Deccan (Springfield Sinners #1)

36. Chapter Thirty-Four

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

ECHO

S everal days had passed since Echo had walked into Deccan’s office with just his shirt and underwear on. She figured things with the other men would have been awkward and weird, but they weren’t. If anything, it had broken the ice a little.

Echo had gotten to know a couple of them since she was stuck at the clubhouse until they found Rick and Ken. She was going stir-crazy. She needed to get out and get some fresh air.

“Everything okay, Little One?” Levi asked.

Ever since he had choked her, Echo thought he was like he was trying to make it up to her. Well, he was, and he had told her. Apparently, he felt guilty.

“I’m good,” she lied.

She sighed and leaned her head on the bar. She was growing antsy with every passing day, and now it felt like every passing hour was making her more on edge. Would it ever get better? How long would it be until they found Rick and Ken?

“Echo.” His voice held a warning in it.

“Don’t get all Dommy on me.” She peeked at him. “I get enough of that from Daddy.”

After she walked out of their room with only Daddy’s shirt and underwear on, she decided not to care anymore. She called him Daddy in front of his men. He didn’t mind; it was her who was shy about it.

But now she wasn't. They had seen her carrying around her stuffed animal, Jingles. Okay, Daddy had also said she had nothing to worry about. Every time she talked to someone about him, they would call him Daddy and not Deccan.

“Don’t lie. I know it’s one of your rules,” Levi informed her as he sat next to her.

“I’m okay,” she whispered.

It wasn’t a lie technically. She was safe, so she couldn’t really complain about much. She had everything she needed at the clubhouse, but she wanted to go outside.

Two different things.

“That doesn’t sound good.”

She snorted. “Didn’t figure you were the talking type. You’ve said more now here than I’ve ever heard you say.”

“Checking up on you,” he grunted. “Sue me.”

“Sorry, Levi. I…sorry. That wasn’t nice of me.”

Levi chuckled. “Make it up by telling me what’s wrong.”

Her eyes narrowed on him. “So you can tell Daddy? No, thank you.”

Whenever she ever said anything, it magically made its way to Daddy. He always found out, and she didn’t know whether she was appreciative of that or not. What if she talked to them in confidence and they went and told Daddy?

“Unless it harms your health or safety, I won’t tell him.”

She rolled her eyes. Yeah, they could make anything about her health or safety and tell him.

Oh, she was upset about her picture not turning out how she wanted? Daddy found out.That didn’t risk her health or safety.

“Come on, Little One,” he urged. “You’ve been moping all morning.”

“I have not!” she exclaimed, turning her whole body to face him.

“You have. You can’t deny it. Everyone has seen it. Started last night.”

“It did not!”

Levi gave her a pointed look. Okay, so maybe she had been sulking, but she had a reason. She was bored. There wasn't much to do. She had gotten a lot of work done. She had taken a couple of days off after the attack, but she had thrown herself into work to help herself feel better. Now she was ahead and didn’t have anything to do for a little while.

“What’s wrong?” Levi asked.

“I’m getting antsy. I need to go outside and feel the sun and breeze. I need to walk around,” she whispered.

She knew this would get back to Daddy. If Levi had noticed she was wasn’t happy he had to as well. She hadn’t seen a lot of him in the past twenty-four hours. He had been busy trying to get Ken and Rick.

He had slipped into bed late last night and left before she got up. She had woken up from a nightmare, but it wasn’t as bad as before. This time, it didn’t take long for her to fall back asleep.

“Have you talked to your Daddy about this?” Levi asked.

“How?”

“By talking to him,” he stated.

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, because that is so easy when Daddy isn’t here. He was gone before I even woke up. So, how am I supposed to ask him that?

“By texting him.”

“No.”

Echo didn’t want to bother him. If she texted him, he would come home and fuss over her. She wouldn’t be the one to pull him away from something important.

“Why not?”

Echo glared. “You know why.”

He smiled. “Because you’re afraid?”

“That is not it!”

“Then, why?”

Echo knew he was lying. He looked amused, like he knew what he was doing. What was up with them wanting her to say and explain things? Was it a fetish they had?

“Come on, tell me.”

“I don’t want to bother him. Happy?” she snapped and then sighed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped.”

“Echo, can you look at me?”

She hadn’t even realized she was looking away from him. Great. Things were not going her way. Daddy was going to hear so much about it.

“Echo.” There was a warning in his voice.

“Yes?” She looked at him.

“You’re okay. How about I message him asking if we can go to the coffee shop. I could really use some good coffee. Not this instant coffee here.”

“Really?” she whispered.

“Yeah, you stay here while I call him and ask.”

She nodded and laid her head on the bar. Excitement bubbled inside of her. She so badly wanted to go out and could be about to get her wish. She didn’t care if it was only for a couple of minutes. Any time outside was enough for her at that moment.

“Go get your shoes on,” Levi said. “Walk, don’t run.”

It was like he knew what she would do before she even got off the chair. Well, she did just tell him she wanted to go outside. He probably knew how excited she was.

Echo pushed herself off the chair and walked toward the front of the building where her shoes were. No one else put their shoes there, but she did. It was one place, besides her room, that she could guarantee she would find them.

“Done!” she cheerfully said, slipping them on.

“I’ve got some rules before we leave.”

She groaned. There were always rules.

“Do you want to go out?”

“Yes.” She nodded and smiled.

“Then there will be rules. Those men are still out there.”

“You don’t need to remind me,” she mumbled.

She knew they were out there. She has been on edge ever since they dragged her into the alleyway and assaulted her; knowing they were out there and that there was nothing she could do about it. Daddy was taking care of it, but it didn’t make her any calmer.

“Sorry, Little One. All your Daddy’s rules apply, but I’m adding another. You are to do what I say when I say. Understand?”

“So if you tell me to undress, I have to?” she asked, keeping her face straight.

His eyes went wide, and she couldn’t help but giggle.

“Brat.”

“Sorry, I had to.”

“You are to do as I say within reason. Obviously, I’m not going to tell you to strip unless you are on fire, but even then, I’ll be patting you down with my jacket before anything else.”

“Yeah, I understand.”

“Do you?”

She bobbed her head in agreement. “I do. If there was a situation, a dangerous situation, I need to follow what you say so you can keep me safe.”

“Good.”

She smiled. “Can we go now? I need my coffee.”

“Do you have your phone?”

She nodded.

“All right, come on.”

Neres ran through her as they walked out of the clubhouse. This was the first time she had been out since Daddy had carried her home. Was she going to have a panic attack? Was he waiting outside for her, ready to attack when she and Levi least expected it?

But as she stepped outside, she didn’t feel anxious at all. Sure, she was looking around more, but she could breathe.

“You’re okay,” Levi gruffly said.

She looked at him as they turned the corner. He was surveying their surroundings, making sure nothing was going to happen. She felt her heart melt a little. While these men did some sketchy deals, they did some good deeds too. This was one of them.

“Have you ever been to this coffee shop?” she asked.

He grunted.

“I’ll take that as a no. All talked out now?”

Levi didn’t say anything, and she sighed. She had figured sooner or later, he was going to stop talking. It didn't bother her. Even though he spoke a lot the first night they met, he hadn’t since.

They walked into the coffee shop, and the first people she saw were Flemming and Rainey.

“Echo!” they both yelled.

Rainey started waddling toward her as Flemming jogged, her arms wide. Echo took a deep breath and braced herself. But before Flemming could reach her, Levi stood in front of her.

“No,” he warned. “Do not touch her.”

Echo’s heart melted a little more as he said those words. Daddy had made sure everyone at the clubhouse knew she didn’t like to be touched. No one had looked at her weirdly. They were understanding. That only made Levi feel worse that he’d grabber her throat, but how was he supposed to know?

Echo peeked from behind Levi to see Flemming with her hand on her waist.

“No? Who are you to tell me no?” Flemming sassed.

“Someone you don’t want to mess with,” he growled.

They both glared at each other, and Echo looked at Rainey wide-eyed.

“Umm, guys,” Rainey gently said. “Can we not do this here? I don’t want to scare off the customers.”

“He was the one who started it.” Flemming stuck her tongue out at Levi.

Echo stifled a laugh. She had never seen anyone stand up to Levi before. On the way to the coffee shop, people were walking around them, keeping their distance.

“Stick your tongue out at me again and you’ll be over my lap with a hot bottom.” His voice got deeper as he spoke.

Flemming’s eyes went wide as she stared at Levi. Echo could not believe he had just said that. What was he thinking?

“Levi,” Echo sighed.

“No. She sticks her tongue out again and she will land herself over my lap. That’s a promise.”

“Levi!” Echo raised her hand to touch his shoulder but paused. Even though she wanted to stop him, she didn’t want to touch him.

“There are consequences to sticking tongues out at people. She obviously hasn’t gotten enough spankings in her life. She’s in luck because my hand is itching to spank her.”

“Levi!” Echo raised her voice.

“You cannot spank my bottom,” Flemming growled.

Levi bent over and got closer to Flemming. “Watch me. ”

Echo walked around Levi and looked at him, but he was still looking at Flemming. They were having some type of stare-off.

“Levi, come on,” Echo pleaded. “Everything is okay.”

“No, it’s not. She isn’t allowed to touch you,” he said. “She was going to touch you.”

“Are you with Levi as well?” Rainey asked.

“No!” Echo yelled and winced. “Sorry, no, we aren’t together. There’s just been a situation and they are trying to keep me protected. I think it also has to do with the fact that I’m a Little and with Deccan, who’s the president of the club.”

There were a lot of reasons.

“Are you safe?” Rainey asked.

“Umm, yes and no,” she mumbled, looking down at her hands. “I don’t really want to talk about it. Not ready to.”

“That’s okay, whenever you’re ready, and if that's never, it’s okay.”

“Thanks.” Echo smiled.

She sighed once again when she realized Levi and Flemming were still glaring at each other.

“Let’s go get coffee, please?” Echo asked. “You promised, Levi.”

He stood to his full height, maintaining eye contact with Flemming the whole time.

“Let’s go.”