Tony's pov

Remaining firm, I slapped her bottom hard.

"I said, Sono chiaro (Am I clear)?"

"Yes sir," she cried out, as the tears began to well, now that she's begrudgingly accepting her fate.

Wasting no more time, I yanked on the waistband of her pants, pulling them to just beneath her rear end. I adjusted her panties back into place before starting her spanking. I don't feel a bare bottom thrashing is warranted in this case, but make no mistake about it, she'll be feeling this punishment well into tomorrow.

I brought the palm of my hand down hard on her upturned bottom.

"OW! Daddy, stop," she whined.

Ignoring her repeated pleas begging me to stop, I slapped her buttocks again and again, painting the skin beneath her thin grey cotton panties a bright red in no time. Claire wiggled atop my thighs and kicked her legs after each hard slap as she whined and cried her way through this spanking. I peppered her bottom with several more stinging slaps, paying special attention to the part of her bum peeking out over the waistband of her jeans, which were perched atop her thighs.

In spite of all her kicking and thrashing atop my lap, I knew she wasn't fighting me, she was just reacting to the pain of this spanking. I'm not going easy on her, but I'm certainly not going full force either. I want her to be sore for about a day or two, to remind her not to eavesdrop again. I can't have her listening in on our business conversations or family matters that aren't intended for young ears.

"Are you going to eavesdrop again, young lady?" I asked, spanking her rapidly, alternating between cheeks.

"NO, DADDY! NO! I WON'T, I SWEAR!" she shouted, trying to reach her hand back.

"I certainly hope not, bambina (baby girl), because I'm not joking when I say the next time it happens, you'll be spanked with my belt." I punctuated my promise with five more stinging spanks atop the globes of her ass before lifting her off my lap. I pulled up her pants and held my hands on her hips to keep her right in front of me. "What do you have to say to me, piccola ragazza (little girl)?" I asked sternly.

"I'm s_s_sorry," she sniffled, as her nose continued to run from all her crying.

"You're going to sit here now and finish your homework, like you should have done earlier. Understand?" I said, pointing my finger in her face.

When she replied, "Yes sir," I gave her one more firm spank across her bottom before forcefully seating her in the hard wooden chair and pushing it up to her desk.

"Get to it. I'll be up in an hour to check on your progress and you better have something significant to show me, ragazzina (little girl). Capiscimi (Understand me)?"

Picking up her pencil, she replied, "Si signore (Yes sir)."

One down and two to go, I thought as I prepared to lay down the law with my younger siblings.

After leaving Claire's room, I went downstairs to the study. I had Lorenzo bring me a glass of merlot that I could sip by the fireplace while trying to unwind. I hate having to punish my daughter like that but she earned that spanking after having been warned many times about her bad habit of eavesdropping. Now I just need to decide how to deal with my conniving siblings. I can't have the two of them thinking they can usurp my authority by hiding the truth.

It's times like these, I really miss Father. He would have no qualms about putting any of his grown children in their place. He never hesitated to correct or admonish us if he felt it was needed. I have to admit, I was tempted to slap both my younger half-siblings tonight when I found out what they were up to but I'd rather not resort to brute violence whenever I'm angry. I know Father never hesitated to rule with an iron fist but I prefer to think I'm a bit more civilized. I'm not, I just prefer to think I am.

Shortly after finishing my second glass of wine, Lorenzo informed me both EJ and Lexie were now home. I told him to wait fifteen minutes before letting them know I would like to speak to them in my study immediately. I honestly still think of this room as Father's study and I always will but I feel if I refer to it that way, I won't be taken seriously as patriarch of this family. Besides, neither of my siblings have the same sense of attachment to this room as I do.

I'm the only one who grew up here at the mansion and has memories of this room as far back as the age of three or four. Not particularly fond memories mind you, but powerful memories nonetheless. They weren't all bad though. Aside from punishing me here, occasionally Father would sip hot cocoa with me in front of a roaring fire on a cold winter's night. Sometimes he'd sit me on his lap as he had his glass of brandy and tell me stories from his childhood and Grandfather's. Those are the times I miss the most. The times he was just my father, and not the patriarch. The times I was simply his son, and not the heir to the Dimerra throne.

Three faint, hesitant knocks on the study's hard wooden door brought me back to present day. My sister, no doubt. At least she's appropriately timid, knowing she has to face me and own up to her dishonesty. I'm sure our clueless egotistical half-brother doesn't share the same sensibility.

"Entra (Come in)," I called out, taking my position behind Father's desk, I mean my desk, of course.

"Lorenzo said you wanted to speak to us, Fratello (Brother)," Lexie replied politely, speaking for the two of them.

"Sedere (Sit)!" I barked, pointing to the two chairs in front of the desk.

EJ gave me a pointed look, which I promptly ignored. He gets one free pass, unlike my daughter, then he better get his attitude in check. Claire would've received a sharp spank to her bottom, but I have no such interest in smacking my little brother on the ass to keep him in line. No, I have other less hands-on methods to apply when dealing with him.

"Since the two of you have the time to conspire to keep the truth from me, you could obviously use some more work to keep you busy. I've instructed Lorenzo to give some of the cleaning staff the next week off to visit with their families." My little brother and sister exchanged nervous glances as they anticipated the direction this conversation was heading. "The three of you will be picking up the slack while they're gone as you assume the bulk of their duties. Sono chiaro (Am I clear)?"

"Si signore (Yes sir)," they both answered begrudgingly, clearly annoyed with my proclamation.

"Molto bene allora (Very well then). Tutte le domande finora (Any questions so far)?"

"Three of us?" EJ queried.

"Yes, my disobedient daughter will be joining you as well as part of her punishment for eavesdropping," I replied nonchalantly.

"No offense, Brother, but how do you expect us to get anything accomplished if we have to babysit your little brat?" EJ smirked smugly. "That in itself should be punishment enough," he muttered under his breath, in response to my disapproving frown.

"Elliot James," I said sternly, in warning.

"Oh, mi dispiace (I'm sorry). Little is an offensive term. How are we supposed to get anything accomplished if we have to babysit your petite brat? That's what I meant to say," he replied sarcastically.

Such a smart-ass. I shook my head in disbelief at his guilelessness. Watch me wipe that cocky grin right off his face.

"You just earned yourself another week of cleaning detail. Would you like to shoot for three, Elliot James?"

"No signore (sir)," my baby brother replied, quite humbly now.

"You'd be wise to know when to keep your mouth shut, fratellino (little brother)." I gave him a look indicating I was far from amused. "If you find that task too difficult, I'd be happy to assist. Will that be necessary, giovanotto (young man)?"

"No, fratellone (big brother). Non sarà necessario (It won't be necessary)."

I frowned at my little brother before turning my attention to my baby sister.

"Anything you'd like to add, Alexandra?"

"No, fratello (brother)," she replied politely.

"Excellent. I'll have Lorenzo give you each a list of your daily duties every morning, starting on Monday. You're dismissed." I sat back down behind my desk, focusing all my attention on my work as I ignored my siblings bewildered looks. Before they left, I stopped my brother. "Elliot James, I'd like you to check in on Claire when you go upstairs and see how her homework's coming along. Capisci (Understand)?"

Sighing, he rolled his eyes and replied curtly, "Yes, brother. Anything else I may do for you?"

"As a matter of fact there is," I said, standing up, crossing my arms and glaring at him to show my displeasure with his less than congenial attitude. "While you're checking her schoolwork, you will inform Claire of the cleaning duties she'll be sharing with you and Alexandra next week. If she gives you any trouble, you have my permission to handle the situation as you see fit, otherwise let me know and I'll take care of it."

"Of course, brother, as you wish," he replied dutifully, his voice thick with contempt.

I shook my head and frowned at him before returning to my desk to get back to work. He's such a smart-ass. He's lucky he didn't grow up here. Father would've slapped that attitude out of him in a heartbeat.