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Why the hell did I think we could get away with anything? I’m not sure how our Daddies knew what we were up to, but obviously they did since they were in the kitchen just a few short minutes after us.
Uncle Max is leaning against the island when we return to the kitchen, a blue ice pack pressed against his forehead and a scowl on his face. The memory of the cork flying straight at him, and the look of shock on his face when it hit him square between the eyes comes rushing back to me and I have to cough to cover up the laugh threatening to sneak out of my chest.
In the corner, Victoria shifts from foot to foot, and the laughter dies in my chest. My Daddy is right. Even if I hadn’t hit Uncle Max with the stopper, we would still be in tons of trouble.
And it’s all my fault.
“Come here, Victoria Rose.”
Head down, shoulders slumped, Victoria shuffles her way over to stand beside me. I have the fleeting thought that she must hate me now, but that idea is banished the moment she wraps her hand around mine.
Whatever happens next, we’ll face it together.
Jasper moves to stand beside Uncle Max and my breath catches in my throat. Separately, they’re each formidable in their own way. Together, they’re very nearly terrifying.
“What was the last thing we said to you girls before we left you alone in the nursery?” Uncle Max asks, his voice tight with anger.
“Not to leave the room.” Victoria’s voice is soft, almost a whisper as she raises her head to meet her Daddy’s furious gaze. “We’re really sorry, Daddy.”
“Believe me, little thief. You will be very sorry by the time we are through with you.”
Fear flutters in my belly at his words, but right after it comes my own anger. Poor Victoria’s head has dropped again, silent tears slipping down her cheeks, and all because her Daddy is being a big, mean jerk about a little bit of naughtiness. “You don’t have to be so mean to her!”
“Juliet. Stop.” Authority cracks like a whip in my own Daddy’s voice, and I know I should back down, but I can’t. My emotions are everywhere, spiraling out of control, and all I can think to do is direct them at someone.
And that someone just happens to be Maxwell Stone.
“No!” I stomp my foot, aware I’m acting just like a child, but I can’t seem to help myself. “This was all my idea, so I should be the only one getting in trouble. Tori didn’t do anything.”
“Well, that answers my next question,” Uncle Max drawls. “Thank you for being honest with us, Juliet. But you need to mind the way you speak to me, little girl, unless you’d like to add getting your mouth washed out with soap to your punishment.”
“You can’t do that. You’re not my Daddy!”
“No, but I am.” Stepping forward, Jasper pulls a familiar item from his pants pocket. “I had a feeling I’d be needing this again. Open your mouth, Juliet.”
The last thing I want is to be gagged, especially in front of Uncle Max. Pressing my lips together, I shake my head and glare at my Daddy.
“Juliet, if I have to force you, Iwillwash your mouth out before I put the gag in. Your choice.”
What the hell kind of choice is that? Not a great one, that’s for sure. But I can recognize when I’m out of my depth, so even though my stomach is still churning with a nauseating mix of anger and guilt, I force my lips open.
Jasper pops the rubber tip into my mouth and buckles the gag behind my head. I suck, because if I don’t I’ll end up drooling all over myself and I’d rather take a hundred spankings than humiliate myself that way. But as it has before, the gesture soothes my ruffled feathers, at least a bit.
I’m still mad at both of them, though.
“Now that we have that handled…” Pulling the ice pack away from his forehead, Uncle Max tosses it on the island behind him and folds his arms over his chest. “You’ve both earned yourselves a spanking. And since you broke a rule Uncle Jasper and I both gave you, I think it’s only fitting that you both get a spanking from each of us. Jasper?”
“Agreed. Would you like to warm up Juliet before I take a spoon to her naughty bottom?”
“You read my mind. Come with me, Juliet.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Juliet
This is the worst-case scenario. Well, considering what I know about Uncle Max, maybe not theworst. But it’s definitely not the best-case scenario.
And the worst part is, I can’t even protest since my mouth is still plugged with the pacifier.