AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Boss, I—”
He holds up one hand. “Okay, I get it. And because it’s you asking, here’s what we’ll do. Jenna can stay on as landlady, but I expect you to watch her like a hawk. Any more irregularities, any more missed payments, and I’ll hold you responsible. Is that clear?”
“Clear, boss. But to do that I’ll have to stay in Glasgow. I thought you only wanted me there temporarily.”
“If I need another lieutenant here on the island I’ll bring Jack over.”
“Fair enough.” I reach for the brochure, abandoned on his desk. “I’ll just—”
“That’s not all. If she’s keeping her pub, I need something else by way of retribution. Justice has to be seen to be done.”
I stiffen. He’s right. It’s the way we do things. “Boss, she was badly injured. She’s nowhere near well enough to face any further punishment.”
He glares at me. “I wasn’t suggesting you batter her half to death. For fuck’s sake… She’s a woman.”
“I have noticed that.” I eye him warily. “So, what did you have in mind?”
“I’ll leave that to you. You decide when, and what. I want you to administer her punishment and I expect you to make it good.”
“You want me to spank her?” Now this I can get behind, so to speak.
“I was thinking more of a caning. We wouldn’t want to confuse the issue with anything that could be described as fun, but it’s your decision. You know her best.”
I wince. A caning is severe. Too severe?
“Well?” Ethan prompts. “Are we in agreement?”
Out of choices, I quit while I’m ahead. I nod slowly. “Yes, boss. Agreed.”
Jenna
I open my eyes and stretch. Bright sunlight penetrates the thick curtains, casting warm beams across the expensive carpet. For the first time in weeks, nothing hurts.
My phone is charging on the bedside table. I reach for it, check the time. Nine fifty-five. And it’s a Wednesday, so the brewery should be delivering this morning. Molly will be busy.
I should be there.
Beside me, Tony stirs. This is his apartment, the place I’ve been recuperating in since I was discharged from the hospital almost a month ago. My ribs are healed, the bruises faded to more or less nothing. I was back at the Rothwell clinic yesterday having the plaster cast removed from my wrist. It’s still weak but usable.
He opens his eyes. “Good morning, beautiful.”
I lean over to kiss him. “Right back at you.”
Tony works at night. He’s rarely in bed before three or four in the morning so he tends to sleep late. I’m naturally an early riser, and this is a lie-in for me. I’m itching to be up and about. I slide my legs out of bed.
“Do you want breakfast? Coffee?” I offer.
“I prefer you flat on your back with your legs spread.” He rests against the pillows, his arms folded behind his head, a lecherous, sleepy smirk plastered across his face.
I pause halfway to the bathroom. “Hold that thought.”
I make quick work of visiting the loo and brushing my teeth. Then I trot back to the bed and kneel on top of the mattress. “I need to go back to the pub soon. Molly needs help.”
“Molly has help,” he growls.
“I don’t mean a security guard and a kid of eighteen. I’m well enough to work.”
“Jenna…” His tone holds a note of warning. “We talked about this.”
