Golden Binds

“You’re going to smack her hand with it until she talks?” Joe looked appalled.

“Not her hand.”

“No,” Joseph said firmly.

“What?” Sawyer frowned at him. “What do you mean, no? Security is my job.”

“Yes, but taking care of all of us is mine.”

“I thought your job was to keep us from running wild,” Garret said.

“I thought it was to make us bucket loads of money,” Sawyer added.

“I have a lot of jobs,” Joseph said. “But I’m the oldest. I lead. And I protect this family.”

Sawyer opened his mouth to protest.

“I know you’re in charge of security, but what do you think will happen if I let you hurt this girl? How the hell is that going to sit on our consciences? And what happens if someone finds out?”

“No one’s going to find out,” Sawyer scoffed. “And she’s the enemy. You don’t feel bad over what you do to the enemy.”

Both Garret and Joe stared at Sawyer.

“Oh, don’t you give me that look,” Sawyer said with disgust.

“What look?” Garret asked.

“Like you’re wondering how many men in white coats you need to cart me away. Oh, and by the way. It’s a lot. I’m not fucking crazy.”

“Really? ’Cause you’re kind of acting like we’re in the middle of a war and that girl down there is a POW you captured.” Joe ran his hand down his face, looking tired.

“She is.”

“She’s a girl. She’s not even that old. How do you know she’s not just a kid that lost her way?” Joseph asked.

Garret didn’t like her being called a kid. If she was a kid, she was too young for the things he imagined doing to her. For the things they’d already done.

“She’s not that young.”

Joe shot him a look as if to tell him to get on track. Right. Because they didn’t want Sawyer going crazy and thinking torture was the answer.

“She got lost and didn’t notice any of the signs warning her away? That sort of thinking is why I’m in charge of our safety,” Sawyer said. “For fucks sake. I’m not losing it. I’m not going to torture the girl. When have you ever known me to harm a female?”

“First time for everything,” Garret said cautiously. “And you were eyeing the spatula like it held all the answers.”

“I figured I’d take that in and threaten to whip her ass with it until she comes clean. Hand it over.” He reached for the spatula. Garret pulled it back.

“And if she doesn’t fall for your bluff?” he asked.

He stilled. “Who said it was a bluff?”

“You can’t beat her ass with a spatula, Sawyer.” A tick had developed beneath Joe’s eye.

“A spanking never hurt anyone.”

“What the hell?” Garret asked. “Of course they fucking hurt.”

Sawyer rolled his eyes. “Not permanently. The biggest wound will be to her pride. I wasn’t going to hit her hard. Besides, the two of you didn’t have a problem with me spanking her yesterday.”