Page 98 of King of the Cage

He glanced at me. “So, if anyone is getting punished, it’s me.”

“Bran!” I protested.

He ignored me completely to continue the staring competition he and Archibald seemed to have going.

“You really want to take the punishment?” Archibald tipped his head to the side and considered Bran.

“Would a man ever say no, when his wife would bear the alternative? It’s my fault. Punish me if you must, but I have to tell you, it’ll take a strong arm to teach me a lesson.” Bran smirked, and the tension in the room wavered under his unrelenting charm.

Archibald studied us before shrugging. “As you wish. Since the members are already gathered, it’s best to get this over with. We will convene in the ceremony room. I will ask for a volunteer with a strong arm, as you put it.”

“Looking forward to it.” Bran’s voice was arrogant and unbothered.

Regina hovered around Archibald as he stalked from the room.

“My men will escort you shortly,” he called back to us.

The crowd descended into a flurry of whispers, but I ignored them all to look up at Bran.

He threaded his fingers through mine.

“Are you really all right?” he asked me.

I blinked at him, caught off guard by the unexpected concern.

“Yes, I am, but I should be asking you that,” I pointed out.

He gave me a lopsided smile that shattered my heart. “Ask me later.”

“What do you think the punishment is?” I asked, chewing my lip. Guilt swam in my gut.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure I’ve endured worse. Did you see anything interesting?”

I nodded, and Bran grinned.

“That’s my clever girl.”

The security guy stepped forward and nodded toward the end of the hall. “Time to go.”

27

GIADA

They took us to the atrium, where the altar with the raised dais was.

People were already gathering inside the large room, taking their seats, an air of excitement hanging in the air. I stopped on the threshold, frozen with disgust. These people couldn’t wait to get their seats for the show.

Bran tugged me forward. “I’ve always wanted to perform in the round. Just call me Shakespeare.” His tone was dry and amused.

“Bran, getting in trouble already due to your terrible taste in women.” Aldo Sepriano slimed up out of nowhere and smirked at us. He had tissues stuffed up his nose.

“Nice tissues, really manly. Didn’t you have a tampon on you to stuff up there?” Bran remarked, his voice full of wry delight.

Aldo looked pissed for a second and then raised an eyebrow at me. “I hear we’re not getting to see the real culprit stripped and flogged, which is a shame. I’d rather see your chest turn bloody than O’Connor’s.”

Flogged?I might throw up.

Bran slapped a hand on Aldo’s chest, the black anger billowing from him in stark contrast with his jovial attitude from moments before.

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