“However...”
Patrick went rigid again.
“Iamgoing to give you a punishment. But since you told the truth and I’m in a good mood, the punishment will be a small one, to teach you a lesson.” He got up from his chair and walked around his desk to stand in front of the thief. “I noticed you’re left hand dominant.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Give me that hand.”
Patrick slowly extended his left hand to Raul. It shook, clearly communicating his fear of what was about to happen next.
Raul gripped that trembling hand with one of his own. With the other, he took hold of Patrick’s forefinger. He looked at the thief. His eyes were huge and fat beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. “Never steal from me or my guests,” Raul said before he quickly snapped the finger he held to the side. It broke with a sickening crack.
Patrick howled with pain, mouth opened wide and eyes screwed tightly closed.
Without an ounce of sympathy, Raul repeated the action on the thief’s third finger. The thief escalated to outright screaming and futilely tried to get up and squirm away from Raul’s hold. The guard behind him gripped his shoulders and slammed him back into the chair.
“Fuck! I’m sorry! Please don’t fucking hurt me anymore. Please!” he sobbed.
“Be quiet,” Raul ordered soft and calm.
The man bit down on his bottom lip to silence his sobs and curses. He sat there, breathing hard through his nose, doubled over in pain. He kept his right hand protectively tucked between his knees, as if that would stop Raul if he decided to break those fingers too.
“That’s your punishment for tonight,” Raul said coldly. “For the future, you’re banned from all Sanguis Syndicate casinos. If I see your face in any of them you won’t like what I break next. Understand?”
“Yes!” Patrick nodded frantically, face deathly white and slick with sweat. “Yes, sir.”
“Good. Now get the fuck out of my office.” He threw Patrick’s hand away from him, uncaring that the rough treatment no doubt sent another shock wave of pain through his injured fingers.
The guard hauled Patrick up from his chair. He was shoved against the wall to have his picture taken to give to the security team. Then, he was dragged out the back way to avoid the casino patrons seeing him.
Raul passed the recovered wallets and accessories over to the head of security. “See that these are returned to their owners.”
“Yes, Mr. Raul.”
The head of security left, closing the door behind him.
Once Raul was left alone with Deklan, Raul returned to sit at his desk.
“I’m going home,” he announced as he started shutting his computer down and locking his files away. He had an itch under his skin to be with his lover. Anything else that needed to be handled could wait until tomorrow night.
“To Ji-Su,” Deklan accurately guessed.
Raul grinned without shame. “That’s right. I’ve been away from him long enough.”
“Enjoy the rest of your night then.”
Raul’s grin turned roguish. “I definitely will.”
Chapter 28
Wednesday, three o’clock.
Ji-Su went down to the kitchen and took a seat at the banquette. He waited patiently, fingers drawing aimless shapes on the tabletop as he watched the clock. A few minutes later the swinging kitchen door opened and Raul walked in. A thrill went through him at his patron’s appearance. He was as big and handsome as ever in a dark blue shirt with light blue stitching, perfectly tailored gray dress pants, and black boots. His black hair shone under the bright kitchen lights.
“I was looking for you. What are you doing in here?” he asked with a puzzled expression on his face.
“It’s Wednesday,” Ji-Su answered.