Circle of Death by Celia Loren, Colleen Masters

kinds of guys head out there for a good time. Businessmen, hedge fund managers, professional sports teams, you name it. But the girls who head out there are usually college aged. Looking to step out of their comfort zones, you know.”
    “Their comfort zones?” Emma retorts, “What about your comfort zone? You’ve never even dated an upperclassmen. What are you going to do with some hardened, forty-something biker dude?”
    “My last boyfriend was three months older than me, I’ll have you know. And on the fencing team,” I joke.
    Emma has a point, of course. I’ve been a little nervous, wondering what chance I have at grabbing the attention of a world class hottie like Devlin Vile. I’m not exactly brimming with feminine wiles, over here.
    “I’m serious, Logan,” Emma insists, taking my hand in hers. “This sounds insanely risky. Is paying off your loans and getting this job really worth it to you?”
    “There’s, um, a little more to it than that,” I say slowly, meeting her gaze as best I can. “The MC I’m going out there to write about...It’s called the Circle of Death. The same club my sister Juliet ran off with when I was a kid.”
    “Oh, Logan...” Emma breathes, her fingers tightening around mine. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t even think to make the connection.”
    “All these years, I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that I’d never see her again,” I go on, speaking around the hard knot in my throat. “She didn’t exactly leave an address or cell number when she left, but all of a sudden, I’ve got a lead. Maybe it won’t pan out. Maybe she’s not with the MC anymore. Maybe she’s not even alive. But I have to find out for myself, Emma. And if that means putting myself at risk...well, that’s something I can live with.”
    My tiny friend doesn’t say a word. She simply wraps her arms around me and presses her slight frame to mine. I hug her fiercely, knowing that this is her way of giving her blessing for this crazy mission of mine. With her support, I feel like I can really take the next step on this wild journey.
    “There are some girls from our school heading out to The Club tomorrow night,” I go on. “Brie, Ani, Kari, I know them from freshman year, if just barely. But they’ve agreed to let me come along. Getting invited to that island is all about who you know, and I guess they know the right people. It’s all set up.”
    “Brie Whittington? I remember there was a scandal involving her and my Sociology professor last year. She doesn’t seem to make the best choices…”
    “I know but I have to reach out, she’s my only connection here.”
    “You’re just going for the night, then?” Emma asks hopefully.
    “Just for the night, at least this time around,” I assure her gently. “But it might be the first of many trips.”
    We sit in silence together, taking this fact in. After a time, she heaves a little sigh and forces an encouraging smile onto her lips.
    “I guess you do have to go infiltrate a secret sex resort, woo the president of a badass biker gang, and find your long lost sister. Not exactly all in a day’s work, is it?”
    “Not quite,” I smile.
    “Just promise me you’ll be careful,” she pleads.
    “I promise,” I reply earnestly, “Careful as can be.”
    “And bring protection,” she adds. “Can’t be going to a bacchanalian bonanza without a crate of condoms, can you?”
    “Words of wisdom from Emma Sanders,” I laugh, happy for her levity. Joking about this undertaking almost erases my fear of what I’m about to do.
    Almost.
     

Chapter Seven

     
     
    The very next evening, I find myself standing on the dock of a swanky Boston Harbor yacht club just before sunset. I tug at the hem of my black mini skirt, adjust the straps of my silky white tank. I’m more than a little conscious of the gazes I’m drawing from the monied men and women lounging about their vessels all around me. This is not exactly my natural habitat,