“Destroy her phone,” I repeat to Rafael. “Be sure no pictures are stored remotely. I am not convinced of her innocence or her guilt, so she’ll remain in my custody.”
Rafael drops her phone to the ground before digging his heel through the glass. She flinches but doesn’t speak. He lifts his foot and brings it down again and again, until all that remains are bits of shattered glass and metal.
“Nicolai, call a meeting,” I tell him. “I want everyone here within the hour. It is best if we keep everyone apprised of what’s happened so there are no questions, and no one suspects foul play.”
Though there are times I need to keep certain decisions hidden, and initially wondered if what happened in this room tonight was one of those times, I value transparency in the brotherhood. I want my men to know they can trust me. We also found out information in our interrogation that has a direct impact on all of us, and it’s time I made them aware. Though I make the final decisions, I prefer hearing input from those who are loyal to me.
Nicolai nods and takes his leave.
“Rafael, Tomas and Caroline arrive at the airport at nine o’clock. I planned on fetching them myself, but since I’ll be otherwise occupied, I’ll ask that you go and arrange to bring them back here.”
“Yes, sir.” I wait until Nicolai and Rafael leave before I turn back to her.
A part of me longs to end her punishment now, to draw her to my chest and soothe her tears. To forgive her.
But another part of me longs to give her the spanking of her life, to shock her into fear of me, for she’s put herself in harm’s way and I will not allow that.
I take in a deep breath and stand behind her once more.
“You will tell me the truth, now, Taara. All of it.”
“I did, sir,” she sniffs.
“Why did you have pictures of me on your phone?”
If she’s working with an enemy, she’s had more private access to me and my home than anyone else on my payroll. When she doesn’t answer, I lift the cane and give her half a dozen firm, measured strokes, one on top of the other. Slower than the previous smacks. Harder. I ignore her cries and wincing while I administer a spanking she’ll feel for fucking days. If she’s betrayed us, she’s earned this. And if she hasn’t, I’d rather her have to lay on her belly for a week than endanger her life.
“Let’s try this again. Why did you have pictures of me on your phone?”
“I told you, it was an accident—ow!”
She pauses in her lie when I cane her mid-sentence. She knows I’m not speaking of the ones she took accidentally.
“The truth, Taara. Not the pictures you took tonight. The ones of me. Are you working with my enemy?”
She doesn’t respond at first. The blood pumps hot in my veins, and I have to take several deep breaths to steady my anger. I step toward her and yank her head back with a fist at the nape of her neck.
“You tell me the truth, Taara.”
She clamps her mouth shut.
With a shuddering sigh, she lifts her head, her eyes closed tightly.
“Taara, I need the truth,” I say, my voice gentler as I look at this beautiful woman in distress, sweat pouring down her face in rivulets, mingled with her tears. She’s been good to me, so good to me. Perhaps she hasn’t betrayed us after all. And then it dawns on me, a possibility that didn’t even occur to me until just now.
Is she… no, she can’t be…
But it would explain so much.
Is Taara infatuated with me? Does she have a schoolgirl crush?
Could that be why she won’t tell me? Is she embarrassed?
Fuck.
I step in front of her and look down. She stands a full head below me. Though her eyes are still closed tightly, they flutter open when I grasp her chin, slippery from tears, and lift her gaze to mine.
“Are you embarrassed to tell me why you have pictures of me on your phone?” I ask quietly.
Her eyes search mine, hopeful and full of something I can’t quite put my finger on, perhaps because she isn’t sure how she feels herself. I imagine she’s run the gamut of emotion tonight, and if what I suspect is true…
I decide to try a different tactic. Brushing her damp hair from her forehead, I gentle my voice once more. “If you tell me the truth, Taara, I’ll end this punishment and we won’t need to speak of this again. Can you trust me enough to tell me the truth?”
She holds my gaze for long seconds before she finally nods.
“I like looking at pictures of you,” she whispers. “I promise, Stefan, that I had no ill intentions. Never. But…” she tries to break eye contact, but a sharp yank of her chin brings her gaze back to mine. She swallows hard. “I had… I had a crush on you.” Then her voice hardens, and she meets my gaze unblinking. “But no more.”