Free The Siren, the General's Daughter Book One by Breanna Hayse Page A

breath while lying on the mats. Several crew members had gathered to watch, passing money back and forth. Scott lifted his head to look at them. “I don’t want to know who bet against me, but if I find out, you’re next.”
    “You’re getting old,” Dr. Quimby panted, sitting up and helping Scott to his feet, “But still strong as I can remember. My poor girl. Sorry I questioned you.”
    “You’re no wimp yourself. I just cheat a little better. We good?” Scott asked.
    “Never a doubt, of anything. I do want to check on her, though. Maybe do a little bruise pushing.”
    “And you think I’m mean?” Scott laughed, mopping himself off. “Let’s go have chow and we’ll both go in. I’m worried too.”
    When they entered the girl’s room, they found her on her stomach across the low bed. She had donned an extra- large t-shirt permanently borrowed from her brother and had her hip long hair in two high ponytails. Her dinner was on the table, untouched.
    “Hey baby, just checking in.” Dr. Quimby said, sitting next to her on the bed. Scott joined on the other side. “How are you doing? You didn’t eat anything.”
    “Not hungry. I’m just thinking. I can’t believe I lost control like I did. I know better,” she admitted, chin in her bent arms.
    Scott stroked her back gently. “You need to stop beating yourself up. You got busted, punished and it’s over. Slate clean. Are you mad at me?”
    “Oh God, no! It’s my fault. And Daddy’s,” she added with a little smile, glancing at her father.
    “Mine? What did I do?”
    “You’ve been letting me get away with too much. Uncle Scott is right. I’m spoiled and stubborn. As much as I will regret saying this, I have to be honest and tell you that I need for you to put your foot down. Hard. I need Mike to do the same. It really scared me today when Ton went to hunt him. It would have been my fault if he got hurt because I had no self-control. When I had to explain the cultural differences to Ton, I also was required to defend them. That meant I also had to understand and agree to them. You can’t deceive with the band. Daddy? Uncle Scott? I really screwed up bad.”
    “Wow, that’s unexpected. Let’s see the damage,” Dr. Quimby said, whistling as he unceremoniously raised the shirt.
    Scott traced the outline of the ruler. “Very effective. I should get you one.”
    “I think I’ll get the shop to make me a paddle,” Dr. Quimby said, ignoring his daughter’s glare. He gently rubbed the bruised skin, his warm hand comforting.
    Scott stroked her hair. “How about if you take the day off tomorrow and work up your findings? You might be able to think better here than in the lab where it’s so busy.”
    “Thanks, Uncle Scott. I’ll do that. May I also have an ice pack?”
    “I’ll get you one before I hit the rack. I love you,” Scott said softly, leaning over to kiss her forehead.
    “I love you too. And, well, thank you for, well, understanding”
    “You are most welcome, princess. I’ll be back with the ice. Joe?”
    “Be there in a few. I want to talk with Sam.”  Dr. Quimby watched the door close before turning back to his daughter and her still exposed backside. He had to reluctantly admit that Scott was very thorough and seemed to get his point across. “You do understand that the bar has been raised with your discipline, right?” he asked, lying next to her on the bed.
    She rested her face on the palm of his hand. “I don’t want to go through this again anytime soon. I thought the belting you gave me was bad. That was nothing compared to this, and I don’t want to push it. Daddy, I don’t mean to be this way, it just happens.”
    “We all know you’re a good kid inside. The problem is you are too smart, fearless and trained beyond any of your years. Neither of us expected that you two would become what you are when we started teaching you this stuff so early. Add to that your intelligence levels. They were way beyond what