Page 171 of Traitor

"Remember when I told you that joining my MC is going to be fun for everyone but you?" I lean forward, letting the weight of my words settle. "You don't need to prospect, of course. We've been working together for years. I know you can be loyal. I know you can kill. I know you can do what's necessary. But you went to Temper, did you really think I'd forget that?"

He exhales sharply, jaw locking. I can see it, the way he's trying to figure a way out of this.

"Come on, Bones," he huffs, gesturing wildly. "This is fucking humiliating. I thought you'd punch me, cut off a finger, shoot me in the leg! What the fuck is happening in this club? This is too much. It's beneath you."

I grin. Poor bastard.

He thinks I'd just hurt him and be done with it? Nah. That's too easy.

Temper was right. She probably laughed her ass off when she thought of this. And now, I'm about to have the time of my goddamn life.

"It really isn't beneath me, Luca. I've come to...appreciate the power of humiliation. Sometimes, it's just as good as drawing blood." I let the darkness rise, let it bleed into my voice. "You know, my woman's best friend once said something that really stuck with me:'The dildo of consequences rarely comes lubed.'"

Luca blinks. "What the fuck?"

I continue, ignoring him.

"You went to my woman. Sure, you didn't say threatening words, but I fucking know you. I know how you can say shit without speaking at all. You scared her. And now the dildo of consequences is coming for you, fucker. Except, it's going to be a paddle."

His eyes narrow. He's getting that deadly calm, but I steamroll over it.

"You want to officially join the club? Then this is what you're going to do: you're going to stand bare-assed in the backyard, while one of the brothers — you can choose which one— spanks your fucking ass with a spiked paddle. Twenty times. In front of everyone. And then you're in. And we never speak of it again."

I lean back, watching him absorb that information. He's staring at me like he's just realized I'm the devil.

I shrug. "I learned something this past year. Blood, wounds, pain — that's nothing to men like us. We're born into it. We accept it like it's part of us. But humiliation?" I tilt my head, letting the words settle. "That's different. If you go through that and you can still stand proud, still hold your head high, still do your part, mind unbroken —thenyou're the kind of man I want in my club."

Luca's jaw clenches so hard I think his teeth might crack.

"You should be grateful it's only going to be the brothers there," I add, smirking.

Silence stretches between us.

And then it comes — a long, heavy sigh. Resigned.

"I'll fucking do it,stronzo.If that's what it takes. But I know you're full of shit! This isn't about passing a fucked up test in humiliation. I know you wouldn't have asked this if I hadn't gone to your woman, asshole. You're a vengeful fuck." He looks me dead in the eyes, fire burning in them. "But I'm not buying a fucking Harley." He flicks an invisible piece of lint off his expensive suit, defiant. "I already have a bike. And that's what I'm using."

I grin. "As long as you can keep up with us, you can ride a fucking bicycle for all I care. Good taste can't be forced on anyone."

The next morning, I send my usual text to Temper and start gearing up to deal with club business. Same routine as always. But just as I put my phone down, it buzzes.

I frown. That never happens.

"Dinner at my place. Friday. At seven. I'm making lasagna. :)"

Fuck.

Anticipation slams into me, sharp and bright, but right on its heels comes dread. My mind trips over itself, caught somewhere between 'is this real?'and 'is this a trap?'And then my phone vibrates again.

"The good kind of lasagna! I'm just craving it. No shenanigans, I promise!"

Laughter bursts out of me before I can stop it. Jesus.

Without thinking, I press call.

She picks up immediately. "I'm not trying to poison you this time," she blurts, words coming fast, storming through the receiver. "We can have something else or go somewhere if you'd like. I just like my place more, there's only one restaurant in town and it's not that great."

I chuckle, stopping her before she spirals. "Breathe, baby."

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