Page 95 of Savage Obsession

“What’s going to happen to Adan San Antonio?”

“That’s Kris’s call.”

“Yes, but… he was hurt.”

Another grunt from me. Kneecapping is particularly cruel, most victims never walk unaided again, assuming they survive at all. At least Kris relented enough to allow me to send in some medical help. “He’s being cared for,” I assure her.

“He wasn’t that bad, you know. I always knew we’d be safe.”

“How could you be sure of that? Anything could have happened.”

“Yes, but?—”

“Abduction. Hostage-taking. Threats. He would have killed Kris, given the chance. That was the plan.”

“Yes, I know, but you pleaded for him.”

“To avoid making a bad situation worse, to give us time to think, to plan. Don’t mistake good strategy for sympathy. San Antonio is our enemy, and ultimately, it’s going to be him or us.”

Julia falls silent, contemplating her bare toes with uncommon interest. Eventually, she raises her gaze to meet mine again. “I’m sorry,” she murmurs. “It was my fault.”

“It was,” I agree. “I warned you, offered you an escort.”

“I know. I was just… I wanted to do my own thing.”

“That was bad enough, but you involved our daughter, too.” I grasp her chin in my hand. “It could all have ended very differently.”

“I realise that, but?—”

“No, Julia, no excuses. A man is dead because of what you did. I have to phone his mother, explain to her that her son of just nineteen is never coming home.”

Her face pales. “Oh God. I didn’t know. I never…”

“And two more are in hospital.”

“I never wanted that. I just didn’t think.”

“I know that. I know you didn’t intend anyone to get hurt. But actions have consequences. Disobedience has consequences. Someone always gets hurt.” I pause, then, “Kris is of the view that it ought to be you.”

She starts, obviously confused. “What? What do you mean?”

I sigh. This gives me no pleasure. Kris and I have much in common, but a desire to inflict pain on the women we love is not one of them. That’s his kink, and Janey’s, apparently. But I understand necessity, the need to deliver retribution, for justice to be seen to be done. And for lessons to be learned.

“He wants me to punish you.”

“P-punish me. But I… I’m your wife, Lily’s mother. You can’t…”

I permit myself a wry smile. “Don’t panic, we didn’t go to all the trouble of extricating you from that cottage just to execute you as soon as we got back.”

She lets out a nervous laugh. “No, of course not, but?—”

“A solid whipping should do the trick.”

I hadn’t imagined she could become even paler, but I’m wrong.

She gapes at me, stunned. “That’s… that’s barbaric.”

“Hardly. You’ll survive it well enough. A couple of dozen strokes from my belt will be sufficient to make the point.”

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