As Harper went to sit beside him, Draven caught her wrist.
“No, you will sit on the floor.”
Silence fell around the room. Harper looked toward Axel, who sat down at the other end of the table. Harper should have been sitting down there, and if she’d not done what she had ten years ago, she would have been. They wouldn’t all be waiting for her punishment, to see her hurt.
Axel didn’t offer any comfort or protest.
Harper sat down on the floor.
“Kneel up. I don’t want to have to work to feed you.”
He was treating her like a dog, but she did as he requested.
One glance at her and he saw her cheeks were red. Tears were in her eyes, but she did no more than blink them away.
Dinner started as the waitress brought out the first course. It was soup.
Dropping his spoon into the soup, he tasted it. He didn’t have a clue what it was. Drawing another spoonful, he pressed it to her lips, and Harper glared at him as she took from the spoon. She licked her lips.
“She’s like a good little dog,” one of the women said. “So perfect. I tell you, Draven, if you’re ever interested in bringing her for training, I’d like to give her a try.” This came from Tillie. She was a known dominatrix and owned a string of BDSM clubs that catered to all tastes.
“You may get a chance at her later.”
“Oh, good, I do like a good show.” Tillie clapped her hands in glee.
Everyone present here had seen their fair share of darkness. Nothing would surprise them.
“Does she even know what she did wrong? That all the bad girls always get punished?” another asked.
“She knows what she did wrong. She also knows she’s going to be punished for it.” He saw the anger in her eyes as he finished off the soup.
Draven had only fed her a few spoonsful.
“Would you like to see her in all of her glory?”
The table cheered, and he got her to stand up and to remove the dress that he’d so carefully picked out for her.
Her hands shook as she followed his words.
“Harper, go and serve all the men some wine,” he said.
She turned her back to them and went to the wine bottle. The waitress that was standing in the corner held it out for her.
Harper took it, and came to the table, attending them one by one. She started with Axel, who was shaking his head at Draven. It looked like he disapproved of what was happening.
Doing this, there was no way they would ever be able to have her as queen, to have her at their table. Axel’s concerns about his own welfare were completely unfounded. Draven had no feelings for Harper. He just wanted to make her pay.
What Axel failed to realize was he had no intention of keeping Harper. He was going to let his plans play out, and she was going to be broken. The proud woman they saw right now, that would all fall away.
One by one, she filled wineglasses, and as men and women touched her, Draven sat back and watched.
He wasn’t immune to what was happening. Sipping at his drink, he waited for her to get to his table, and as she stepped close, pouring him some wine, he slid a hand between her thighs.
She was completely dry. Nothing about this was turning her on.
He watched her, and as he probed her pussy, she winced. Pulling his fingers away, he spat into them, and worked them between her folds once more and she gripped the edge of the table.
He made sure they all saw what he was doing.
“Axel, go and prepare her,” he said.
“Draven.”
“Now.”
His friend didn’t argue. He got to his feet and moved toward Harper. It was time to begin her punishment.
****
There was no weapon, nothing.
Harper had no choice but to deal with everyone who touched her as if they had a right to. Her body was her own, but Draven had made sure they could touch.
Axel grabbed her arm and dragged her outside in the cold.
“What is going on?” she asked, crying out.
“You really think it was going to get as bad as last night? You don’t think that Draven has other plans for you?” Axel asked.
“I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Buck and Jett died because of you.”
“I didn’t do anything. I tried to make it so you’d all be safe. So you’d all be alive.”
“Stop fucking lying.”
She pulled on him, forcing him to turn toward her. The cold of the night bit into her flesh.
“I didn’t run away. I loved you all, and you know I loved Draven so much. I went to the bathroom and never had any intention of running away.”
“The same old story. Cut the bullshit.”
“This is not bullshit, Axel. This is the truth. Plain and fucking clear to see. I was taken from the bathroom back to Draven’s old house. Alan had arranged it. He arranged the shooter, Axel. I watched what he did.” She pulled on him as Axel tried to move her away. “Please, I wouldn’t lie to you. I would never lie to you. Please, listen to me. I watched him give the order. I watched the shooter fire into the crowd. I didn’t know he’d hit Buck. I called on Alan’s bluff. He told me he’d kill Draven. He’d kill all of you.”