24-Unpleasant Surprise

**Isabella**

I texted Alli to let her know I would be coming tomorrow because something came up. She's super nosey, so I'll have to come up with something to tell her later. I gave the guys some time to get things in motion before I started getting ready. They still have no idea where Sophia is, so there's no reason for me to rush.

I slip into comfortable tennis shoes after putting on a black t-shirt and a pair of jeans. I throw my hair up into a tight bun, check myself in the mirror, and ask myself if I'm making the right choice. Alli is all the family I have, not including my mother, whom I have nothing to do with. How far am I willing to go to keep my best friend safe?

I would absolutely kill for her, but is Sophia crazy enough to hurt her? She's clearly unstable, but I need to figure out how unstable she is. I also wonder why she was so willing to turn on Ezra and Marcello all those years ago. For now, it's better to be safe than sorry. At the very least, we should keep Sophia under our watch so that we can have eyes on her at all times. My hatred for her is also fueled by the fact that she had a piece of Ezra that belongs to me, and she abused it. It's not about her having him, but more about how she used his trust to try and get him killed. What was in it for her?

Marcello enters my room. "We have a problem."

He looks livid, struggling to even make eye contact with me. "What kind of problem?"

"Alice is here. With Sophia." What the fuck? How did Sophia already get her filthy hands on Alli? I rush downstairs in a panic. I swear to god, if there is even a mark on Alli, I will torture Sophia for weeks.

I get to the foyer, but I was not prepared to see the scene in front of me.

Sophia is on her knees, half-naked, with a gag ball in her mouth. Her hands are tied behind her back, with a collar around her neck, and a leash held by Alli. Alli is holding a cherry red paddle in her other hand. Sophia was drunk earlier, but she looks completely sober now. Her eyes are alert, looking straight at me. I can't quite read her emotions, but there is no threat in her gaze. Alli is a different story. I have never seen my best friend with so much anger and fire in her eyes. To say it's intimidating is an understatement.

"Oh my god, Alli. What's going on?" I keep my distance because I'm unsure what to make of this.

"My submissive owes you three a couple of apologies." Her submissive?

"What happened to Sage? You seemed so happy with her." A tear streaks down Sophia's cheek.

"This is Sage. Sophia Sage Lockheart. I prefer her middle name because it suits her well." Alli looks at Sophia with adoration, but disappointment at the same time.

"She's dangerous, Alli. Do you know what she has done?" Alli brings her attention back to me.

"I know everything. She confessed to me this evening, so I knew I needed to make an example out of her. I also know Sage is not the woman she was seven years ago. She's been sober for five years, until today. She had a moment of weakness this afternoon while I was at work, but I want you to know I am not handling this lightly and there won't be any more issues coming from her. Sage knows better." She tugs Sophia's hair, making her look up at Alli, "Right, Sage?"

Sophia nods as two more tears escape her eyes. Alli allows Sophia's head to fall back down. "How did you meet her?" I wish I asked her that question sooner.

"A mutual acquaintance at work. My coworker, Alex, decided he would play matchmaker and invited her to lunch when we were on our break. I knew I had to have her as soon as she walked through the door. Alex is her childhood best friend and he knew she needed a strong dom who can handle a little mischief." Alli is the queen of mischief, so I see why she would be the perfect dom for Sophia. Alli says she isn't the woman she was seven years ago, and I want to believe it. The fact that Sophia admitted what she did and is willing to accept punishment for her bad behavior makes me see her in a different light. I still don't like her, but I know a thing or two about substance abuse and how easy it is to be a shitty person while under the influence. I'm willing to trust that Alli is making the right decision and I think it could be a good idea to keep her close anyway. If anyone can handle her, it's Alli.

"I remember Alex. He is a respectable man, and I am glad he is doing well." Ezra speaks fondly of Sophia's friend. That helps the uneasy feeling I had about Alex.

In a way, I'm relieved. I hate that murder even crossed my mind, but I was terrified for Alli. I would never forgive myself if something happened to her, but what can I do now? The way she looks at Sophia is the same way Marcello and Ezra look at me. With love. I'm still scared for her, but Alli is smart and she isn't in the dark about anything.

"Sage has something she would like to say." Alli removes Sophia's gag and wipes her mouth off with a handkerchief that she pulled from her pocket.

She looks at me first. "Isabella, I apologize for being so rude earlier. I had way too much to drink, but there is no excuse for what I did. I hope, eventually, you can forgive my behavior."

She looks at Marcello next. "Marcello, I apologize for showing up abruptly the way I did and interrupting your private time. I know you have never been fond of me, especially after what I did in the past. I will always have that blood on my hands, and I wish I could take it all back. I never expected anyone to get hurt, but that doesn't change what happened. I don't expect you to forgive me, but you at least deserve a sincere apology."

She faces Ezra, and more tears flow. "Ezra." She chokes on his name. "You deserved better than what I gave you back then. You were so new to being a dom, and I used your kindness to my advantage. I'm so sorry for hurting you and being the reason for so much pain in your family. I wasted your time and used you. I allowed an evil man into my head; I was in too deep, too fast. Greed and lies got the best of me, but I promise that isn't me anymore. I got myself help, and I was doing okay for a while. Mistress Alice is safe around me. I would never bring her harm, especially how I brought harm to you."

Everything she says sounds authentic. For her sake, I hope she is genuine.

"I will be disciplining her here for you to watch. I want you to know and trust that I will handle her accordingly. Sage, stand up." Her submissive obeys without hesitation. Alli guides her to an ottoman beside the couch in our entertainment room.

"Bend over the ottoman, ass up high for me." Sophia complies.

"You will receive fifteen solid strikes. That is only five whacks on behalf of each of my friends that you disrespected, so I expect you to be thankful. Count along, or else you'll get extra strikes. You remember your safe word, correct?" Alli's dominance is pouring off of her.

"Yes, Mistress." Sophia looks terrified.

"Remind me." I doubt Alli forgot, but it's critical to establish the safeword before continuing.

"Tolerance," Sophia responds shakily.

"Do I enjoy punishing you, Sage?" Alli slaps the paddle against her hand, making Sophia flinch at the noise.

"No, Ma'am." It sounds like she's about to cry again.

"I like when you're a good girl, don't I?" The disappointment in Alli's tone and the anticipation is making Sophia squirm.

"Yes, Ma'am." The first strike came down violently against her right buttcheek. The angry red welt appears instantly, and Sophia whimpers.

"One." She chokes out.

"Do you enjoy displeasing me?" Alli asks.

"No, Ma'am." Another strike comes down on the other cheek, making it just as angry. Sophia counts, "Two."

"What have you learned from this?" Beads of sweat are already forming on Sophia's forehead.

"My actions do not only affect me, and I should be considerate of others." Another whack lands, making Sophia cry out. I can imagine the burn that she's feeling, and I can't help but crave it for myself. This meeting with Kain cannot come soon enough. I'm being as patient as I can be, but the gentle lashes I currently get from Marcello and Ezra don't nearly scratch my itch.

By the time Alli makes it to fifteen, Sophia is a sobbing mess with an ass that shines redder than Rudolph's nose in the middle of the night. I know I don't need to worry about Alli and her ability to protect herself. She's just as gun savvy as I am, so I need to relax. Ezra, Marcello, and I give Alli and Sophia a little private space so that they can focus on aftercare. Alli had ointment in her jacket pocket to treat the welts, and Stefano brought her a glass of water.

We're sitting quietly in Ezra's office. The tension is so thick that I could slice it with a spoon. I don't think the guys will be able to forgive Sophia after what she's done, or at least not right away. I have a lot less to forgive her for than they do. Every time they look at her, they see the man who lost his life. They see the fatherless child and widow that was left behind. Most of all, they feel guilt for trusting her. That's a lot to forgive, but they've had mercy on her before. I know for a fact Ezra didn't discipline her nearly as hard as Alli just did. Maybe Alli is just what Sophia needs. A sturdy relationship with a dom who knows that sometimes, leaving marks is necessary for some submissives. Sophia needed that ass-whoopin', and my best friend delivered it beautifully.

"They should stay here tonight. We can have dinner and establish a new beginning. I know it's hard, but if she's going to be alive and around Alli, we need to keep her close to us. I'm not saying you need to forgive her, but we need to be rational." I see the hesitation in their faces, but they're reasonable men.

"Okay. I can do it if Ezra agrees." Marcello looks to Ezra.

"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, I guess." He shrugs a shoulder as if he is unbothered. His tough act doesn't fool me at all, though. He's still hurting, but this is the first step to healing.