Chapter 13
Troy
Dani comes into the living room and stretches out on the couch next to me, her feet kissing my thigh. “I’m bored. What’s Edmund doing, again? Why would he go to his family’s house without you?”
“He told you—he wanted to talk to them.”
“About what?” She nudges me with her foot. “Don’t pretend you don’t know—he would’ve told you. He tells you everything.”
“Not everything.” But without him saying a word, I know what he’s doing.
Her gray eyes narrow and her eyebrows pull together. “What aren’t you guys telling me?”
Deflect, deflect, deflect. She’ll be nervous if she knows Edmund went to negotiate his exit from the family business.
I set down my phone. The San Esteban Surf Rats replay can wait. Turning my full focus to Dani, I say, “What aren’t you telling us?”
“What?” She sits up, pulling her feet away from my lap. “What do you mean? Nothing, I tell you guys everything.”
“Do you?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
“If you’re lying to me, there’ll be consequences. And you probably won’t like them.”
She scoffs. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Your sore ass is on the line.”
“You’re bluffing.”
I raise my pitch in a terrible imitation of her voice, mimicking what she said to Wallace at the party. “I do worry, though. Their jobs are dangerous.”
“That was a private conversation.” She thumps her fist on the couch cushion in outrage.
“Yet it has to do with Edmund and me, and you didn’t say anything to us.” I stand up and make a twirling motion with my finger. “On your knees, hands over the back of the couch.”
“No, that doesn’t count—”
“If you don’t get yourself up there, I’ll do it—and then everything will hurt a fuck-ton more, baby girl.”
For a second, she looks like she’s going to make a break for it. Then she sighs and gets up on her knees like I told her.
Her shorts are easy to pull down. She’s wearing a thong underneath them, and I decide to leave that on. Her ass is really fucking sexy in the thong. I take a moment to appreciate the sight of her arranged like this.
She looks over her shoulder at me. “Well? Are you going to spank me, or what?”
Sassy little brat. “Maybe I should fuck your ass instead of spanking it.”
“No—no way. You’re way too big, Troy.”
“Maybe.” I grin. It’s a tempting thought, but I’d never hurt her like that. “But if you behave, you won’t have to find out.”
With a soft sigh, she turns around to face the back of the couch again.
“Good girl.” I rub her ass cheeks, warming them, appreciating the softness of her skin. Then I pull back my hand and give her a nice, hard spank.
“Oof.” She lets out a long breath. “That hurt, Daddy.”
“Well, that’s what you get for keeping those kinds of secrets from us. We could’ve just talked, baby. But now you get a spanking.”
“Win-win, right?” She laughs until I spank her again. “Ow!”
“Still think it’s a win?” I give her another spank. “How about now?”
“Okay, okay, you’re right—I should’ve talked to you.” She almost sounds contrite.
I give her several more spankings, but nothing too forceful. Her legs are quivering by the time I’m done, and her ass cheeks are a nice, deep pink.
I put my hand on her hip, the skin of my palm hot. “Do you think you’ll talk to us first next time?”
“Yes, Daddy.” She meets my gaze. “I’m sorry I talked to Wallace before you.”
“I understand. Just know you can talk to us—either of us. One at a time if that’s easier. But we’re always here for you and we won’t judge if you’re nervous or afraid of something.”
She nods. “Same goes for you guys though, right? You’ll talk to me when you’re worried about something?”
“Yes.” I’m not sure if leaving the criminal side of the family counts as being worried, but it doesn’t hurt to act in good faith. “So I’ll go ahead and say more about Edmund’s trip to Rendsell—we want out.”
“Out?”
“Out of the family business.” I unfasten my pants and fist my cock through my boxer briefs. “Our work scares you, and it puts you in danger. So we’re done. Now spread your legs, baby girl. Daddy needs you.”
* * *
Danica
I can’t believe they’re going to leave their life of crime—for me. After my spanking and sex, I sit in Troy’s lap and place my hand over his heart. I love the steady thump against my palm.
The door opens a crack. Troy and I look up.
“Edmund?” Troy calls.
“Yeah, it’s me. Can you put Cackle in Danica’s room?”
“He’s there already, I think.” I get off of Troy’s lap and hurry to the room, nervous because of Edmund’s strange tone of voice. When I see Cackle curled up at the foot of my bed, I close the door and return to the living room. “He’s in there. Why?”
The door opens the rest of the way and a gangly Doberman rushes into the apartment.
I’m not sure if I should leap behind the couch or get on the floor and greet him.
Troy exclaims, “Arky!” and gets on the floor.
The dog rushes over to him to accept pets and cuddles.
I remember seeing this dog at Rendsell. I turn my attention to Edmund. “What’s going on?”
“I’m sorry—I know we have Cackle, but I couldn’t leave Arky there.”
“This is one of the dogs from your family’s house?”
“Yeah.” He looks worried. “Are you okay with this? We can get a new place—”
“I’m more than okay with it. He’s friendly, right?”
“Too friendly,” Edmund says with a chuckle.
I bend down to pet Arky, who leaves a series of doggy kisses over my hand and arm. “I love dogs. Not sure how Cackle will react, but—”
As if on cue, a low, irritated mrowr comes from the bedroom. Arky’s ears perk up and he races to the door, ignoring Troy and Edmund who try to call him back.
I race after him.
I didn’t close the door all the way—the force of Arky’s excitement pushes it open. Oh, shit.
Arky stops short at the sight of a puffed-up tabby cat facing him down.
“Cackle,” I say softly, “this is Arky. Arky, that’s Cackle.”
The two animals stare at each other. Arky seems like a harmless teddy bear, but he looks like a ferocious beast. What are they going to do?
Cackle holds completely still while Arky takes a step toward him. He holds completely still while Arky sniffs him.
And when Arky licks up the side of Cackle’s face…Cackle licks him back.
“Instant besties?” I muse.
“We’ll have to get a new place,” Edmund says. “Somewhere with a yard.” He pauses, suddenly realizing that I’m not wearing any pants. “What happened here?”
“We had a talk about honesty.” Troy smirks. “Someone needed a spanking to help the message sink in.”
“I see.” Edmund eyes me up and down. “Obviously, I’d like to hear more about this so Troy and I can determine whether or not more instruction is needed.”
I bite my lip. “I was naughty, but I’m better now, I promise.”
“Still—” Edmund’s phone chimes in his pocket and he curses. “It’s Grinnote.”
All the sexy tension in the room dissipates.
Edmund answers the call on speaker. “Grinnote. Give me good news.”
“Great fucking news,” a male voice says. “SEPD and Mirarosa PD worked together. The Vorsongs are in custody. They’ll lawyer up, but with all the evidence we have, I don’t think they’ll breathe fresh air for a long fucking time.”
I sit down hard on the couch. Is it that easy? It’s over already?
“Look, I gotta go.” The voice on the phone is rushed, distracted. “There’s still a lot of shit to do here. But I’m keeping you posted, as promised.”
“Thanks, Grinnote. Tomorrow, I expect a full briefing.” Edmund ends the call and faces Troy and me. He doesn’t frown, doesn’t smile. He looks shocked. “It’s over. They got them.”
The three of us stare at each other for a long moment. I want to laugh, I want to cry, I want to throw a party. We have to celebrate.
I yank off my t-shirt and start toward the balcony door. “Let’s go swimming.”