The Sheik’s Vow (The Billionaire’s Club #13)

Chapter 25

Ethan tossed the broken cane into the trash. It clattered among the broken bits of the previous two canes. It didn’t matter. He had plenty more. And the hardware store was only a few miles away if he needed additional supplies.

“You remember what to tell Kaia?” he asked, his voice calm and controlled as he unzipped the Tyvek suit protecting his clothing from blood and other bodily fluids. He stepped out of the rain boots and pushed his feet into the expensive loafers, sighing at the comfortable fit. He paid over five thousand dollars for his shoes so they’d better be good!

“Yes, sir!” the woman replied, her voice shaking with pain and fear.

“Good,” Ethan said, then glanced at his reflection in the mirror, smoothing down his hair. “You may go. Send Diane to me before you leave.” He looked at the nude woman, blood dripping down her stomach and thighs. “Tell me again why you were disciplined.”

The woman trembled, crossing her arms over her naked breasts as she tried to halt the tears. “Because you want us all to be present when our lord returns to earth and takes us up to heaven.”

“And?”

The woman ignored the tears streaming down her cheeks, her arms in too much pain to lift them. “And Kaia needs to be restored to us. We failed to make her feel a part of our community.” She sobbed, her back and shoulders curling inward.

“Exactly,” Ethan said, as he walked over to her. With his forefinger under her chin, he lifted her face, admiring the tears and the chapped lips. It was a good look on her.

“Send Diane in, then go do your duty.”

“Yes, sir,” she whispered, then turned and made her way up the stairs. She didn’t run, he noticed with pride. Most likely, the pain would keep her from running for a long time. He’d done a good job on her.

A knock on the back door startled him and Ethan turned, expecting to find one of his deputies. Instead, he saw dark, curly hair. “Kaia!” he hissed, grabbing a rag and wiping the blood from his hands. He should probably pause and wash his hands properly, but he was too eager to see his nemesis.

He paused to glance at the wooden bucket where additional canes stood ready for whatever discipline he decided to mete out.

But his attention quickly returned to the woman who had tormented him for so long. How dare she escape from him! Kaia Treon had been a thorn in his side for far too long.

Walking to the doorway, he yanked it open, staring at Kaia, allowing his eyes to take in her petite frame. Oh, he was going to enjoy this! Kaia’s breasts had blossomed over the past few years. She still had that stubborn chin and the upturned nose. He was going to enjoy breaking that nose!

“Come in, my dear. It’s been a long time since you’ve attended church amongst your family.”

Kaia remained standing in the doorway. “I think you should come outside, Ethan,” she countered.

Ethan had already turned, heading towards his cane collection, so he could decide which instrument he would use first. But at her softly spoken statement, he turned around, laughing softly at her continued defiance. He was confident that she wouldn’t run away. His little messengers, wounded and pathetic, had accomplished their mission.

Pity, he thought. He’d been enjoying an afternoon of reinforcing his authority over his parishioners.

“You’ll come inside, or I’ll have Diane bent over the table to receive your lessons.” He didn’t bother to turn around and watch her enter his lair. He knew she would. The bitch was too soft after all.

When he heard the door open, Ethan’s chest swelled with joy. “You’ve been a very naughty girl, Kaia.”

Kaia kept her back to the door as she watched him. “You’ve been abusing the women and children of this community, Ethan. What did you use on Betsy? She could barely stand up straight.”

Ethan pulled a new cane from the wooden bin, smoothing his fingers over the wood. “Betsy had stopped believing,” he explained softly. “She’d started to have highly unwelcome ideas.” He lifted a brow. “Have you been in contact with her? Is that why some of the women started asking questions? Demanding more money and food?”

Kaia’s chin went up a smidge. Damn, he was going to enjoy eliminating that stubbornness.

“The women need to know their place,” he explained, returning the cane in his hand to the bin and selecting another to examine. “I don’t beat anyone. I discipline the women and children so they grow up to be good and obedient members of the community. I want everyone to be hale and hearty in heaven. We will always be together.”

Kaia snorted. “That’s not as enticing as you might think, Ethan. When you beat someone, the way you have been, they are more willing to risk not going to heaven, if it means that they can escape you.”

The wooden cane struck the table with a loud, startling crack. “The women and children understand that my discipline will give them happiness in heaven!”

“And the money, Ethan? What did you do with the money that the farming families earn from their crops?”

Ethan stared at her for a long moment, then he smiled gently, shaking his head. “You’re never going to understand.”

“Probably not. But if you’re going to beat me with that cane, I think I deserve to know the truth. What do you do with the money after the annual harvest?”