Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
“This vehicle is safe,” John told Kelsey as he put his hand on the shiny black Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van. “Bullet-proof windows, a special run-flat system on the tires, and extra-heavy doors. It’s basically the same tech used by the Secret Service on the presidential limo.”
Kelsey walked around the sleek vehicle for a moment, admiring it. The bright lights overhead reflected on the pristine paint job, and she didn’t think there was a speck of dust anywhere on it.
After admiring it all for a moment, Kelsey said, “This is amazing. Where did you get this thing?”
John chuckled. “Let’s just say the Daddy Guard has some wealthy benefactors who believe in sparing no expense when it comes to helping Littles. We have a lot of gadgets and gizmos at our disposal.”
Kelsey wondered what all the Guard had, but she supposed that was a topic to explore another time. Right now, they had a mission.
“So, honey,” John continued as he stepped closer, “are you willing to lead us—the best you can—to the building they took you to last night?”
The thought of going back there was terrifying, but with John and Breaker to keep her safe, she knew she’d be okay. It just had to be done.
“Yeah.”
“Don’t worry,” Breaker said. “We won’t let anything happen to you.”
Kelsey believed him, but her nerves were still frayed as she thought of all the what ifs.
What if the van broke down over there and Niko and his men happened to see them?
What if…
She couldn’t let herself go down that road. She was safe right now, and she trusted the Daddy Guard to get her out of this awful mess.
“Can we come?” Trixie asked loudly as she ran into the garage portion in the back of the Guard’s warehouse.
“Cute stuff,” John said, “what have I said about running in here?”
The Little came to a sudden stop. “Not to, Daddy.”
“Look around.”
Trixie obeyed.
“What do you see?”
She looked around again and said, “A table saw over there. Some tools hanging up right there. And a few trunks and crates.”
“That’s right. All things that could hurt you if you ran into them. Right?” her Daddy prompted.
“Yes, Sir.”
“If you run again, I’ll pull your diaper down and spank that little tushy. I don’t want to, but you know not to try me.”
“Yes, Daddy. I’m sorry.”
As the two hugged, Kelsey had mixed emotions. She was so happy her friend had such a caring and wonderful relationship. But at the same time, it highlighted what she was missing right now with her own Daddy.
Even in the best of times, there had been something simmering below the surface with Marco—something they never talked about, but they both knew was there.
Now, it was all starting to make sense.
She still believed Marco was a good guy at heart. And he was her Daddy. But knowing what she now knew—having some of those hunches confirmed—she just wasn’t sure what all she felt toward him.
Had he hurt people?
Oh gosh, how could she have been so na?ve?
“Are you okay?” Breaker asked.
Snapping from the trance of her thoughts, she looked at the big man and nodded. “Yeah. Just thinking about everything.”
“Sure. It’s a lot to take in. And you’ve really been through some traumatic stuff.”
Trixie walked over to her and put an arm around her shoulder. “After I went through my ordeal, a therapist really helped me process things. I can refer you to her, if you’d like.”
“I’d love that,” Kelsey replied. “Thank you.”
The women hugged.
“So, may I go?” Trixie posed to John.
“Sure, honey,” he replied. “I think it might be good for Kelsey to have you along. I’m proud of you for supporting your friend.”
“I’ll see if Steph wants to tag along too,” Breaker said, walking toward the main part of the building.
Five minutes later, they were all in the van, with John behind the wheel, Trixie sitting beside him in the front passenger seat, and the other three in the back.
Sitting in front of the monitors and working the various controls on the keyboards that rested on the shelf that ran under them, Breaker said, “Okay, honey. Tell me when any of this looks familiar.”
From her comfortable leather captain’s chair, Kelsey watched the hi-def images on the TVs. There were a couple of times when she said to turn or go a different direction.
Everything looked so different in the daylight, and it was trial and error, but a little over an hour later, they’d finally wound their way to the correct location.
John made one casual pass before turning around and heading back that direction.
“Are you okay?” Breaker asked Kelsey.
“Yeah. I’m nervous. But okay.”
Stephanie got out of her seat and opened the mini fridge that was under the shelf where the keyboards were. “Here, this might help.”
Kelsey accepted the bottle of water. “Thank you.”
“Breaker is going to have a look around,” John called back. “But you’ll be safe right here with me.”
Kelsey sat up straighter and leaned forward a bit, trying to project her voice toward the front of the van. “I know I’m fine. It’s him I’m worried about. These are bad people!”
Breaker addressed her concerns. “They’re probably long gone. If they have any brains, at least. But don’t worry about me.” A wry smile turned his lips up. “I have some experience with this sort of thing.”
Stephanie gave a soft laugh.
Kelsey wondered what all that meant, but she didn’t ask any questions. Maybe as she got to know the couple better, they’d share if they wanted to.
Right now, she was just grateful for Breaker’s help, whatever his skills were. That went for John, too. And Stephanie and Trixie.
“I’ll be right back,” Breaker said as he moved to the back doors and opened them.
“You can watch from my point of view thanks to this bad boy.” He tapped something on his chest, and it took Kelsey a moment realize it was a body cam like cops wore.
“Just watch the screen. And I have my mic on.” He pointed to a small earpiece in his right ear that she hadn’t noticed until then.
“So be ready, because I might have questions.”
Her eyes grew wider. “Wow, you guys really are high tech!”
Breaker hopped out of the van and looked back. “Like I said, we have rich friends.”
The doors closed with a soft thud, and Kelsey joined the others in turning their attention to the monitors.
She grew more nervous with each step Breaker took.
Hopefully, Niko wasn’t anywhere close.
But she sure had a bad feeling about all this.