Chapter Eleven #3
need? Did you leave something behind? The kitchen’s in the back.”
Gabriel Lodge wore jeans and a button-down that he’d
buttoned down to show off a good portion of his cut chest. He had longish
jet-black hair he normally pulled back in a queue, but tonight he’d left it
down. “We just wanted to come by and see if you needed some company.”
Hunter grinned. “Yeah, The Hideout feels boring without you,
Dais.”
She wasn’t sure why. “I almost never play in the dungeon
because I can’t find a play partner. Actually, the last time I was in the
dungeon you told me I should leave.”
The last bit was said to Gabriel, who held up a hand.
“Hey, baby, I did not put it in those words. I asked if your
brother knew where you were,” Gabe corrected. “You have to understand, your
father is extremely scary. I’m not sure the man is well half the time. When he
gathered the tops and told us he would murder anyone who tried to tempt you, I
believed him.”
“Aidan was pretty clear, too,” Lucas admitted. “But he has
rescinded his order.”
Daisy felt her jaw drop. “I’m sorry. You’re here because you
think now that my brother has stopped pretending I’m a virgin in need of
protection, you can… What? What do you think is going to happen tonight?”
Hunter squared his shoulders like he was going into battle.
“Look, Daisy, we think you should pick. You’re a sub and we’re all tops, and
the three of us are all open to exploring a D/s relationship with you.”
“You are?” She wasn’t going to laugh at them. Nope. They had
tender male feelings, and she would have to check the part of her that really
wanted to guffaw.
“You’re gorgeous,” Gabe said with a sigh. “I mean, stunning.
I know you grew up with these two, but we didn’t meet until later, which means
you can see me as a man and not a boy.”
“I assure you, I don’t see you as a little girl,” Lucas
proclaimed.
“No, you see me as another notch on your overly crowded
belt.” This was kind of fun. “I should know because I have a belt of my own. A
player can see right through another player, Lucas. So I’ll have to say
flattered but no. Hunter, you’re like a brother to me. Eww.”
Hunter’s face fell. “Well, that’s rude.”
“You know what’s rude? Treating a woman like she’s a child
in need of guidance, especially when she’s been through way more shit than
you,” Daisy pointed out. “I’d like to see you handle some of the things I’ve
been through. And Gabe…”
His lips curled up like he thought he’d won. “Yeah?”
“If you had wanted me, you would have been man enough to
stand up to my father and my brother. I suspect one day you’ll meet the woman
who inspires that kind of courage in you, and I’ll wish you both well. Now, I
have a Dom, and we’ll be playing at The Hideout as soon as my da gets the drug
cartel off my ass. You’ll be able to watch me and wonder what could have been
because my player stage is done, boys. I found a man, and I’m sticking with
him.”
A slow clap came from Daisy’s right, and she glanced over.
Her da was standing there with Nate and Nate’s dad. They
took up so much space. She was going to have the biggest babies ever.
Lucas winced. “Hey, Uncle Li. Uhm, how’s it going?”
“Well, I’m thinking about how you’re going to cook with
broken hands, son,” her da said with a chuckle. “Oh, don’t you worry. It won’t
be me. My Daisy’s found a keeper. Do you need an introduction?”
Nate moved in beside her. “We’ve met. But perhaps I should
make myself plain. She’s mine, and before someone asks how it’s different, I’ll
explain it to you. Her da and brother were wrong to treat her like she couldn’t
make a decision.”
“Well, in my defense, I did have to save her from a cult
once,” her da said, but his eyes were warm on her.
“I thought it was a self-help group, but it turned out to be
a sex cult,” Daisy admitted. “There’s a Netflix documentary coming out. I look
good in it.”
“You do, me darling girl.” Her father nodded Nate’s way.
“Continue, Nathan. You should explain what you’ll do to anyone who even looks
your girl’s way.”
A big arm caught her around her waist and hauled her back
against Nate’s chest. She felt him kiss the top of her head.
“They can look all they like,” Nate began.
She glanced her father’s way. “Da, Nate’s about to say sexy
things.”
Her father winced and covered his ears. “Tell me when it’s
over, Brody. Or at least when he gets to the threats of violence.”
Nate’s dad snorted. “I’ll be sure to let you know.”
If Nate was thrown off by the banter, he didn’t show it.
“Like I said, I’ll show my gorgeous sub off in the club. I won’t get pissed if
some guy does a double take as she walks by because she’s so beautiful, how
could they help themselves? But I will take apart anyone who thinks to touch
her. She’s mine. I’m giving her everything she needs, and honestly, I don’t
think the three of you put together could handle her. Stamina. A man needs
serious stamina to keep up with Daisy O’Donnell.”
Her father started to hum.
“You missed your shot with her and now she’s with me, and
I’m not letting her go,” Nate explained, and his arm tightened around her. “So
if you don’t like your insides on the outside, you’ll heed the one and only
warning I’m going to give you. Otherwise, you’ll be a science project for these
kiddos.”
“Like anatomy?” Rani asked, her eyes wide.
When had she snuck up? Daisy gently disentangled herself and
got to one knee. “The guys are just playing around, sweetie.”
Rani shook her head. “No, I think your boyfriend is having a
come to Jesus with the other guys who want to be your boyfriend. That’s what my
mom would call it. She’s going to think this is funny.”
Gabe reached out a hand to Nate. “Message received, man.”
Nate shook it. “Just respect my rights and we’ll be fine.”
Daisy picked up Rani, who was starting to yawn. It was
almost eleven o’clock, and it was definitely time to start getting these kiddos
to bed.
Her da was here, and he wasn’t looking at her like he was
ashamed.
“You can listen in now, Da. He’s threatened them all with
evisceration,” she said.
Her da frowned and brought his hands down. “I wanted to hear
that part.”
Lucas let out a long sigh. “Well, it was very threatening.”
“What’s evisceration?” AJ asked.
Bri winced. “Sorry, he got away from me. I’ll go grab Devi
and we’ll start bedtime rituals.”
“It means Daisy’s boyfriend is going to remove Lucas’s
bowels,” Rani explained.
Daisy winced.
“I think he probably needs those,” AJ countered. “But it
would also be cool.”
“Hey, I’m not the only one.” Lucas seemed to realize all the
kids were now looking at him.
“My mom says you’re a walking venral disease,” Rand
proclaimed. “What does that mean?”
Gabe snorted. “It’s venereal, and it’s accurate.”
“Dude, you could show some support.” Lucas sent his friend a
“what the hell, man” look.
Hunter was chuckling. “Hey, Dais, hope I didn’t weird you
out. I mostly came to watch them make idiots of themselves. Although you should
know you look good, girl.”
“Do you want to keep your eyeballs in their sockets, boy?”
Her da had his hands on his hips, righteous indignation on his face. “Nate
might be okay with you looking at her, but I’m not.”
Nate grinned. “Which is why I’m okay with it.”
Men. Daisy sighed and turned to her charges. “Boys, it’s
time for teeth brushing. If you’re good, I’ll let my da tell you a story about
how he started a small land war in Africa once.”
Things were going to be okay. Daisy carried Rani through the
hallway toward the nursery. The older boys had sleeping bags they would lay out
in the playroom, but she still put Rani in the nursery. She told her it was so
she could watch over the littles, but it was mostly because Rani would talk all
night to the boys about insect invasions and how bread was yeast and it was
also an animal so it might eat them from the inside.
Weird kid.
Sweet kid.
Rani laid her head on Daisy’s shoulder. The nursery was
illuminated with night-lights, giving the place a glow.
Bri stood in the middle of the room. “I can’t find Devi.”
Daisy sighed and set Rani on her feet. “Hey, sweetie. You
get into your PJs with Miss Bri and I’ll be back to read you a story.” She gave
Rani a hug before turning back to Bri. “She’s probably sitting on the back step
regretting all of her life decisions. She thinks if she’d gone into the Army
instead of college she might be in a better place. That better place being
closer to Zach. You know she feels like the odd one out in her family even
though Aunt Erin was thrilled she went to college.”
“Talk to her,” Bri said, holding Rani’s hand. “I’ll get Rani
ready and then make us all some tea. I’ll look around to see if I can feed the
Aussies. They can eat.”
They definitely could, and she might need something heartier
than tea because she felt like she and her da were about to have a long overdue
conversation.
She started for the back door when her cell buzzed in her
pocket.
She glanced over at the security system and sure enough, it
was off.
But Devi would have turned it off to open the door and back
on when she closed it. She would never have left the alarm off. Devi was good
with random numbers.
What Devi wouldn’t have done was walked away from the door.
She couldn’t see her sitting on the steps where she sometimes took a break.
Devi wouldn’t have left that door unattended. Not ever. If she had to leave,
she would have informed someone.
A chill went through her, and she backed up.
Something was wrong. She just knew it.
She raced back to the men she cared about most, eager to put
this all in their hands.