Chapter 36
Kitty.
Once Mike was dead, the other lions told His Majesty they’d take care of things, and that he should take care of Kirsten. One look at Kirsten told me she was there to support His Majesty, and not the other way around.
She met my gaze as I was thinking it, and she looked to Squatch and Brooke before looking back to me. I had the sense she’d made sure I was being taken care of, and that she was relieved to find I was.
The walk back to the SUV didn’t seem to take as long, and I breathed in relief when Brooke’s people met us at the edge of the parking area and escorted us to her vehicle.
Brooke’s booster seat had been in the middle of the back seat for the trip to the slaughterhouse, but it was behind the driver’s seat when we returned.
Squatch’s voice came in my head. Thank you.
I had my people move it, said Brooke. Kitty should be between us.
I’m okay. I’m tired, but I’m not traumatized.
No, you aren’t, Brooke said. Still, it was a new experience, and a shock to the system. I reveled in it, and I’m happy to be strong for you in this.
I was more tired than I realized, because I was asleep before we even made it back to a main road. They tried not to awaken me when we reached the airport, but I vaguely remember Squatch carrying me onto the plane, exchanging my corset for a soft t-shirt, and fastening me into my seat. Later, they awakened me before landing, and I managed to pull my skirt down and walk to a truck with a prospect driving it.
I had no idea when Squatch had arranged for someone from the MC to pick us up from the airport, but I was grateful he’d thought of it. Brooke would’ve had her people take us home, but it would’ve taken longer, and I desperately wanted a safe, quiet bed inside the MC’s stronghold.
The prospect asked, “Where to?” once we were in and pulling out of the parking lot.
I said, “The clubhouse,” at the same time Squatch said, “My house.”
He looked at me and I told him, The clubhouse feels safer. I don’t know if that’s true, but I need to be able to completely relax and sleep.
Both would be safe enough for today, but yes, in times of danger, we go to the clubhouse.
He double checked that my seatbelt was secure and told the prospect, “Clubhouse.”
* * * *
Squatch Once Kitty was in a deep sleep in my bedroom at the new clubhouse, I went upstairs to see who was in the control room. I was too wired to sleep, and I needed to talk to someone. It was nearly six in the morning, so the only people up were whoever was on patrol and whoever was overseeing our assets.
Mad Dog was leaned back in the chair, coffee cup in hand, watching the monitors cycle through.
“Surprised to see you in here, Prez.”
He shrugged. “I took this shift in case something came up while we got the two of you home. How’d she handle it?”
“Better than I expected.” I sighed and sat in the second chair. “Better than she should have, I think. Maybe it’ll hold, or maybe she falls apart in the coming days.” I’d explained the barest amount of what we were walking into over the app, so I took the time now to tell him the full story, from when I redirected Mike’s words to the sound system until we’d left the slaughterhouse.
“Do you think she’s going to feel guilty about the part she played in getting him executed?”
I shook my head, looked to the ceiling, and closed my eyes. “I don’t know. Maybe. She seems to have come to terms with it for now. I’d think that if Brooke was worried, she’d have warned me, and she didn’t.”
“I’m going to put extra people at Blaze when she’s there for a while, and I want her protected when she goes out.” Mad Dog talked while he watched the monitors. “Either you or Freckles. He’s a prospect we can afford to send out, and he’ll kick anyone’s ass who gets near her. You good with that?”
“So long as she’ll agree to it. If she has an issue with him, she’ll lose him. It’ll be safer to send her out alone than to have her trying to shake her protection instead of paying attention to her surroundings.”
He grinned, still focused on the wall of monitors. “I’d tell you to pull your woman in line and make her mind, but then I remember who we’re talking about.”
I blew out a breath. “She really is going to have to listen to me when it comes to security. Velvet has been known to go against your orders more times than I can count, but when it comes to safety, she doesn’t fuck around. Kitty and I will need to come to an understanding, but it probably won’t happen this week.”
I grabbed a paddle with holes in it from the clubhouse before I returned to my room. She’d have the choice between paddle and belt the next morning, because I was pretty sure my kitten was going to need some therapeutic tears to help deal with her emotions.
The daily morning spankings worked far better than I’d hoped. I only got rough with her one or two mornings a week, but she never knew which mornings — and every time she presented her ass, she reminded both of us just how much power she’d given me. I would never abuse that power, but wow, it felt good to wield it.
She’s my kitten, and it’s up to me to make sure we both remember it.