Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

E vangeline

“Let me go!” I yelped, still pummeling Gage’s back as we neared the house.

He remained quiet, so much so I could tell just how angry he was. Okay, so what I’d done hadn’t been the brightest thing ever, but my instincts had taken over.

And my love of animals.

Huffing, he charged into the front door, slamming it behind him, turning off the light and powering up the system. Without any hesitation, he took the stairs two at a time. When we were inside his bedroom, he gently eased me to my feet and flicked on a lamp on his dresser.

With his hands on his hips, he started pacing back and forth like a snorting bull in a china shop. I knew he was talking to himself, but I couldn’t understand a word. I assumed he was trying to calm down, his rage more intense than I’d seen up to this point.

It was about two full minutes before he stopped, spinning to face me like a drill sergeant. He clasped his hands on either side of his face, blowing into them. That lasted for at least another full minute. At least when he spoke, he was very quiet, so much so I had to strain to hear him.

“You worried the fuck out of me. Do you know what could have happened?”

“But it didn’t.”

He threw up his finger so fast I thought my head would spin.

“Do not do that. You will listen to me as I lecture you because at some point, you lost your brain and your common sense.”

The fact the man was insulting me didn’t bode well. But… He was right. Of course he was.

After taking another deep breath, he spoke again. “Now, I won’t go into any gruesome detail about what might have occurred if the assholes were outside trying to trick you. A bear is bad enough. You do realize they aren’t little fuzzy creatures. Right?”

“Yeah, I know they aren’t. I really thought it was a dog.”

“We might need to get your eyes checked. Huge difference.”

“It was the damn camera. That’s it.”

“That’s why you ran? That’s why? That’s why you just had to venture downstairs?” He seemed so incredulous, as if getting water was the weirdest thing in the world.

I had to be honest with him. “No! It was the horrible dream.”

“Okay. What dream?”

“The night of the primal hunt. When Joseph brought me back to the house, telling me in no uncertain terms he would keep me prisoner and that he planned on making me pregnant, no matter what it took. And… the horrible things he did to me that night.” Now my voice was barely more than a whisper.

I could tell he was even more enraged than before. “I’m going to kill that bastard.”

“Hell, even I can say the piece of human trash isn’t worth it.”

“I will never let him touch you again.”

And I’ll be damned if I didn’t adore him for caring so much, for being so emotional.

He took another deep breath and laughed. “Let me make this very clear. That was stupid. Reckless. Dangerous. And I’m going to need to remind you that you just can’t do that. Ever. Do you understand?”

“Yes. What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to spank you.”

I wanted to object, to even try to run, but I knew in the back of my mind I’d been so damn foolish. It couldn’t happen again. If I was captured, Gage and his brothers would have hell to pay to try to get me back. I had to be in the right frame of mind always so I could get my boy back. Period.

“Okay.”

He seemed so surprised I agreed without fighting him, but what was the point in doing so? “Put a pillow on the bed and lie across.”

“What are you going to use?”

He pulled another belt from a drawer, holding it up. For a few seconds I was drawn back to the horrible moment from all those years ago. Somehow, he managed to see it and moved closer, very tenderly touching my face. “I’m not abusing you, Evangeline. I will never do that nor will I ever, and I do mean ever, allow anyone to do that to you again. Do you understand?”

I had to bite back a sob but nodded. “I’m sorry I worried you and you’re not Joseph.”

He tried to smile. “At least you can say that.”

There was something so disarming about what he said I was immediately put at ease. It might not make any sense to anyone else, but he was the single man since I’d met since Joseph able to do that. I untied my robe without him telling me he required me naked, crawling on the bed and grabbing one of the fluffy pillows.

As I lay across it, I realized this moment was quite cathartic. Maybe in some twisted way, this was exactly what I needed to finish healing. I deserved to be punished like some bad girl. I had no idea where my mind had gone. The nightmare had rattled me but that wasn’t a decent excuse.

When I was settled, he came closer, planting a knee on the bed and rubbing my back, caressing gently. Even the way his fingers touched me was so soothing. I had no idea how a rough and tumble man like Gage could be so tender and loving with nothing more than a brush of his fingers.

“Are you ready?” he asked in that soft yet husky voice.

“Yes. I mean yes, sir.”

He pulled away and was quick to snap his wrist, waiting as I attempted to get used to the pain. Gasping, I rose up from the bed, but he allowed my infraction, realizing my breath had been stolen.

Even though tears formed in my eyes, I was able to lie back down a few seconds later, fisting my fingers around the bedding.

He cracked the thick leather down four times, all even and fair.

Yet, I moaned, kicking out my legs. I had to remind myself why this was happening. That I’d been an idiot.

He waited another few seconds, caressing my bottom before issuing three more this time, one hitting the tops of my thighs.

“Fuck. Fuck!” I couldn’t help but curse and thankfully, he didn’t threaten to wash my mouth out with soap this time.

This time.

“You’re doing very well. After tonight, you must stay in a safe zone. You’re not a prisoner, Evangeline, but only with me can you be protected. If and when I leave for any reason, the men will keep you safe but only if you don’t do stupid things.”

“I promise.”

“Good girl.”

The same deliciously woozy feeling swept through me from his words. How silly but how salacious as well.

He continued the spanking, one coming down right after the other. It was fine, enough so I simply kept my fists balled around the comforter even though the pain was excruciating. My God, I was breathless, panting like a dog. But I almost felt cleansed. Maybe spankings really were good for the soul. Was that possible?

I couldn’t believe I almost laughed.

Or that I felt wetness between my legs. I guess it was true that I really did appreciate a sexy, dominating man. I could feast on that thought for days and would.

After the round of discipline was finished.

Damn him for being right.

Damn him for caring.

I could scream. Maybe I would.

I did.

Yelling at the top of my lungs.

He didn’t laugh, didn’t chastise me, simply doled out maybe five more, finally tossing the belt aside. “I think you’ve had enough and learned your lesson. However, I won’t hesitate to do this again if necessary. Anything to keep you safe. Anything.”

I believed him and in some crazy way, I was grateful he cared so much.

Gage was an easy man to fall hard for. Not just because of his outward appearance or the fact he seemed to care so deeply, but also because of his brain.

He was as intelligent as any man I’d met.

My thoughts remained muddled as I rubbed my aching bottom. It would be interesting to finally meet his brothers.

After a couple of minutes, he helped me to my feet, pulling me close and rubbing strings of hair from my face. “I never want you hurt. You do understand that. Right?”

I nodded, rising onto my tiptoes and kissing his forehead and nose.

Of course, that resulted in a full blown and heated moment of passion.

The man could kiss like no other.

Just the way he swept his tongue inside or the way he wrapped his arm around my waist so possessively was one of the most incredible feelings in the world. It was like having a big bear growling at all the other predators after marking you with his scent. I was still on my toes, wrapping my arms around his neck. Every muscle in his body was sculpted, including the thick cords on both sides.

What I adored perhaps more than anything was the softness of his curls, the long eyelashes that framed his chiseled face. Oh, and his voluptuous lips that were rosy red and meant for doing what we were doing.

Then again, how could I ignore how stiff his cock became every time we were intimate? He was just a powerhouse of a man and I was a lucky girl.

Even if it was just for the moment.

After sucking on his tongue, his light growls permeating past our locked lips, he pulled away, backing me toward the bed once again.

“Now, I need you to get some sleep. Can you do that for me? I am going nowhere except to make one last phone call. I need to ensure the men in my employ are planning on arriving soon.”

I pouted although in truth I wasn’t worried or frightened. “Oh, of course. I assure you I learned a very valuable lesson.”

“What’s that, sunshine?”

“Don’t tangle with a bear.”

He lightly swatted me on the butt before easing me onto the soft sheets, waiting until my legs were underneath then tucking me in like a good girl.

I’d never felt so taken care of in my life and I couldn’t lie to myself.

It felt damn good.

I had the distinct feeling I would have delicious dreams about the man tonight.

Gage

To say I was furious was a heavy understatement. Yes, I was angry with her given her stupid act of defiance. Saving a fucking dog? I couldn’t help but snort as I walked down the stairs. She could have gotten herself killed over what?

But my heavy rage was directed toward Joseph first, the elders after that. They all deserved to be forced on the same kind of primal hunt.

Maybe that’s exactly what I would end up doing after catching, imprisoning, beating, and starving them for days. No, weeks. What was happening wasn’t atrocious. It wasn’t just criminal.

It was perhaps the most heinous act of torture I’d ever heard about.

And I’d been privy to tons of ridiculous stories, some on the news.

I just hit the bottom step when a light tap on the door drew my attention. The camera brought some relief. I flicked off the system and opened the door.

“I’m fucking glad you’re here, gentlemen. Come in.”

I’d known Jeff Tyler and Ron Reynolds for years. They’d been buddies of mine shooting basketball long before becoming my on-again, off-again employees. It wasn’t just grunt work they performed. They were highly intelligent men with military backgrounds, real sharpshooters and considered dangerous men.

They handled certain computer functions, detective work, and exactly what they were doing now. I was about ready to require their true mercenary skills. Even if I wanted to handle putting a bullet between Joseph’s eyes myself.

I noticed two other of the soldiers they knew and had worked with already walking the perimeter. It was damn good not to need to tell them how to do their jobs.

They closed the door, following me into my office.

There would be no drinking and it had nothing to do with the late hour.

I turned on my desk lamp, still trying to put everything into perspective.

“What do we have, boss? You sounded… unusually stressed,” Jeff said. Perhaps he knew me best, sometimes better than my own brothers did.

“We have a bunch of fucking monsters and I’m not exaggerating. They run a community in Connecticut but at least some members are headed this way. They control everything, including who marries who. Not like a traditional community association but like a cult, a commune.”

The two soldiers looked at each other and half laughed. While they were dressed nicely in expensive suits, they were more comfortable in fatigues, and I couldn’t care less if that’s what they wore at this point. Maybe it would help the enemy understand what they were about to go up against.

“Sounds like a great place to raise a family,” Ron piped in.

At least I could chuckle. “Fate had me meet a lovely young woman whose son was recently kidnapped by her ex, who is one of their members. She thought she’d gotten away from this cult by divorcing the man but you never leave a place like this unless it’s in a coffin. She is staying with me for an extended period of time and I am going to help her get her son back.”

Their eyes opened wide. They knew I had another side to me, but they rarely saw it in action.

“You think they’re coming here,” Jeff said casually.

“I do. My brothers and I are working on trying to find a route to destroy them and given my relationship with the woman was discovered, we have it under good authority they are coming to take her back. That will not happen. I will be in this house until a plan is formed and we head to Connecticut to lay it all out. But given I’m no mafia prince, my security is good but could easily be hacked and I have far too much land to watch every inch. I need to ensure none of the bastards get through.”

Ron grinned like some lunatic. He’d only grown more dangerous since leaving the military. Right now, that’s exactly what I needed. “Kill, maim, or imprison for your interrogation?”

I honestly had to think about the question. I doubted Joseph would be stupid enough to leave his lair, which meant he would send minions to bring her back. But heavy in the numbers. “It is going to entirely depend on their behavior. However, I do want to be able to thoroughly interrogate at least one of the bastards.”

I looked from one to the other and Jeff still had his eyes opened wide. “How many do you think we can expect?”

I rubbed my jaw as I took a deep breath. “Honestly, I’m not certain. We are constantly checking the intel but they’re going to keep it as close to the chest as possible. If I had to guess, I’d say at least six and perhaps as many as a dozen.”

“Piece ‘o cake,” Ron bragged. For him, it wasn’t really a brag. He’d been known to kill fifteen in less than thirty seconds in his military days. He was a fire machine and I was thankful to have him on my team.

“If you need to hire more men, do it. Obviously, I’m paying top dollar.”

Both men nodded.

“What’s the girl’s name? I think we need to know that.” Jeff was the reflective one, the guy who didn’t leave any stone unturned.

“Of course. Evangeline Weathers. As I said, she’s upstairs. When I’m gone, she’s confined to the house. For now. We’ll see. I have two housekeepers who will be coming and going. I’ll explain in the morning what’s going on. Oh, and I have a landscaping team. I would check them out because it would be an excellent way of infiltrating the household. You have free rein over the house as needed. Obviously check the pool in the back every so often. Evangeline loves the pool so I am allowing her the opportunity to swim.” I was grinning and the guys noticed it.

“Boss. I don’t mean any disrespect but you like this girl.” Jeff’s voice was unusually low.

Huffing, I shook my head. “Yeah, I do. But it’s more than that. She was given a raw deal and this shit cannot and will not go on in this country.”

“Understood, boss. We’ve heard of these kinds of organizations but overseas in countries where the leaders of the country dictate everything. Not in America. We will prevail.” Ron was certain of it and I adored his conviction.

One reason?

Because the man had never failed at anything he’d attempted.

And I seriously doubted it would start now.