Shuttered Truth

Ryan

I watched Leona nod at us to proceed and my heart sank. Finally we were getting justice for Callie but at what cost? If anything happened to Leona we'd never recover, I knew that and yet what other approach was there? If she walked away he'd just put another woman at risk, another life hanging in the balance. At least now we were all in this together and while my confidence in my judgement had been shaken with Pavel's deception I couldn't go soft now.

"We have eyes on him now which is how we knew it was safe to meet tonight but from now on all communication will be virtually and with heavy encryption. Fionn, you'll handle that," Niamh stated and Fionn gave her a nod. Leona was sitting in the seat next to me at the desk. She was paying full attention to Niamh's plan but her face was pale and every now and then she winced when she moved her arm or leg.

"Leona, you will go about your business as normally as possible, you will have dates with these fine gentlemen who will continue to keep you safe. All of this will give us time to find the location he must already have picked out for..."

"No, wait," I sat forward and glared at everyone, "why do you need that location? We're not going to actually let him take her?"

Leona put her hand on my thigh and I turned towards her, covering her hand with mine.

"Ryan..."

"No, that's crazy...D, Fio back me up here."

"It's the only way to stop him for the rest of his life," Leona said softly. I looked into her eyes and saw that she truly believed that.

Then I lifted my eyes and locked gazes with my brothers and in a tone they didn't often hear from me but understood, I said "He can't hurt anyone if he's dead."

The sound of Niamh slamming her fist on to my desk brought my head around but only very slowly.

"You are not to kill Nigel Hawthorne, do you hear me? If you do I will use every law enforcement resource at my disposal to put you all behind bars for the rest of your goddamn lives, her included," she threw her hand in the general direction of Leona, "This is not about vengeance, this is about justice."

Her face was red and her voice had risen to a pitch that was more akin to terror than anger.

Leona's fingertips dug into my thigh muscles and she shook my leg slightly.

"Ryan please promise you won't kill him."

"I can't do that. It may become necessary. Your life is worth his one hundred times over and I won't allow you to sacrifice yourself to catch him."

"How dare you?" she spat out, pulling her hands back from me. "I am a fully grown adult and have been surviving in this big bad world for many years all by myself, thank you. I do not appreciate nor will I tolerate you thinking that you can make decisions that are mine to make. Are we clear?"

She was on her feet now and despite the fact that all of her anger was now directed at me I couldn't help thinking how glorious she was, all fired up.

"Do you expect us to just sit back and watch you walk into the lion's den?" I stood and towered over her but she just glared up at me.

"No. I expect you to respect my wishes in this and give me the tools to bring down the fucking lion."

She poked my chest with her finger for each of the last few words and I caught her wrist and pulled her flush against me, wrapping my other arm around her body.

"Oh, little lioness," Dónal said softly, "do you want us to give you claws?"

She tried to turn to him but I wasn't ready to let her go. Adrenalin was still pumping through my veins.

"I've already got basic training from the Irish Army in hand to hand combat. I need to refresh those skills and add to them. Teach me how to defend myself up close and personal. Give me the tools to stay alive and trust me to be able to look after myself when the time comes."

"I can do that," Pavel offered and looked between Niamh and Leona.

Leona glanced at where I held her so I loosened my grip. I slid my hand up her back and cupped her head in my palm leaning my forehead against hers.

"We can't have another woman we love die, Lee, it'll break us." I sat down, the room now silent and Lee stood there looking down at my bent head.

There...I'd said it. It was ludicrous to feel that way about her after only a little over a week but it was true. She'd burrowed beneath our skin and taken up residence like a parasite or virus or something and we didn't want to rid ourselves of her.

My breath caught as her hand stroked the back of my head and then she sat down again too.

"Are we agreed on our course of action then?" Niamh asked and Leona, Pavel and my brothers all responded in the affirmative.

"Ryan," Niamh prompted.

I looked at Leona and took her hand in mine.

"We will respect Leona's decision but understand that if it comes down to a choice between his life and hers..."

"Understood. We can live with that, once it is the absolute final resort and only way to keep Leona alive."

I raised Lee's hand and kissed the back of it and she kissed my temple.

After some logistics had been worked out the meeting adjourned and Niamh, Michael and their entourage left. Pavel, for the first time since I'd known him, seemed unsure.

"Mr Vincenzi, are we still to follow Pavel's orders?" Ramon, Pavel's second queried once they'd secured the building and ensured that Leona's apartment was undisturbed and safe to enter.

I sat into my leather chair behind the desk and let the question hang.

"If you had done what you've done for any other reason than bringing Callie's killer to justice Ramon would be getting a promotion," I stated plainly and everyone understood that Pavel would no longer be breathing, if that was the case.

"But since your sole aim was to help us to catch him we're prepared to accept that at that time it was necessary to lie to us and leave it at that. We need everyone to be one hundred percent committed to our shared goal, is that understood?"

The men around me all confirmed their loyalty.

"For what it's worth, the longer I worked with you the more I regretted my position," Pavel said as he quietly closed the door behind them.

The three of us and Leona sat in silence for what seemed like an age. I watched her and she seemed done in both physically and emotionally and I could relate.

"Did you mean it?" Leona asked quietly and I knew instantly what she meant. Fionn and Dónal moved seats to be closer to her and she became the centre of our triangle.

"Yes. We all felt the pull of you when we saw you watching us in the garden and then we fell in love the first time each of us met you."

"Me up on a scaffold when you challenged me about ownership of the wall," Fionn grinned and she smiled back.

"Me when you were trying to fulfil your grandfather's wishes at the graveyard and were so open about your grief which allowed me to share mine," I added.

"And me when you glared down five of us and declared you were calling the police," Dónal chuckled and she laughed.

"Or maybe it was when I kicked you in the thigh?" she asked, "sorry about that, by the way."

"Isn't it a bit quick?" she asked and we all shook our heads. I for one had never been so certain of anything in my life and it had been made more firm for me when we thought we'd lost her at the festival.

"I wish I could..."

"Lee, it's ok. We get that we're not exactly prince charming riding in on his white horse and there are three of us. There are aspects of our lives you know nothing about and possibly don't want to. We're not asking you to declare your love in return but you need to understand that we aren't going anywhere. When all of this is done and dusted, you're going to be stuck with us..."

"Whether I want you or not?" she asked and I shook my head.

"No. If you choose to walk away, we'll respect that but you're it for us. There won't be anyone after you, Lee, ever."

"Sooo, no pressure," Fionn quipped and we all groaned.

Pavel arranged to work with Leona each morning to help her hone her skills and refresh what she'd already learned from the soldiers she'd worked with. I sat in on some of the sessions but he was being so tough with her that I couldn't watch without wanting to kill him with my bare hands. Lee, however, was growing in confidence with each passing hour.

On Monday night I was to take her on our 'date'. I managed to secure us some reservations at a very high class restaurant which were like gold dust. When I gave Lee the name of our destination her eyes widened but then danced with anticipation. Given the circumstances it was lovely to see that she might still enjoy the experience.

Dónal and Fionn sat on the end of my bed as I tied the dark navy silk tie I'd chosen to go with the same coloured suit. My shirt was crisp and white with gold cufflinks at my wrist and a slim gold watch. My hair was once again back to its neat matt of dark brown curls and I shaved, removing any hint of stubble from my face. For the most part my tattoos were covered up with only a hint of the Celtic design that ran along the bottom edge of my neck peeping up passed the stiff shirt collar. My black shoes shone.

I slid my phone and wallet into the inside pockets of the suit jacket and checked that they didn't ruin its lines. It had been some time since I'd taken this much care with my appearance but I knew Leona would be stunning beside me and I didn't want to let her down.

Pavel stood in the open doorway and I gestured him in. He held up a discreet earpiece and I pushed it into my ear.

"Do I get one of the those too?" Leona asked and we turned, surprised to see her in our house. She held up a set of keys and shrugged.

"Hope you don't mind, I was ready early so let myself in."

Fionn let out a shrill wolf whistle and she laughed.

He was right though. She looked amazing. Her black hair fell around her face in soft curls and just brushed her shoulders which were bare at the moment. She wore a flowing jumpsuit in jade green. It had a halter neck and the straps crossed beneath her breasts emphasising them but without revealing too much cleavage. The wide trousers gave her extra height and the tips of her shoes just peaked out at the bottom. She was wearing low heels in the exact colour of the fabric.

"I wasn't sure about this," she gestured to her arm which was still mottled with bruises but the abrasions had begun to heal, "but I have this to wear."

She held up a bolero length knitted cardigan that had sparkling thread woven through the wool. I crossed the room in a few steps and held out my hand for it.

"Allow me," I said, holding it out so she could turn and shrug it on without having to aggravate her skin. When she turned back to me she ran her gaze down the length of my body and I tried not to react but it was impossible.

"If you continue to undress him with your eyes, little lioness, you'll never get to leave this house," Dónal said softly and she glanced around me.

I stepped aside and lifted her hand and placed it into the crook of my elbow.

"Sei stupenda, Bella," Fionn declared, kissing his fingers and she rolled her eyes.

"I'm assuming that's good," she countered and he leapt off the bed. He gently held her shoulders and she gazed up into his face.

"Much more than good. Stunning, sweetheart."

I turned us around to leave but Lee pulled back.

"Wait...where's my earpiece?" she asked and Pavel stepped up, handing her one.

"We won't be able to hear you but you'll be kept informed if Hawthorne joins you for dinner."

He stepped back a little and spoke into the lapel of his jacket testing the comms. We each gave him a thumbs up. We were using the limo for tonight and Lee's smile as it drew up along-side the curb was priceless.

"Is this the full Vincenzi package?" she asked and under the cover of my winter coat that stood open, I placed her hand over my cock.

"No, this is the full Vincenzi package, Leona," I growled. She didn't try to pull away but rather traced its outline with her fingers and gave it the gentlest squeeze.

"And an impressive package at that."

Ramon held the back door open for us and I helped Leona to step inside. I rounded the back of the car with him but waved him away as I wrenched open the door and slid in onto the leather seat. Leona jumped as Pavel spoke into our ears so I took her hands that were clenched in her lap and held them.

"Everyone is in position and we have eyes on Hawthorne who is watching from a side street. Hawthorne is heading to his car, pedestrian observers stand down, mobile units stand by. Ramon, move out."

The limo joined the traffic and Pavel confirmed that Hawthorne was following us.

"Tonight isn't the night, Leona. Relax and try to enjoy the evening, ok?"

The food at the restaurant was amazing and for most of the time we ate in companionable silence.

"Tell me about the documentary you did behind the scenes of the porn movie," I suggested when we'd finished desert and were sipping tea and coffee.

"Did you find it...stimulating?"

Leona laughed and shook her head.

"Well the male performer was very handsome and quite a bit younger than me and he was roaming around naked, most of the time."

She went on to describe how she'd captured the deep throating shot, found herself on the floor between the legs and under the cock of the male performer and hailed as a hero because she took the director to task over his bad behaviour.

"It all seemed a bit too mechanical even though the performers' bodies were reacting to the stimuli they could stop and take it back up again without any problem. It reminds you that you really can't believe anything portrayed on the internet."

"We'd hope that the videos we make both for the marketing and the pay per view part of the website are understood to be genuine. Do you think it's possible not to edit out the humanity of the interactions but still make them stimulating and appealing?" I asked and she nodded.

"Absolutely. I'm hoping that the players will be open to having everything recorded so that if something real happens we can show that too but without invading anything very private."

I nodded and sipped my coffee. Talk of play had my mind conjuring possibilities for tonight when this outing was over, if Lee was willing.

"Would you like to play a little tonight?" I asked.

"That would depend on the game."

"I ask you to do something and if you refuse when we go home there will be a punishment you have to take but if you comply our encounter tonight will be all pleasure."

"And who said there would be an encounter tonight?" she sucked on her tea spoon having stirred her tea unnecessarily giving me hope, "after all this is our first date."

"Would you really deprive yourself of a one to one experience with each of us over the coming week?"

"I never was very good at self-denial. So do I get to know what you're going to ask of me before I decide to play?"

"No, that's the risky unknown part. The part that gets your heart pumping just that little bit faster."

"And the punishment?"

I shook my head.

"It's not really fair that I'm playing blind. Oh wait...of course...it's all about trust, right?"

There was a slight edge to her tone when she mentioned trust and I supposed it was deserved.

"I'll tell you the punishment to help you decide. If you refuse the task I'm going to use my belt on your backside."

"How many times?"

"Twenty."

I sat back and allowed her space to make a decision without any coercion from me. Either way if she let me I was going to make sure we both got a lot of pleasure out of tonight.

"I'll play," she announced but then bit her bottom lip.

"Here is your task. Go to the ladies. Enter a cubicle. Set your phone up to record a video. Strip to your underwear and remove your pants. Dress and send the video to our group chat. Bring your pants back to me at the table and give them to me."

She took her phone out of the clutch purse she'd brought and her hand trembled slightly.

"So if I do it, no belt and if I don't do it twenty with the belt...on my bare backside?"

She asked the last bit as if it had just occurred to her.

"Yes, bare backside but you're just stalling now."

"Of course I am. This is insane..." she laughed nervously but then she stood up. Niamh watched to see where Leona was going. Leona weaved through the tables and gave her a nod and they made their way in single file down the corridor towards the bathrooms.

"Hawthorne is leaving his car and entering the restaurant," Pavel informed the team. I watched the main door but couldn't see him. Where had he entered the restaurant? Next time the comms had to be two way, not being able to communicate back was frustrating.

"Back entrance secured and eyes on Hawthorne," another voice chimed in, part of the backup team.

"Hawthorne is heading to the bathrooms," he continued to report.

Fuck -- how could he know Leona was in there or was it just coincidence that he needed a lash at the same time?

"Ladies bathroom is secure. Eyes on Hawthorne, he's entered the men's room," Niamh confirmed.

I knew Leona could hear all of this too and I wondered if she'd think to stay inside the ladies until he was gone.

"Hawthorne has left the men's room and is heading towards back entrance of building," Niamh reported.

"Eyes on Hawthorne, he's back in his car. He's pulling out and driving away. Mobile surveillance units keep with him," Pavel's voice faded and Leona appeared back into the main room of the restaurant and Niamh returned to her position near the entrance.

"What the hell was he doing, Ryan?" Leona asked as soon as she sat down. My phone pinged and a message from her came through, the size of the video file delaying transmission.

"Forget about him...he's gone for tonight."

"But he's kinda killed the mood."

A message pinged into the group from Fionn.

FIONN: Oh Bella, are you being a good girl and playing Ryan's games? I'll be watching this video all night, but it's no substitute for being with you.

DÓNAL: Little lioness, you chose not to get punished tonight I see.

I held out my hand for her to pass me her pants but she just grinned.

LEE: If I have part completed the task set for me by Ryan and refuse to complete the rest, will I get part of the punishment?

I read her message and she glanced up at me, waiting for my response. She wasn't going to give me her pants and she wanted to see what the belt was like but not the full twenty. Clever girl. I could work with that.

ME: Since you completed part of the task and we need an even number of strokes with the belt on your bare backside I'll agree to a reduction from 20 to 10.

LEE: How about 8, I completed most of the task, after all?"

FIONN: Careful Bella.

DÓNAL: I doubt this is a negotiation you can win, little lioness.

RYAN: My next number will be 14.

Her head popped up at my message and she frowned. I could see the struggle in her not to argue that it wasn't fair but who ever said these little power struggles were fair until everyone got to enjoy themselves.

LEE: Ok, 10 it is.

FIONN: Good choice. Any chance of an invite, bro?

"What do you think? Shall we let them watch your punishment?" I asked and she nodded.

RYAN: Punishment will take place in the BDSM impact play room, you are welcome to watch from the observation room only. No interaction will take place with my sub before, during or after the punishment but of course feel free to jerk off to your heart's content.

The limo ride home was full of excitement and anticipation for me but probably nervousness for Leona. I took her hand to help her from the car we walked inside hand in hand. Once Pavel saw us safely home he locked up the exterior of the building and posted the usual nighttime security. I led Leona to the impact play room and she stood just inside the door looking more than a little apprehensive. I glanced into the observation room and saw that my brothers were already in there.

"Wave to your audience," I told Lee and she looked in through the glass and smiled at them while she waved.

"Do you remember what you agreed with Dónal for the spanking?" I asked as I switched on the lights and made sure the spanking bench was clean and ready for use.

"About the colours?"

I got the same leather cuffs he'd used that time from the drawer and approached her.

"Red is full stop and nothing more happens, Amber is a pause but then we're likely to go on and Green is that everything is fine," she went through them and I nodded my approval. I held up the cuffs and she consented by holding out her wrists to me. I checked that neither of them had any bruises from her altercation with the serial killer and then put them on.

"Bare bottom, remember?" I prompted and she reached up behind her neck and undid the tie of the jumpsuit. Slowly she let it fall away from her body until it was pooled at her feet. She stepped out of it and then stooped to pick it up and lay it across the arm of the couch.

I shrugged off my suit jacket not taking my eyes off her and she watched me. I undid my tie and pulled it loose and then opened all of the buttons of my shirt, pulling the ends free from my waistband to float around my body. I undid the cuff links and rolled my sleeves up to the elbow. Her gaze roved over my chest and down to my crotch and my cock jumped at her attention.

She only wore her bra and her hands were cupped over her pussy.

I came close to her and placed my hand at the back of her neck.

"This way," I tugged a little and she resisted. I was too strong to risk that kind of play with her but it looked like she was going to need some physical aggression to get her to that bench.

"Do you want to stop?"

"No, I just can't...go...willingly."

I turned us towards the observation room.

"Do you want Fionn and Dónal to put you on the spanking bench?"

"Can I fight them?"

"A bit but we can't risk hurting you, sweetheart."

I gestured for them to join us. Fionn strode in shirtless, jeans low on his hips, bare feet. Dónal followed also shirtless but with slacks and soft loafers.

"It seems that Leona needs a little encouragement to take her position on the bench."

Fionn's eyes lit up. He loved this kind of play and they'd already explored it a little bit together. Because he wasn't as built up as us, his strength matched hers better and he also had years of experience of using just enough force without hurting. Dónal would let him take the lead and only help if a stray limb needed reining in.

"Come on, Bella, be a good girl and get on the bench so we can see Ryan turn your ass red."

Fionn approached and so I released her and moved over to the bench.

"Make me," her words were almost a plea rather than a taunt.

Fionn kept moving towards her and as she was backing away Dónal moved so that they could corral her. Fionn would likely try to get her wrists clipped behind her back and then they might be able to carry her over.

She cursed softly when she found herself in a corner but when Fionn reached for her she bent and darted under his arm and past him. Dónal made a grab for her but he missed and so I moved to block off the exit from the room although I didn't think she'd actually bolt that far since she seemed to actually want to try the belt.

I stood with my arms across my chest and she came to a stop. She moved to her right and stepped to block and she moved to her left and I stepped to block and while she was occupied doing this the guys approached from behind.

In quick movements Fionn wrapped his arm around her throat and put her in a lose head lock. She elbowed him quite hard in the ribs and he grunted but didn't release. Dónal caught the rings in the wrist cuffs and pulled her arms straight out in front of her. Fionn moved backwards towards the bench and she tried not to go but it put pressure on her airways and her natural sense of self-preservation wouldn't allow her be choked out.

I went to the drawer and took out a leather neck collar. When she saw it she began bucking violently but Fionn changed his hold on her, Dónal got her wrists behind her back, clipped together and I wrapped the collar around her neck pulling it tight enough to restrict her breathing just a tiny bit. The three of us lifted her and placed her onto the bench and I immediately hooked a short chain from the bench into the ring of the collar meaning that she couldn't straighten up. In her position on her knees with her upper body pulled low to the bench but no hands free to support herself she had very little movement available. Dónal and I attached the ankle cuffs and secured them to the bench and then I unclipped her wrists and he and Fionn took an arm each clipping the cuffs to the bench. She pulled against the restraints for a bit and then she stilled and looked around. We moved to be in her eyeline and she smiled at us. Relief flooded through me.

"Thanks, that was great. Did I hurt your ribs?" she asked Fionn and he laughed. He bent down and kissed her cheek and Dónal did the same.

"Have fun. We'll be close."

I shook my head at her as I stroked her hair.

"I think I should add strokes for that little stunt."

She frowned and I laughed.

"I'll decide after the ten."

I unbuckled my belt and pulled it out of the loops of my trousers.

"You have your safe words. Don't push yourself. We need you fully fit and healthy."

I ran my hands over her bare ass cheeks and laid the belt against her skin.

"I want you to count each stroke. Only say the number when you're ready for the next one. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

I stood to her right for the first five. I'd already decided that I would only use a medium amount of force for this first session. I raised the folded belt and it whooshed through the air and she jumped as it landed.

"One."

"Two."

"Three."

The pauses between the numbers was gradually getting longer.

"Ow."

She took a few breaths before she said four and so I didn't immediately follow it.

"Fuck."

Another few seconds and a wiggle of her cheeks she said five.

I checked her skin but it was just reddened, not damaged in any way. I switched to the other side so the impacts of the end of the belt would be even across her backside.

I swung and she cried out, her body bucking.

"Six."

Another, more cries and deep breathing.

"Seven."

Turned her head and pressed her forehead into the cushion of the bench.

I swung, the belt landed a little lower than I intended catching the top of her thigh and she howled. I stepped in and ran a hand down her back and up to her neck as she tried to settle herself.

"Eight."

"Just two more Leona. You're taking this so well," I praised.

I swung more carefully and she cried out only a little.

"Nine."

I put a tiny bit more force into the last one, she cried into the cushion of the bench her breathing laboured.

"Ten."

I dropped the belt onto the couch and came to hunker down beside her head. Her cheeks were wet with tears but she looked at me with a clear gaze.

"I'm calling red. I can't do anymore," I admitted and immediately her expression morphed into concern.

"Are you okay?" she asked and I chuckled a little because I honestly didn't know.

"If you want to stop of course we will."

I kissed her cheek and began unclipping the cuffs. I helped her off the bench and the door to the room opened as I grabbed a robe from the wardrobe and wrapped it around her so she wouldn't cool down too quickly.

"You ok, Ry?" Dónal asked and I shook my head slightly.

"Not sure to be honest. I need to process what I'm feeling, I guess."

"Best person to do that with is Lee, yeah?" Fionn said and I knew he was right.

"Why don't you two go up to her apartment and talk it out? We'll settle things back down here."

Lee had already taken off all of the cuffs and I felt bad that I wasn't giving her the proper aftercare like a Dom should. I thanked the guys, gathered up our clothes and she wrapped her arms around my waist as we made our way through the club and up to her place.

By the time I'd rubbed some salve in to Leona's abused butt cheeks and we'd talked through the fact that I just didn't want to hurt her anymore then we already had, she had convinced me that any level of guilt about what had happened between us all was futile. A waste of energy that we couldn't afford. And perhaps a little self-indulgent, my thought not hers.

Sleep was calling us, now. She led me by the hand into her bedroom and we curled up onto her bed. As soon as the room fell silent, however, sleep evaporated. I became hyper aware of her lying there beside me. Every breath, every move, every scent and then she turned onto her side, her back against my chest and she reached behind and ran her hand up and down my already hard shaft.

"There are condoms in the locker drawer," she whispered and that was all the invitation I needed.

Our coupling was slow and gentle. She held her leg up, opening her thighs and with both of us still on our sides I entered her from behind. No force, no urgency just the gradual acceptance from her body of my intrusion. I worked her clit lightly with my fingers as my shaft sank deeper and deeper with each movement of my hips. Her soft breaths, panted out each time I reached the end of her with my tip were like a symphony playing. The build-up was slow, languid almost and when it seemed just out of reach I began to whisper all the dirty things I wanted to do to her into her ear and before long her thighs trembled, her hips ground back into mine and her muscles clenched around me. I emptied into the condom with pulses that seemed to never end. She reached back and stroked my hair and murmured incoherent words. I left her briefly to dispose of the condom and get a warm damp washcloth so that I could clean her up before we sank into oblivion but she'd already gone there and I settled in beside her. I didn't want to sleep alone tonight.