The Wrath of Cain (The Syndicate, #1)(32)

“I thought I told you-”

“Stop,” I say, holding my hand up.

“Let me tell you a little something about me, which Manny should know, being that he has followed me around for a few years. You do NOT mess with me and my coffee!” I yell. “I’ve lived off of that stuff for six years. It’s the only thing that I crave, the only thing I need, and you’d better give me a damn cup right the f*ck now!”

“Damn, woman. You really are a feisty one,” Unknown man says.

“And you are?”

I turn and face him, knowing full well what his name is. It cracks me up all these nicknames everyone has for each other. Makes me curious to know what they call Cain. I stick my hand out for him to shake.

“Bronzer,” he replies politely, taking my hand into his big one.

“Ah. Nice to meet you. Priscilla is your wife, right?”

He grins at the mention of her name.

“Yeah, she claims me,” he chuckles.

“Great. Is she here by chance? Because you see, my husband here said she would go shopping for me today, and well,” I look down at the t-shirt that has now fallen off my shoulders, baring a lot of skin. “I kind of need some clothes.”

“Calla?” Cain growls my name.

“Yes, dear?” I respond without looking at him, tossing a wink at Bronzer.

“Here.”

A cup of black coffee appears in front of me. The rich aroma sets my nose twitching.

“Thank you,” I say pleasantly.

Manny chuckles. Cain swears and I feel everyone’s eyes on my backside when I leave the room to try and find some paper and pencil to spend a hell of a lot of my darling hubby’s money.

“Have you ever been spanked?”

I cock my head and glare at Cain, who is standing on the threshold of the bedroom. I’m sitting cross-legged on the bed finishing up with my list. I glance at it one more time before I answer him to make sure I have all my sizes down. There’s a big star next to the lingerie shop in Birmingham Hills that I know carries my favorite bras. I stick the pen behind my ear out of habit.

“Are you cross examining me?”

“Cut the smart ass lawyer bullshit. I thought I made myself clear when I told you to respect me in front of others. It’s a shame Bronzer is one of the cool guys and doesn’t treat his wife like shit, because I want nothing better than to turn you over my knee and crack that ass.”

I grind my teeth and shake my head at this fool.

“Look, respect goes both ways. I apologize. Give me a break, would you? I mean, how was I supposed to know you would be having some man meeting in the middle of your kitchen early in the morning?”

“You didn’t, and that’s on me, but you prancing around with nothing covering your ass in front of my buddies really pisses me off.”

His muscles are tense as I stand and approach him.

“Whatever.” I wave him off.

“Goddamnit. I don’t care if it’s the pope who’s in this house. I do not want anyone else seeing what’s mine.”

Now it’s my turn to shout. I’m livid as hell.

“Don’t you dare raise your voice at me! I didn’t do a damn thing wrong. It’s you. All of it is you! The way I see it, this t-shirt covers more of my body than the clothes some of those women had on last night at that party. And I am not yours. I can show my ass to whomever I want.”

“Fuck. You are so stubborn. Those women’s asses weren’t hanging out. I’m having Priscilla buy a gunny sack, granny panties, and a damn muzzle for your mouth.”

I roll my eyes.

“Yeah, good luck with that one, buddy. You’d be better off spanking me.”

“Oh, you’re going to get spanked, all right.”

“Ha! We’ll see about that,” I sneer.

“We sure the hell will!”

Ugh. This man infuriates the living shit out of me. I don’t know whether to love him or hate him. Bitch slap him or kiss him. I’m not done with him yet, though. I want him to admit he’s jealous. It may be childish of me to pull it out of him, but I don’t care. I just want to hear him say it. I’ll prod on with my so-called interrogation and then when I’m done, I’ll be dropping a bomb right on top of his head. He’d better be ready for a big explosion if he lies to me.

“So which one is it? Are you mad because I went back out there and asked for some coffee, or are you really mad because they saw my ass?”

His gaze stays glued to my mouth until I climb off of the bed and stand directly in front of him.

“I’m not mad, baby. I just don’t want anyone else to see what’s rightfully mine. Whether you believe me or not, you are mine. There is nothing in this world that will ever change that.”

Cain reaches for my face, his fingers gliding down my cheek. His eyes become soft.

“You have a slight bruise right here from last night.”

I know he’s talking about my run-in with Emerald. I noticed it this morning, too, when I looked in the mirror. I lean into his touch.

“It doesn’t hurt.”

“I’m glad. So are we good?”

“We will be if you get me another cup of coffee.”

“That I can do.”

His fingers slide to my throat, down my shoulder and arm until he reaches my hand, and clasps it with his. Even though he didn’t tell me directly he’s jealous, it’s written all over his beautiful face, dark with scruff. I hate to put a spoke in his wheel, but it has to be done.