Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
ARROW
T he hour following their conversation was awkward for both of them. She’d changed the topic rather quickly, and he’d let her. Then, she’d quickly got ready for her shift at Renewed Hope and driven away, but not before he’d made her promise to text him when she arrived. In a span of less than twenty-four hours, his life had changed. Drastically. Was it instalove? Hell, it wasn’t even insta attraction. There was something about this girl that he was drawn to, and his fiercely protective Daddy side took over. Did he scare her away? He wasn’t sure. He hoped to hell not.
The ringing of his phone distracted him from his thoughts. “Hey, brother, what’s going on?”
“I heard you had a guest last night,” Jay said.
“Yeah.”
“Did she give you any trouble?”
“No. Not at all.” Arrow responded.
“I don’t know what to think about this one,” Jay said. “Dax called early this morning and let me in on what happened last night. She hasn’t been in trouble at The Citadel, not since the night of the event. I’m going to call Sam when I get off the phone with you and see if she has a bed she can stay in at Renewed Hope until something else can be arranged. At one point, there were plans to turn the attic into a two-bedroom apartment for two full-time staff members. I can get help from Valhalla, and we can knock it out in a week.”
“She’s going to stay here.” The fierceness in his tone startled even Arrow. Whoa. Where did that come from?
“Is she okay with that?” Jay asked quietly.
“I’m not entirely sure I trust her judgment right now,” Arrow responded.
“I thought you said everything went fine last night?”
“It did. But, we found her sleeping in her car. She wasn’t exactly using sound judgment.” Truth was, Arrow didn’t want her out of his sight, not with Officer Mills out there.
“Dax told me he let you in on what we found out during her background investigation,” Jay said.
“You mean the part where her entire family was murdered?” He could all but taste the bitterness of his next words. “And the police failed her. She’s never been given justice.” The police failed her twice. Once with the homicide of her family and again the night one hit her with his patrol car. He doubted Emilee would ever trust the police again. The people meant to protect and serve failed her.
“Yeah. It’s long since been a cold case. Dax spoke to the original detective, and the case haunted him. I believe he truly wanted to solve it. Anyway, back to the topic at hand. Do you think Emilee wants to stay with you?”
Did she? Did it matter? He wanted her with him, and he always got what he wanted, one way or another. He hadn’t imagined the way she snuggled up into his arms or the way she blushed when he’d told her to call him when she arrived at work. She was a little in need of a Daddy and he was just the man for the job. Sometimes, he knew, littles weren’t aware of their own needs and needed a Daddy to step up and help them.
“She’s mine.” Saying the words cemented his feelings.
“Does she know she’s yours?”
“If she doesn’t, she will soon enough,” Arrow said.
“Listen, you know my feelings on consent?—”
“Do you think I’d force her to do anything she didn’t want or wasn’t ready for?” Arrow bit out.
“It sounds like you know what you want but not what she wants,” Jay said slowly.
“I’ll talk to her. Give her the option. Have Samantha text me if there’s a bed there. I’ll present all the options to her.”
“In a fair way?”
“Fuck off, Jay.” Arrow was getting annoyed with his friend.
“You know what I mean,” Jay said. “I know you aren’t one of those manipulative bastards who are going to gaslight her into being with you. At the same time, I know how any of us are when we see something we want.”
“Yes, I’ll present it to her in a fair way. I’ll tell her exactly how I feel and what I want and let her make up her own adult mind. But, once she consents, and I know she will, she’s mine. Mine. And you should know, Jay, I don’t take lightly to anyone hurting what is mine.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” This time it was Jay who was put on the defensive.
“Emilee has been the target of mean gossip at The Citadel. Not to mention the rude looks and obnoxious things muttered about her while she’s in earshot. Mean, hurtful things. I won’t tolerate that when I’m around.”
“And you shouldn’t. I don’t know a single Top who would allow their bottom to act that way. My guess is, if the submissives are misbehaving, their Tops aren’t aware. I’d encourage you to let them know so they can rectify any misbehavior. If it’s not taken care of, let me know. I won’t put up with bullying at The Citadel. It’s supposed to be a safe place for all.”
“What about the night of the event when you kicked her out?” Arrow asked.
Jay sighed before speaking. “I don’t like to think of it as kicking her out. I paid and tipped her generously. She wasn’t there as a member, but as an employee. I was deescalating an emotional scene that needed to be handled in private. Nothing was going to get accomplished at the party. Separating the girls was the best thing for both of them. The situation would have been handled very differently if Emilee had been in attendance as a guest instead of a contracted employee. It was a split moment decision. I can assure you, I was nothing but kind and respectful.”
Arrow knew Jay wasn’t lying. They finished up their conversation, and Arrow went into the kitchen for a fresh cup of coffee. Returning to his desk, he took a long drink before turning back to the computer screen in front of him. Rubbing his chin, he scowled. The numbers were not adding up. His home office was quiet, the way he liked it. In a couple of hours, he would arrive at the Watchmen Clubhouse and unlike the calm sanctuary of his house, the clubhouse would be loud with boisterous men and the roar of Harleys. The noise and interruptions would make it hard to concentrate.
The Spartan Watchmen Motorcycle Club’s finances were still a bit of a mess. He’d taken them over after the former treasurer had betrayed the club. Arrow knew there was some suspicion that Crock had skimmed off the top. But, Arrow hadn’t expected such a cluster fuck of issues to arise in the few months he’d been at it. When Irish’s new girlfriend pointed out the issues in Irish’s non-profit, the hair on the back of his arms stood up. Irish’s son hadn’t only worked for his father, Wyatt had also worked for the former treasurer and was paid to do some work around the clubhouse. After he helped Makenzie find and show Irish the theft, he’d returned to look at their own ledgers, hoping Irish’s ex-wife’s treachery stopped with Irish’s business. Unfortunately, things weren’t adding up the way they were supposed to.
“Damn discrepancies,” he muttered, staring at the document. He cherished order. The first born of a large tight knit family, he’d been the dictionary definition of a type A personality. He took a leadership position in every club and sport he’d participated in. Leading was as natural to him as breathing air. He’d fought hard to pass his classes in school, his dyslexia undiagnosed until high school. Words weren’t his friend, but numbers were. He’d advanced in upper-level mathematics. Once diagnosed, his parents worked hard, equipping him with all the tools he would need for success. He scored high on his ASVAB and moved quickly through the ranks. It’d taken two years to go through the special operations and reconnaissance training before he’d become a commando. Twenty years later and he retired at forty-two from the military. Never been married. No kids. A couple of relationships scattered in but nothing serious. He enjoyed playing at The Citadel. There were several submissives who didn’t mind participating in a good scene or two. No one had caught his attention before.
He glanced down as a notification lit up his Apple Watch. Emilee was texting him. Siri read the texts aloud to him. Although he could read, he preferred audible. Lucky for him, there were an abundance of apps and devices out there that he hadn’t had as a teenager. He listened to the text and spoke his reply into his watch.
Emilee: I think I left something at your house, mind if I swing by and grab it after work?
Arrow: Of course I don’t mind. We need to talk anyway. What time do you get off?
Emilee: 1
Arrow: Are you having lunch at work?
Emilee: No. This week is training. 9-1
Arrow: Good. I’ll make us some lunch.
Emilee: You don’t have to do that.
Arrow: I want to.
Emilee: But, why? You barely know me.
Arrow: Like I said, it’s what Daddies do. Now get back to work.
He waited for her answer, and when one didn’t come, he smiled to himself before turning back to the computer screen. His smile quickly turned to a frown.
Fuck.
He double checked the dates of the discrepancies against the times when Irish had the kids. Spring break. Christmas break. Summer. They lined up, just like he knew they would. He needed to talk to Wyatt. The boy had moved in with his dad a couple of months back, after they’d uncovered the fraud. Once he’d confronted his mother about the missing money, there was no going back. Irish said a light had been shined on his ex’s criminal behavior, and Wyatt wasn’t willing to step back into the darkness. Arrow knew Wyatt to be a good kid, and he’d apologized profusely for his part in the deceit. Arrow doubted the teen knew exactly how far his mother had gone.
After going through the past month’s finances, he started paying the current month’s bills. The clubhouse cost money to maintain. They bought the property outright in cash; there wasn’t a mortgage. There were, however, yearly property taxes, utility bills and general upkeep associated with the building. Besides the cost of maintaining the building, there were the mounting grocery costs, the insurance payments and many other odds and ends. Still, the club was more than financially stable. In addition to the dues each member paid annually, they had several fundraising rides and events. Not to mention the investment portfolio Arrow had set up, yielding impressive gains. Regardless of the number of zeros in the club’s bank account, no one should take any of their money without approval.
The noise of his alarm system momentarily drew away from the computer screen arrow's attention. Glancing down at his watch, he watched Emilee’s car drive up. Standing from the desk chair, he stretched and headed to meet her at the front door. Standing in the open door, he was immediately aware of her weariness. Her shoulders were hunched up, and she looked down at the sidewalk as she walked towards him.
“Hey, Kitten.” She looked up at him, her eyebrows drawn together as if something puzzled her, but said nothing back, only raised her hand in a slight wave.
“I know you are working. I’ll just grab my item and be on my way.”
Her item? Interesting way to put it. What was it she’d left behind? “Actually, I ordered us lunch. I think we should talk.”
“We don’t really have anything to talk about.” She entered the house and walked by him, heading down the hall to the room she’d slept in the night before. He stood in the doorway and watched as she reached under the pillow and pulled out her bear before quickly placing it in her bag.
Interesting. She knew he was a Daddy. Why hide her stuffy from him? She pushed by him standing in the doorway and headed back to the front of the house.
“Thanks again for letting me stay here last night. I appreciate the gesture. I guess I’ll see you around.”
“Kitten, stop.” There was an edge of warning in his tone. He’d used it many times to demand obedience from his airmen and his ex. She hesitated in the doorway but didn’t turn around. He strode towards her, took her by the arm and turned her to face him. “I ordered us lunch. Please stay and eat with me.” He tipped her chin up and stared into her eyes. Despite the shadows that played beneath her deep blue eyes, and the defiance he saw glaring back at him, a resilient spark still flickered in their depths, refusing to be extinguished.
Slowly, she nodded. He smiled reassuringly at her, took her by the hand and led her into the kitchen. He was glad she’d given in, it would make life easier on both of them if she’d simply listened and obeyed him. He knew she wasn’t the submissive type. It was a good thing he was up for the challenge.