chapter eleven
FED BY THE SNAKE
SNAKE ~ BIRMINGHAM
Me: Has she eaten today?
Aponi, House manager: No, sir.
Me: did you remind her of the consequences?
Aponi, House Manager: Several times, Sir. She only agreed to shower but has taken no sustenance.
Spending several minutes I don’t have, I watch Saban be a fucking brat and not eat her food. Seems like she’s determined to starve herself if Aponi doesn’t give in and tell her if anyone else is being held on the subterranean level along with her. It would be sweet if it weren’t so fucking grating.
Everything about her demands and questions is an insult to every aspect of the relationship we had and kills the possibility of anything more. I’m actually a little grateful she showed me just how low she thinks of me before I took it any further.
“Excuse me, boss.” Looking away from the screen of the CCTV and the messages from my house manager, I settle my gaze on Rocco’s frown and the tightness of his form.
Saban’s like a little sister to him and just as much of a troublemaker as his own sister, Mariah, who, along with her fiancé Thaddeus Love, caused a ruckus in the whole town not long before Saban and Kandie upended the entire community with their bullshit.
Why they never thought to come to either me or Ulysses when they’d dealt with us on such a heavy level is not only insulting, it cuts deeper than the betrayal of the team in entrusted my life with all those years ago.
“Yeah?” Sliding my gaze from him to Padre, who is also looking like he’s ready to challenge me over this shit at any moment, I ask, “Problem?”
Cold glacier blue-gray eyes meet mine as the ex-priest slowly nods. “The club wants a Reckoning.”
Ice-cold rage slithers up my spine. Of course they do.
Word is out Saban and I are back. Her betrayal of the club runs deep.
They can’t do anything to Easy because she’s under Angel’s protection.
The war with the Loves ended in a detente no one was satisfied on either side by the outcome, but Kandie owes the club no loyalty.
Saban grew up among the men and women who were loyal to her and protected her.
The hurt and anger they have right now needs to be exorcised or it could cause a rift not even I or Angel can mend.
When everything we stand for is bound by an oath of loyalty. A betrayal of the kind that Saban served has to be answered.
I can feel the muscles in my jaw tick even as I meet each man’s gaze. “I will see to it.”
“The Reckoning is too harsh a treatment for a woman, man.” Rocco fists his hand, banging it on the table for emphasis.
“I know you’re angry, man, but that shit?
A’int no way you’ll put your girl through that.
I don’t give a fuck how mad you are about what she did.
You should’ve just let Rudy have her if you want her beaten to hell by every member of the club. ”
Silence is taunt between us with the actual threat of violence hanging in the air. I have no doubt were I to even think about carrying out the punishment, they’d kill me on the spot.
“What I have in mind won’t hurt anything but her feelings. Are you finished with that thing I had you working on?” I ask Rocco pointedly.
“Yeah, the lacquer is drying as we speak.” Eyes rounding, he has the nerve to allow a blush to steal onto his jaw.
“Good. Anything else?” I ask, rising.
“Nah,” they grunt in unison.
I don’t bother checking to see if they follow. It’s the end of a hellish day, and I have a woman I need to go feed.
Two hours later, I stand outside the door of my recalcitrant former ward’s room. Balancing the tray in my hand, I press my finger then place my face in front of the retina scan.
When the door snicks open, I step in. Then I wait sentry in case she tries to bolt, letting it slide closed behind me.
“I hear you’re trying to kill yourself the long way. And over some bullshit that’s not your business, no less.” Shaking my head in mock disappointment.
Listening for the soft click, I watch as Saban lies crossways on the little wrought iron bed with her shapely legs kicking back and forth. They freeze midair at my words.
Turning her face in my direction, she can’t stop the way her gaze drags lazily over my body.
Immediately my body responds as if she’s touched me. My dick lengthens, making me bite back a curse, turning to place the tray on the little table I had Aponi bring in so she can eat at a table.
“What do you care, asshole?” Sitting up, her expression turns mutinous, she crosses her arms over her chest. “You used me for your own sick satisfaction and then abandoned me like trash. Holding me prisoner—”
She stops when she sees me playing an invisible violin.
“Ugh, I can’t stand you.” Huffing, she turns, giving me her back.
“Hm, I guess you don’t want this butter chicken then.” Taking the cover off the dish I know she loves, I allow the aroma of spices and curry covered in thick cream to fill the small space of the room.
Head dipping, shoulders sagging, she stares at the lounge pants she is wearing.
“I don’t want it.” She grumbles just as her tummy makes a liar out of her.
“Yeah, I figured. I’ll give it to the dogs.
” Lying, knowing I may have to take drastic measures if she’s determined to put herself in danger by not eating.
It’s been three days, and her cheeks seem hollower.
She’s already lost more weight than I like to see on her trek across the African continent trying to escape me.
Anger licks at me thinking how her running from me kept her from taking care of herself.
“It’ll make the dogs sick, maybe even kill them,” she warns me way too fast for a person who prefers cats. Her eyes dart to the dish before forces herself to look away.
“Hogs then.” I take the seat of the replacement chair at the table, not wanting to get too close to her. I need to keep my wits about me with this woman. Crossing a leg over my thigh, I watch her trying to get her to be sensible.
“Give it to them then. Trust me, I don’t want anything from you but to know if there are innocent people down here with me.
” She tosses over her shoulder. Turning, she lies back down, doing her best to ignore me.
Her tummy protest growling like it’s trying to crawl out of her to take matters into its own hands.
“Seems like your body has other ideas.” I say, watching her do her best to get back into the story she abandoned.
“Well, I can’t always control my body’s response. She doesn’t know what’s good for her — that hoe dumb.” Small, curvy shoulders shrug, dismissing me.
“Yeah?” Dark emotion digs into my solar plexus at her words.
“Yep. Now leave me alone. Leave the food. Your being here spoils my appetite.”
She demands, sitting up in one smooth movement. She faces me, crossing her legs in front like a preschooler.
“So you’re not only doing dumb shit like starving yourself to get my attention, your liar now?” Letting the musing question fall between us, I watch her nose flaring from anger and hunger.
“I’m not—”
“Come here, girl.” Stressing the last word as I have in the past, letting her know I’m a second off her ass. This has been our dynamic for the last few years when she’s attempted to test the boundaries I set.
“Fuck. You.” Her eyes are twin flames of rage.
Rising with slow deliberation, I stand, pushing the chair up to the table.
In a few strides, I’m looking down at her mutinous expression.
“Last chance.” Heat washes over my neck like a wave.
She’s not been eating, but she’s definitely taking every opportunity she gets to shower when Aponi takes her. The fragrance of the vanilla-rose soap and body cream she’s wearing immediately has an effect my senses.
“Get out.” Her eyes burn with anger and the heat she claims is only her body’s reaction.
This is where she thinks I’ll let her bargain or cajole. Not a chance in hell is that happening.
“You getting what you wanted ended when you betrayed my trust. Eat or get your ass spanked.” Shaking my head. “Being childish ain’t going the way you think it is.”
The squirming then pulling her thighs closed, she scoffs. “Loser.”
The bed squeaks under the pressure of my added bulk as I sit, dragging her over my thigh, pinning her in place, ass up. Ripping the lounge pants down and off I toss them on the floor.
“Done talking.” Smacking her ass, I exact punishment with cool detachment as she screams, calling me every motherfucking-loser-ass-bitch on the planet.
Squirming, screaming and cussing do not deter me though.
Watching as the soft brown skin warms to burnt umber, I struggle to quell my reaction.
As much as the sight of her juicy ass jiggling after it absorbs her well-deserved punishment fascinates me, I refuse to be distracted.
She’ll learn that defying me will get her ass spanked every time.
Eventually, her angry shouts give way to whimpers and broken sobs.
“S-snake—” she whines.
I’m soothing the hurt. I rub the plumpest, thickest part of her bottom.
I notice the area between her legs is slick with need for me. Gripping one globe, I squeeze and massage. Her flesh beneath my fingers is soft, giving just enough to allow me the ease the pain and drive my point home.
“H-Hadrián—” a soft moan escapes. I squeeze harder, making her gasp.
“Shh.” I soothe the skin that is blossoming with a deeper umber tinge. She won’t sit comfortably for days.
“You want to defy me at every turn. This is what happens, ti dezód. You know I don’t fucking play when it comes to you.” She shudders beneath my touch. My fingers touch slickness that’s escaped to the crease of her ass.
“You get off of this. Let me up.” She hisses, pressing her thighs closed in an effort to hide the evidence from me.
“Aye, why you hiding, mi pequeno tormento? You think I can’t see how wet you are for me?” I huff out a laugh, spreading her cheeks apart to see her hard clit poking through her fat, juicy lips.