Page 52 of Guarding Glenda

Looking up, I said, “Hustle up. It’s cold as fuck down here.”

Hammer sighed then addressed the others. “Leigh was told he’d be fined and flogged if he came here before I said it was okay. He came. He paid the fine. Now he’s taking ten licks.”

Butterbean and Rogers stood, watching. Bama crossed his arms, looking at the wall past me.

Hammer slowly walked behind me, so I dropped my shirt between my thighs then gripped the back of the chair. “I’m ready.”

I drew a deep breath, then blew it out hard when Hammer laid the first lick down. Bama flinched, but the others saw it coming.

Taking another deep breath, I waited for the next hit.

Crack.

The air forced from my lungs again. It stung, but wasn’t the worst thing I’d endured.

By the sixth, though, it burned and my arms trembled a little as he laid the next down. But I didn’t make a sound, and didn’t move my body.

My jaw clenched and my knuckles were white as I took the next one.

Crack.

My teeth grinding was like nails on a chalkboard. But my back was buzzing. Not quite numb, but the space between fully feeling it and only feeling the connection of the leather to skin but not the heat of it.

Crack.

I focused on a deep breath, ready for the next.

Crack.

My eyes closed as my body shuddered. Another deep breath.

Crack.

Blowing out the breath like I’d been holding it for minutes, I still gripped the chair tightly as I took a few deep breaths.

“Debt is paid,” Hammer said from behind me.

My back burned and my skin was practically vibrating as the endorphins wore off.

The door to the cabinet closed and Hammer walked beside me, sticking his hand out. My jaw clenched, but I grabbed his hand, and he pulled me up.

“Look, rules are rules. Next time–”

“Won’t be a next time, prez. But I get it. I could have given you a heads up.”

He was still gripping my hand. “You’re welcome back.”

I squeezed his hand, leaning closer. “You get a little chubby from that shit don’t you?”

He grinned but didn’t answer me. Instead he asked, “How’s our girl?”

Squeezing harder, he smirked but then said, “Your girl. How’s Glenda?”

I let go of his hand then reached back to get my shirt. I hissed as I worked it down my back, trying to avoid touching my raw skin.

Rogers handed me my cut and I eased it back on, blowing a big breath through my nostrils. “She’s gonna be okay.”

“Good. We got problems, so we need you back in the saddle.”