Page 28 of Scythe (Devil Daddies MC #2)

T he funeral was lovely and touching. Winnie cried frequently, but Scythe was by her side, lending her strength and handing her tissues.

She glanced at the handsome man as they stood outside the small church, accepting condolences and smiling about precious memories that others had stopped to share with her.

He rocked that suit. Watching him get dressed had completely distracted Winnie. She’d barely contained her impulse to jump him. Maybe he’d play billionaire and poor teacher when they got home. She chuckled at that erotic fantasy. Wow, had her life changed.

Winnie hadn’t thought it was possible for Scythe to charm Aunt Beatrice more, but one look at him dressed formally had wowed the older woman.

Scythe had even handled Belinda’s flirting with finesse.

All the boys had preferred her stepsister when they’d grown up.

Having Scythe devoted to her made the teenage angst fade into oblivion.

She’d won the best prize by waiting to find him.

As the crowd thinned, Winnie’s phone buzzed with an incoming message. Seeing Abby’s name on her screen, Winnie pulled it up. After scanning it quickly, she forced herself to read it a second time. Her mind whirled with the information on the brief note.

“Is everything okay, Winnie?” Scythe asked, his brows coming together in concern.

“You’re not going to believe this!”

“What, Chipmunk?”

“The school board has called an emergency meeting for this evening. The gossip is that the superintendent has resigned. I can’t believe this is happening!

According to Abby, reporters and cameras had swarmed around East Elementary when they took the kids out for recess this morning.

The resource officer kept them off school property, but they had lined up on the sidewalk across the street,” Winnie said.

“I’m going to the meeting this evening.”

“I’ll go with you,” he answered immediately.

“I’d love that. My friends want to meet you. I have to go to lunch with my family. Go check in at Inferno. Shall we meet at the district’s head office?”

“That would work best. Are you okay without me joining you at lunch?”

“That’s probably best. I think several of my cousins are going to pressure you to introduce them to some hot bikers.”

“They aren’t ready for a Devil Daddy,” Scythe assured her.

“But I am?”

“You are perfect for one specific Devil Daddy named Scythe.”

“And he’s perfect for me,” Winnie pointed out. “Everyone is heading for lunch. Can I drop you off at your bike and steal a kiss with no one watching?”

“You read my mind, Little girl.”

A short time later, Scythe disappeared from her view when he walked into the door of her mom’s house to change out of his suit. She’d miss him at lunch, but his MC needed him now.

Winnie pressed her fingers to her lips, hoping no one would know how many kisses she’d exchanged with her Daddy. He really was the best at everything.

The loud sound of Scythe’s motorcycle drew everyone’s attention when he drove into the district office’s parking lot. She didn’t like how people made assumptions about him because he didn’t drive a fancy car and wear a suit. Those tailored jackets could hide a number of flaws.

Scythe stepped off his bike in an athletic move that reminded her of a prowling cat—coordinated strength in a gorgeous wrapper. Once his helmet came off, several ladies gave him repeated looks. To her delight, Scythe didn’t notice them.

She walked next to him into the packed school board meeting. Closely watching the entrance behind them, Abby and Becky waved furiously at them. They threaded their way through the crowd and took the empty seats.

“These parents and staff members get pushy when you’re saving seats. They’re worse than third graders who always make everyone follow the rules,” Becky shared with a smile.

Winnie knew she hadn’t minded telling people they couldn’t sit there. “So, what’s going on? Do you know?”

“Only that Dr. Young’s name is gone from the website,” Abby whispered.

An older woman in front of them obviously overheard and turned around to add, “And the spot for one of the principals at an elementary school is blank as well. It was all over the news tonight. I only caught part of it—something about missing degrees?”

The three teachers exchanged glances and simultaneously grabbed their phones to search. Becky found the listing first. “It’s our school! Lorraine is gone.”

As Winnie stared at her friends, trying to control her delight from the crowd of employees and parents, the gossiping woman in front of them said, “Yes, that was the name they mentioned. Lorraine Oberson. Do you think they were having an affair too?” the older woman suggested.

“Surely not. He’s old enough to be her father,” Winnie said aghast. Scythe chuckled next to her. She studied his face. Did he know something or was he laughing at her? “I mean, that happens, but surely not.”

“The board is coming in. Let’s see what they say,” Abby whispered, and they straightened in their seats to listen.

Winnie crossed her fingers. Please let this be true. Scythe patted her hand, and she turned her wrist to link her fingers with his. He shifted his thumb over her skin back and forth slightly as if to tell her he was wishing Lorraine was gone as well.

The president of the school board, Edwin Finney, looked around the crowded room as the secretary conducted the roll call.

The position of superintendent was announced, and no one answered before she continued.

A murmur went through the room, and Mr. Finney called for order.

The crowd hushed as she finished the preliminary board opening activities.

Edwin Finney scanned the assembly. “I wish we had this kind of attendance at every board meeting. Thank you for being concerned about the Jefferson School District. As many of you have noted, Dr. Adam Young resigned from his position as the superintendent of our district earlier today. I am limited in how much I can share by the district lawyers.”

The crowd reacted with furious whispers, and the sound level rose. Winnie heard a number of guesses why Dr. Young had left. They ranged from the affair theory to wild accusations of illegal acts.

“Did he rob the district?” an angry voice called from the crowd as Mr. Finney attempted to regain control.

“No. There are no allegations or suspicions of financial wrongdoing on the part of the superintendent. Our financial officer can attest to that.” He turned to a young man next to him, who stated simply that the books were in order and Dr. Young had taken nothing inappropriate from the accounts.

“Was he having an affair with the principal of East Elementary?” asked the woman in front of them. “She’s gone too.”

“I’m afraid you’ve gotten ahead of me. Lorraine Oberson of East Elementary was removed from her position when the board received documentation that she did not meet the mandatory qualifications to be an administrator,” Mr. Finney explained.

“What does that mean?” a woman called.

“She did not possess a verifiable college degree.” Mr. Finney pulled out his handkerchief and wiped his brow. He appeared extremely uncomfortable. She felt sorry for him.

A familiar figure stood in the front row. Winnie’s breath caught in her chest as she recognized her union representative. “What happens to the negative reports she invented about the great teachers at East Elementary?”

“Any reports created by an individual without proper credentials and training background will be removed and destroyed, along with the apologies from the board. I owe you a personal apology, Elizabeth. I did not listen to you when you approached me with serious concerns. That will not happen in the future.” Mr. Finney met Elizabeth McGower’s gaze directly, and she nodded.

Bless her. Elizabeth had gone all the way to the school board to try to save her. Winnie sent her gratitude and planned to thank her in private.

“Why did these two lose their jobs on the same day? Are they connected in some way?” a woman called, interrupting the silent communication.

“I am not at liberty to discuss that. I can assure you the district has already started the process of locating a new visionary superintendent and a skilled elementary principal,” Mr. Finney stated before changing the subject.

“We’ll move next to the second item on our agenda, the selection of a new library media system.

I will recess for five minutes to allow anyone in the audience to leave quietly after hearing the announcements. ”

Immediately, people streamed out of the gathering area, eager to gossip outside the meeting.

A few tried to approach the board, but a security guard prevented them from passing the decorative barrier dividing the board from the on-lookers.

When Becky and Abby stood, Winnie joined them.

She and Scythe retraced their way out to the parking lot.

Pockets of people stood around outside discussing the announcements.

“You need to go home, Chipmunk. You’re dead on your feet. It’s time for you to rest,” Scythe told her.

Scythe took her keys from her hand and unlocked her car. “Are you okay to drive?”

“I’ll make it. Can I follow you, so I don’t have to stop at the gate?”

“Of course. The guards have treated you well, haven’t they?” he asked in a pointed tone.

“Yes. They’re wonderful. I’m just peopled out,” she explained.

“Gotcha. Climb in and buckle your seat belt. Wait for me.”

“Always, Daddy,” she whispered.