Cardinal's Rule

In her world, there’s only one rule: Cardinal’s Rule.

She stood. “I don’t want to hear this.” She heard the tremor in her voice.

Undeterred, he continued. “I told him he had no right to make the decision for myself or the one he left. To not tell either about the other.”

She shook her head. “We’re done here, Mr. LaCroux. I’ve changed my mind, and I’m not going

to do this. I want you both to leave. Right now.” She didn’t want to see slave’s face. If she never saw his face, it meant it didn’t happen.

“Please,” he said. “I need to make amends.”

She angrily jabbed a finger at him. “I don’t know what kind of mindfuck you’re into, but I’m not playing into it!”

He stepped forward, until he stood in front of her. “I feel responsible. Because of my

shortcomings as his Master the first time around, apparently I failed to instill in him the ethic that a Master
never
abandons a slave, especially without explanation.
Ever
.”

Her knees gave out and she heavily sat in the chair as Landry stood there. He leaned in, his face inches from hers. “I have a business proposition for you, Mistress Cardinal. If you will marry me, and stay married to me for at least three years, I will pay you two hundred thousand dollars for every year you stay with me for those three years. I owe you more than I can ever repay you, for more than one reason. I need to start that restitution now. I will be back for slave at the end of the hour. Be vicious.

Take your pound of flesh and then some, literally. He will take whatever you dish out.”

With that he turned and walked out the front door.

Leaving the money on her table and slave kneeling on the floor.

Fuck!

After what felt like forever, she sat up and looked at the man kneeling on her floor. Her feet felt numb, her legs shaky as she stood and slowly walked around the coffee table.

He didn’t look up, didn’t move.

She stood over him, her breath ragged. “Look at me, goddammit,” she finally said.

He slowly tilted his face up, familiar brown eyes staring into hers.

Her handsome Master was Landry’s slave.

Cardinal’s Rule

Tymber Dalton

CAPTIVA AFTER DARK

CAPTIVA PRESS

PLACIDA PUBLISHING, LLC

WWW.PLACIDAPUBLISHING.COM

Placida Publishing, LLC.

Imprint: Captiva Press

www.captivapress.com

Cardinal’s Rule

Copyright © 2010 by Tymber Dalton

All artwork and logos Copyright © 2010 by Placida Publishing, LLC.

E-Book ISBN: 978-1-936356-00-3

First E-book Publication: July 2010

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
This work may not be reproduced, transmitted, or distributed in any form or by any means currently available or available in the future, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, for free or for sale, without express written permission from the publisher and author.

Distributing copies of this e-book to others is a violation of international copyright law and infringes the rights of the legal copyright holder. This e-book may not be shared, copied, sold, given away, offered as a contest prize, or otherwise distributed to anyone other than the original purchaser.

Distributing this e-book as part of any collection, or with any type of resale permission, is also strictly forbidden and a violation of copyright law.

All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

This e-book contains subject matter of an adult nature. Please store your files to prevent access by minors.

Placida Publishing, LLC

http://placidapublishing.com

Dedication

To all my friends and adopted family at the Sarasota Society, thank you for your friendship, patience, mentoring, fun, laughs, and for welcoming me into the fold.

Cardinal’s Rule
–
Tymber Dalton
Page 6

Cardinal’s Rule

Tymber Dalton

© 2010, All Rights Reserved

Chapter One

Redbird.

Tilly Cardinal didn’t bother trying to conceal her smile as she pushed her grocery cart down the aisle and checked items off her list. Tonight was special. Not quite their anniversary, but Cristo had been gone four weeks on business. Celebrating his return would be fun.

Damn
she’d missed him. It felt weird rattling around their apartment alone. They’d started looking at houses before he left town for this job. She couldn’t wait to show him the ones she’d toured in his absence. He’d even hinted again a few weeks ago about getting married, if she wanted to.

For the first time in her life, she realized the idea of getting married didn’t fill her with terror.

She’d never trusted anyone in her life the way she trusted Cristo.

After buying all his favorite things, she loaded the groceries in the car and headed home. She had four hours to prepare before his return. During the drive she let her mind drift. She never thought she’d be able to love until she met Cristo, much less trust. Not after what she’d been through.

Friend, soul mate, lover, partner.

Master.

At a red light, her hand automatically went to the fluorite pendant on her necklace, the one he’d given her when she first pledged herself to him.

Her day collar.

Their silent signal between them that she belonged only to him, heart, soul, and body.

Thank god they lived on the apartment complex’s first floor and not the second. It only took her ten minutes to schlep the groceries inside. As she put everything away she fought an uneasy feeling in her gut. Turning, she studied the apartment. Everything looked okay.

Didn’t it?

The TV, stereo, DVDs, her laptop—everything where they belonged. No robbery.

So why did it feel like someone had been there?

Suppressing a shiver, she rubbed her hands along her arms to smooth her goosebumps. She

hated being alone, but Cris’ job as a computer programmer for a government contractor sometimes required him to travel for long periods of time. Unfortunately on this trip he wasn’t able to stay in touch with her due to security requirements. That bummed her out, but it didn’t worry her because it wasn’t uncommon. His paycheck made it worth the occasional radio silence.

She walked into the bedroom. Now that she knew the menu for their meal, what to wear became

the crucial question. Should she be his good little baby girl welcoming Daddy home? Naughty slut ready for a long, hard fucking? Or full-on slave girl outfit?

What would he be in the mood for? He hadn’t left her specific instructions this time. Hadn’t called, texted, or emailed his wishes. Again, not worrisome, but usually he gave her at least some hint in the days before his return.

Looking around, she felt that unease again. Something wrong, something out of place.

Then she spotted the large manila envelope on the dresser. With her name written on it.

In Cris’ handwriting.

It had not been there before she left for work that morning, she’d swear it.

When she picked it up she felt the weight, stuffed so full it bulged against the sealed flap. She sat on the bed and carefully opened it.

She first found the letter on top, in his writing.

My dearest little Redbird…

Her hands trembled. She couldn’t read anymore. In her lap, the rest of the envelope’s contents spilled out. The keys and title to his Lexus, signed over to her. He’d hired a car to drive him up to Tampa to the airport and had left the Lexus parked outside in his usual spot next to her little Civic. A safety deposit box key. Notarized paperwork giving her permission to take over various things in his name, like the utilities and bank accounts.

The apartment lease, signed over to her, along with a receipt dated that morning showing the rent had been paid for another year.

Everything dated that morning.

She tried to read again.

My dearest little Redbird,

This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, and I don’t want to do it…

Tilly broke down sobbing as she read the letter. Had to read it several times before she fully comprehended the finality of it.

When she called her best friend Loren, all she could do was sob inconsolably over the phone.

Loren and her husband Ross used their spare key to let themselves in when they arrived in a panic twenty minutes later. They found Tilly still sobbing and curled in a fetal position on the bed.

Loren held her friend and looked at her husband. His face darkened, his jaw tightening as he stepped away from the bed and read the letter he’d found where Tilly dropped it on the floor.

My dearest little Redbird,

This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, and I don’t want to do it. I have responsibilities
that pre-date my life with you. I wish I could turn my back on them, but I can’t. There are things about
myself I have never confided to you, never thought you would ever need to know. It’s not criminal, and
you’re at no risk. Not that this will in any way make up for what you will go through, I’m giving you
everything. All I’ve taken are my clothes. My last paycheck will be directly deposited into our joint
account, as always, including the back vacation pay they owe me. As you can see, I’ve paid the
apartment lease for another year. Sell one of the cars and bank the money. Have Ross help you with
that so you get the best deal possible. With what’s in the bank now, and with your job, you’ll be able to
get by until you finish school next semester and start working full-time. It should also give you a little
bit of a cushion.

Please know I love you heart and soul, and I always will. Always and forever. I know you will
probably hate me, and I accept that and take full responsibility. I wish I didn’t have to do this. Please
live your life with honor and truth to yourself. Saying that, I must release you. May you find the peace
 a
nd joy and happiness that I am not able to give you, even though I wish I could.

C.

* * * *

Five hours later, Ross carried Tilly into Sarasota Community Hospital’s ER while Loren held

her purse and insurance cards. Tilly had gone practically catatonic and wouldn’t respond to them. They knew enough of her background and what she’d been through in the past to worry about her state of mind, not to mention her safety.

She spent two days medicated before she would talk to a psychiatrist on staff. He ruled she

could safely be released as long as she was closely supervised for the next few days while the emotional shock wore off. Loren never left her side.