Page 45 of Daddy's Claim

“Great. Cesare is pulling the car around. We need to go.”

Everything was happening so fast my head was spinning. “Wait.” Suddenly feeling desperate to tell him everything, I grabbed Mikey’s arm as he started to walk away.

“This can’t wait, princess.”

“Well, I can’t wait either. I need to talk to you. Now.”

“I promise you’ll have all of my attention tonight, baby. Whatever it is will have to wait until then.” He tried to pull away but I tightened my grip and dug in my heels.

“Not later, Michael. Right now!” My voice had risen to a shout and I had no doubt I was dangerously close to earning myself a trip over his knee, but Ineededhim to listen. I couldn’t even explain why, other than some instinct inside of me telling me that if I didn’t tell him right that second, it would somehow be too late.

“That’s enough. This is not a game. You and I will talk when I get home, and you had better have a damn good reason for yelling at me or else you will be one very sorry little girl tonight.”

“Just fuckinglistento me, Michael! This is important!”

“You’re being a brat, Leonora, and I—”

He turned back to face me and before my brain could even process my movements, my hand raised and I slapped him. Right across the face.

Mikey blinked a couple of times as he stared at me, a tinge of pink blooming on his cheek. Fury burned hot in his eyes and I took a step back, holding my hands up in a futile effort to ward off whatever punishment I had coming my way. “Daddy, I’m sorry. I just need you—”

“What you obviously need is my belt across your ass. Jesus Christ, Leonora, I’ve given you my complete attention, showered you with gifts, and the second you don’t get your way you revert right back to being a spoiled little brat.”

Was that all he thought of me? “It’s not like that!”

“Yeah? Well it really fucking seems like it right about now.”

“I know, it’s just, you’re notlisteningto me.”

Something about my tone must have gotten through to him because his expression softened, just a fraction. “I’m sorry you feel that way, princess, but this is important. I promise when I get home you can have my complete attention.”

Realizing I wasn’t going to win this battle, I blinked back the tears burning my eyes. “Can I come with you, at least? I swear I’ll stay out of the way, I just don’t want to be here all by myself. Please, Daddy.”

I saw the moment he relented. “Fine, but not one word out of you and you will stay where you are told to stay and do what you are told to do the instant you are told to do it. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Good girl. Let’s go.”

Mikey

What the hell had gotten into my wife? For what felt like the hundredth time since we’d left the house, I glanced over at the passenger seat. Nora was hunched in on herself, sniffling pitifully, and my stomach twisted into an ever-tighter knot.

I’d thought we’d made so much progress over the past couple of days. Enough that the tantrum she’d thrown felt completely out of character for the woman I’d gotten to know. Even when she’d been at her brattiest, I never would have expected a scene like that.

Which meant there was something else going on. Unfortunately for the both of us, by the time I reached that conclusion we’d run out of time to talk about whatever that something else was.

Following the other heavily armored SUV Cole and Adele were in, I whipped in behind them, coming to a screeching halt in front of the warehouse. “Stay here,” I snapped, mentally kicking myself when Nora visibly flinched.

Cole and Adele were already out of their vehicle and striding toward the building. “Fuck it,” I muttered, reaching across the console and grabbing my wife by the back of the neck. I yanked her toward me, taking her lips in a bruising kiss I hoped would convey some of what I felt for her. “We aren’t finished, little girl. The second we get home, you’re mine. I’m going to fuck yousenseless, and then you’re going to tell me what’s going on with you. Understood?”

“Yes, Daddy.” The words were breathless, needy, and my cock twitched, demanding we go through with the threat as soon as possible.

“Good girl. I have to go, but you are to sit right here and wait for me. You step one foot out of this car before I get back and your bottom will be feeling my displeasure inside and out.”

“I won’t go anywhere. Promise.”

“Good girl.” It wasn’t what I really wanted to say, but the words still wouldn’t come. Shoving open the car door, I climbed out and slammed the door behind me, hitting the button to lock her in as I stalked toward the warehouse.

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