Page 116 of Mob Princess

I lower her to her feet. I pull my phone out of my pocket and pull up a group text. Lina can see what I’m doing. She reaches for my phone, frantic.

Me

I need time to talk to Lina. Do not interrupt. If you need me, figure it out on your own.

Her eyes are so wide, I think I can see every millimeter of white. She shakes her head as she looks past me. Her voice hisses.

“They’ll know.”

“Then you’ll have to be quiet.”

I take her hand and lead her to the bed in the corner. It’s as far from the door as we can get. I sit, and she tries to move beside me.

“No, cailín. I’m proud of you for getting the information we needed. I’m proud of you for being brave enough to follow this through. I’m proud of you for your resourcefulness. It pissed me off you left without protection. I’m not angry anymore. I will never punish you while angry. I never want to risk my temper making me careless. But your arse is going to be sore for a week. You could have died. That wouldn’t even be the worst that could have happened. You didn’t know who was here. You didn’t know if someone might come over. You didn’t know you were safe just getting here. I know you had freedom in Boston, but I doubt your grandfather allowed you to do things this reckless in Montreal.”

“I’ve never been in this situation before. I’m sorry for scaring you and your family. I’m sorry for being deceptive. I’m sorry for dragging your family away from whatever else they should be doing. But I am not sorry for finding out who did this to you. I am not sorry for killing one of the people involved. I am not sorry that I will kill anyone else involved. I will repent for the first part, but I will sin with a clear conscience for the second part.”

“I’m not upset about the second part. I’m unhappy about the first part. I get why you did it. You didn’t think anyone would bring you here. And they probably wouldn’t. But this information—this vengeance—none of it is as valuable as your life, your wellbeing, your safety. There were other ways. Maybe not as efficient, but effective. I need to know that you won’t do something like this again, Lina. I thought I’d been terrified in the past. But nothing prepared me for my mom telling me you were gone. That is a degree of fear I pray I never feel again. If finding you weren’t so urgent, it would have paralyzed me.”

“Then you know how I felt. The longer I sat with your mom in your room, the calmer I felt. But that was physically. My heart didn’t race. I didn’t feel like I was going to vomit. I didn’t think I would sob until I couldn’t breathe. It did nothing to cease the terror I felt because I would never see you again. I will obey your rules, Sean. But only to a point. I will not promise I won’t do something like this again. I don’t plan to. I don’t want to. But if it’s your life or our children’s, then you will never be able to stop me. I promise you that. I will find a way.”

“Children?” I love the sound of that.

“Yes. Children. If we can have them, then we will. Do you not want kids?”

“I only want kids with you. But that’s binding our lives together forever. Are you ready to think about something like that?”

“Yes. Or rather, I’m ready to talk about what that would look like. What we want. How we could make what we both want work. If we agree our future is together, then I stand by what I just said. I will obey your rules. I will take the precautions to protect myself and our family. I won’t disregard your men’s welfare. But I have a limit to that. You will never convince me not to do any and everything I can to protect you and our family. You are not the only one able and allowed to make that pledge.”

I stare at Lina as she speaks. I never imagined someone outside my family would speak this way about me. My men are loyal because it’s their duty. My family is loyal because we’re blood. Lina is loyal because she chooses to be.

“I get to decide when the situation warrants you breaking my rules.” I grin.

“I believe you want to spank me. I want my spanking. Should I strip?”

I hesitate. “No. Just pull your dress up.”

I know she’s confused. I can’t blame her. I never suggest she stay clothed. Just the opposite.

“Lina, if you’re naked, I will get distracted. This isn’t to arouse you. It isn’t to edge you. That’s not part of this. This is a real and true consequence for you risking your life.”

“Do you think we can find a belt?”

“What? No. Absolutely not. No.”

I have a visceral reaction to that idea. I don’t mind the idea of a belt or something else when we’re doing this for pleasure. I don’t like the idea of taking anything to her but my hand as part of a punishment. It’s already going to test my fortitude to trust I won’t hurt her. I don’t think I will. I don’t believe I’ll lose control. I won’t be in the headspace I am when I’m at the station. But it is a different mindset from kink, and I fear I’ll inadvertently hurt her.

“Daddy, tell me what you’re thinking. Or let me say what I think it is.”

“I don’t like the idea of using something on your for a punishment that we could also use for pleasure. I don’t want to associate the two. I also fear being too rough with you if I use anything but my hand when I punish you. I won’t confuse being with my girlfriend with being with—I just don’t want to make a mistake.”

She cups my jaw. “You are the sweetest man I’ve ever met, nounours. I wouldn’t consent if I didn’t know you’ll always do your best for me. My trust is unconditional just like the rest of my feelings.”

She gathers her dress and lays across my lap. She’s not wearing panties and hasn’t for days. I palm her arse and squeeze until she squirms. I do that to both sides. Then I bring my hand down heavily. The sound of flesh on flesh fills the room.

“Lina?”

“That fucking hurts, nounours. Keep going.”

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