Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
ARROW
A rrow leaned back against the cool metal of his bike, arms crossed over his chest as he watched Emilee pace before him. The gravel crunched under her shoes. He saw the storm brewing behind her eyes and wondered why she was so worked up. The last several days had flown by. Between their work schedules and the club, they'd been busy. When they got home, they worked on getting to know each other. He stepped easily into the Daddy role and she'd been a very well behaved little girl. It'd been perfect.
The Watchmen’s weekly meeting was tonight, it would be a quick procedural get together. When the club first started up, they met monthly. As membership grew and issues arose, their need for meetings grew. Now, frequent meetings were necessary to stay on top of things.
Arrow looked at Emilee again. She’d come straight to the clubhouse after work, just as he’d instructed. That’s where following his instructions seems to have ended. As an experienced Dom, he knew something was up with his little. She didn’t rush to him when he got off of his bike for hugs and kisses, as she’d done the last couple of nights. She really enjoyed being able to switch off her adult worries and responsibilities and let him lead and he loved it. Being a Daddy was in his DNA. Looking at her, he could tell she needed him to be her Daddy more than anything right now. Frustrated that he didn’t already know what was wrong with her, he called her over.
“Stop pacing, Kitten,” he commanded, his voice low and steady. “Come here.”
She halted mid-step, whirling around to face him with a smirk dancing on her lips. “And if I don't?”
He raised his eyebrows at her. Someone was begging for Daddy's attention. Did she need a spanking? Did she want him to take total control and force it out of her? Was she wrestling with her inner demons? There was a better way to get what she wanted than being a brat. He knew, all too well, sometimes littles tested their Daddies and pushed all their buttons when they needed a spanking to release the feelings bottled up inside of them. “If you don't stop pacing or if you don't come here?”
“Both.” She started pacing again, flinging her hair over her shoulder. She exaggerated the steps this time, wanting him to know she was intentionally defying him. He’d just told her to stop pacing.
Did she think he wouldn't punish her at the clubhouse? Oh, she had another think coming. “You have until the count of three to come here,” he replied, pushing off from the bike and taking a couple of steps towards her.
“One.” He paused for a second and waited for her to turn around to face him. Once she did, he narrowed his eyes at her and pointed to the ground in front of his feet. She shook her head. He crossed his arms over his chest and lowered his chin, giving her his best Daddy warning look.
“Two.” Instead of rushing to his side, she turned and started her pacing again. “Kitten, you do not want to see what happens when Daddy gets to three. I highly recommend you stop disobeying me and get your little behind over here.” His gaze locked on hers and he crooked his finger slowly and motioned for her. She shook her head no at him and he growled deep in the back of his throat. No doubt about it, she was pushing his buttons on purpose. Any of the other woman he’d scened with would have come running towards him after hearing his tone. Emilee barely batted an eye. His little girl was fierce, and she needed to know he was up to the challenge.
“Three.” When she didn't come immediately, he nodded once, sharply. “You've made your choice.” He stalked towards her, and she backed away slowly until her back hit the brick outer wall of the compound. “It was the wrong one, but you’ve made it.”
Her mouth dropped open forming a wide oh, but no noise came out. He put a hand on either side of her head, boxing her in and leaned close. “Kitten, you are going to regret disobeying me.” He wasn’t angry, not even in the slightest. Watching his girl, he knew she was needing an outlet of some sort and some Daddy attention. He hoped after he spanked her, she would open up and tell him what was going on.
Then later, when they were tucked in for the night, and she was safely in his arms, he’d talk to her about the appropriate way to ask her Daddy for his attention. He didn’t mind spanking her naughty little butt and giving her the reminder she was seeking. The reassurance she needed. He would prefer giving her a stress relief spanking over a naughty girl spanking, but she made her bed.
“Daddy! I no wanted to come to you,” she said using her little voice.
“I didn’t ask you if you wanted to come to Daddy. I told you to come. There’s a difference between want and need, little girl. You need to listen to your Daddy when he tells you to do something and you know the difference between the two. We’ve already had the conversation about obeying Daddy unless you have a very good reason not to. Did you have a good reason to not come to Daddy?”
“I no wanted to. Dat’s a good reason!” She stomped her foot and Arrow had to force himself to keep from grinning. Oh, she was in full on little mode and he loved it.
“Kitten, you are trying hard to not sit comfortably tonight.”
“I is not!” She stomped her foot again. “Daddy is being a meanie head.”
“Those words aren’t very nice, Kitten. We don’t call each other names.” He slowly raised an eyebrow at her and waited a second to see if she’d apologize.
“I didn’t say you are a meanie head, I’s said you were being a meanie head. Don’t you know the difference?” She mocked his earlier words and rolled her eyes. Oh yes, someone needed a spanking.
“We’re going to go inside and finish this discussion.” The implication was not lost on her.
“W-w-what you mean, Daddy? We is in public.”
“We are not in public. We are very much in private. The clubhouse is my second home, and yours, too. Everyone inside is family.” Their conversation faltered as Wyatt stepped forward, his brow furrowed and a shadow of uncertainty flickering across his youthful features. He stopped short, hands fidgeting with the hem of his worn-out jacket—a nervous tick that didn't escape Arrow's observant eyes.
“Arrow, um... I gotta talk to you.” Wyatt's voice was thick with emotion, almost trembling. “I know things look bad, but?—”
“Spit it out, kid,” Arrow said, his tone firm but not unkind. He stepped back from Emilee, taking her hand as if to ground her. Caught in that nebulous space between little headspace and adult worries, he wanted her to let go and give it all to him to carry. Arrow sensed she was teetering, and while he loved the playful moments between the two of them, this wasn’t the time for games. He was afraid to let go of her hand. He didn't have time to chase her through the building and play hide and seek. As much as he'd love the primal thrill of hunting her down, tonight wasn't the time.
Wyatt's gaze flickered between them. Arrow understood his hesitation. “You can talk in front of Emilee. She’s mine.”
Wyatt took a deep breath, the weight of his words pressing down on him. “It’s my mom. I can’t just stand by while you dig into this. She’s still my mom, ya know?”
Arrow’s expression softened; a quiet acknowledgment of the pain etched across the young man’s face. “I get it, Wyatt. Family ties are strong. But this is about the club—we’re a family too. I understand your loyalty to your mom, but wrong is wrong, bud. I don’t blame you for your part; you’re just a kid. But she has to be held responsible for her actions.”
Wyatt's eyes filled with an intensity that Arrow hadn’t seen before. “I'm not just a kid. I understand my part in this and I'm really sorry. I mean, I won't ever do anything like that again and will work hard to earn all of your trust back. Can’t we just... let it go? Just this once?” There was a plea hidden in his voice, a desperate hope that clung to the air between them.
Arrow stepped closer, his grip on Wyatt’s shoulder firm but supportive. “Listen, Wyatt. We’re not in the business of turning a blind eye. Not when it comes to betrayal. I’ll talk to your dad some more about what he wants done, but we need to at least recoup the money that was stolen.”
Wyatt swallowed hard, his inner turmoil clear. “But it wasn’t just about the money. She said she was sick, Arrow. Really sick. I thought… I thought she was dying. She needed the money for surgery. I thought I was helping her.”
Arrow’s brow furrowed. “What kind of surgery?”
“She never said exactly, not at the time. She called it a necessity, implied it was about life or death. 'I need this procedure,' she kept saying, stressing the need. I would never have helped her if I didn't think it was urgent. I remember how she said it would change everything for her.”
Wyatt hesitated, and then after a second, continued. “I found out recently it wasn’t what I thought. She just wanted a mommy makeover—tummy tuck, breast lift, all that. Her husband wouldn’t pay for it, so she turned to me. She used me. I thought I was saving her life, Arrow.”
The disbelief flickered across Arrow’s face, quickly replaced by a mixture of sympathy and concern. Wyatt didn’t deserve his anger. He was just a kid doing his mother’s bidding. A kid on the precipice of adulthood, even so, only a kid. “So she had you risk everything for... that? Wyatt, you have to understand how serious this is. You could’ve gotten hurt or worse. What if someone caught you in the act? You could have been arrested, your father kicked out of The Watchmen.” He knew Irish’s ex-wife. Likely, she’d had issues in her current marriage and was looking for husband number three. It made sense she’d get a mommy makeover and have work done if she was putting herself out on the market again. He’d never met someone as blatantly narcissistic as she was. Hell, she didn’t even try to hide her selfishness. She put herself above the needs of her children. He couldn’t stand her.
“I know!” Wyatt’s voice rose, frustration spilling over. “But all I could think about was her voice, how scared she sounded. She made it sound like if she didn’t get this surgery, she’d never be whole again. I couldn’t just sit there and let that happen.”
“Wyatt, I get you wanted to protect her, but now look where it’s gotten you. She played you like a fiddle. I’ve known your dad for a really long time, you could have gone to him for help.” Arrow’s tone softened again, his voice taking on a more compassionate note. “What are you feeling now? Knowing she didn’t tell you the whole truth?”
Wyatt’s shoulders sagged, and he looked down at the ground, fighting back the emotions threatening to spill over. “I feel... betrayed. Like I was just a tool for her. I thought I was doing the right thing, but now I don’t even know who she really is anymore. Does she even love me? Is she capable of love? Did she have me to trap my dad into marriage?”
“Damn, kid.” Arrow shook his head, his heart aching for Wyatt. “I can’t answer any of those questions, you’ll have to talk to her. One thing is for sure, you need to draw a boundary line in the sand and not let her cross it. You can’t let her pull you into her messes. Before you do anything, talk to your dad. He’s a good man and he can put aside whatever feelings he has for her to do what is best for you. Don’t do anything without his input.”
“What if she gets mad? What if she never wants to talk to me again?” Wyatt’s voice wavered.
“Then you tell her the truth, you’re not just a kid anymore; you’re growing up, and you deserve to be treated with respect. You can’t keep being her scapegoat,” Arrow replied, his tone firm yet encouraging.
Wyatt nodded slowly. “I just… I don’t want to lose her completely. But I can’t keep doing this. She’s lied to so many people. Hurt them. My sister is living with her, and I’m worried she’s going to turn out like my mother. I don’t want her to see this and think it’s okay.”
“Good,” Arrow said, squeezing his shoulder. “You’re taking a step in the right direction. Protect yourself first. You and your sister, you’re Irish’s kids. That makes you family too, and I’ll make sure nothing happens to either of you.”
Wyatt glanced at Emilee, who watched with wide eyes, then back at Arrow. “Alright. I’ll talk to her. But it’s going to be tough.”
“I know it will be,” Arrow replied, his voice steady. “But you’ve got to do it. Now head inside. I’ll be there shortly for the meeting.”
With a last nod, Wyatt trudged toward the clubhouse entrance. Arrow shook his head as he watched him go. He’d be a good prospect in a couple of years. For now, he was like a nephew to Arrow and the rest of the men and was welcome to hang out anytime he wanted. Arrow made a mental note to find Irish when he finished dealing with Emilee’s decision to let him get to three. He’d done his best to delay saying the number, but once he had, she’d sealed her fate.
After he was sure Wyatt was out of earshot, Arrow turned his attention back to Emilee. His expression hardened for her benefit, reminding her of her earlier disobedience. “Now, where were we, Kitten?”
Emilee's eyes widened, and she tried to pull away, but Arrow's hand gripped her wrist tighter.
“Oh no, you don't,” he growled. “You made your choice, and now it's time to face the consequences.”
Without another word, Arrow led Emilee into the clubhouse. The familiar scent of leather and whiskey enveloped them as they entered. A few members lounging in the common area raised eyebrows at the sight of Arrow dragging Emilee along, but no one dared to comment. They were a crew made up of Daddies and Dominants; they knew exactly what was going on and what a naughty girl looked like.
“Where are we going?” Emilee asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
“Upstairs,” Arrow replied. “To my room.”
As they climbed the stairs, he explained, “All the officers have their own rooms here. Comes in handy on late nights or when we need some privacy.”
Arrow guided her up the stairs, his grip unyielding. They passed several doors before stopping in front of one adorned with a small arrow symbol. He unlocked it, and pushed it open, revealing a modestly furnished bedroom. “And you're about to become very familiar with mine.”
The room was sparsely furnished but neat. A large bed dominated one wall, a dresser stood opposite, and a desk and chair occupied the corner. A door leading to the bathroom was to the right of the desk. It wasn’t fancy, a toilet, sink and stand-up shower, but it worked.
Arrow shut and locked the door behind them. His voice was low and dangerous as he said, “Now, little girl, it's time to deal with your disobedience.”
Without warning, he bent Emilee over the edge of the bed. She gasped, her hands splaying out on the dark comforter to steady herself. Arrow's large hand pressed against the small of her back, holding her in place as he used his other hand to yank down her pants and underwear in one swift motion.
“Daddy! What if someone hears!”
“All the rooms are soundproof, but even if they weren’t, you’d still be getting your beautiful ass spanked,” he told her.
“But, Daddy!” She looked over her shoulder at him and begged. “Can’t we wait until we get back to your house?”
“Do you remember what I told you? I don’t enjoy waiting when I can correct you instantly.”
“Daddy, wait—” Emilee started, but the sharp crack of Arrow's hand cut her short as it connected with her bare bottom.
“No more waiting, Kitten,” Arrow said, his voice a mix of authority and disappointment. “You waited as I counted to three. You disobeyed me, and now you're going to learn your lesson.”
The spanking began in earnest; he didn’t warm her up, but got straight to work impressing his displeasure on her lilywhite butt cheeks. Each smack echoed in the small room, punctuated by Emilee's yelps and whimpers. Arrow's hand fell relentlessly, turning her pale skin a vibrant shade of pink. “You will learn to obey me,” he growled between swats. “I won't tolerate you telling Daddy no, Kitten.”
Arrow spanked her hard and fast, not letting up even as she squirmed and cried out. “I'm sorry, Daddy!” she wailed. “Please, I'll be good!”
“Are you going to obey Daddy from now on?” Arrow demanded, not letting up on the punishment.
Emilee squirmed, trying to escape the onslaught, but Arrow held her firmly in place. “Yes! Yes, Daddy, I promise!”
“Promise what?” Arrow pressed, landing a particularly hard smack on her upper thighs.
“I promise to obey you!” Emilee cried out. “Please, Daddy, I'm sorry!”
“Count these last three out, hopefully it will remind you of what happens when Daddy is the one doing the counting.” He delivered a hard swat to her left upper thigh.
“One,” she squealed out.
He swatted her again, on the opposite upper thigh. “Owie, Daddy! It hurts! Two! Two!”
Satisfied with her response, Arrow delivered a final resounding smack on her sit spot before stopping. He rubbed her reddened bottom gently, soothing the sting.
Emilee's bottom was bright red, and she trembled as she tried to catch her breath. His sweet girl. She wasn’t crying and her cheeks were dry. The spanking lasted less than two minutes. It was a quick demonstration of who she belonged to and what would happen if she disobeyed her Daddy, but it wasn't a serious punishment, simply a reminder. One he hoped she would heed, at least for the rest of the night.
He helped her stand and pulled her underwear and pants back up. After taking a minute to hold her against his chest, he kissed her deeply.
“Now, Daddy has a meeting downstairs. There’s a great spread out and Trinity is going to hang out with you until after the meeting. Do you think you can be a good girl for an hour? Then we’ll go home and continue our discussion.”
“Continue?” She looked at him in terror. “Aren’t we done?”
“We are done with the spanking part, but not the talking part. We’re going to talk about how you can get Daddy’s attention, and a different kind of spanking when you need one, without being disobedient.”
“Maybes we can be done with the talking parts too and just snuggle and read stories?” Emilee suggested.
“Nice try, Kitten, but no. Come on, let’s see what Uncle Tater has prepared for dinner.”