“So you’ve finally graduated,” the man was saying to Sally. “You going to get a real job now?”

Galen stopped. That sure wasn’t a loving tone of voice. Or a proud one.

“I’ve always held down a job, Father, starting at twelve,” Sally said, her voice stiff.

“And spent your money on clothes. You’d think you would have learned what was important after you got your mother killed,” the older man said, bitterness in every word.

Christ, what kind of fucked-up shit is this? When Sally flinched at the cruel words, Galen’s hand curled into a fist.

Sally pulled in a shaky breath before straightening her shoulders. How many times had Galen seen her do that? She was so fucking brave.

“Well, thank you for coming, Father,” she said politely. “It was nice to have family present.”

Protectiveness welled in Galen’s heart. He was used to physically shielding his women; looked like this one he’d need to protect emotionally, as well. “There you are,” he said, raising his voice. He stepped up behind her and curved his arm around her waist, feeling the tension in her small body, seeing the guardedness in her eyes. In meth houses, he’d seen children with such eyes.

But he had years of dealing with assholes, so he smiled and prompted her. “And who is this?”

“Um. Right. Father, this is Galen Kouros with the FBI. Galen, this is my father, Hugh Hart.”

Had to say, Hart seemed to be sorely lacking any heart. “Good to meet you.” Sally has nothing but bad things to say about you. He stuck his hand out, ignoring the reluctance the father displayed. The man had the same velvet-brown eyes as Sally, but the lines around his downturned mouth showed a sour personality. His skin was leathery, his build muscular, his hands thick with calluses. She’d spoken of cats in a barn…and she was from Iowa. Probably a farmer.

“FBI?” Hart’s gaze was assessing. “Are you her boyfriend or did you come to arrest her?”

“Boyfriend,” Galen said. Lover. Dom. He was tempted to go on the attack. There were certain people a man wanted to step on as simply a gift to humanity. Something like squashing a cockroach. But this wasn’t the time. Her father. Graduation. Be polite, Kouros. “You must be quite proud of your daughter. She’s done very well.” God knows, I’m proud of her.

“Ah-huh.”

The enthusiasm was underwhelming. Why the hell was this bastard here? “Long way to travel.”

“It was.” The father pulled a camera from his suit-coat pocket. “I need pictures. People in town want to see them.”

Sally posed, her smile so fake that Galen’s gut twisted. Hart started snapping pictures, and after a couple, Galen stepped between them. “That’s enough.” Enough of this bullshit. Enough of messing with your daughter’s emotions.

The man glared and pocketed the camera. “Guess that’s good enough.”

“Tell everyone hi for me.” She glanced up at Galen. “You’d like the people there. Iowans are just plain nice.”

Knowing Sally, he might agree with that…if he hadn’t met her father.

The old guy frowned at Sally. “Now you’re finished with school, come by and get the rest of your junk.”

“Uh. Sure. Is there any hurry?”

“Not particularly.”

Which meant the father just wanted Sally’s stuff gone. Galen could feel the girl absorb that blow.

“All right. As soon as I get a permanent address, I’ll do that.” She gave her father an obviously forced smile.

“See that you do.”

Couldn’t punch an old man for being an asshole…could he? Couldn’t slaughter him verbally—Sally might not like that.

“Excuse me.” Vance took Sally’s other side. “I brought you a drink, sweetheart.”

AS SALLY TOOK the glass, she realized the men were doing their guard-dog maneuver again, taking up positions on each side of her. Her overprotective warriors.

From the look on Galen’s face, he was seriously pissed off at her father.

With good reason. Why had she ever sent her father an invitation? When would she learn that nothing she did would please him? But no matter how much she tried to tell herself that, it never stuck. She kept trying.

Galen’s arm was rigid around her back. “Excuse us, Hart, but we have places to go, people to see. And you can just—”

Before he could finish, a group of her classmates descended on her. In the flurry of congratulations and introductions—and admiring stares at the Feds—she regained her composure. And wasn’t it fun to show them off, because jeez, they looked gorgeous in their tailored suits. Galen in the darkest of grays, Vance in a steel gray with a hint of blue. She could see the women wondering which man Sally was with.

Hands off—they’re both mine. Then she shook her head. Delusional much, Sally?

As the crowd thinned again, she turned back to her father. “Well, I know you have to go,” she said. “Thank you for coming.”

Her father opened his mouth to say something, undoubtedly cruel, and halted at the sound of a happy scream.

Jessica?

A second later, the blonde tugged her away from Galen, and Sally was engulfed in people, congratulations and handshakes and hugs. Master Cullen’s enthusiastic squeeze actually lifted her off her feet. As he set her down, she stared around her in wonder. It looked as if all the Masters and Mistresses—and their submissives—had come all the way to Orlando.

At the edge of the group, her father glared at her before walking away. Her chest hurt, her heart echoing with the emptiness there.

“Not worth being miserable over,” Galen whispered in her ear. “You have people who care about you. Love you.”

So it seemed. The flood of calls and texts and visits after Frank’s attack had astonished her. Made her cry. And now…not just her subbie friends were here, but the Dominants as well. She smiled at them all, then frowned. “I thought I quit the club.”

“You were mistaken.” When Master Z turned to her, Galen surrendered his place. The owner of the Shadowlands cupped her chin and studied her face. His gaze fastened on the bruise she’d thought she covered so well, and his mouth went hard.

“Mistaken?” she asked quickly.

“You are no longer a trainee,” he said quietly. “Not while you’re with Galen and Vance. But you will always be a member of the Shadowlands, Sally.”

Oh God, she was going to cry after all.

His thumb stroked her cheek; then with a faint smile, he gave her to Vance.

She looked at the Fed with blurry eyes, and he gently pressed her head against his shoulder, holding her firmly against him. “Go ahead, sweetie; let it out.”

A couple of choked sobs escaped her before she pulled it together. Party. Friends. She didn’t have time to have a wussy breakdown. As she pulled back, Vance accepted a tissue from Gabi to blot her tears and undoubtedly the running mascara.

“Nice job, stud.” Mistress Olivia grinned at him. “You learn that from making your subbies cry?”

“I practiced on my little sisters.” He winked at Sally and finished, “I perfected the technique from making subbies cry.”

Galen handed her drink back, his dark eyes studying her. She stiffened, expecting him to grill her about her father, but he shook his head. “Relax, pet. Enjoy your party.”

Oh boy. She’d be in for an interrogation later. Bloody, fucking hell. But for now, she’d take Master Fed’s advice and enjoy herself. She’d finally graduated and had friends with whom to celebrate. Her mood brightened as if she’d emerged from a cave into crisp morning sunlight.

She held up her glass to them. “Thank you all for coming.” Her first sip was great. The second…familiar. “This is a Screaming Orgasm!”

Vance’s lips quirked. “We heard you have a fondness for them. But since we might want to play with you later, two is your limit.”

“Pffft.” Sally turned to the other Shadowkittens. “What kind of a limp-dick loser tells his girl, only two orgasms?”

Her girlfriends busted out laughing.

And under the joking, she heard Galen’s amused mutter, “The brat is back.” Before she could comment, he told her in a low voice, “We’re serious, pet. Only two drinks.”

Good luck with that, boys.

To Sally’s delight, the Shadowlands crew stayed, mingling with the grads and their families. Lawyer Marcus, fire inspector Cullen, bounty hunter Anne, and the Feds hooked up with the professors with law-enforcement backgrounds. Their voices stayed low as opposed to the more raucous group containing Linda, who owned a beach shop, Jessica an accounting business, Beth landscaping, Andrea cleaning and some of the grads’ mothers who also ran their own businesses. Apparently taxes could bring out the worst in a woman.

Z, Gabi, and one of the forensics professors were discussing serial killers, causing a quick retreat. Surely there were less disgusting conversations somewhere.

Having heard Sally’s feelings about blood and death, Gabi gave her a wink.

Moving from group to group, Sally finished her first drink and got another. The second tasted fully as nice as the first. She spotted Kari coming across the room.