Guardian Domination by Breanna Hayse Read Free Book Online Page B

Jace.
    “I need to think about it. I’m inclined to continue this way for a while yet. I want to make sure we have no repeats of previous problems with the school system.” That was a very tactful way of saying that he didn’t want me to try to set another school on fire or beat up cheerleaders.
    Mark shook his head. “I disagree. She needs to be around kids her own age. It’s necessary for socialization skills. Ones you have not mastered, My Love,” he said gently to me.
    “Are you trying to get rid of me?!” I snapped, standing quickly.
    Mark frowned. “Sit down. No, I am trying to help Jace decide which is healthiest for you. Being around two adults all the time isn’t good. You need to learn how to get along with your peers. You have had a little difficulty with that in the past, remember?”
    “Mark has a point, Kiddo,” Jace said.
    “When are you going to realize I’m eighteen? There is nothing my ‘peers’ have to offer me. I swear, you send me to school and I’ll be back home the same day. And I don’t care if it’s with a police escort!” I promised, threatening him with a repeat of the last incident of expulsion.
    Jace raised an eyebrow, his eyes taking on that familiar, dangerous glint. Without moving, he appeared to grow taller. “Was that a threat, young lady?”
    “No, that was a promise!” I answered and met his eye without wavering. He was going to see that I was serious.
    “Really, now?” His voice turned to that low, cold tone that always meant the chopping block for me. “I am giving you one chance to rephrase your comment and adjust the attitude. I don’t like it.”
    “Well, I don’t like you !” I yelled, suddenly running out of the room. “I hate you!”
    Jace looked at Mark, who had suddenly broken into hysterics. He gave him a punch to his shoulder. “I don’t see what’s so funny. I’m going to blister her.”
    Mark wiped his eyes with one hand and rubbed at his shoulder with the other. “You should’ve seen the look on your face, J. She managed to change the subject and totally threw you off guard. She also managed to cut class short. You do know this is typical, normal behavior for her age group, right? It’s probably the first time she has felt comfortable enough to honestly challenge you. That means she really trusts you. Get it? It’s a good thing.”
    Jace looked at his friend like he’d grown another head, saying nothing. Mark continued, flexing his arm, “J, you can really pack a punch. It’s Child Psychology 101. Listen to me. She knows you aren’t going to send her away. This time, she informed you that she wasn’t planning on leaving. “
    “Stop whining about the arm, you’ll get over it,” Jace grumbled, crossing his arms across his chest, thinking. “She doesn’t think she’ll get away with the tantrum, does she?”
    “Nah, she’s too smart for that. In fact, she’ll be expecting you to go after her, reassure her and then spank the living daylights out of her to drive your point home. She’s acting totally normal. Probably for the first time in her life. Trust me, it’s all good.”
    “Not for her bottom, it isn’t!” Jace added. “Do you think we should let her have a vacation?”
    “You know, we have that recording session in New York in three weeks. How about if we take her with us? We can get one of my friends to watch the puppies.”
    “I don’t know…”
    “It’s only for three days. It’ll be fun. She can stay with my folks while we’re out.”
    “I’ll think about it. I just don’t want her free to terrorize the East Coast like our own version of Godzilla…” Jace said grimly, but then silenced as he fell into deep thought for a moment. “Alright, she can go. You tell her later,” he cracked his knuckles. “Right now it’s time to find my wayward ward and put an end to the temper tantrum.”
    Mark grinned, shuffling some paper. “Have fun.”
    Jace reached over to knuckle Mark on the head. “Thanks,