Page 8 of Her Michigan Mob Boss

“Okay, Annie,” he conceded, “tell me the truth.”

Crumbing under the weight of his scrutiny, I chose honesty. “Yes, I was going to see if I could find Danny.”

“Didn’t I tell you to drop it?” Ciaran’s voice lowered by an octave and I got the sense I was in trouble.

“You did, but you’re not the boss of me.” That sounded so juvenile, I cringed. Shoving down my embarrassment at sounding like one of the little kids I taught, I folded my arms across my chest. “Did you bring me here just to tell me I shouldn’t have been looking for Danny?”

Ciaran shook his head slowly.

“Not just that. Think about it, Annie. What did I say would happen if I saw you again?”

Heat rushed to my cheeks as I recalled his threat. “You said you’d spank me.”

“That’s right. “Now, come and put yourself over my lap like a good girl.”

He patted his knee, and I thought I might spontaneously combust.

“You’re not serious?” A nervous laugh escaped me.

“I am deadly serious.” If his tone didn’t confirm he meant it, his unflinching gaze would have. “Now, what’s it to be, sweetheart? Are you going to put yourself over my knee voluntarily, or do I have to come over there and get you?”

ChapterFour

Ciaran

If looks could kill, I had no doubt the glare on Annie’s face would send me six feet under. She may not have realized it, but when I warned her there would be consequences if she continued her search for that asshole, I was deadly serious. It seemed I hadn’t gotten my point across. Perhaps I’d gone too easy on her atLola’s. I hadn’t wanted to scare her. However, if I’d been firmer, maybe she wouldn’t have disregarded my warning. Of course, then I wouldn’t have had an excuse to see her again.

“How did you even know where I was?” Annie demanded.

“My men were watching you.”

Annie huffed in outrage. “You had people spying on me?”

“You wouldn’t even have known they were there if you’d done as you were told.”

She pursed her lips. “Actually, I was aware I was being followed. It gave me the creeps.”

Hmm. Either she was more aware of her surroundings than the average person or my men were slipping. There was no way she should have detected their presence. I’d need to have a word with Max and find out who he had trailing her because they clearly needed to do a better job.

“Well, I’m sorry if you felt uncomfortable, but I won’t apologize for ensuring your safety.”

“My safety is none of your concern.”

That was where she was wrong. For some inexplicable reason, the safety of this woman I barely knew was important to me. I was about to tell her as much, but she didn’t give me a chance.

“I mean, who the hell do you think you are, Ciaran Reilly?” Her cute Scottish accent became more pronounced as her anger rose. “Who do you think you are to dictate what I can and can’t do?”

There was something adorable about the way she spat at me like an irate kitten. She had a point. I had no right to tell her what to do, but I also had no intention of backing down, especially not when she was giving me attitude.

“I think I’m the man who’s going to take off his belt and whip your ass with it if you don’t get over here by the count of three.”

Annie’s entire body tensed. Rather than jumping to obey, she glanced back over her shoulder. She was probably calculating if it was worth the risk to run. It wasn’t. Even if she made it to the elevator before I caught her, she would need to enter the security code to gain access.

“One.” I started the count, deciding not to draw it out. “Two.”

With a resigned bob of the head, Annie dropped the small white purse she’d been clutching onto the table by the elevator and walked toward me. I was almost disappointed she surrendered so easily. Chasing her would have been fun.

“I… How do I do this?” She stopped in front of me and pulled her long, blonde ponytail over her right shoulder, twisting it with trembling fingers.

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