The Twelve Tables Ch. 07

"I just got a call from Bianca saying she rolled her ankle and asking of you could go over to Ben's house and check it out," he said quietly. "The thing is I am pretty sure she is lying about it," he looked at Pete. "Could you go over and let me know if I need to be worried?"

"You didn't hear this from me," Pete said quietly, but Peri got hurt recently, not badly but enough that she is still recovering. If she has over done it today, then she will be begging them not to tell Josh and if I know Emily she would be mothering the girl to death."

"Makes sense, give me a call anyway, it's not like Bianca to cover for anyone," he rubbed his chin. "I guess this injury has something to do with the tension at the table?" Jules worked through the limited information he had.

"Don't say anything unless it comes up, it could make things worse. I'll come back to the table and make my excuses, then head over," Pete clapped his shoulder, "I'm sure it's nothing." He said convinced that it was just that Peri's hip was still sore, and she had over done it today. The other three women were all specimens of good health.

"I think I'll have a chat with D. about this mysterious video," Jules chuckled. "He seems to have all the important information."

"I'd wait until Josh and Nik leave," Pete said seriously.

The lunch broke up shortly after Pete left with Josh taking Lucia home and Maryanne claiming the need to pack for her trip to Melbourne. Realising she was about to be interrogated by Jules and Rommy, Nik also left ostensibly to go back to her boutique. She'd never felt so unwanted by her siblings. She'd always lived under the protection of Josh's shining light. He'd always smoothed out any arguments she had with the others, cleaned up her messes and made everything alright with all of them. Now they all looked at her like she had committed a cardinal sin. She took a deep breath. She just had to survive through the holidays, there was no way that mousy girl was going to survive a visit to the farm. She would make sure of it.

"Nik wait," Emilio came after her as she left.

"Please Lio, I don't need a lecture right now," Nik sighed.

"I know," he wrapped her in a hug feeling her stiffness. Their relationship had been strained lately but he hated to see her so hurt by what Josh was doing. "I know Josh's news was a bit of a shock for you. I just wanted to know you were okay." He released her and stepped back.

"I'm not okay. What about me? He hasn't even considered how this would affect me and my future," she became angry again. "How could he be so selfish cutting me off like that?" she posed the question more to herself than to Lio.

"What do you mean cutting you off?" Lio asked genuinely confused. "You still get your family allowance don't you? The shop's doing well isn't it?" he asked.

"You don't think that pittance dad allows us is fair do you? God, it wouldn't even cover my wardrobe costs," Nik was seething again and letting her anger out on Emilio. "All of you boys have it so easy, you have no idea what it's like for us girls. Yippee for Josh he's getting his own business and taking the family name, but what about me? What I am supposed to do now marry some rich family man and have babies?"

"He was supporting you financially?" Emilio asked trying to make sense of what she was saying.

"It was only fair. It's not like any of us girls got trust funds. Why wouldn't he share with me?" Nik looked at the horror on Emilio's face blankly. He couldn't possibly understand how she felt.

"You know I thought you were upset with Josh because you cared about him in your own strange way. He doesn't owe you anything Nik, he's not your father or your husband, he's your brother. He doesn't have to support you any more than the rest of us do and the fact that all you seem worried about right now is money and not how upset Josh is makes me so sad for both of you."

"What about me? Does anyone care how upset I am about all this? That stupid fat girl caused all this drama, not me. She won't stay at the farm, and he will be hurt all over again. She will never fit into our world. She may have caught Mama on a good day, but Papa is a whole different story. She will run away, just like Cherie did, and I will be the first one to say I told you so," Nik raged through gritted teeth. "Poor sensitive Lio, the truth hurts doesn't it," she patted his shoulder seeing his sad expression and turned and walked away.

Walking back to the table where four of his brothers still sat he shook his head. She had to be insane if she thought anything she was saying was reasonable. The girls got huge allowances. He couldn't understand what she was doing with her money and why Josh had been giving her financial support.

"Okay I agree, I think it's time we stepped in," Emilio said taking a seat. "I actually think she needs medical or psychiatric help after that conversation."

"Enough stalling, we want the whole story, not the censored version," Jules said.

Each of the three older brothers told the saga from their own perspective ending with Emilio's conversation with Nik after he followed her from the restaurant.

"So to recap, Nik's been using Josh as a pseudo-husband socially until Peri came along. He paid the bills she racked up and escorted her to the cool parties he went to with the literary crowd and charities he works with while she gave him nothing in return. Then he stopped inviting her to the cool parties because he met Peri and she retaliated by making Peri's life a misery and getting her fired. Bringing Mama to town to break them up and having her humiliated and assaulted in the street. Have I got it all?" Rommy said quietly.

"That's when Josh finally had enough and cut her off, financially and socially except for family meetings like this," Jules added scratching at his cheek.

"Pretty much," Dante pulled out his phone. "Here's the video, it's quite enlightening."

"I hate to say it," Emilio shook his head sadly, "but I think it's time for Nik to go home."

"I can't believe Josh hasn't insisted on it," Rommy said heatedly. Making them all look at the usually quiet man. "What? She's treated Josh like her personal slave for his whole life and been a total bitch to the rest of us when we didn't do what she wanted. If it weren't for Josh, I would have stopped talking to her when I married Carmen."

"She was cruel about Carmen not being pretty enough for one of her brothers," Jules added putting it mildly after seeing the older brothers confused looks.

"She won't go willingly," Emilio murmured.

"We're all going home for the holidays I doubt she will do anything else between now and then, it's only a week or so away," Ben said. "She's been trying to get back into Josh's good graces by being sweet to him and Peri."

"She's counting on life at the farm to scare Peri away," Emilio nodded.

"I think the best thing we can do right now is acquiring this publishing house for Josh," Ben said. "I'll have the paperwork Josh has put together sent over to your office this afternoon. He wants to move on it as soon as possible."

"Alright we'll look at it tonight and meet with you and Josh tomorrow," Jules said. "There's nothing at the office we can't put off for a few days."

Ben answered his buzzing phone and after a hasty conversation stood, "I've gotta go, something has come up, I'll send the documents through as soon as I get back to the office."

*****

Pete arrived expecting to see Peri being fussed over by the three women but instead was let into the house by a worried looking Peri before he had even knocked. She showed him through to the living room where Emily reclined on the couch sleeping lightly. Confused he looked at the other two women, and Carmen motioned him from the room.

"She got really weak and tired suddenly. Then I noticed a few tell-tale signs. I think she is pregnant again," Carmen said concern in her voice.

"Ben wouldn't do that. The risks are too high after last time," Pete said shaking his head.

"I don't think he knows, and you know how desperate she was to give him that second son. Have you ever seen her sleep in the middle of the day?" Carmen asked.

"Alright let me examine her," Pete agreed and went back into the living room placing his bag beside the couch.

"Hey Emily, it's Pete," he smiled placing a pressure cuff about her upper arm.

"They shouldn't have bothered you. I just didn't sleep well last night," Emily went to sit up.

"Well I'm here now so we may as well check you out," Pete helped her to sit before taking her blood pressure. "It's a little high for someone who just woke up from a nap."

"Honestly, I am perfectly healthy, now if you will excuse me, I need to use the bathroom to freshen up a little.

"Excellent, I'd love a sample," he said fishing a small sterile jar out of his bag. "Before you argue," he whispered seeing the look on her face. "If you don't give me a sample I will stay until Ben gets home and you can explain why I am here to him."

Taking the jar with a sigh of resignation she walked out of the room, with Pete following behind her.

"Use the ensuite it will be easier to examine you in your room," Pete suggested. "Ladies if you will excuse us. Actually, why don't you girls go home I can take it from here? "

"I'll stay if you can drive Bianca home, Peri," Carmen said. "I'll let you both know what happens."

"Of course," Peri agreed readily feeling like she didn't quite belong in this family scene.

"I'll get the nanny to pick up your kids with mine. They can come for dinner with us," Bianca agreed, offering what she could to ease the worry on Carmen's face.

"Thanks you're the best," She smiled and went into the kitchen. "I start bagging this lot up so it will be done for the kids by tomorrow." It was less than an hour later when Ben burst through the front door and raced through the house finding Carmen in the kitchen. "Bedroom," she squeaked in surprise and pointed upstairs.

Ben's arrival was all the answer she needed. She would stay and take Ben and Emily's children over to Bianca and Jules house as well. She picked up her phone to make the arrangements. They were going to need help tonight,

*****

Josh's phone came to life and he looked at it smiling before picking it up.

"Hey you," he answered.

"Hey there handsome, I just dropped Bianca home, and it's too late to go all the way back to the city, and I was wondering how your lunch went and more importantly, if it was over," she laughed lightly.

"I'm at Lucy's right now, why don't you meet me at my place in about thirty minutes and I'll tell you all about it," Josh said not having to force a smile to his face for the first time in hours. This phone call was exactly what he needed to make everything alright again.

"I was hoping you would say that," Peri giggled softly.

"Drive safely," Josh laughed.

"See you soon," Peri said and ended the call and Josh put his phone away continuing to smile. He had been so concerned about her hip it seemed like forever since they had truly enjoyed each other but he could work around that now, she had had a few days to heal. He needed to lose himself in her and enjoy the love and devotion she showered him with.

"Look at you smiling like a goofy schoolboy," Lucia pulled a face at him. "You love her a lot don't you?"

"Yeah," Josh admitted. "Which cheesy line would you like? She completes me?"

"That's a great one, but you should throw in something heartfelt as well if you want to convince me, like 'I never knew love could feel this good'." Lucia Laughed.

"Well that's true so can I just use that one and owe you a better version next time I see you?" Josh said standing up.

"I am so happy for you baby brother," Lucia hugged him and turned to the table picking up her coffee that Josh had insisted she have. "I never thought I would say this, but you have to let Papa handle this now. It won't be pretty, but it won't be as awful as all this," she spread her hands indicating her beautiful home. "She won't stop until you become her lackey again and if you love this girl as much as I think you do, you don't have any choice."

Josh knew the truth of her words, but it killed him to think of betraying Nik like that. He wanted her to back off, and he was showing her he meant business by making the changes he had put off for so long because of her. He realised now that it would always be about her and her needs, and she had no intention of making her boutique work and becoming independent.

"I love you, Lucy," Josh laughed, "You've never sugar-coated anything for me." He grabbed the hard drive he had downloaded her manuscript onto and smiled, it was substantially more than the short story he had told her about. "I'm looking forward to reading this, you will be my first big author, so start thinking about your next book because the public will demand more." He kissed her cheek as she scoffed at his words and shooed him out of her house.

Josh sped towards home, his mind on Lucia's words. He hoped she was wrong, and now that he had cut Nik off financially she would have to start to think about how she had treated everyone. He decided as he turned into his street that if she did anything else between now and the holidays he would tell Papa what had been going on.

Josh saw Peri's little white hatchback parked outside of his apartment complex, and all thoughts of Nik left his mind as he parked his car and took the stairs rather than waiting for the elevator. When he walked in he found her in the kitchen pouring herself a glass of iced water naked except for the necklace he had given her when they had stayed at the cabin. He grinned thinking a weekend like that, away from the family dramas, could be what they both needed.

"If I came home to this every day I would be a very happy man." He swung the door shut behind him and moved swiftly to take her in his arms. He kissed her passionately and walked her back to the bench lifting her up onto it as she pushed his jacket off his shoulders.

Josh shrugged off his jacket enjoying her eagerness, but he needed control tonight, control of her and their passion. He picked up a nearby dish towel and pushing her arms behind her back secured them at the elbows with the towel immobilising her use of her arms. The position he knew would have the bonus of pulling her shoulders back and thrusting out her big beautiful breasts at him. He kissed her then feeling her arch up against him.

He stepped back slightly lifting her heavy breasts and weighing them in his hands squeezing them gently at first but adding more pressure until her breath caught and he let them go bouncing back against her ribcage. He slapped them each hard enough to leave a soft pink handprint but not enough to cause her real pain yet. He smiled slowly watching her arch toward him as if asking silently for more.

He took her nipples pinching them and pulling them forward, making her breasts stand out from her like rigid pyramids. She began to mewl with pleasure, as he let go and slapped them twice more as they bounced back and forth on her chest. Peri tilted her head back and gasped as he lowered his head to her nipples that then were sucked, bitten and chewed.

Josh fumbled with his remaining clothes as he played with her nipples and the globes of soft flesh they sat erect on. When he was naked he kissed her deeply stepping between her legs and pulling her ass further over the edge of the counter top, he entered her hard and fast smothering her squeal of pleasure with his mouth. He held onto her ass squeezing it as he fucked her, his arms holding her in position and her legs wrapping around his hips.

Reaching out to his side he pulled a large jar that held a collection of wooden spoons and plastic spatulas towards him. He pulled out a long-handled, flat-edged wooden spatula and struck the top edge of her ass and unbruised hip. Again he swallowed her cry of surprise and pleasurable pain with his passionate kisses.

Josh pulled Peri from the bench and turned her in his arms was to lean on the counter before he stepped behind her and spanked her roughly with the flexible spatula. He stepped closer feeling the heat from her rosy cheeks and entered her again pushing her further over the bench with a grunt at the force with which he entered her. Pulling her head back by the hair he could see the sides of her beautiful breasts bouncing with the force of his thrusts.

He could feel her body tremble beneath him, and he lost himself in the feelings and sounds of being with the woman who gave him so much pleasure. Pulling her hair to arch her back hard against him he groaned and came willing her to come with him. He felt her cunt clench around him, and she cried out in pain and pleasure shaking against him as he held her in place with his hips for long minutes before releasing her hair and collapsing over her breathing heavily. Moving away from her to lean his back against the bench beside where she lay panting he smiled as she melted to her knees and began to clean his cock of their mixed cum.

He ran his hands through her hair gently revelling in the power she made him feel while still maintaining her sense of self. Unlike the well-trained kept women at the farm, Peri looked at him with love and the passion she felt even when he was wielding a flogger or crop. He loved everything about her, and he felt himself harden again under her gentle touch.

*****

Nik walked into the restaurant bar and spotted Andie easily. The beautiful older woman sat perched at the bar twirling a straw in her drink and checking her phone. Bianca had described the woman when she had called her to get the number, saying that she needed new inspiration for the boutique. Andie had said that she couldn't possibly fit her in before the holidays but was happy to meet her for a drink before she went out that night to get a feel for what she wanted Andie to do.

"Hello, you must be Andie," Nik said easily taking the stool beside the woman.

"You must be Veronica," Andie smiled and put her phone away. "I must say I am intrigued by your proposal. May I ask where you heard about my service?"

"My sister-in-law actually," Nik said vaguely without lying and pulled a glossy catalogue out of her bag and placed it on the bar top in front of Andie and turned to order a drink. "So what do you think?"

"It's hard to judge based just on a catalogue, but it looks like your aiming for a young demographic, but the couture designs are probably a little sophisticated for that age bracket and probably way out of their price range. You could probably double your business by either aiming the range at a slightly older and wealthier clientele or dropping the designers and going for a cheaper but younger look." Andie said thoughtfully as she continued to study the catalogue.

"That's your professional opinion is it?" Nik said haughtily.

"As I said it's hard to judge from a catalogue but it seems like your aiming for a young nuevo rich demographic we don't really have here. Young executives have money, but this isn't the style they tend to go for. If you were opening this boutique on the coast, you could cash in on the tourists, but here in the heart of the city, I think you have missed the market." Andie tried to explain. "Who did you say recommended me to you?"

"My sister-in-law Bianca Donati," Nik said acidly. "I should have known better, but I was prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt because Bianca swears by your sense of style. But it seems you're just as useless as your walking fashion faux pas of a daughter."

"Wait what? How do you know Peri?" Andie was stunned by the verbal tirade.

"You and your fat brat better stay away from my family. Believe me I will be telling Bianca you're a fraud. So full of shit that you can't even see class when it's right in front of you," she jabbed her finger at the catalogue. "You can keep that maybe your next customer will believe your bullshit."