Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Annika was excited to meet everyone when she got downstairs.
The den was packed. People were coming and going from the kitchen where food had been laid out across the surface of the island. The sounds of people talking and glasses and ice clinking filled the space.
She smiled. Was this what Thanksgiving would be like?
Things had been so crazy that she’d forgotten the holiday was quickly approaching.
And this would be her first one with a real family!
They might not be blood. They hadn’t known each other long.
But the Daddy Guard and their Littles were a family, and Annika was thankful to be a part of it.
The scene before her gave her a small taste of what the holiday might be like, she figured.
Everyone seemed so happy to see one another. For a moment, it was easy to forget they were there for the purpose of taking down the richest, most powerful guy on the planet.
“Hey, everyone, Annika’s here. We can get started,” Stryker called out.
For a moment, she grew embarrassed as she realized the whole group probably knew she’d gotten a spanking. Plus, she was in a short, pink, ruffled babydoll dress that didn’t come close to concealing her bulky diaper.
But one look around reminded her that she was among friends. In fact, some of the other ladies were dressed like her, too.
Not all of them, though. Were there some Mommies in the group?
“We can introduce you to the gang,” Harrison said.
Everyone fell silent and took their seats around the room. Some sat on the floor, but others used the furniture or the extra chairs that had been brought in.
“Man, it’s good to have everyone together,” Stryker noted as he looked around the room proudly.
Annika, standing beside him, wasn’t used to being the center of attention. She’d spent so much of her life purposely trying to blend in and hide in the shadows. This felt strange, but also kind of good.
Harrison came and stood on the other side of her. She felt tiny between the two tall men.
“Everyone,” the actor began, “meet Annika. She’s the newest member of the L.A. bunch here.”
Everyone said hi. Some applauded. Annika just blushed as she offered the assembled throng a little wave.
“Annika,” Stryker said, “we have some friends here all the way from Mountainville, down in Texas.”
“Seriously? That’s awesome!” Annika said.
“You know about Mountainville?” Stryker asked.
“Yep! I think every Little knows about that place! I’ve always dreamed of going,” she replied.
“Well, you just come on down, honey. We have plenty of room for you,” a pretty, matronly woman with dark shoulder-length hair told her.
“I’ll start with her,” Harrison said. “That’s Nancy. And her husband and Little next to her, is Eli.”
A trim man of average height, probably in his mid-forties, smiled and waved. He had big brown eyes, a pleasant but mischievous smile, and a laid-back nature. He wore shortalls with a pacifier clipped to one of the straps.
Clearly, he was a Little.
And the way Nancy had spoken to Annika told her she was a Mommy.
“Nice meeting you both,” Annika told them.
“Eli has become quite famous with his prank videos,” Harrison said. “He can get into trouble with the best of ‘em. And we need some trouble for this plan.”
Everyone laughed.
“Happy to help,” Eli said. “And happy to meet you, Annika.”
“And here we have Stella and her Daddy, Dax.”
Stella was a tall woman with dark hair and olive skin. Her Daddy was a tall, strapping cowboy with broad shoulders, a square jaw, and dark hair. In his lap was a black Stetson.
“Stella can hack,” Stryker explained. “So she’s here to back you up.”
Annika smiled at them.
“Next, we have Katie and Bradley,” Stryker continued.
Katie was a gorgeous, blond-haired, full-figured woman. Based on the babydoll dress and diaper she wore, she too was a Little. The man with her had mostly silver hair—though some dark blonde still shone through—and silver stubble shading his angular jaw.
“And last but not least, we have Leah and her Daddy, Flint.”
The woman with auburn curls waved. “Nice to make your acquaintance,” she said in a British accent.
“Good meeting you,” the handsome man next to her said with a Texas drawl.
“Nice meeting you all, too,” Annika said.
“Wait for us!”
Everyone turned to see a cute, full-figured woman skip in, her short dress flapping up to expose her bulky nappy. Behind her, a giant, muscular rock of a man strode.
Annika recognized him as Grant Baker—the famous actor! Everyone around the globe probably recognized him.
“We could never forget you,” Harrison said. “Y’all know Grant and Sadie, right?”
Annika was still in shock. Meeting Harrison Trent had been crazy enough! But now Grant Baker too? This was all too much!
Once the newcomers sat down, Stryker said, “Anyone want food before we start? There’s tons in the kitchen. We ordered Dan Tana’s catering. Go get you some good Italian food.”
Annika didn’t have to be told twice. She and Daddy ran and got plates. Once they came back, she sat on the floor atop a blanket that had been spread. Some other Littles were already there, eating their dinner.
“All right. Let’s get down to business,” Stryker said. “You’re all here because you have a specific skillset. Those skills are needed if we’re going to pull this thing off.”
Harrison aimed a remote at the TV and clicked it on. “If we can direct your eyes to the screen, please.” An image of Edward Marlot popped up. It received a few boos from the crowd, prompting Harrison to chuckle.
“What’s going on?” Leah asked. “I know he’s rich and a bit on the annoying side. But why so much hate for him?”
“I’m afraid he’s more than just annoying,” Harrison said. “He’s evil.” Looking at Annika, he asked, “Do you mind if I share your story?”
They had a right to know, she figured. After all, they were risking their very lives to help. She nodded.
Harrison—with the help of Stryker—spent the next few minutes relaying the events Annika had shared with them and the rest of those that lived in the Guard’s mansion. The Mountainville Gang, along with Grant and Sadie Baker, listened with rapt attention.
Once the tale was complete, Leah spoke up again. “Okay, now I see why all the hate. My goodness! That’s awful. I’m sorry you went through that, Annika.”
Annika looked back and smiled at her. “Thank you.”
“The good news is,” Stryker said as he began pacing in front of the TV, looking at everyone, “we’re going to make this as right as we can. We’ll get her identity back, make sure Edward Marlot doesn’t do that to anyone else, and get Congress and the FBI the proof they need to take this madman down.”
“Oh,” Jack said. “Is that all?”
Everyone laughed.
Hearing Stryker lay it all out made Annika doubt it could be done.
But they had to try.
“I know it sounds crazy. But I think we can do this,” Stryker told the group. “If we work together.”
Harris clicked the remote and brought up a picture that Annika had seen during their last meeting, the one of the invitation. “As some of you know, Edward Marlot hosts a gala around Thanksgiving each year. It’s two nights from now.”
Stryker took over. “That’s why it was imperative that we get you all over here from Texas so fast.” He grinned. “Being famous movie stars, Grant and Harrison were able to snag an invite. So that’s part of our in.”
“But only part,” Harrison said. “Let’s go over the plan and you can all tell us what you think. Help us find the holes in it. Be honest. We need to know your objections. And nobody do anything you’re not comfortable doing.”
Annika waited with bated breath. What on earth were the guys going to unveil?
She really wanted to know a moment later when Stryker added a final warning.
“Y’all, buckle up. This is going to be a wild ride…”