Make Me (The Club #17) by Cathleen Ross, The Club Book Series Read Free Book Online Page B

caught the murderer?" This was the last thing Cari expected to hear.
    "Not yet." Ryan rubbed his brow. "Kerry got hooked on the high of The Club. She liked it far more than I did, wanted to try everything The Club had to offer and there were always men willing to play with a pretty unattached girl. The police think she got involved with a violent Dom she met at The Club."
    Cari leaned forward. "Why? Was she found there?"
    "No. They found her body in a dumpster. Jet has narrowed down the videos of the men Kerry played with but none of their DNA matches the blood they found on Kerry's body. There's a video of one guy in a mask we can't identify."
    "But doesn't The Club have membership to make identification easier?"
    "Yeah but quite a few people wear masks and it becomes hard to tell who is who on the surveillance clips. I've memorized his height, the color of his hair and his walk. You can change the color of your hair but not height or walk. His hands tightened into fists.
    "Let it go, Ryan. It's up to the police to find out who killed Kerry."
    "I can't. If I hadn't left Kerry to go into the army, she'd still be alive. Her death is my fault."
    Cari studied the despair on Ryan's face. One thing had become clear - Ryan wasn't over Kerry. She might be dead but she was the ghost in their budding relationship.
     
    Ryan tried to scoop Cari into his arms but she pushed away from him.
    "It's Sunday night. I need to go to sleep. I have to teach school tomorrow."
    "Talk to me, Cari. I know something's wrong." Damn, he knew it was not a good idea to discuss an ex on the first date. He hadn't wanted to. The mood had totally changed from the moment the drunk had confronted him. He liked Cari. She was sexy and gorgeous. Not as biddable as he'd previously thought yet that added to her attraction.
    "I'm trying to get my head around everything. It's a lot to take in. Your girlfriend has just been murdered. The Club doesn't sound safe and my twin goes there."
    "Kerry and I broke up two years ago." He could feel the temperature drop as she shut him out. Her eyes had a wary look. Who could blame her? It had been a shock for her to hear about The Club. He had to find some way to turn her around before it was too late. He didn't want to lose Cari. It was early days, but he really liked her.
    "I need to go to bed, Ryan. It's time for you to go home."
    Ryan stood. "Don't shut me out, Cari. You're the best thing that's happened to me since I came home."
    Cari rose too. "We've just met and I'm very attracted to you but you're not over your ex, even though she's dead." It was the first time she realized that she could move on but she had to get this right.
    "Let's get this straight. I fell out of love with Kerry when she cheated on me two years ago and we broke up. I didn't want her back because I couldn't forgive her but I want her murder solved because I feel so damned guilty. There is no way I would have let anything happen to her in that place. She would still be alive if I hadn't decided to enlist. I'll do everything I can to find that bastard who hurt her."
    Cari frowned, her large blue eyes troubled. "I don't think this can work between us. You're not ready. You're consumed by Kerry's murder."
    Ryan gripped her by the shoulders and pulled her close. "Give us a chance. You were happy tonight until you found out about The Club. You relaxed. You laughed. I think we could have something together even though it's early days. I want to make you mine but I need you to believe in me. I have to get to the bottom of what happened to my ex, or I won't be able to go forward with us."
    Cari put her hands on his chest as if trying to stop the connection. "I know what's it's like to be trapped in no man's land, still caught up in memories. I've been like that with Rob grieving him for two years. Just making the decision to go out with you tonight shifted something. Come back when you're done with Kerry. I'm here in Karim for a year."
    "Hell, Cari, the last