14. Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen
Dion
I looked down at Emily's tear-filled eyes, her small body trembling against mine as she pressed her face into my chest. Behind her, Abby and Clare stood frozen, guilt written across both their faces.
"The apartment is alarmed," I said quietly, my voice deadly calm. "We knew the moment you left."
Emily pulled back to look at me, confusion mixing with her distress. "You were watching us?"
"An alarm sounds when the main door is opened," I replied, my hands gentle on her shoulders despite my anger at the situation. "When there are active threats, we monitor all movement."
Clare stepped forward, her chin raised defiantly. "We didn't leave the building. Technically, we followed your instructions."
"Technically," I repeated, my tone making it clear what I thought of that argument. "And technically, you put Emily at risk by bringing her to a public space when she's supposed to be in hiding."
Abby's lower lip trembled. "We just wanted to help her feel better while she was worried about Zoe."
My expression softened slightly at her genuine distress, but my resolve didn't waver. "I know your intentions were good, baby girl. But good intentions don't negate poor judgment."
Emily looked between us, clearly picking up on the undercurrents. "I'm the one who agreed to come down here. If anyone should be in trouble, it's me."
"Oh, you're definitely in trouble," I assured her, noting how her breath caught at my words. "But so are they."
The elevator dinged behind us, and Gideon stepped out, his expression thunderous. Maddox was right behind him, looking equally displeased.
"Upstairs. Now," Gideon said, his voice brooking no argument.
Abby's eyes went wide. "But Daddy, we were just—"
"Now, Abigail."
The use of her full name had her moving immediately, Clare following with her head down. Emily looked uncertain until I placed a firm hand on her lower back, guiding her toward the elevator.
"What about Zoe?" Emily asked as we rode up. "Did you find anything?"
"She's safe for now," I replied. "We have eyes on the house. But we'll discuss that later."
“I want to talk about it now,” Emily said, her eyes flashing. I stayed quiet and silently counted to ten.
Back in the playroom upstairs, Gideon positioned himself in front of the couch while Maddox took the chair. I guided Emily to stand beside Abby and Clare, all three women looking appropriately contrite.
"Explain," Gideon said simply.
Abby launched into a rapid explanation about wanting to help Emily, about how they hadn't technically left the building, and about how they'd been careful. Clare added her own justifications, her voice steady despite the circumstances.
When they finished, Emily spoke up. "This is my fault. I should have insisted we stay here."
"Yes," I agreed, which seemed to shock everyone. I held my hand out to her. "You're not in charge here," I said firmly, taking her hand in mine. "You've been through a lot, Emily, but that doesn't excuse putting yourself in danger when I specifically told you to stay upstairs."
Emily's eyes widened. "I wasn't in danger. We were still in the building—"
"A building with multiple access points full of civilians who don’t have top-level security clearance," I cut her off. "People who could recognize you, report your location. People who might work for Rice."
Her face paled. "I didn't think—"
"No, you didn't," I agreed, my voice gentling slightly at her obvious distress. "And that's exactly the problem. Actions have consequences, Emily, especially when those actions put you and others at risk."
I turned to Gideon. "I'm going to take her home."
Gideon nodded, his expression understanding beneath the stern exterior. "We'll discuss this with the girls."
I grabbed her bag, led Emily toward the elevator, my hand on her back firm but not punishing. She stayed silent on the way home, and I took her inside, greeted the dogs, then led her to our room. Once inside, I closed the door and leaned against it, studying her.
She stood in the center of the room, her borrowed outfit making her look both vulnerable and defiant. The pigtails had come slightly loose during our return, and she reached up to fix them with trembling fingers.
"What's going to happen now?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Now we talk about consequences," I replied evenly. "What's your safeword, Emily?"
Her eyes widened. "Blue," she answered automatically, then swallowed hard. "Are you going to... punish me?"
"Yes," I said simply. "You put yourself at risk. That requires a response."
"I'm not a child," she protested, though her voice lacked conviction.
"No, you're not," I agreed, moving away from the door to stand before her. "You're an adult who made a choice that endangered herself which was my top rule. An adult who needs to understand that her safety matters, even when she doesn't think it does."
I sat on the edge of the bed, holding her gaze steadily. "Come here, Emily."
She hesitated, clearly torn between her instinct to obey and her desire to maintain control. Finally, she took a small step forward, then another, until she stood directly in front of me.
"I'm going to spank you," I said calmly. "Ten strikes with my hand. You will count each one. If you need to stop at any point, you will use your safeword. Do you understand?"
Her breathing quickened, her cheeks flushing. "Yes."
"Yes, what?" I prompted gently.
She bit her lip, then whispered, "Yes, Daddy."
Something warm unfurled in my chest at her use of the title, but I kept my expression firm.
"Good girl." I reached for the hem of her dress. "Lift your arms."
Emily complied, allowing me to pull the soft pink sweater dress over her head. She stood before me in her white leggings and simple cotton bra, her breathing shallow and quick.
"The leggings too," I instructed gently but firmly.
With trembling fingers, she hooked her thumbs in the waistband and pushed them down, stepping out of them when they pooled at her feet. Now she wore only her underwear and bra, the toed off sparkly ballet flats abandoned in the corner.
"Over my lap," I said, patting my thigh.
Emily hesitated for just a moment before positioning herself across my legs, her stomach resting on my thighs, her hands braced against the floor. I could feel the tension in her body, the way she held herself rigid with nerves and anticipation.
I rested my hand on her panty-covered bottom, feeling her flinch slightly at the contact. "This is about keeping you safe," I said quietly. "About helping you understand that your wellbeing matters. Count each one out loud."
Without further warning, I brought my hand down in a firm smack across her left cheek. She gasped, her body jerking slightly.
"One," she breathed.
The second strike landed on her right cheek, equally firm. "Two."
By the fifth strike, she was breathing hard, small whimpers escaping her lips. By the eighth, tears were flowing freely, though she continued to count dutifully.
"Ten," she sobbed as the final smack echoed through the room.
I immediately began rubbing her reddened bottom gently, soothing the sting. "Good girl. You took that very well."
Emily remained draped across my lap, her body shaking with quiet sobs. I continued the gentle massage, letting her process the experience.
"I'm sorry," she whispered finally. "I'm sorry I scared you. I'm sorry I put everyone at risk."
"I know you are, sweetheart," I murmured, helping her to sit up on my lap. She winced slightly at the pressure on her tender bottom but didn't pull away. "It's over now."
She buried her face against my neck, her tears dampening my shirt. "I was just so scared about Zoe. I couldn't sit still, couldn't stop thinking about what might be happening to her."
"I understand," I said, wrapping my arms around her. "But running toward danger isn't going to help her. We need you safe so we can end this properly." I paused. “And where were you heading when you ran right into me?”
Emily
"Away," I admitted, my voice muffled against his chest. "It was suddenly too much. The room, the people, the situation with Zoe... everything."
Dion's hand came up to stroke my hair, his touch gentle despite the firmness of his punishment moments before. "That's exactly why I was worried. You're not in a good headspace to make decisions right now."
I nodded, unable to argue with his reasoning. My bottom still stung from his discipline, but oddly, I felt calmer than I had all day. The tight ball of anxiety that had been lodged in my chest since Susan's voicemail seemed to have loosened.
"What happened with Zoe?" I asked again, pulling back slightly to look at his face. "Please tell me."
Dion sighed, his expression softening as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "We have a team watching the Bennett house. So far, everything appears normal, but we've picked up some concerning chatter on their devices."
"What kind of chatter?" I pressed.
"References to a 'shipment' scheduled for tomorrow night. Guest list for a 'private event' at their lake house." His jaw tightened. "We believe they're planning to move Zoe soon."
Fresh tears welled in my eyes. "We have to stop them."
"We will," Dion promised, his voice carrying absolute conviction. "Eric is gathering more intel, and we're positioning people to intercept if they try to move her."
"What about my meeting with Susan tomorrow?"
"Still happening," Dion confirmed. "But with precautions. You'll be wired, and we'll have a team nearby."
I nodded, trying to process everything. "I should be there when you get Zoe. She knows me, trusts me."
"Emily—" Dion began, his tone warning.
"Not actively involved," I clarified quickly. "But nearby. In a secure location where she can be brought to me immediately. She's going to be terrified, Dion. She needs a familiar face."