Page 59 of Wizard's Spitfire

Love, Charlie.

I fold up the note and put it in my nightstand before grabbing her pillow and inhaling. It smells like her. That brings a smile to my face. I toss back the covers, get out of bed and pad to the bathroom.

After taking care of business, I turn on the shower and step under the water. I grab a bar of hair soap and lather my thick locks. Rinse, repeat. Since I have plenty of time, I take an extra-long shower. Next, I blow my hair dry and do my grooming.

Feeling like a million bucks, I wrap a towel around my waist and step out of the steamy bathroom. The front door opens and Charlie strides in. I can tell she’s upset. As she’s walking toward me, something catches her attention. I follow her line of sight.Fuck!

“Valentina Teresa Angelica Caruso, what in the name of all the saints do you think you’re doing?” Charlie yells.

Valentina, who appears to be naked in my bed, sits up, letting the sheets fall. I avert my eyes and turn around to face the bathroom.

“What the hell are you doing in Wizard’s bed? Get dressed right now.”

“No, I’m not getting dressed. As for why I’m here. We had sex, can’t you tell?”

“Oh, hell no, we did not! I’ll be right back, Spitfire. I just got out of the shower and have some spare clothes in the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”

I hurry to the bathroom and clothes the door heading to the linen closet. I have spare clothes on the bottom shelf. My apartment is entirely open except for the bathroom. I always leave clothes in here in case one of the brothers drops by unexpectedly.

I pull on a pair of sweats and a black tank. I can hear them yelling but can’t make out what they’re saying. What the fuck was that girl thinking? I sigh and try to prepare mentally for the onslaught.

Charlie is pacing back and forth. A pissed off Valentina is sitting on my bed, dressed, thankfully.

“I told you we had sex. You left and he filled his bed five seconds later with a better, younger version,” Valentina says to her mother.

I’d had enough.

“Tesoro, are you against corporal punishment?”

She looks at me. I can tell she has a million questions. She shakes her head. Valentina is too busy vacillating between screeching and trying to look smug. I walk to the bed tossing a shirt at her.

“Put this on.”

She huffs but starts pulls the shirt on over her head. I quickly close my eyes and count to ten. I feel a hand on my arm and open to see the shirt ending right past her knees. I pick her up, making sure she keeps covered and put her over my lap with her ass up in the air. I look at Charlie one more time; she nods.

Much to Valentina’s chagrin, I light up her ass with twenty smacks. She won’t be sitting comfortably for a day or two.

“You let him hit me! I’m telling Daddy.”

“Good luck with that,” Charlie says. “He didn’t hit you, he spanked you. Something I’ve been remiss with the last few years. I gave you way too much leeway with the divorce, but no more. You’ll no longer respect me or act like an out-of-control teenager.

“What you did today, you have no idea how dangerous a game you tried to play. I’m calling a family tribunal to decide your punishment.”

“What? No! You can’t do that. I’m going to go live with Dad. You don’t understand me. You never listen and now you’re sleeping with some guy who’s closer to my age than yours.”

“I think you should redo that math on that one little girl,” Charlie says. “Mine and Wizard’s age difference is none of your business, but he is in fact closer to my age than yours.”

A knock on the door interrupts further conversation. I cross the room in a few quick strides and open the door to find Regina and Pops. Charlie’s shoulders relax a little when she sees her mom and grandfather.

“Ma, can you take Valentina home? I have an emergency I need to handle. The groceries are in the Jeep Wrangler parked out front.”

Regina and Pops look concerned. Regina gives Charlie a quick hug before turning her attention to Valentina.

“Let’s go. You’re on dish duty today and tonight. We’ll sort this all out with a family tribunal tonight.”

The girl surprisingly goes with no more fussing, cussing, or angst. Charlie’s last words plow into me.

“Tesoro, what’s the emergency? Are you alright? I’m sorry about what you walked in on.”

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