Chapter 32 #2
Bull smiles. “I can do that. Lemme arrange a couple of things. I’ll meet you in the small conference room in a half-hour.” He jogs off toward the stairwell beside the lifts at the far end of the hallway.
“He’s going to show us up by taking the stairs, isn’t he?” Theo mutters to me.
“Yup.”
“Asshole. I’m surrounded by assholes. I’m still taking the elevator. Come on.”
Down three levels, Theo follows me into the Nursery.
It’s surprisingly quiet. Maybe not surprisingly, when I see Bravo, Warrin, and Faolan sitting in the storytime corner with Yummy, Aggie, and Matty on their laps.
Bravo’s reading from a book called “The Bumblebear,” which I’m pretty sure Emmy got for Cynnie.
Emmy herself isn’t asleep—no surprise—but she is curled up in a sleeping bag on the floor beside Sammi.
Olivia’s on a mat between them with a few of her sensory toys scattered around.
Unlike Emmy, my daughter’s completely sparked out, spread like a little starfish.
Emily’s gleaming eyes meet mine when I walk through the door. She doesn’t close them and pretend to sleep because my baby girl doesn’t lie to her daddy. She puts a gentle hand on Livvy’s tummy and smiles at me.
I return her smile. I love seeing my two girls together.
“Ulp,” says a soft voice from my right.
“Uh-huh, this doesn’t look like napping,” Theo says, peering over the edge of the “pirate ship” at where Amy and Hunter are sitting, putting together a Lego pirate ship that’s a miniature of the ship they’re sitting in.
“Lego,” Amy whispers, as though that’s an all-encompassing excuse.
“If you’d said you wanted to come up to the Nursery and play Lego after the swim, that would have been fine. But you told me you were coming up to nap.”
Amy’s pretty face screws into an expression that’s one part remorse and three parts defiance. “Everyone else said they were coming up to nap, so I thought I might nap but then Hunt showed me where the Lego were—”
“Don’t throw me under the bus, babe-girl,” Hunter objects. “You asked me where the Lego were.”
Amy shoots a filthy glare at the house submissive.
“You should have told me you were considering a nap or playing with Lego,” Theo says firmly.
“We could have discussed the importance of napping after the day you’ve had, walking all over the Aquarium and swimming, so you wouldn’t be too tired to scene tonight.
Since you avoided having that conversation with me, I’d like you to come to the Blue Harem room for fifteen minutes.
I’m going to give you a warm bottom and an orgasm and see if that helps you nap. ”
Theo reaches over the rail of the pirate ship, offering his hand to Amy. She stares at him with wide eyes, her rosy mouth hanging open, before she scrambles to her feet and takes his hand.
“Good girl,” he praises her, before leading her out of the Nursery.
Chuckling, I make my way over to Emily. Beside her, Sammi is asleep, curled tightly around a huge purple teddy bear.
When I sit down on the floor at her feet, Emily starts to sit up but I wave her back down.
I find one of her feet through the sleeping bag, draw it into my lap, and start rubbing her little toes.
Emily collapses into a puddle. She pulls the top of the bag around her face and cuddles into it, the way she does with one of the throw blankets she keeps on our bed.
“Daddy,” she whispers.
“Shh, baby. Daddy’s helping you relax enough to have a nap. Everything’s okay.”
“Did you lay siege to Master Chess’ office until he let you in?” she asks sleepily.
“We didn’t need to. We had a talk. I’ll wait to hear from him until tomorrow.
You’ve done enough to help Daddy today, my little wonder.
I’m very proud of you. Would you like to go out to dinner with me tonight?
Just you, me, and Livvy. I saw a place I’d like to try when I was at Rockefeller Center.
Steak and seafood. They have a private dining room that I’ll get so you’re not worried if Livvy starts to fuss. ”
“Oh, yes, please, Daddy.”
“Good girl.” I switch feet. Emily groans softly. “Let that thought carry you off to bowbies, little girl.”
She closes her eyes. Her thumb sneaks into her mouth. Before Bravo even finishes the new book he’s started reading, “Princess Jack and the Very Hungry Dragon,” Emily’s asleep. I sit and watch my girls for a minute.
This is everything I’d hoped for. This moment. My girls happy and peaceful in the place that’s meant so much to me over the years. Surrounded by friends who understand my little’s needs. Surrounded by love and acceptance.
How the fuck could anyone threaten this? How could I let anyone threaten this?
I lift my eyes from Emily and meet Bravo’s. He’s watching me even while he continues to read. When he takes in my expression, he hands the book to Faolan, shifts Yummy so she’s leaning against Warrin, and rises.
I follow him out into the hallway.
“Mission?” he rumbles.
“Protect the submissives. Eliminate the Wolfpack.”
“Want me to call in Henry?”
“Yes,” I say.
“Names. Social security numbers would be helpful.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” I say.
“So there’s no confusion later, do you want them gone or gone-gone?”
How far am I willing to go? I know who Bravo and Henry are.
Who Myles is, for that matter, if I call him in on this.
I’ve never ordered a hit on anyone. I’ve never gone further than what I’ve been willing to do with my own two hands.
I’ve killed in the service of my country.
Was that a better reason, a higher cause, than the one I have right now?
“For now, gone. If I change my mind later and it’s gone-gone, can you make it look like an accident?”
Bravo tips his head to the side. “Rather discuss that when it comes to it.”
I understand his reticence.
“I’ll get you the info today.”
“Gimme an hour and I’ll get Henry here and we can talk logistics. I’ll have her bring a burner for you.”
“Thank you. I know I’m not active service like you two are but I want in. I’d never ask anyone to do what I’m not willing to do myself.”
“Noted,” Bravo says. “Hen and me are a unit. We work with each other a lot. I’m not sure if bringing in someone else would fuck that up but I won’t cut you out.”
“Deal. I’m going downstairs to make some calls. I want the house submissives on alert. Tell Emmy when she wakes up that I’m in the small conference room where we hold committee meetings. She’ll know where to find me.”
Bravo nods. “Don’t second guess yourself, Logan.
If it’s gotten to the point where you feel the need to pull me in, you’re doing the right thing.
I know you haven’t been a daddy for long but your instincts are solid.
If they’re screaming ‘danger,’ then there is fucking danger.
You don’t wait around for the danger to stick its head out of the foxhole. You hunt it the fuck down.”
I take a deep breath and steady myself. He’s right. I’ve been in combat. I know when it’s time to go on the offensive. Now’s the time.
“Thanks, mate.”
He nods again and turns back into the Nursery.
I head downstairs, passing Austin at the reception desk. I stop and hold out my arms to him.
Frowning, he comes around the desk and gives me the hug I’m asking for. He may not need it. He may feel safe wearing Dana’s collar. But I need it.
“I haven’t apologized to you, Austin but I’m sorry I pulled back from the club. It won’t happen again.”
“You don’t need to apologize to me, sir,” he responds, patting my back. “And I know you’re back to stay. I know you’ll protect us and the club. You don’t need to say anything to me or my Mistress. We’re behind you a hundred percent.”
“Thank you, Austin. I’ll do everything I can to be deserving of your faith.”
He pats me again. “Sir, you already are. Go get ‘em.”
I squeeze him before I release him.