“Probably not. About a year ago, he was killed. Two years before that he was sentenced to ten years for money laundering.”
“So, he was killed in prison?”
“No. His lawyer did some fancy footwork, got him off in the appeal. Never made it inside a cell.”
“Speed this up, what does any of this have to do with Nora now?”
“From what I found out, it’s suspected Antonio, the flower shop owner, is the one who took him out.”
“Was Elliott working with the DA?” Greg asked.
“No. As far as I know, after he got off on the laundering charge, he stayed clean. No other arrests or investigations.”
“Okay, so he gets off, goes home, and two years later some old associates take him out? And then a year after that, his daughter goes to work for the guy thought to have been responsible. Am I getting this straight, because I haven’t had coffee yet.” It was too much to take in. Nora was out for revenge?
“That’s what I found out.” Blake sounded pretty pleased with himself. Probably from having a few minutes that he wasn’t playing super dad.
“She said she’s a journalist—or trying to be.”
“Well, maybe she was going to take him down by exposing him?” Blake offered.
“Yeah. Maybe. But I think it’s time I found out.”
“Greg... Greg. Wait.”
The door to the bedroom opened and Greg squared off with the girl he thought was so innocent. So fucking pure. Convinced she’d just gotten in over her head with her stupid story. Now, looking at her, seeing her rub the sleep from her eyes, wearing his T-shirt, he realized when the brothers said they had business with her, they didn’t mean her harm. They probably wanted their payment.
“What?” Greg snapped at his brother.
“Calm down before you talk to her. You’re jumping to conclusions, just talk to her and see what she says.”
His eyes met hers. Those pouty lips he wanted to kiss so badly the night before parted, and fear, real fear crept into her features.
“Okay.” Greg clicked off the call before Blake could say anything else.
“Greg?” Nora’s voice was so small, so innocent. She’d used the same tone last night, trying to convince him to show her his playroom.
Calm ran through his body.
“Nora. I’m going to ask you one more time, give you one more chance to tell me the full truth.”
“Not this again.” She huffed, her whole attitude wasn’t in it, more of a show, but that didn’t matter. It was exactly the spark needed to light the fire.
“Yes, this again. And just so we’re completely clear with each other.” He stalked up to her, ignoring the small flinch she gave as he neared her, and snatched up her arm. She tried to pull away, but he didn’t give an inch.
He threw open the door to the playroom and pushed her inside. She stumbled a step but righted herself, shoving her bedhead hair from her eyes. Eyes that widened when she saw the crate. Eyes that swept across the room at his extensive collection of heavy floggers hanging from one wall. Eyes that roamed finally to him with fear building along with unshed tears.
“Honest girls get to sit comfortably in the cabin. Little liars...” He gave a purposeful look at the crate. “Don’t.”
“What happened? Why are you acting so crazy?” she asked, taking a small step back. There was no escape from the room. Not that he had planned it that way. The girls he took to the cabin weren’t looking for that sort of escape.
“Do you understand the rules?” He stood in the doorway, giving her no hope of getting out of the room.
“No. I don’t understand any of this.”
“It’s simple. If you tell the truth, we’ll figure all this mess out. If you lie to me again—because you’ve been doing nothing but that since we met—you’ll get your ass lit on fire and you’ll spend some time thinking about what you did wrong.” He crossed his arms over his chest and glared down at her.
Most women when faced with his disappointment quickly came to terms they had nothing but to do except submit. Either they quickly apologized, and everything moved forward, or they at least accepted a punishment was coming. But those women knew him. They were aware of his stern side. It’s what drew them to him in the first place.
Nora wasn’t those women. She’d probably never seen a spanking bench before yesterday, and now she was being threatened with having her ass tanned and being locked up in a crate. He probably looked like a madman to her, but she didn’t have good coloring over her character at the moment either.
And if he was going to get in this and go balls deep into protecting someone again, he had to be damn sure he knew who they were. He had to fucking know he could trust every word uttered from those pretty, pink, pouting lips of hers.
“I already told—”
“That’s one. Not a good sign, Nora. Now, tell me the real reason you were working at the flower shop. What do you know about Antonio?”
Her stare worked over him, searching maybe with too much hope that she’d find the little crack to burrow her way in. It wasn’t going to happen.
After a long stretch of silence, Greg dropped his hands and walked over to the wall with the floggers. He plucked up the lightest of the bunch; holding the weight of the handle in his hand calmed him. This was something he could do. He knew well how to do this.
“One more chance, Nora,” he said, turning to her. He wouldn’t have blamed her if she’d run from the room, but she hadn’t. She’d stayed right where she was, though the redness was back in her cheeks. But he doubted it was because of any timidity that might be lurking in her soul. No, the girl was getting herself all wound up.
Because she was going to have to tell him the truth? Or because she was going to have to face the consequences of lying?
He didn’t really care in that moment, he only wanted her obedience, her fucking honesty.
“You can’t hit me with that thing,” she stammered, pointing at the black flogger he held. The falls were pretty light compared to the rest of his collection, perfect for a first timer like Nora.
“Of course I can. I can spank you with it, whip you with it, punish you with it, pleasure you with it. It’s quite the multi-tasking tool.” He held up the handle, so the leather falls cascaded down over his arm.
“I don’t understand.” She shook her head again, wiping the heels of her hands across her eyes. Like maybe if she could clear the fog from her eyes the situation would be different. It wouldn’t work, but he couldn’t blame her for trying.
“Here’s the thing, Nora. I had hoped to get you safely away from those assholes, set you up with a detective that was completely clean and trustworthy, and get you paired up with a personal security detail until the whole thing was over.” He stepped toward her. “But, I got some information this morning that tells me it’s probably better not to get the cops involved yet. And the personal security—well, turns out it’s going to have to be me.”
Her top lip disappeared into her mouth, pinched between her teeth.
“So, last chance and then you’ll be spending some time with my flogger before getting another one, what were you really doing working at the flower shop?”
Nora’s gaze flickered between the flogger in his hand to his face. He knew the signs well; she was panicked, and going to run.
Part of him hoped she did.
The dark part. The part he promised himself he would work on controlling, on keeping deep inside. Being a sadist didn’t bother him, he’d learn to accept the urges, but this—this need to see her broken. It made his cock hard, his heart race with adrenaline. It made him feel alive.
“There’s nowhere to go.” It was obvious. She had to have seen that when she saw all the woods surrounding the cabin. She wore only his shirt, no shoes; even if she had on full running gear it would take hours to get somewhere useful.
“I won’t let you do this.” The forced bravado impressed him. She could have easily gone with sobs and pleas for mercy. He liked tha
t she had some fight in her. It would make her fall all the sweeter.
“I’m not giving you a choice. You threw all that away when you lied and kept lying. Now all you can do is give me the truth. Or, climb over that bench over there.”
She looked at the door, then back at the bench.
“If you run, I’ll catch you and we’ll start all over again.”
“Dammit!” She stomped a foot. “I was just working for him to get information.” The words tumbled out in a loud, frustrated blob.
“Keep talking,” he urged, taking another step to her.
“That’s it. I was just trying to get information. I already told you, for—”
“Oh. We’re sticking with the journalist story.” He nodded. “Got it.”
Choice made.
He grabbed her upper arm and dragged her across the room, past the spanking bench to the wooden horse. It would make securing her easier.
“No! I told you!”
“You’re still lying.” He dropped the flogger to the floor and pushed her over the bench, reaching over her quickly to keep her pinned down so he could find the cuffs he’d left dangling.
“Don’t do this, Greg. Don’t!” she yelled at him, twisting her body and trying to kick him.
Once both wrists were bound, he left her to find the ankle cuffs. He wasn’t about to risk being kicked.
After all, she was the one being punished. Not him.
“You can’t do this. Don’t. Please, Greg.” Her voice softened, but the demand still lurked there. “You can’t!”
He grabbed the cuff set he sought from the cabinet and turned to face her. The shirt had already ridden up her back, exposing her round buttocks. No panties. She hadn’t worn any panties to bed.
Fuck.
“I can. And I will.”
Chapter Ten
Yanking on the cuffs around her wrists proved useless, but it didn’t stop her from continuing her struggle. When his warm hand wrapped around her right ankle, she stilled for a moment. But only briefly, while her mind caught up with his actions.
Kicking became a priority, but he already had a stone-hard grip on her.
“The more you struggle, the more you hurt yourself.” He clasped the first cuff around her ankle.
“Greg. Stop.” She froze. He could be reasoned with; she had to at least try. “Please. Let’s just talk.” She closed her eyes when the cuff wrapped around her left ankle. “Please. We can talk this out. You don’t have to do this.”
“You wasted your chance to talk, Nora.” He patted her bare bottom lightly after he finished restraining her body. If it weren’t for the light bit of padding on the bench beneath her belly, she’d have the sharp edges of the wood biting into her stomach. As it was, being restrained over a wooden horse proved uncomfortable enough.
He walked away again. She craned her neck, trying to find him, but she was bent too far over. She could only make out the ceiling above her. What was he doing now?
“Greg. Really. Let’s just talk.” A sharp smack to her right ass cheek caught her off guard and she cursed as the sting registered.
“I told you, you blew that chance.” His boots came into view as she stared down at the floor. A crinkling of plastic was followed by the appearance of a black ball gag.
The one he’d told her about in his car. Brand new.
Who had he been planning on using it with?
Did he work with the brothers? Maybe he had come into the flower shop on purpose. Maybe they’d planned on her being abducted the entire time. She increased her struggles.
“No! Damn you! You planned this! You did this! Fuck you!” She yanked and wiggled, but nothing worked. The only success she had was in burning her skin where the cuffs chafed.
“Hey. Shhh.” Squatting down in front of her, bringing his gaze level with hers, he fisted her hair, pulling her head back. She had to look down her nose to see him clearly. “I didn’t plan any of this.”
“You did!” she continued to accuse. “You work with them, don’t you? They had you come to the shop today.”
“No, Nora. I don’t work with anyone. But I think maybe you do. I think maybe you have a lot to tell me, don’t you?” How could his tone be so casual, so soft? Didn’t he have any outrage at being caught?
“You work with Teo and Anthony.” She swallowed hard, fearing she’d lose her composure if she kept staring at him.
“Nope. Just stopped in for those carnations.” He smiled. Fucking smiled at her. Like this was just a casual meeting.
“You’re lying.” She grimaced at the sharp pain in her scalp. Apparently, he didn’t like being accused of dishonesty. His fist tightened, pulling the hairs harder.
“One of us is. But it’s not me, trouble.” He released her hair, pressing the gag to her mouth. She clamped down tight. “After you’ve taken fifteen lashes with this entirely too soft flogger, I’ll give you the chance to answer me with the truth. But you only get one chance.”
As he explained what was coming, she clenched her jaw tighter, and tried to turn her head. But he wasn’t going to let up until he had his way. And he had the full use of all his extremities to get what he wanted.
“Open this mouth, Nora. Open it now, or you’ll take those fifteen licks with a cane instead.”
Her eyes widened. That sounded a hell of a lot worse. But she wasn’t going to give in. Giving in meant he won. Meant she was complicit, and she wasn’t going to just go along with allowing him to spank her.
His heavy sigh blew a few strands of hair from her face. “I’m being too nice, apparently.”
Nice? Was he completely fucking insane?
He gripped her face with one hand, pinching her cheeks until they bit into her teeth. The pain came as a surprise, but she kept her mouth clenched. It became sharper, more intense and tears welled in her eyes. He wasn’t going to let go. He would have his way.
She caved. Opening her mouth, trying to work her jaw only gave him the opportunity he wanted. The rubber ball shoved between her teeth and the straps were quickly pulled around her head and buckled. Hair caught in the contraption, but he didn’t seem to care.
Her cheeks hurt from being pressed on, and now her jaw ached from being propped open with the damn ball. She ran her tongue over it, feeling the smooth texture.
His heavy steps drew her attention to his whereabouts. Not behind her like he should be if he was going to start the flogging. And the damn flogger was still on the floor within her eyesight.
A whooshing sound focused her attention. Frantic, she tried to see him, tried to make sure what she feared he had in his hands, was just a fear, not reality.
“You really need to learn to take the chances I give you, Nora. It will go easier for you.” He reappeared before her, on his haunches, balancing a long wooden stick on his open palm. “This is a rattan cane. I’m sure you’ve never seen one before, otherwise you would have opened that pretty mouth of yours for me and not found yourself in this situation.”
Tears formed at the sight of it. It wasn’t very thick. She hadn’t paid much attention in science class in high school—science hated her—but she remembered the simple principle that smaller circumferences would make sharper impact. This would fucking hurt.
She shook her head, trying to beg him to stop. That she’d tell him what he wanted to know. She wouldn’t, but he didn’t need to know that.
“Fifteen, after I get you ready.” He patted her head and stood up, his groin now even with her eyes. The asshole had an erection.
Then he was gone again, but not far. Just behind her. She clenched her ass cheeks, waiting for the first strike of that damn cane. The smack of his hand hurt, but not like she’d expected. He hadn’t used the cane. He’d changed his mind.
She let out a breath through her nose and relaxed her muscles. She could take a little hand spanking. Hell, her father spanked her plenty when she was little. Never made much of an impact.
But Greg wasn’t gentle and loving like her father.
Greg was a fucking monster.
His hand crashed down on her ass over and over again, spreading heat like a forest fire across her entire ass. When he covered every inch, he started another round, harder and faster this time.
It wasn’t long before she started to wiggle her hips, trying to evade him. She bit into the ball, keeping back any cries for mercy. She could still handle this. She’d make it through.
“Okay, then.” He gave her one last hard slap to her right cheek.
She let out another breath. Good. That wasn’t so bad.
“Now for the fifteen.”
Her eyes flew open in panic. No!
The first line of fire crossed her ass at the up-curved cheeks. She screamed by the third, and by the sixth she was jerking in her restraints. Tears built and fell from her eyes, dropping to the floor by the tenth.
“Only five more, then you have a chance to answer my questions.”
She heard him. The words all made sense when put in line, but she couldn’t focus on much else than the blazing inferno that he’d turned her ass into. She shook her head, trying to clear it, trying to find a way to tune out the raw pain.
“Well, we’ll see if you change your mind.” He patted her back.
She heard the cane whistle through the air, but only the intense sharp pain registered in her mind. Her throat, raw from screaming, burned anew with her cry.
“Four more.” He tapped the cane against her ass.
Sobs tore through her. But he didn’t care, he just kept going.
Another stroke of the cane and another scream for a mercy that wouldn’t come. Her legs buckled, no longer wanting to keep her ass in the air. Easily rectified. He hoisted her back up, so her ass was presenting high for him.
“Three more,” he announced, again tapping the cane against her ass, which had to be a complete mess by now.
She shook her head, mumbling that she’d tell him. She’d tell him exactly who she was, and why she’d been at the flower shop. She’d tell him anything if he wouldn’t deliver the last three.
Except it was all garbled between her sobbing and the fucking ball gag. She’d missed her chance, and all she could do now was wait for the next one to come.
Becoming His Pet Page 6