The Art of Discipline: Running Toward Trouble (The Mockingbird Chronicles) (26 page)

Putting the tissue down, Dani laid her head on Emma’s shoulder. “You’re gonna kill me, aren’t you?”

Emma couldn’t help chuckling. “Yeah, pretty much.”

Blue eyes looked up, slightly confused to see Emma smile. “You’re not mad?”

“Oh, I’m furious with you, young lady. You are in serious trouble.”

“I know,” Dani frowned, quickly looking back down again.

“Danielle, look at me.” Waiting until she could again see blue, Emma continued. “I want to know why. Were you just looking for trouble? Was the chocolate craving so terrible? Or was the need to get away just so bad that you were willing to risk your life to fill it?”

Dani grimaced. “Honestly, Emma. I didn’t think of it as any of that. I just needed to get a break. Get out for a while. I didn’t think that I was in danger. I just wanted a break.”

Emma was quiet for a moment. “Okay, then I’ll ask you this. What price do think is a fair trade for your break?”

“What do you mean?”

“I want you to tell me how you think you should be punished.”

Dani shifted. “I don’t know.”

“Oh, yes you do. You have an idea in your head. You think you know how I’m going to react. I want to hear it.”

“Emma, this isn’t fair. It’s not supposed to be up to me. You’re the adverb, remember?”

“You’re right. I decide the when, where, and how. But this time, I want to know what you think.”

Dani shifted again. “It’s not fair. I can’t tell you that.”

Emma’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe you need to go spend some more time in the corner until you can.”

Dani blanched. “Please, Emma…” she trailed off, getting a raised eyebrow in response. Sighing, she gave in. “Fine. You’re gonna spank me. Probably paddle me too, and probably do it more than once. You’re going to either extend my grounding, or make it worse. Probably find something else to take away, so then I have absolutely nothing to do. Knowing you, you’ve probably found some other way to make my life miserable that I haven’t even thought of yet.”

Emma frowned. “Well, you’re half right.”

“What do you mean?”

“How many times did you sneak out?”

“Including today?”

“Yes, including today.” Emma’s voice dropped a bit. “And I want the truth, Danielle.”

Dani grimaced. “Today was the first time I left the grounds, but I’ve snuck out four other times.”

“I see. What did you do those other times, Danielle?”

Dani studied her hands. “Ran, walked, just enjoyed being outside. I, um, explored the walls too, seeing what I could find.”

“Looking for a way to escape?”

Dani continued to look down as she nodded.

“Okay, well, that’s easy then. Tonight before bed, you will be getting a long and very thorough spanking. I think we’ll repeat that for the next four nights as well.” Emma paused for Dani to comment, but she only sniffed, so Emma continued. “And as far as the grounding, it’s obvious you don’t have any respect for it, so I’m going to take the responsibility out of your hands. From now on, you will have to be in direct eyesight of either myself or another adult.”

Dani groaned, causing Emma to pause once again. Taking her fingers, she put them under Dani’s chin, forcing eye contact. “And furthermore, since you have been so bored, I’ll be finding things to keep you occupied.”

“Like what?” Dani couldn’t help but ask, but then shrank back at the cold look she got from her lover.

“Like chores or assignments. Seems idle time just gets you into trouble, so I plan to eliminate that.”

Dani shifted again before taking a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Emma. I really am.”

“I know, sweetie. I just hope that this will be enough to make you not repeat it. You’re just too special to me, Dani. I couldn’t stand it if something happened to you.”

Dani sniffled. “What now?” she couldn’t help but ask.

“Now,” Emma started, as she encouraged Dani to her feet and then pulled her pajama bottoms and panties down to her knees. “We take a look at your backside.”

Emma then pulled Dani over her lap, feeling her tense as she ran her hand over Dani’s backside. As she suspected, it still showed signs of Frankie’s displeasure. He’d been swatting Dani pretty hard, and she was surprised not to find more damage. Not that Dani didn’t deserve it; there had been a moment when Emma had actually considered letting Frankie deal with Dani. She might have let him if he hadn’t been so angry. She knew firsthand how infuriating Dani’s behavior could be, but she also knew how sensitive Dani was. If Frankie would have really gone after her with that belt, it would have done more damage to Dani than just her backside.

“I thought you said you were gonna wait until tonight to spank me?” Dani’s question suddenly, pulled Emma from her thoughts.

Emma shook her head and gave Dani a single swat. “I’m the adverb, remember?” Emma teased, chuckling as she helped Dani back to her feet.

“You’re not gonna spank me?” Dani looked confused.

“I am, tonight, unless I need to earlier?” Emma raised an eyebrow.

“Ah, I think I can wait,” Dani grimaced.

Emma reached out and turned Dani, so she could look at her backside one more time. “I can’t say that
Zio
Frankie didn’t do a good job. Been close to an hour and I can still make out at least three handprints. Hoping this one,” Emma tapped Dani’s left cheek, “doesn’t bruise too badly.”

Emma then pulled Dani’s pants back up, giving her another tap. “I think you could benefit from a little nap.”

“Seriously?” Dani groaned. “I’m not tired.”

“You had a big day,” Emma countered. “Plus you always take a nap after a spanking. I think Frankie lit you up well enough for that.”

Dani grumbled and headed toward the bed. “Will you at least stay with me?”

“Of course. I’m not going to go anywhere without you, Dani.”

* * *

Emma held tightly to Dani’s hand. Half pulling her, they managed to enter the kitchen finding Frankie and Giuliana already seated and Toni at the stove putting the finishing touches on dinner.

“Emma, glad you’re here, dear. Come on and help me serve this, you did help make it, after all,” Toni directed. “Dani, have a seat, we’ll be eating in a few minutes.”

Slowly walking to the table, Dani glanced briefly at Giuliana and smiled before sitting down. Staring at her plate, she started when a large hand reached over to pat her knee. “You okay,
bambina
?”

Looking up at her
zio
, Dani smiled in relief before nodding. She was sure that he would still be angry with her or not want to speak to her. It’s what her grandparents did when they were displeased with her behavior. It seemed so easy for them to act as if she wasn’t there until she apologized for whatever transgression they had felt she’d done and bent to whatever they wanted her to do.

Relaxing a little, Dani almost dropped her plate as Giuliana began the conversation. “So Pop, I hear you caused quite the stir at Pixie’s today.”

Frankie’s eyes twinkled. “I did?”

“Oh, yeah.” Giuliana’s eyes sparkled. “Andrea’s brother was out for a jog and saw you swatting some ‘poor girl,’ in his words, into the car. He called Andrea thinking it was me ‘cause he’d seen my bike earlier.”

“And why would he think you would be in trouble?”

Giuliana giggled and looked at Dani briefly. “I haven’t the foggiest idea,” she smirked. “You know me, I never get in trouble,” she teased, making eye contact with Dani.

Blushing, Dani put down her fork and looked at her cousin. “Okay, ask your questions; I know you’re dying to,” she relented.

“First, what did you do, and second, did he use the belt?”

“Giuliana Danielle!” Toni’s brown eyes flashed at her daughter. “Those are not the types of questions to ask your cousin.”

“Yes, Ma, sorry,” she apologized before turning to Dani again. “So did he?” she asked excitedly.

Emma chuckled at Dani’s expression and decided to take pity on her girlfriend. “First, your father did not use his belt on Dani. Second, she did something that endangered her safety.”

Giuliana took a bite of food, digesting the information. “Then how come she didn’t get the belt? If we put ourselves in danger, Pop doesn’t hold back.”

Dani cleared her throat. “Well, it was close; in fact he kinda chased me with it today.”

“Chased you with it?” Frankie suddenly roared with laughter. “Oh, that was no chase, Danielle. Now, chasing Nicky up and down two flights of stairs before I caught him, that was a chase.”

Giuliana giggled as well before turning back to Dani. “What made Pop put his belt back on?”

“Giuliana, enough questions,” Toni directed.

“No, it’s okay,” Dani grinned and leaned a little closer to her cousin. “Emma told him to stop.”

Giuliana looked from her father to the petite redhead across the table from her. “Pop, I think you could have taken her,” she commented before winking. “But I get it. Emma took care of it so you don’t have to.”

Laughing again, Frankie shook his head. “No more questions and no more teasing Danielle,” he directed.

Giuliana nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Patting Dani’s knee, Emma looked at Toni. “
Zia
, Dani and I had a little talk this afternoon, and we think she has too much time on her hands. We were wondering if there is anything you need done around the house, you know, to keep her occupied?”

Giuliana snorted into her milk. “Grounded? You’re grounded?”

“Enough, Giuliana, one more time and you’ll be in your room, understand?”

“Yes, Ma. I’m sorry, Dani.”

Dani ruefully smiled. “It’s okay, I guess it is kinda funny to think of someone my age as grounded.”

Giuliana nodded. “Just a bit.” She looked at her parents again. “Just be glad he put that belt back on,” she muttered before Dani began to chuckle as well.

Toni shook her head at her daughter. “You’re out of warnings,” she reminded her before turning to Emma. “I’m sure I can find some things for Dani to help me with around the house. I know for certain the silver hasn’t been polished in far too long and the windows in here could use a good washing.”

“I think that sounds like a good start, don’t you, Dani?” Emma encouraged.

Dani groaned, “Yeah, I guess so.” She looked up from her plate toward her cousin and wasn’t surprised to see the girl silently laughing.

* * *

Frankie sat in his chair, looking across the room at his goddaughter and her girlfriend. He never thought he’d see Danielle again, let alone be given another chance to know her. Emma had been an added bonus and he sighed, wishing he had better news to tell them. Deciding to get right to the point, he started, “I found out why Jason Parker disappeared,” Pausing as Emma and Dani waited, he continued bluntly, “It seems someone wasn’t happy that he didn’t manage to kill Emma; he was found in a dumpster, one town over from Ft. Strymon.”

“Wait, you said he was supposed to kill me?” Emma asked in a shaky voice.

“Yes. His real name was Jason Russo. His father was a low-level informant from the old neighborhood. Jason was following in his old man’s footsteps and decided to try his hand at bigger stakes. We were lucky Sampson couldn’t get someone with real experience.”

Emma paled and turned toward Dani, who had also paled. “What?” Emma asked.

“It just occurred to me, the voice on the phone. It was him. Why didn’t I see it? It was familiar, but then everything happened so fast…” Dani trailed off. “I just…” Looking back at Emma, she asked, “How in the hell did that slip past the background check? He wasn’t even using his real name.”

Emma’s eyes dropped to her lap. “I didn’t run one,” she quietly admitted. “Sean always handled all that, I didn’t think…”

“You didn’t… what? Damn it, Emma, seriously? I just assumed,” Dani scolded, looking at her
zio
for support. “I even ran one on Morgan before I hired her, and I’d known her, and shared a dorm room with her for several years.”

“He was just a kid from the local college,” Emma defended herself.

Dani looked at Emma before slowly shaking her head and turning back to Frankie. “How is it possible that he just slipped through the cracks like that? I thought you had people watching the store,” she suddenly accused.

“I did.” Frankie narrowed his eyes slightly. “We weren’t looking for trouble from the inside. You two weren’t the only ones to make assumptions. Trust me, that won’t happen again.”

Emma finally looked up from her lap before she quietly asked, “What about my fa… Sampson?” she stammered.

“I wish I had better news, but he seems to have disappeared from the face of the planet,” Frankie patiently explained. “I imagine that Jason’s death has sent ripples through ‘the family
.
’ His father was low level, but he had friends. I would imagine I’m not the only one looking for Sampson.”

“Do you think it’s possible he’s gone, then? Maybe this failed attempt finally scared him off?” Dani asked.

Frankie frowned. “For a time. I imagine he’ll lay low for a while until all this blows over.”

“So then it’s safe, to go back home I mean?” Dani asked.

Frankie shook his head. “Give me another week,
bambina
, alright? He may be lying low, but he’ll show up again. I’m not letting you out of my sight until I have some other plans in play. I’ll let you know.”

“But…” Emma started, only to get a shake of the head from Frankie.

“I promise, unless something else major happens, that you can go home, but you have to give me this week. Alright?”

Getting reluctant nods from both women, he stood and crossed the small space between them. Bending, he brought both of them into a bear hug. “I can’t lose either of you girls; you mean too much to me.” Kissing them both on the top of the head, he silently left the room.

* * *

Dani was pouting heavily when Emma practically pulled her from the living room, announcing they were going to head back to the carriage house early. Despite the bad news about Jason and Sampson, Dani was still relieved that her godparents weren’t upset with her. Emma had been quiet, and that had allowed Dani to actually relax and enjoy her evening. She was having such a good time that she’d forgotten about Emma’s promise. Now heading back across the yard, Dani’s mood had soured considerably.