Love and Punishment

by Sorcha Mowbray

  Chapter Twelve

  Liam sat at the desk in the office he shared with Nate and now Bel. The two in question sat across from him working on inventory records with Nate mostly just sitting there telling Bel what to do.

  “Yeah, Gabe should be able to deliver everything next week. Let Sam know, and she’ll get the guys organized to help off-load supplies.” Nate grimaced when he shifted in his chair.

  “You need to get back in bed.” The words flew out of Liam’s mouth before he’d even stopped to think about them.

  Nate glared at him. “It’s been a month. If I sit in that bed one more day, I’m going to melt into the mattress.”

  “Maybe the couch would be better than the office.” Bel tried to mediate.

  “The doctor told me I needed to get up and move around a bit.” Nate’s gray eyes swirled with pain, but Liam knew he would never cop to it.

  He sighed and set his pencil down. “Fine, but in a bit you need to at least shift to the couch. That hard chair can’t be comfortable.”

  “Okay.” Nate gave in way to easily. “But only if you two promise to come with me.” He reached over and pinched Bel’s ass while she bent over to put the inventory ledgers in a drawer.

  She popped up and smacked his hand. “Hey!”

  “Patient privilege.”

  Liam chuckled. Okay, maybe he was feeling better. “Shit, bro. You are a dirty bastard.”

  “I’m a horny, dirty bastard. Neither of you has touched me since the attack, except to clean my wounds or torture me with a sponge bath.”

  “Need I remind you the doctor said no vigorous activity for two more weeks.”

  Bel glared at Nate, which made Liam grin. Mostly because she came to him for relief after every one of those sponge baths. They worked her up same as they did Nate.

  “Well, I’m pretty sure you two haven’t abstained while I’ve been laid low, which means I get at least six weeks of whatever I want in bed once the doctor clears me.”

  Bel blushed, but Liam agreed readily. “Whatever you want, man.” Because, seriously, he’d never be able to deny Nate anything. “But there is something I need to tell both of you.” His shoulders knotted with tension. He’d put off telling them because he wanted Nate focused on healing, not worrying about Pit Night.

  “What?” Bel and Nate spoke together, worry lacing both of their voices.

  “I issued Marcus an honor challenge for Pit Night.” There. He’d said it. Now they knew.

  Nothing. Neither one said a word. They just stared at him. One with acceptance and resignation, the other with worry and feminine fury.

  Finally, Nate replied, “I expected this. It’s what I would have done in your position. Would do if I could.”

  “No. You can’t do this.” Bel slapped her hand on the desk and growled.

  Fuck, she radiated sexy when she got all protective and shit.

  “It’s already done. I’m sorry, Bel, but I am going to kill your father.”

  “He’s not my father. My father died the same night my mother did, two years after The Wave.”

  Liam nodded. He understood her need to divorce herself from the man who’d used her and thrown her away. “Fine. I intend to kill Marcus Priestly.”

  “Liam, please.” Bel dropped to her knees at his side and placed her forehead against his thigh. “Please, don’t do this. That man will not play fair. He will pull out every dirty, underhanded trick in the book to win the fight. I can’t lose you when we just got Nate back.”

  He eased her head off his thigh then lifted her into his lap where she curled up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Baby, who said I planned to fight fair?”

  Her weight shifted on his legs until she lifted her head. Confusion clouded her beautiful turquoise eyes. “But, you’re too honorable to fight the way he will.”

  Her utter belief in him was both sweet and scary. How would she feel when she understood he truly had no intention of fighting fair? No intention of letting Marcus walk out of the pit alive. Not even if he begged for mercy. And when she learned he was just as capable of pure violence as the man who sired her? Could she still love him with that knowledge? God, he hoped so.

  “No. I’m not. I may not choose to be that way all the time, but I have the same kind of darkness inside me. I promise.”

  Nate simply nodded. They both knew what they were capable of. What they had done once upon a time in retribution for the loss of their family and then, on another night, the loss of a mother. Knowing your victim personally made them harder to kill, but not impossible.

  Her hands trembled when she cupped his face. “You are a diamond; strong, but you glow with an inner fire that can only come from a beautiful soul. The shadows within make the fire glow brighter. Whatever darkness you believe is inside you simply makes the rest more brilliant.” Her soft lips pressed against his firmer ones before she pulled back.

  Liam nearly choked with the love and acceptance pouring from her gaze. A balm to his weary soul, her words, her love, and Nate’s steadfast heart eased the pain of all that had happened, and made him believe in the future. Killing Marcus would ensure a safer future than if the black-hearted man continued to breathe.

  ***

  Bel ruthlessly stomped on the nerves that continued to try and worm their way to the surface. Liam deserved her full faith. No outward signs of worry allowed. Nate was damn near back to normal. He caught the occasional twinge, but the doctor had cleared him the week before to start working out again. Vigorous activity permitted. And, boy, had he been making the most of his clearance. The man became a walking hard-on, and he declared if he asked for it, he got it. Whenever and wherever. To date, Nate had fucked her in their bed, the living room, the dining hall, the gym, the warehouse, and just that afternoon the office. Poor Liam walked as funny as her from having been as thoroughly fucked.

  The crowd parted, and they took up their positions by the pit, surrounded by all the Beasts along with a fair number of the people who lived in their territory. In particular, the Roses and the artisans.

  The bouts started before they arrived, but typically the early ones were simple fights. The honor challenges came later in the evening after careful stoking brought the crowd’s thirst for violence to a peak. A glance at the pit board revealed Liam’s match sat last on the night’s slate. Clearly, everyone knew the details of what happened. After all, half of Epsilon had crammed into the warehouse used for Pit Night. The other half probably lingered outside to hear what happened.

  During the early fights, she watched, sandwiched between Nate and Liam, right where she belonged. Halfway through the night, Kalif’s voice whispered over her shoulder, “Tell your man to watch the right boot.” By the time she turned around, he’d melted into the crowd and disappeared. Fear spiked through her outward calm, a stone breaking the surface of a placid lake.

  Nate caught her chin. “What’s wrong, pet? Who was that man?”

  Anxiety coated her mouth with a bitter taste. It persisted despite multiple swallows and a lungful of slightly stale air. “He’s a friend.” Worry squeezed her heart in a vise and she grabbed Liam’s arm. “Watch Marcus’ right boot. He has some kind of trick or weapon there. It could be a blade or poison. Anything.”

  “How do you know?” Liam patted the hand she used to clutch his biceps.

  “Kalif, one of my dad’s men who is still a friend just delivered the warning. He said to watch the right boot.” Panic tried to well up when she imagined all the possible devious things her fa—Marcus might try.

  “Can this guy be trusted?” Nate’s gruff question jerked her back to the moment and helped her wrestle control back.

  She nodded. “Implicitly. He did all he could to help when Marcus found me.”

  “All right. Well, at least I know. Not like I didn’t think he’d try something underhanded. Now I have an idea what to look for.” Liam’s words came out steady and confident. “Don’t worry, baby. This is on
e fight he won’t win.”

  Words of assurance tangled in her throat and tried to choke her, which forced her to settle for another nod. After nearly losing Nate, the idea of Liam fighting Marcus had her terrified, and she seriously doubted she hid it well. Then her golden brooder leaned over and kissed her long and deep to much hooting and hollering. One breath was all she managed before Nate grabbed her and followed suit. By the time they had each kissed her senseless, her doubts were buried under the love for her men pouring out in response to their touch. Nothing bad would happen because she believed in fairy tales…she was fucking living one.

  The first honor challenge started, and they watched two men fight for the right to claim one woman. Considering her new view of the world, she couldn’t help but think the fight a huge waste. Why didn’t they share her? It stood to reason not every man would be open to sharing. And of course there was no telling if the woman even wanted both men. The fight ended with the challenger dead on the dirt floor of the pit. When the gate opened to expel the winner, the girl flung herself into his arms. Clearly the right man won.

  Two more fights before the final match.

  Bel clung to her belief in happy ever after despite the escalating tension with each fight. Though she had not seen Marcus, he must have arrived because Kalif would not have come alone. Where one went, the other followed. Looking back, it surprised her Kalif had never made a play for control of the Disciples. Perhaps he had merely lain in wait? With little time left, she pushed the question aside and focused on her men. The next fight ended, which meant Liam needed to make his way to where the fighters got ready. An impulse she couldn’t have stopped any more than a speeding bullet had her wrapping her arms tight around him. She planted a quick kiss on his lips and pulled back. “Whatever it takes to win. No regrets.”

  Liam nodded. “Whatever it takes to come back to you two. No regrets.” He reached over and kissed Nate like he could siphon off his strength to carry with him. And maybe he had, because while he made his way to the gate, he seemed to grow bigger, more muscular, more lethal with each step. She’d never seen this side of Liam, but she liked it.

  When the last fight ended, she pressed against Nate and waited. The clean-up crew dragged the loser from the pit, and Liam entered the circle. Nate by her side, they pressed against the fence that ringed the hole in the ground and watched Marcus enter as well. Before the announcer could even get a word of explanation out, Marcus attacked.

  Bel gasped and gripped the metal bars, but Liam easily deflected the maneuver. The two circled each other until Liam feinted left and shifted right to grab Marcus and land a punch to the temple. The man who had once been part of her family stumbled away, shaking his head. Liam outweighed him by twenty pounds and topped him by two or three inches. Honestly, Marcus didn’t have a chance without using some underhanded tactics.

  Sure enough he landed against the wall and popped up. A flick of his foot tapped his boots together and two blades popped out of the toe and the heel of one boot. Despite the no weapons rules, Marcus had planned to play dirty. He launched toward Liam with some half-assed flying kick her man easily pushed aside. Before he could try again with the blades, Liam swept his legs out from under him landing him on his back, which stole his breath. Liam knelt down, grabbed the weaponized leg, and snapped it. The roar of the crowd swallowed Marcus’ cry of pain.

  Liam leaned over the damaged man and snarled something that caused his face to twist in fury. Broken leg forgotten, he swung, his fist connecting with Liam’s jaw. But, to his utter dismay, her leonine hunk looked down, unfazed, and laughed.

  “What the hell?” Bel looked at Nate. “How could he just take that punch?”

  Nate chuckled. “He’s been playing with Marcus. He could have killed him three times over. Liam doesn’t fight often, but, when he does, he has this ability to turn off. Mind over matter or some crap. But it makes him damn hard to beat.”

  Annoyance flared. “One of you couldn’t have mentioned how good he is sooner. I’ve been worried sick.”

  Nate raised a brow in censure. “You doubted his ability to fight? You sparred with him.”

  She frowned. “Not his fighting skill, but I know Marcus. I knew he would cheat somehow. I worried for Liam.”

  The harsh mask of Nate’s face softened. “You should never doubt our ability to not only survive but to come out ahead. We’ll always protect you. Keep you safe.” Hauling her against him, he stroked her cheek with his fingertip. “Now, watch Liam finish this before I take you right here.”

  Abruptly, Liam pulled Marcus into his arms and snapped his neck.

  A strange sense of loss wafted through her and dissipated. He’d been dead in her heart for a lot longer than she realized. Now he was in reality, and while she might mourn the loss of the idea of a father, she did not mourn the loss of the animal who lay in the dirt where Liam left him.

  They rushed to where Liam emerged from the pit, and she launched herself into his arms. Blood, sweat, and dirt be damned, she needed to feel his arms around her. Nate pressed behind her, and the moment was complete. In the shadows over Liam’s shoulder, she swore she saw a glimpse of the little gnomish Nicodemus, but Kalif stepped into view. Her father’s second-in-command hovered on the edge until the three of them let go and turned to him.

  “I’ll be stepping in as the new leader for The Devil’s Disciples. I wanted you to know, where we are concerned, this ends here. In time, maybe we can even try doing a little business.”

  Liam nodded. “Glad this is over.”

  “Take care of her.” Kalif tipped his chin at her. “She deserves to be happy.”

  Nate snaked an arm around her shoulder. “Yeah, she does.”

  “And we’re just the men for the job.” Liam squeezed her hand and let go to reach out to Kalif. “Thanks for the warning.”

  Kalif looked at him, flashed a brief grin that made his eyes sparkle, and replied, “It is a warning. Keep her happy, or I will have to take action.”

  Liam nodded. The other man turned around and faded into the mass of people still milling about the warehouse.

  Nate pulled Bel into his arms and kissed her again before he laid one on his bro, whom he loved as deeply as Bel. It was past time to say some things to both of them.

  “This isn’t the most intimate of places but waiting any longer isn’t an option.” The crowd had thinned and, for the most part people, cut a wide swath around them. “I don’t say a lot of things with any real meaning, but you two need to know just how much I love you. When I lay on the ground bleeding, I regretted not telling you both how much you mean to me, and I realized how empty life would be without you.” Tears welled in Bel’s pretty eyes, and her smile wobbled. “While I lay there for weeks, and the pair of you hovered over me and smothered me with your love, I realized how important I was to you and you are to me.”

  “How could you doubt that?” Bel’s voice rasped from her throat.

  “Most of my life I haven’t been wanted or needed. Not until Liam. I knew how he felt, but you came along, pet, and I wasn’t sure I had anything to offer that Liam didn’t.”

  “Fool. You are the soul of this triad. You keep us grounded, not too serious, and completely horny.” Liam grinned and adjusted his bulging erection.

  “Oh, Nate, you are all that is light and good. Without you, I think Liam and I would become a rather dull and brooding pair. And you totally keep the fire stoked.” Bel pulled them all together in a tight knot. “I love you both with every beat of my heart. You made me whole again.”

  “Oh, baby, we love you, too. And you, Nate. You saved me when I believed all was lost. You kept me sane and helped me remember what it was to love again. You make me strong, man.” Liam pressed his forehead to theirs and stood in the empty warehouse, unaware of the world around them as he reveled in their love.

  Bel spoke, “We are three. Three bodies, one soul, one heart.”

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  Mergers and Acquisitions by Sorcha Mowbray

  “Thank you, Mr. Walters. It’s been a pleasure working with your team.” Shannon stretched her arm across the table as she leaned forward, rising out of her chair. The coolness of her skirt stretched across the bare skin of her ass. She always wore garters and hose for signings. The cling of sexy lingerie made her feel powerful and feminine at the same time.

  The sale of Virtual Designs to DecaCode, Inc. solidified Pearson, Keane, & Zulinsky’s reputation as the tech M&A firm to hire if someone wanted the best. Acquisitions had become her favorite part of the business. Mergers tended to be so messy.

  “Thank you, Ms. Pearson. Paul and I are looking forward to a little Tahitian vacation thanks to the funds from this sale.” Mr. Walters smiled at her as only a gay man could. Appreciative of her charms, without the remotest spark of interest.

  Not like the smoldering gazes her client often leveled at her across the oak expanse of the conference table. Today he sat on her left, an even worse position since it left him in close proximity. Heat radiated off his body—and oh, what a body. He distracted her in the most inappropriate ways. Her nipples pebbled beneath her silk blouse and would be more than obvious without her suit coat.

  “That sounds,” she hesitated, needing to manufacture a suitable response, “delightful.” She let go of Mr. Walters’ hand.

  “Something tells me you wouldn’t have the first clue how to relax and enjoy a Tahitian vacation.” He grinned, softening the harsh words. “You do a damn fine job, Ms. Pearson, but work way too hard. You’d best find a way to relax before you burn out.”

  Shannon considered his words. Maybe she did put in long hours without regard for a personal life, but how else could she establish her M&A firm as one of the top companies in the business? “Well, after making you and Mr. Granger a little richer, I may have a few moments to consider some relaxation. Your proceeds should be in your account within the hour. Mr. Granger’s bank is wiring the money to you as we speak.” Michele, her assistant, entered. “Michele, if you could please show Mr. Walters out. I believe he has some celebrating to do.”