41. Epilogue
EPILOGUE
ECHO
E xcitement and nerves coursed through Echo as she ran out of their room.
“Echo!” Daddy yelled.
Shrieking, she ran into the main room and looked around, trying to find a hiding place.
“Come back here, brat!”
She giggled, running to a table and hiding under it.
“Everyone can see you, girly,” Xavier called out.
Echo pushed herself out from under the table, her eyes wide as she scanned the room, trying to figure out where she could hide. Her eyes landed on Butch behind the bar. She ran toward him and ducked.
“Hide me,” she whispered.
Anyone could hear Daddy’s footsteps as he got closer to the main room.
“Not a chance,” Butch laughed.
“Please, with a cherry on top,” she begged. “Don’t tell Daddy I’m here.”
Echo had done a no-no. While it was fun, she had to face the consequences…if Daddy caught her.
“Please,” she begged once again. “Don’t tell Daddy.”
Butch glared at her. “I don’t need Deccan’s wrath.”
Echo opened her mouth, ready to tell him he wouldn’t, but Daddy’s voice rang out.
“Where are you, Echo?” he asked, his voice calm.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. He had called her Echo, and his voice was very calm. That meant he was mad .
Echo looked up at Butch, but he wasn’t looking at her. She wasn’t going to give herself up. Nope. She didn’t want that. Maybe Daddy would go looking around, and she could escape out the front door.
Okay, she wouldn’t be able to escape through the front door. Daddy said she always had to leave with another one of the guys or him. And the guys would call Daddy and not let her leave the building.
Which meant she was going to have to go to their room and sneak out through the window. Would she be able to get past Daddy? Would he leave and give her enough time to get to their room?
“Little Bit, where are you?” he called out.
Silence filled the room. Echo placed her hand over her mouth, trying to stop herself from making a noise.
“She’s right here.” Butch pointed down at her.
“Hey!” she yelled, jumping up. “No fair!”
“Whatever you did, you probably deserve the punishment you’re going to get,” Butch replied.
She stuck her tongue out at him, and he growled. Yeah, none of them liked having her stick her tongue out.. She made sure to do it as often as she could. They couldn’t do anything about it. Well, they could tell her Daddy, and it would get her in trouble, but it was worth it.
Echo turned before Butch could say anything and started to jog toward the room, but she didn't make it five feet before arms wrapped around her midsection.
“Daddy! Let me go!” she yelled.
“Not a chance, Little Bit,” he growled.
She kicked and screamed, trying to get out of his grip, but he wouldn’t let her go. He walked to his soundproof office, locking the door behind them and placing her on the floor.
“Daddy!”
“No, Echo.”
She stomped her foot and glared at him. Daddy raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest.
“You just landed yourself more lines and longer corner time.”
“I don’t deserve it!” she yelled.
“Yes, you do, Little Bit.”
Echo totally did, but she wasn’t going to tell him that. She was already in trouble, so why back down now?
Daddy took a deep breath. “You put glitter slime in my shoes after I told you twice not to do it. You put glitter in my pockets when I told you no glitter,” he calmly said. “That was very naughty of you.”
Okay, so she had done those that, and he had told her not to do it. But how could she not? Him telling her was like he was inviting her to do it. Did he not understand that?
“You are going to write two hundred lines saying, “not use glitter anymore” and stand in the corner until I tell you are done. Then you are going to write fifty lines saying “I will not stomp my foot.”. Do you understand?”
Echo just looked at him, taking in everything she had to do.
“That’s too many, Daddy,” She looked up at him, blinking a lot. “I think you should lower the number.”
She tried to look innocent and cute so Daddy would fall for it and give her less.
“I can make it two hundred and ten and one hundred as well as more corner time,” he offered.
She shook her head. “No, thank you, Daddy.”
She didn’t want to add to her number. That sounded like torture.
“Pants and underwear off,” he commanded.
She looked at the door behind him and worry filled her.
“I would never let anyone come in while you are naked. The door is locked,” Daddy gently said.
“I know, I’m sorry, Daddy,” she whispered.
“It’s okay, Little Bit. Now, let’s get your pants and underwear off.” He walked over to her.
“I think I can do it myself,” Echo grumbled.
“Last time you tried taking them off, you fell and hit your head and shoulder. Daddy will help you.”
Okay, so it was true. She could remember like it was yesterday. It wasn’t her fault though; pants were evil and out to get her.
“I think I should put you in skirts, and you shouldn’t be allowed to wear underwear,” Daddy tapped his shoulders.
Echo placed her hands on him and gasped. “No, thank you, Daddy. I don’t like skirts and what if there was wind? Everyone would see me.”
“Skirts around the house when it’s only us. We are going back to the house tonight.” He helped her out of her pants and underwear.
That was right. Her first official night at their house. It was surreal and weird. Since Daddy killed Rick and Ken, he had been less tense.
“I still don’t like skirts,” she whispered.
“How about dresses?”
Echo shrugged. Neither were her favorites. She couldn’t do anything without worrying about flashing people. Even if she wore spandex under them, she still had to be conscious.
“What about onesies with drop seats?”
She perked up and smiled.
“I thought you would like that. Why don’t you like skirts and dresses?” Daddy asked.
“Gotta be conscious about what I do. I don’t want to have to do that.” She looked away. “But I guess I can wear more dresses and skirts if you want me to.”
Daddy cupped her face. “Nope, if it’s not the real you, I don’t want it. You don’t like them, don’t wear them. Maybe I’ll just have a no underwear policy at home, so whenever I want a feel, I can have one.”
“Does that mean whenever I want a feel, I can have one?”
Daddy chuckled. “No.”
“Not fair.” She pouted.
“Life isn’t always fair. You can ask Daddy whenever you want one, though.” He kissed her forehead. “Now, come on, and let's get this over with.
Sighing, she walked over to the corner and assumed the position. This was going to be boring.
“Almost done, Little Bit?” Daddy asked.
She was finishing her last couple of lines. To say her hand was hurting was an understatement. It ached from how much she had had to write and how many extra. Echo needed to remember not to whine, or else she was getting even more.
“Done, Daddy,” she whispered, resting her head on the desk. Daddy had brought a little desk for her to sit at when she had to do lines in his office.
“Let me have a look,” Daddy grabbed the paper and started reading.
“I don’t wanna do that again.” She closed her eyes and held her hand open.
It had cramped several times while writing. Sometimes, she would push through to get a couple extra. She couldn’t always though. Tears had threatened to spill several times.
“I have no doubt you’ll be writing lines sometime this week,” Daddy chuckled. “Come here, Little Bit.”
Echo slowly got out of the chair and made her way to Daddy. His arms wrapped around her, holding her close as he sat with her on his lap.
“I think I would like a spanking next time,” she stated.
“And why is that?” Daddy asked.
“I don’t know.”
She did know. Ever since Daddy had spanked her out in the open, she had fantasized about it over and over. To say she wanted it to happen again was an understatement.
“I think you do.”
“I got turned on,” Echo mumbled.
“That’s what I thought,” Daddy chuckled. “Maybe we can implement some fun spankings.”
“Fun spankings?” She looked at him, puzzled.
“Yes, Little Bit. Fun spankings. Get you all hot and bothered.”
“Oh.”
Daddy threw his head back and laughed. “We can try one tonight if you want.”
She nodded right as there was a knock on the door. Daddy got up, gently placing her down and unlocking the door.
“Need to talk,” Xavier said. “It’s about the shipment.”
“Little Bit, why don’t you have some chocolate milk at the bar?” Daddy suggested.
More like commanded, demanded. It wasn’t a question, and Echo knew that. She got up and walked out of his office, straight to the bar.
“Chocolate milk?” Butch asked.
She nodded. “I still don’t like you,” she grumbled. “You didn’t have to tell Daddy where I was.”
“Uh-huh. Sure. How’s your hand?” he asked.
She glared at Butch as he set her chocolate milk in front of her.
“Meanie.” She stuck her tongue out at him.
Butch’s face was dead serious. “Do that again and I’ll tell your Daddy.”
Echo’s eyes went wide and she nodded. She had already done it twice today and wasn’t going to push her luck. Who wanted more lines? Not Echo.
“I’ll be right back.”
Grabbing the cup, Echo started to slowly sip it, relaxing into the chair. She could drink this all the time.
“How’re you holding up?” Doc asked, sitting next to her.
“Good,” she replied.
Echo was still a little mad at Doc for telling Daddy.
“You can’t be mad at me forever,” he sighed.
“Watch me.” As those words left her mouth, she felt really bad. “Okay, sorry. That was uncalled for.”
Echo turned in her seat, looking out into the room. There were several people hanging out. Some had girls on their laps, they were grinding on the men. She shuddered and looked away.
Doc opened his mouth as the front door opened. The first thing she saw was the nasty bruise across the woman's face. She looked around, taking everything in before her eyes settled on Echo.
The whole room quieted and stared at her. She was just like Echo had been several weeks ago. Out of place and standing out like a sore thumb.
“Are you okay?” Echo asked, placing her drink on the counter.
She slowly got off her chair and took a hesitant step forward. Monroe had talked about being scared and nervous when she first came to Missouri, which was running through her head.
What had happened to this girl? How did she manage to get here? Was she okay?
“My name is Echo,” she gently said. “Can I help you?”
The woman nodded, and Echo took another toward her. She didn’t want to scare the woman off.
“What can I help you with?” Echo asked. “Are you looking for someone? Do you need help getting away from someone? Need protection?”
She knew she was firing off questions, but the girl wasn’t answering any of them, and Echo needed to know if they needed to be prepared for someone barging in.
“I’m looking for Butch,” the girl whispered.