"Let me in, you bastard!" Oliver's frantic demands echoed outside the locked door. 

Griffin had dragged Caleb into the bedroom, forced him to kneel, and was now standing over him. Oliver was panicking on the other side, afraid Griffin would hurt Caleb too bad for him to handle so soon after being assaulted. Not only worried for him physically. . . but he knew Caleb's mental state. He knew this could break him.

"You lied to me, Caleb." Griffin stalked closer, undoing the belt he wore and yanking it from the loops. "I don't appreciate liars."

"I didn't. I didn't do anything--"

"Did you touch Bella?" The belt hung menacingly from Griffin's hand, waiting to be used.

"I--" yes.  He had touched her. But not like that. Not on purpose. "She was hurting me. When I tried to push her off, my hand slipped--"

The belt cracked down on his back, stinging so much it stole his breath. When he sucked air in, a pained sob tore from his lips. "I didn't mean to-- please--" Another lash cut him off. 

Oliver continued to demand to be let in, pounding on the door and threatening Griffin.

"So you did touch her. And you did lie." Griffin slashed the belt down three more times in rapid succession, and the pain was so intense that Caleb couldn't even cry until a few moments after the blows. The cracks echoed through the room, only serving to increase the intensity of Oliver's cursing and threats. 

"I'm sorry--" Caleb sobbed, crawling to place his head at Griffin's feet. His shaky hands clutched at the man's shoes as he begged for forgiveness. "I'm s-sorry--"

"Are you sorry simply because you are being hurt, or because you did something wrong?" Griffin asked, the belt dangling near Caleb's head. 

"I-- I'm sorry--" Caleb was in too much pain and shock to really comprehend what had been asked. 

Griffin crouched, sliding his hand under the boy's chin and forcing him to look up. His eyes poured tears and his chin quivered. "You are sorry?"

"Yes," Caleb choked out, sniffling and wincing. "Please d-don't hurt me."

Griffin placed the belt on the floor and sat down cross-legged, rolling his eyes at Oliver's continued tantrum outside the door. He pulled Caleb into his lap and slowly removed the boy's thin t-shirt, examining the angry welts while Caleb cried into his chest. 

"Have you learned, now?" Griffin asked, tracing his fingers over the unmarred parts of the boy's back. 

"Yes," Caleb answered, a little calmer now. He felt sick and dizzy from the pain, and from being with Griffin after what he'd done to him-- but he couldn't muster the energy to pull himself out of Griffin's lap. "I'm sorry--" 

"Hush," Griffin stood and guided Caleb up with him, leading him over to his bed. "You will stay here for the rest of the day to think about this. Do not leave this room." Griffin ordered, the brief moments of tenderness fading. 

Caleb winced as he pulled the covers over his head, more tears streaming from his eyes. He heard Griffin go out the door, and the fading screaming as Oliver berated him, probably following him as Griffin walked away ignoring him. 

* * * 

"Ugh, I really thought he'd believe it." Victoria sat on the edge of her bed, analyzing a chip in her vibrant red polish. "Too bad. . ."

"But limiting our money? Are you serious?" Bella scoffed, kicking off her heels and pacing around the room, angrily flicking her hair out of her face. "I'm so angry I could kill those bastards. That big party was tonight!" she cried, throwing her head back. 

"Don't worry, Bella." Victoria stood and walked to her closet, flinging open the doors and smiling. "My Michael will pay for us. Get ready." 

Bella's face lit up. "Really? We can still go? Griffin said--"

"I don't care what he said." Victoria snapped, pulling out a dress she'd planned to wear tonight. "My husband wants to have sex with a boy instead of me? Fine. I'll have sex with a real man instead of him."

Bella laughed. She pulled out a dress and the two got ready to go out. 

Victoria paused as she was swiping on mascara. "You know. . . that's not a bad idea." She murmured, meeting eyes with Bella in the mirror they were sharing. "Don't you think. . . our husbands might be mad if their dear Caleb had some 'company'?" 

"Oh, I like this idea," Bella snickered. "Do you think it will work, though?"

"I'll make it work."

            Part 27 Coming Soon
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Sorry this one was a little short! I'm struggling a little with my living situation, so my mental health has tanked lol. I hope the next part will be better. 

Have a great day, Darlings♥