Chapter 7 #3
“You have no idea what she did or did not do!” Gabriel’s gaze flashed dangerously, and his voice cut like a knife. “I’m not going to debate this.” He turned back to his brother. “Get your mate out of here and see that she never returns.”
Raphael heaved an audible sigh then motioned Claire toward the door.
“I’m not leaving until I see for myself that Heather is unharmed.” She backed up a step and crossed her arms over her chest. “There is no reason they can’t—”
Her breath whooshed out as Raphael’s shoulder lodged in her belly. His palm firmly smacked her ass as he straightened and settled her over his shoulder. “We’ll continue this discussion once I’ve regained control of my mate,” Raphael told the other two.
“There’s nothing to discuss,” Patrick sneered. “I’m not giving her back.”
Rather than argue, Raphael carried Claire from the cabin, his steps long and purposeful.
Claire tolerated the painful position for a few moments then gritted out, “Will you please put me down? I’m perfectly capable of walking.”
After delivering another stinging slap to her upturned ass, Raphael set her on her feet. “Don’t let my defense confuse you. There will be hell to pay for your misbehavior.”
“What about Patrick’s misbehavior? Why is no one dealing with him?”
Rather than argue with her, Raphael motioned toward their cabin and growled out, “Walk.”
Claire gritted her teeth, but used the tense pause to calm down.
Every time she indulged her temper all she accomplished was to intensify the discipline.
She’d broken into Gabriel’s cabin and thrown a lamp at one of the males.
She’d earned a hard spanking. There was no way to avoid the consequence of her impulsive behavior.
But shouting angry demands would undoubtedly make things worse, not better.
They reached their cabin a few minutes later and Raphael ushered her inside. “Go to our bedroom and undress,” he directed as he shut and locked the door. His tone was stern, his features expressionless.
Victor stood across the room silently watching. He didn’t look angry, but she knew he wouldn’t interfere.
She lowered her gaze, but held her ground. “Sir, may we please discuss the situation before I accept my punishment, which I will do without argument.”
“You’re arguing with me right now,” Raphael pointed out.
Disappointed, but trying to learn from her past mistakes, she walked into the bedroom and mechanically took off her clothes.
When all her garments rested in a neat stack beside the bed, she knelt and placed her hands on her thighs.
She lowered her gaze and her hair swung forward, narrowing her field of vision.
Footsteps approached and then Raphael’s boots came into view. “Why did you break into Gabriel’s cabin?”
“I was hoping Patrick had locked up Heather in there,” she admitted. Lies and excuses at this point would have been counterproductive. They both knew the truth.
“What would you have done if you had found her?” Victor asked as he joined them in the bedroom.
“I was going to hide her until one of the cats could come and get her.” It hadn’t been much of a plan, but it proved that she’d thought beyond her anger. She doubted that her intentions would help, but she wanted them to know that her motivation had been pure.
A silent pause followed, then Raphael asked, “How did you find out that Patrick took Heather?”
She tensed, swallowing with difficulty before she could speak again. “I visited the bunkhouse this morning and one of the women told me what happened. May I ask why you didn’t say anything to me?” She tried to remain calm and respectful, but accusation sharpened her tone.
“You were asleep when I returned last night and I left early this morning to search the tunnels,” he explained. “I was on my way to tell you now. Instead, Gabriel insisted that I come get you because you had broken into his cabin.”
Emboldened by anger, she lifted her head and met his gaze. “Do you know where they have her stashed?”
“How long have you known she was an active part of their medical team?” he countered angrily. “Did Zion know when he allowed her to participate in the alliance?”
“Heather is a physician’s assistant,” Claire stressed as she rose to her feet.
Kneeling before him intensified her vulnerability and she refused to feel weak.
Claire had failed to protect her brother, and she’d failed to protect Dawn.
She didn’t care what it cost her. She would not fail Heather!
“She was not allowed to make decisions. She had no authority. She did only what she was ordered to do. Her primary responsibilities were suturing cuts, bandaging scrapes, and handing out food trays.”
“She also gave injections and drew blood so her colleagues could analyze the effectiveness of their treatments,” Victor added. His gaze gleamed like molten gold as he stared at her.
“Injections ordered by her superiors.” Claire met his gaze for a moment then turned her attention back toward her primary accuser. “Heather was so far down the chain of command that most didn’t even consider her part of the team.”
Raphael pointed to the bed. “Bend over. I’m finished with this conversation.”
No longer willing to submit, she snapped, “This hasn’t been a conversation. Information flows both directions during a conversation, and you haven’t told me a goddamn thing. Do you know where Heather is or not? How badly has Patrick hurt her?”
Rather than reply, Raphael unbuckled his belt and slowly drew it from the loops in his pants. “I gave you a directive. This is your only warning. Do as you’re told, or your punishment will intensify.”
His intransigence only fueled her fire. Submission required trust and she didn’t trust either of these males at the moment. She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. “If you don’t know, just say I don’t know. Do we always have to play these stupid games?”
“You know the rules,” Raphael persisted. “Disobedience results in harsher punishments. The choice is yours.”
Fueled by her heightened emotions, a worst-case scenario took shape within her mind. “Is Heather dead?” Claire demanded. “Is that why you won’t answer my questions?”
Clearly exasperated by her stubbornness, Raphael released an audible sigh and folded the belt in half.
“Patrick would never intentionally harm a female.” Victor’s statement earned him an angry glare from Raphael. Victor ignored the warning and added, “We would never allow true abuse.”
Raphael tapped the side of his leg with the folded belt as his gaze locked on hers. “Heather will be punished for her part in their captivity, but her life is not in danger.”
Claire heard the finality in Raphael’s tone. He might be finished with the conversation, but she wasn’t! “You’re comfortable with that dynamic?” she challenged. “They can do whatever the fuck they want to her as long as they don’t kill her?”
Raphael lunged for Claire. Grabbing the back of her neck, he urged her down over the side of the bed. “Heather is not your concern. This is happening because you refuse to accept that.” He brought the belt down across her behind, no warmup, no further warning, just a biting sting.
Claire gasped and then cried out as the intensity forced the sound from her lungs. “Heather is being abused by your brother,” she yelled, her hips twisting to avoid Raphael’s next swing. “You’re the leader of this fucking village. It’s your job to protect its inhabitants.”
Raphael splayed his hand against her back and continued to belt her squirming bottom.
Heat built with breath-stealing speed. It spread across her cheeks and sank into her pussy.
She’d been spanked with a belt before, but this was unusually harsh.
Each strike jarred her body and forced aching need into her core.
She clenched at the bedding and twisted sharply to one side and then the other.
The contrast confused her. She couldn’t decide if she wanted to kick and scream or slip her hand between her thighs and get herself off.
“Did you have permission to enter Gabriel’s home?” Raphael persisted.
She kicked at him, but was unable to draw up her leg high enough to reach him. “You don’t have permission to whip me!” she shouted as she tried to twist out of his grasp. He pressed down harder, holding her firmly against the bed. “I was trying to protect my friend. Something you should be doing.”
“Heather.” He emphasized the word with a swing of the belt. “Is.” Another swing. “Not.” Swat. “In.” Swat. “Danger!” Three harsh swats accented the final word.
Tears streamed down Claire’s face. Her muscles were so tense that her legs shook, and her knuckles had turned white.
Her ass throbbed, an inescapable reminder of her miscalculation.
“If she’s not in danger, why did you beat the shit out of Gabriel?
” It was a guess, but Raphael’s immediate reaction assured her that she was right.
A fast flurry of spanks followed, then he tossed the belt aside.
With lightning fast movements, he kicked her feet apart and found her entrance with the tip of his cock.
“Your conclusions are insulting.” He pushed half his length into her wet pussy, forcing her to open for his dominating thickness.
“If Heather were in real danger, I would be tearing this village apart looking for her.”
His angry words rang true, and Claire let out a defeated whimper. She’d been angry and afraid when she found out about Heather. She reacted without considering her options. “They said you stood there and did nothing while Patrick carried her away.”
“Why didn’t you ask me what happened before you headed off on your own?” He thrust the rest of his length into her pulsing core.