Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 49530 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 248(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49530 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 248(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
“Go down to the bikes, Elizabeth,” Steele growled as he took a position just to the left of Talon. The others clustered loosely behind them.
“Oh, it looks like you’ve got some buddies. Too afraid to take me on yourself, huh?”
“I’m not afraid of a piece of shit,” Talon said with a dismissive tone.
It took Vengeance a full second to realize Talon was talking about him. The large man swung a fist at his target’s face with amazing speed. Talon, however, was quicker.
Talon dodged faster than she’d ever seen a man move. His response to the attack was almost a blur as his fist struck Vengeance in the center of his chest, knocking the air from his lungs. Instantly, Vengeance rocked forward with his mouth open, struggling to breathe. Talon drove his thigh into the jerk’s face, driving him back onto his heels.
His club members advanced but stopped as the Shadowridge Guardians stepped forward to back up Talon.
“You don’t want to start this war because we will finish it,” Steele told them bluntly. “No one harms those under our protection. Make no mistake that Elizabeth Sinclair is now one of us.”
“Going to let the big dog fight your battles, Talon?” Vengeance taunted despite being obviously short of breath.
“Take another swing at me and find out,” Talon suggested.
“Uh, Vengeance,” one the Devil’s Jesters said, holding onto his arm as the large man pulled it back.
When the aggressor turned his focus to his brother, the biker nodded at the security man at the entrance looking their way. “It’s time to leave.”
“We’ll see you later,” Vengeance swore as he allowed his club members to haul him away.
“Are you okay, Ms. Sinclair?” the security guard called as he walked toward the group.
“I’m fine. You may wish to alert the staff that the Devil’s Jesters should be monitored when they’re around the courthouse,” Elizabeth called, walking forward from her safe position by the bikes.
“Got it. Watch out for motorcycle gangs,” the uniformed man generalized.
“No. Not all guys in motorcycle clubs. The Devil’s Jesters. They’re easy to spot. They have a red jester head on their vests,” Elizabeth corrected him.
“These guys are okay?” he asked, looking at the group of powerful men around her.
“These guys saved me twice,” Elizabeth pointed out.
“Got it. Keep a look out for the Jesters, not all motorcycle guys in general.”
“Thank you, Stanley,” Elizabeth said as more guards ran from various directions to back up the security man.
“You’re welcome, Ms. Sinclair,” he said before turning to wave off the guys who immediately misread the Guardians’ intent. “These are the good guys. Come over here and I’ll share what we need to watch for.”
“Come on, Little girl. I’ll walk you to your car,” Talon said, wrapping his arm around Elizabeth’s waist.
“It’s over there in the overflow parking lot,” she said, pointing.
As they walked, Talon casually said, “You got here late and without anything on your calendar and had to park in overflow?”
“I’m in trouble, aren’t I?”
“Oh, yeah.”
They walked silently for several yards before she asked, “Is your hand okay?”
Talon looked at her in surprise. “Yes. Why?”
“You hit that guy.”
“That was a love tap. I’m fine.”
“I don’t want a love tap then,” she muttered.
“No, Buttercup. This spanking won’t be a tap.”
She shivered in reaction to his words and tried to pretend her body didn’t race to full-arousal alert. It was going to be a long drive home.
Chapter
Fourteen
“Talon, I think my bottom is on fire!” Elizabeth called from the corner.
“Daddy, I think my bottom is on fire,” he corrected in an even tone.
“Daddy, I think my bottom is on fire,” she parroted, adding a sniff of unhappiness that made him smile.
“There are no active flames, Buttercup, but your cute butt is red and ouchy. When your time in the naughty corner is up, I’ll spread some lotion on your skin to help you feel better before we go to dinner,” Talon reassured her.
“Can I eat in here? I think someone might have overheard me.”
“No, Little girl. You’ll eat in the common room with everyone so you can thank them for coming to your rescue this afternoon.”
“But…”
“No buts. You misbehaved. You accepted your punishment, and everything is forgiven. No one will look at you differently.”
“Can I take Puff and Borscht?” she asked, hugging her companions he’d allowed her to hold during her punishment.
“Yes. I don’t think they’re ready to let you out of their sights.”
“How much longer?” she whined.
“Three minutes if you’re quiet and think about how you could have handled this better.”
“Am I going to have to tell you?” she questioned.
“Four minutes now and yes.”
Her snort made him smile. She was absolute perfection. The Little girl he’d always dreamed of finding. Someone whose ability to stand up for themselves was legendary but who chose to give their submission willingly. She would challenge him at every turn. He couldn’t wait to see what her quick mind came up with next.