Beneath the Scars (Masters of the Shadowlands #13)(122)

At her dark look, Holt grinned and added, “And he’s got a beloved cat and good friends. I wouldn’t worry, Josie. He’s amazingly well balanced.”

She sighed. There it was. No great wisdom, nothing she didn’t know, but having someone who loved Carson weigh in? It lightened her worries. “Thanks.”

He must have heard the seriousness of her voice, since he turned to study her. Then, he pulled her against him and kissed the top of her head. “You’re very welcome.”

His voice deepened. “I do require payment for counseling services. Tonight, in fact.”

Even though she elbowed him in the ribs, she knew he wasn’t joking. He’d demand his “payment” in a fashion that’d leave her in a satisfied, near-comatose state in their bed. Of course, as he’d told her before, he was a Dom and he didn’t need excuses to enjoy her whenever he wanted. Why that was so sexy, she didn’t know.

“Did you two have your meeting with the principal?” he asked.

“We did,” she said grimly. “He and the school board insist the boys pay for the broken classroom window. Brandon’s mother will pay for the rest of the classroom since the actual fire was all Brandon’s idea and doing.”

“Sounds fair enough. Why don’t you look happy?”

“The principal wants to suspend the boys, take away their extracurricular sports, and make them do a lot of so-called community service—which seems to amount to free janitorial service. And this will be part of their academic record.”

Holt’s mouth tightened. “That does seem excessive.”

They both watched Carson do a smooth interception and pass to Yukio. Even as Josie cheered, Holt gave a pleased yell, “Way to move, ace!”

Carson turned, and a huge smile appeared on his face before he dashed back into the fray.

Josie’s heart warmed. Oh, she did love this man. Both her men.

Leaning against Holt, she tried to remember what they’d been discussing. The school and Carson. “I agree with putting them to work. The rest—not so much. It’s their first offense. But what really burns me is that the administration isn’t admitting to any fault on their part. And the teacher is still working there.”

Appropriating her diet soda, Holt took a sip before handing it back. “You lost me. What fault?”

She frowned, trying to remember what Carson had told Cullen and Holt in the police station. “Carson told you the science teacher was a jerk who picks on the students, right?”

“Right.”

“Well, from what Carson said—and talking with the other parents—the science teacher, Jorgeson, is cruelly sarcastic, sexually inappropriate, and racist. He stands too close to the girls and touches them. He makes nasty jokes about girls, minorities, and the slower students. Being an intelligent white boy, Carson didn’t have a problem with him—until now—but Juan’s been harassed to the point of tears. Ryan, too, because he’s mouthy.”

Holt frowned. “Didn’t the children complain to the authorities?”

“Oh, did they ever, as did their parents. Unfortunately, Jorgeson has been there a couple of decades and is a respected instructor. The principal didn’t do anything, and since only Jorgeson teaches sixth grade science, the children couldn’t transfer to another class.”

Holt scrubbed his face. “I missed that, maybe because he didn’t pick on Carson.”

“Carson was sticking up for his new friends—and other classmates—in the only way that lay open when the people who should have acted…didn’t.”

“In that light”—Holt’s expression had turned hard—“punishing the kids is wrong.”

“That’s how I feel. The other boys’ parents and I explained it to the principal, but”—anger was a burning knot in her belly—“but he’s not admitting he was wrong and that Jorgeson should be fired. I’m not sure what to do.”

Holt was keeping an eye on the soccer action, and when Carson booted the ball almost to the other end of the field, he yelled, “Great kick!”

Josie hooted her agreement.

For a couple of minutes, Holt was silent. Then he glanced at Josie. “Kids are always recording stuff on their phones. What do you want to bet there are some videos of the teacher in action?”

Josie blinked. “Hmm. Let’s ask Carson.”

“We can have him put the word out that kids with recordings should email me a copy, that I’ll keep the recording, but delete their email off my system. Also, we should have him tell the children not to boast about taking or sharing recordings.”

“What?”

“Classroom recordings in Florida fall into a gray area of the law.” He still looked angry about Jorgeson, but his eyes held a wicked spark. “One that would be difficult to punish.”

“What are you thinking?” She poked a finger in his ribs. “Tell me, oh, Master Crusader.”

“I’ll explain tonight.” He wrapped his hand around hers, removing her finger from his ribs, with an admonishing tsk-tsk. “You know, a naughty submissive might find herself strapped to the spanking bench next Friday.”

Spanking…bench. At the thought, a wave of heat streaked right through her, and another followed when she saw the way he was watching her.