … oh boy.”
“That’s a shame, because Lucas is one of our most loyal mongers.” Lindsay clamped her tongue between her teeth. “I’ve partied with him a couple of times.”
Pamela inclined her head sideways. “Lucas has probably partied with every girl in the house.”
“I know what they did was unforgivable,” Lindsay said, shivers nipping up her spine. “But after so many years of loyal service, what will they do now? How will Jim and Kenzie survive without a job, without income?” Despite the gut-wrenching betrayal, Lindsay couldn’t entirely extinguish the embers of fondness she held for the two, especially Jim. She’d be forever grateful for his guidance when she first arrived at the ranch, green and naïve.
Colt’s stubbled chin thrust out as his eyes bored into Lindsay through the screen. “You’re feeling sorry for them?” He shook his head slowly, dark brows drawing together in disbelief. “After everything they did? After Jim schemed to ruin your life? Ruin everything we built there? What my father built before me?” Blood violent in his body, Colt struggled to keep his emotions in check. “They brought this on themselves, Lindsay. You have no reason to shed a single tear over their miserable fates.”
“You’re too nice,” Pamela chimed in. “Way too nice. It’s one of your greatest strengths, honey, but also one of your greatest weaknesses. Forget about Jim. Forget about Kenzie. They tried to fuck you over. Fuck us all over.”
Pamela paused, taking time to choose her next words. “The brothel, the atmosphere Colt and I cultivated, it means everything to us. To me. And they threatened to tear it all down in their arrogance, their selfishness.” A burst of fire lit her eyes. “You can’t afford to let sentimentality cloud your judgment. Jim and Kenzie ruined their professional careers the moment they turned against us.” Something horrible crept into her soul, her voice. “They get no mercy from me. Not after this.”
“Listen to me, Lindsay. I don’t want you to worry about Jim or that he may try to backstab you in the future. I promise you, it’s not gonna happen.” A wicked smile played across Colt’s lips. “I’ve got plenty of dirt on that son of a bitch – enough to bury him ten times over if he so much as twitches in your direction.” Colt rocked with silent laughter. “Jim’s not nearly as clever as he thinks. I know all about his gambling debts, his shady side dealings.” Colt’s fingers tapped the desk. “Let’s just say, if he tries to make another move against you or the ranch, I’ll make sure he rues the day he ever double-crossed us for the rest of his life. You can take that to the bank.” Colt’s tone softened as he ended, “You’re family, and Pamela and I, we take care of our own.”
Pamela nodded in agreement. “We’ll always be here for you, honey, no matter what.”
“Thank you both.” Lindsay turned the volume of her voice down. “For everything. I don’t know what I’d do without your support.” She found Donald’s hand yet again. “Without all of you in my corner.”
Lindsay constricted her lungs in a slow leak, willing her emotions back under control. There would be time to process the hurt later. For now, she had a business to run. “I need your help, Colt,” Lindsay began, her tone becoming more business-like. “We need to find a permanent replacement for Jim ASAP.”
Her thoughts drifted to her logical choice, the cheerful young chef who always seemed to have a sunny disposition no matter how hectic the kitchen became. “What about Francisco? He’s proven himself exceptionally capable, and the girls all love him.” A fond smile played at her lips as she recalled his friendly banter and terrible puns whenever he brought her meals.
Colt considered this for a moment before a quick no jerked his head. “Francisco is a talented kid, no doubt. Got a real bright future ahead of him. But managing a house like ours …” He paused, his eyebrows knitted together. “It’s a huge responsibility, one I don’t think Francisco is quite ready for yet. We’d be doing him a disservice by throwing him to the wolves too soon.”
“I trust your judgment,” Lindsay said without hesitation. “Who would you recommend then, Colt? I value your opinion more than you’ll ever know. You worked here for twenty-nine years. Should I think about hiring someone from the outside? I … I wouldn’t even know how to interview a potential house manager.”
He absentmindedly twirled a pen between his fingers, completely absorbed in his thoughts. After a moment, his features settled into a resolute look. “Way I see it, Jennifer Erb is the natural choice to take over for Jim – and not just interim, but permanent.”
He ticked off her qualifications on his fingers. “She’s been with us for eleven years, knows the place inside and out. Jenn’s a real jack-of-all-trades – handling everything from cleaning to inventory to bartending whenever Mindy’s off. That kind of versatility and institutional knowledge? It’s invaluable.”
A satisfied nod punctuated his words. “More than that, though, Jenn’s proven her loyalty time and again. She’s bailed us out of more jams than I can count without ever asking for anything in return. Never complains or gripes about anything. I’d trust her as my house manager. It’s high time we rewarded that dedication – she’s more than earned the chance to run the place.”
The more Lindsay thought about it, the more sense it made to promote Jenn. “You’re absolutely right. Jenn exemplifies everything I want the face of Happy Ending Ranch to represent. The person who greets and talks to more customers than anyone else.
“Her work ethic is unparalleled, and she treats everyone – staff and clients alike – with warmth and respect. And the girls adore her.” Lindsay’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “Jenn has this effortless way of making mongers feel cared for. With her at the helm, the ranch would be in extraordinarily capable hands.”
“My thoughts exactly. She’s a natural leader.” Colt’s mouth curved into a sly grin. “Which is why I think you should offer Jenn a salary higher than what we paid that weasel Jim. Really stick it to him one last time.” Colt canvassed Lindsay with an exploratory stare. “Of course, it’ll be coming out of your pocket now as the new boss, not ours. If that’s something you’re comfortable with, I’m all for it. But it’s your call.”
Lindsay didn’t even have to consider it. “Absolutely. Jenn’s worth every penny and then some. I’ll offer her a higher salary than Jim. I can’t think of a better way to move forward than by promoting someone who has literally bled for this place for the last decade.” Her lips angled upward. “And you’re right – rubbing Jim’s nose in it would be the cherry on top.”
When the conversation lulled, Pamela adjusted in her seat, cradling the swell of her pregnant belly. “Only five more weeks, if you go by the due date, until we finally get to meet this little guy.”
Colt’s fingers interlocked with Pamela’s as he gazed at her with absolute devotion. “Every day is a battle, isn’t it?”
“You know it.” Pamela grimaced, attempting to shift positions. “This little stunt kicker insists on using my uterus as his own personal soccer ball. One day, I think Kaden is gonna be the leading scorer for the U.S. soccer team. This boy has gold medals in his future, for sure.” Her eyes danced as she turned her attention to Lindsay and Donald. “And when that time comes, I expect you two lovebirds will be married yourselves with a few kids of your own.”
A deep laugh burst from Donald’s chest as Lindsay blushed furiously. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, okay?” While Donald would love to impregnate Lindsay (and even more, marry her), he knew that if either were to ever happen, it would be far in the future. Very far in the future. Lindsay was too laser-focused on not only owning the brothel, but continuing to be its top provider, its marquee attraction. That would be impossible if she were pregnant. Just look at Pamela. “Let’s focus on Kaden’s arrival first before dreaming about the next generation.”
“You never quit playing wedding planner, do you?”
“Comes with the territory of being a wife,” Pamela told Colt. “It’s my prerogative to dream big for the ones I love.” She switched her focus to Lindsay. “Speaking of, you’re still planning to travel to Baltimore for the birth, right? I need my bestie by my side.”
“I have a flight on July the twenty-sixth,” Lindsay said. “And should Kaden decide he wants to pop out earlier than that, I’ll be on the next flight to Maryland, Virginia, or D.C., whenever that is.”
<> <> <> <> <>
The piercing trill of the ranch’s vintage rotary phone cleaved through the tranquil stillness of the deserted bar. Lindsay’s attention tore away from the illuminated laptop screen, her nimble fingers poised motionless above the accounting records. Her gaze darted to the caller ID, and her heartbeat quickened as the name “Victor Beaumont” stared back at her. A coy, impish smile danced across her lips, a spark of anticipation igniting within her. Victor, the suave and enigmatic patron from the heart of New Orleans, possessed an uncanny ability to transform even the most mundane evenings into captivating adventures with his magnetic charm and scintillating repartee.
Casting a swift, precautionary glance around the vacant lounge, Lindsay reclined languidly against the mahogany bar, her finger pressing the speakerphone button. “Well, well, if it isn’t the illustrious Mr. Beaumont,” she purred, her voice dripping with allure and an undercurrent of mischief. “What an unexpected, but delightful surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure of this unanticipated call to Happy Ending Ranch?”
The sound of Victor’s voice, smooth as aged bourbon and tinged with a Cajun drawl, serenaded Lindsay’s ear. “My, oh my, Miss Kayleigh,” he crooned, his words dripping with charm, “I’d say the pleasure is all mine. Seems I done found myself in your neck of the woods this aft’a’noon and was hopin’ a pretty lady like yourself might be available for some … company.”
Lindsay’s interest piqued, though accepting random telephone calls to the ranch as a sex worker wasn’t exactly typical protocol. Who cares? I make the rules now. Even more, how could she not make an exception for the utterly charming Victor? Her mind flashed back to the handful of parties they’d shared together, moments filled with laughter, passion, and a unique connection.
“Is that so?” she said, unable to mask her intrigue. “You just happened to be passing through Flagstone without any warning? Why, you’re a sly one, sugar.”
A low chuckle rumbled over the line. “Can’t get nothin’ past you, cher. Fact is, I got a hankerin’ to see that sweet smile of yours and figured you might oblige an old friend. Got myself settled in at the Twin Tops just down the road.”
Victor’s unannounced arrival from 1,800 miles away was exactly the kind of elixir Lindsay needed in dealing with the fallout from Jim and Kenzie’s treachery. Part of her thrilled at his brazen presumptuousness – as if she could ever turn Victor away once he’d traveled all this way.
Lindsay tsked in feigned reproach. “Now Victor, baby, you know better than to just spring yourself on me without an appointment. Why, if you’d called ahead, you know I’d have cleared my whole schedule for you.”
His voice carried a rakish smirk. “Well then, how ‘bout we make up for my lack of manners by you clearin’ that schedule right now? I promise to make it worth every second, darlin’.”
Lindsay hesitated a moment too long, already envisioning the delicious ways they could spend their time together. But she knew she should assert at least a semblance of professionalism.
“As much as it pains me, handsome,” she said with an audible pout, “I’m afraid my evening is completely booked up from dusk ’til dawn. Not a single free minute to be had.”
Lindsay glanced up at Jenn entering the parlor, the newly-appointed house manager shooting her a quizzical look at overhearing the discussion. She waved Jenn off, urging her to remain silent.
“Aww, say it ain’t so,” Victor cajoled, his tone dipping into an irresistible wheedling drawl. “Surely you can find a way to squeeze ol’ me into that pretty packed schedule? I did travel one heckuva long way for the privilege of your company. …”
Lindsay’s resistance crumbled under the warmth of his gentlemanly charm. With a melodramatic sigh, she envisioned how they could spend their time together. “Well, when you put it like that, how’s a girl to refuse? Tell you what, sugar – why don’t you mosey on over ’round, say, two o’clock tomorrow afternoon? I’ll make sure we have a nice long session with nothin’ but the finest whisky on hand. Just you and me, uninterrupted for however long you wish to party with me. How’s that sound?”
Victor accepted, of course, and was delighted. As Lindsay later disconnected the call, Jenn arched one questioning brow. Lindsay offered her a simple shrug.
“I won’t be here tonight, I’m afraid. Some … personal business came up earlier that’s going to require me to spend the night in Vegas. I won’t be back until noon, maybe one o’clock tomorrow afternoon. Think you, Donald, Francisco, and Mindy can handle things around here until I’m back?”
<> <> <> <> <>
“Sweetheart, I have something for you,” Tom Bradley said several hours later as he pulled her onto his lap and dropped a kiss on her forehead. “A gift.”
“What is it, Daddy?” Lindsay asked, her eyes meeting his, her heart beating a bit faster as possibilities ran through her mind. The mayor of Flagstone had bestowed upon her a variety of gifts, ranging from lavish Honey Birdette lingerie – a poignant reminder of their initial business arrangement two months ago – to more modest presents such as a fifty-dollar Sephora gift card. However, it was the mayor’s political leverage, which he used to ensure the protection of Lindsay and the brothel itself, that held the greatest worth in her eyes. He keeps Sheriff Spaeth out of our hair. In exchange for his invaluable support, Lindsay satisfied Tom’s every depraved desire without ever asking for financial compensation. But thoughts of what this latest gift may be had her squirming on his lap as she wondered if the “something” would be a new toy her benefactor would soon be inserting into her pussy, or better yet, her anus.
Instead of providing a verbal answer, Tom withdrew a white envelope from his pocket. He smiled as he placed it in her hand. “I believe you’ll find it to be the news you’ve been waiting for,” he said and grinned, massaging her backside, “a bit impatiently, I might add.”
A blush crept up Lindsay’s cheeks, coloring them in a soft hue of pink. Impatiently was one way of putting it – losing endless hours of sleep was another.
Lindsay’s fingers trembled as she took the envelope and turned it over, her mind spinning with possibilities. Could it be the deed to the brothel, finally making her the official owner? No. No way, not yet. Colt and Pamela have to sell it to me first. Or perhaps building permits that would allow her to add a third wing to the house? She hardly dared to hope, but the glimmer in Mayor Bradley’s eye suggested it was something monumental.
“Well?” Under the hem of Lindsay’s minidress, Tom’s fingers took terrible liberties with the gusset of her panties. “Aren’t you going to open it?”
Lindsay settled deeper onto Tom’s lap, her weight sinking into his thighs. The glittering lights of the Las Vegas Strip painted the luxurious hotel room in a muted amber glow, the floor-to-ceiling windows offering an amazing view of the city’s neon splendor. Yet, Lindsay’s gaze remained fixed on the envelope, her pulse thrumming beneath her skin. She inhaled sharply, the sudden intake of breath causing her chest to expand, as if bracing herself for the impact of the contents. With a determined tug, she tore the envelope open, the sound of ripping paper shattering the sudden, uneasy silence.
Unfolding the letter, Lindsay’s eyes scanned the typed words, her heart pounding faster with each line. As the meaning of the message sank in, a wave of emotions crashed over her, tears springing to her eyes and a laugh bubbling up from within her throat.
“This … this changes everything,” she managed to say, her whisper cracking with emotion.
The letter shook in Lindsay’s hands as she read it again, unable to believe what was typed on it. Tears spilled down her cheeks, blurring the words, while laughter and sobs intermingled, filling the room with the raw sound of her overwhelming reaction.
Lindsay pressed the letter to her chest, the paper crinkling against her skin as she closed her eyes, trying to process the magnitude of the news. Tom teased her pussy with one hand while the other stayed busy groping a breast, an affirmation of his presence and their ongoing business arrangement.
Opening her eyes, Lindsay met Tom’s gaze once more, her tears glistening in the soft light of the room. A smile spread across her face, even as more tears fell, the weight of the letter’s contents settling upon her psyche.
“Thank you,” she said, pouring her heart into the words. “Thank you for making this possible. You’ve given me a future. A chance to be something more. I’ll never forget this moment, this gift, for as long as I live.”
Tom chuckled, easing two fingers into her vagina. “I told you I’d make it happen, didn’t I? I’ve secured the votes you need. Three of the five Flagstone City Council members are now in your corner, ready to push through and approve the sale of Happy Ending Ranch at the October hearing. I had to call in a few favors and make some promises, but I delivered. Now, it’s your turn.
“I trust you’ll remember who made this sale possible and ensure that my needs are well taken care of from this point forward. I’m expecting VIP treatment from now on, young lady, even more than you’ve already given me.” He withdrew his fingers from her pussy and straightened up, both hands venturing to the waistline of his trousers. Lindsay’s eyes fluttered and went wide as she watched him lower his zipper, then work at the button. “That’s the price of doing business with me.
“Suck my cock, sweetheart,” Tom added. “We’ll be getting together every week now instead of once every two, and it will always most assuredly take place in Vegas.” He lowered his light gray trousers to reveal black boxer shorts. “This way, no one from Flagstone will ever see us together, like at the Twin Tops, and we won’t rouse any suspicions. Vegas will keep both you and I out of trouble. The last thing I need is for my wife to suspect that I’m fucking a prostitute from Happy Ending Ranch.” He managed to remove the boxers and let them puddle at the floor atop his trousers. The front of his dress shirt hung down and obscured his erect penis, but he swept it upward with his left hand while his right took hold of his dick and pumped in that deliciously arrogant way Lindsay loved to see her mongers do before they ordered her to fellate them.
“Suck me, Lindsay. Show me how grateful you are. This isn’t the whorehouse. You’re sucking me without a condom, and I’m coming down your throat. And after that, I’m gonna fuck your pussy bareback several more times. Let’s see how many positions we can manage before it’s checkout time in five hours.”
Already kneeling upon the carpet, Lindsay’s form radiated sensual expertise, an exalted tool honed for the purpose of delivering unparalleled delight. Her eyes, ablaze with determination, ensnared his own, while her tongue indulged in a sensuous dance along the curvature of her lips. With artistic flair, she revealed the smooth hollow of her mouth, offering a tantalizing glimpse into her carnally charged intentions.
A throaty hum reverberated within her, a sound that plucked at the chords of Tom’s desire as her delicate fingers traced the contours of his legs. Steadfast in her commitment to express her gratitude with unmatched vigor, she sheathed the tapered edge of his arousal, her lips forming a perfect union with his less-than-impressive girth.
Lindsay enthralled Tom as her cheeks receded, manipulating the cadence and force with a professional’s touch. Each pull, each flick, and each spiraling motion of her tongue around his throbbing head reinforced the sincerity of her thanks – a delectable fusion of primal passion and refined proficiency. A bona-fide cocksucker, Lindsay breathed vitality and eagerness into every action, sculpting a journey of unfiltered bliss designed to transport him into realms of untamed pleasure.
“God, you have no idea how incredibly beautiful you are with your lips stretched around my dick,” he murmured, bringing an arm to his forehead and sighing. “Jesus, I have a granddaughter older than you.”
Tom’s right hand found its way to her head, driven by an unrelenting desire for deeper connection. With a deft flick of his wrist, he unraveled the scrunchie that held Lindsay’s blonde tresses captive, allowing her ponytail to cascade around her shoulders like a celestial halo. Framing her face, the silken waves accentuated her diligent dedication and sent a jolt of electricity through his body.
Both of his hands migrated to the back of her head, fingers entangling themselves in the soft strands. Like a puppet master, Tom pulled Lindsay back and forth, each thrust of her mouth upon his cock eliciting a visceral response that threatened to unravel the fabric of his self-control. As the intensity of their dance reached new heights, Lindsay’s visage of fierce determination and unbridled gratitude only seemed to further bound her to the political kingpin whose favor she had sought.
“All of it. I want you to swallow my dick.”
Lindsay’s eyes flickered up to meet Tom’s as she heard his command. “Yes, Daddy. Anything for you.” She could see the raw desire in his gaze, the desperate need for release. And she was ready to give it to him. With a final, determined plunge, Lindsay took him fully into her mouth, her lips meeting the base of his shaft. She could feel the heat of him, the twitching that signaled his impending climax. And as she sucked and swirled her tongue around his length, she could taste the first drops of his release.
Tom’s grip tightened in her hair as he threw his head back, surrendering to the pleasure. With a wild, ferocious roar, he came, his seed spilling down Lindsay’s throat. She swallowed it greedily, her eyes locked on his as she drank every last drop. It was a moment of pure power, a testament to her control and her skill.
As Tom’s release subsided, Lindsay released his cock from her mouth, a satisfied smile curving her lips. She knew she had done well, had pleased him in the way he wanted. And as she looked up at him, she knew that she had taken another step forward, too, another move toward achieving the ultimate prize.
Lindsay had always been a firm believer in using her body, her sexuality, to get what she wanted. There’s a reason I’ve fucked four hundred mongers. And what she wanted, more than anything, was to own the brothel. That was her endgame, her ultimate goal. And she was willing to do whatever it took to make it happen.
In the world of power and politics, sex was just another currency, another tool to be wielded. And Lindsay had learned how to be an expert at using it to her advantage. She knew that Tom was a means to an end, a steppingstone on her path to the promised land. And as she looked at him, spent and breathless, she knew that she had used him well.
Heh … the mayor thinks he’s the one in control here?
Lindsay’s journey was far from over, but she was determined to see it through. She was a fighter, an outcast in her own family, and a domestic abuse survivor, but a woman with a plan. She had used her body, her sexuality, to secure the support she needed to make her dreams a reality. And Lindsay wouldn’t stop until she had achieved them, until she had taken ownership of the brothel and claimed her rightful place as its queen.
((End of Chapter Forty-Eight – to be continued))
