Chapter 13
CHAPTER 13
IRISH
“ T hanks for coming,” Irish said to Lucky and Savage. They stood in his kitchen, keeping a watchful eye on the three women sitting on the floor in the living room. The scent of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the aroma of fresh popped popcorn. Irish, sleeves rolled up, expertly sliced cheese and apples, while Lucky filled sippy cups with apple juice. Savage leaned over the counter, mixing together popcorn, Goldfish and M&Ms into a large bowl.
“You call, we come.” Savage said.
“Thanks for letting us bring Margot. Trinity had a playdate arranged with her for tonight and didn’t want to cancel on her once again. They met at The Citadel during the monthly DDLG Playdate a couple months ago and had been playing together at each one since. They’d tried to arrange their schedules to get together outside of the scheduled playdates, but something always came up.”
“If Trinity trusts her, I’m good,” Irish answered.
“I still can't believe someone hacked into Makenzie's LittleLife account,” Lucky muttered, shaking his head incredulously.
Savage's jaw tensed. “And to think they're using those intimate photos to torment her... It's despicable.”
Irish's brows furrowed as he placed the apple slices and cheese on the plates. “She doesn’t know about that part. Jay confirmed what I suspected. It’s her deactivated account. It will be hard to convince some people she’s been hacked as this isn’t the normal scheme to convince people to give them money, type of hack. It’s personal and it’s designed to destroy her.”
“We think it’s her ex?” Savage asked, having been given a quick rundown by Kylie at The Watchmen Clubhouse before heading out to Irish’s place.
“That is the working theory, but I’m not convinced. It feels more personal and feminine to me in nature. Did you read the screenshots I texted you?”
“Yeah. I agree, it doesn’t read like a man is writing it.” Lucky said.
“But, she told you the only person who could have had the information is him, right?” Savage questioned.
“Yes, but Jamie introduced them. Who is to say she didn’t convince him to give her the info?” Irish spoke his suspicions out loud. “Regardless, we need to get to the bottom of this before it escalates any further.”
As they spoke, their attention occasionally drifted to the living room, where Trinity, Makenzie, and Margot were fully engrossed in their coloring books. Trinity's laughter bubbled through the air, while Margot's bright smile seemed to light up the room.
“We've got Jay on it,” Lucky assured, referring to their tech-savvy friend. “He's digging deep to trace the hacker's digital footprint.”
Savage nodded in agreement. “Once we have solid evidence, we'll hunt down that scumbag and make sure he pays for what he's done to Makenzie.”
Irish grabbed two of the now fixed snack plates, with Lucky grabbing the third and they headed into the living room where Margot's vivacious energy filled the space. With her dark black hair framing her face and her bright blue eyes shining with mischief, she added a vibrant touch to the scene before them. As he observed the women enjoying themselves, Irish felt determination swell within him. He would protect Makenzie at all costs, and as her Daddy, he would ensure that justice was served.
“I'm glad Trinity invited her along,” Irish remarked. “Look how she makes Makenzie laugh.”
Lucky smirked, nodding in agreement. “She's definitely spunky, that's for sure. A bit of a handful at The Citadel. She’s constantly getting Trinity into trouble.”
“I do not!” Margot interjected. “She gets her own self into trouble!”
“Yeah. I dos.” Trinity said, deeply into her own Little headspace. “I mean… wait.” Everyone laughed.
“None of you girls need any help getting into trouble,” Lucky said. “Do you want snacks?”
“I do!” Makenzie said, rising from her knees and coming around to Irish.
“Oh, who made the popcorn stuff? It’s delicious!” Margot said, bouncing on her heels and shoveling a handful into her mouth.
Savage chuckled softly. “I did. I’m glad you like it, but you need to slow down so you don’t choke.”
She looked directly at him and shoveled another large handful into her mouth. It was a dare if Irish had ever seen one. Lucky muttered, “told you so” under his breath.
Savage, the largest man in the room, which was saying something as Irish was huge, walked around the back of the couch to where Margot was and took the plate from her hands.
“I said to slow down,” he said in a gentle, but firm voice. “You don’t want to choke.”
“You aren’t the boss of me,” Margot said, sticking out her tongue.
“That may be the truth, but I am not about to let you hurt yourself, either. If you can promise to slow down and eat safely, I’ll give it back. If not, you will have to do without,” Savage said patiently.
“Fine. Give me.”
“Nope. You are much too pretty of a little girl to be rude. Try it again.” He held the plate above her head where she couldn’t reach it. Irish turned his head, trying not to laugh, at the adorable pout that filled her features.
“Please.”
“Please what, sweetheart?”
“Please can I has my snack now.” She said the words Savage was waiting to hear through gritted teeth.
“See, that wasn’t so hard. Good girls get rewarded.” He handed her the snack plate, and she snatched it out of his hand, as if worried he would change her mind and scurried over to sit next to Makenzie.
“Trinity, do you need a pillow?” Makenzie asked her friend. Irish too had seen her shifting on the ground.
“While it is nice of you to offer, Trinity is just fine,” Lucky said.
“I didn’t ask you!” Makenzie turned toward Lucky, fisted her hands into her side and jutted her chin out. “I asked my friend!”
“Princess,” Irish warned. While his tone was serious, inside he was happy. She felt comfortable not only to be her Little self, but to test the boundaries in front of the people in the room. She felt safe with them. Nothing would make him happier.
“Yes, Daddy?” She asked sweetly.
“We don’t talk to grownups that way.”
“But, Daddy! It’s probably his fault Trinity has a hurt butt to begin with. I bet he was a meanie face to her and?—”
“Makenzie!” Irish quickly corrected her. “That’s enough.”
“But, Daddy!” She started again. “It’s true!”
“I assure you if Trinity is sitting on a hot behind, it’s because of something she did, not because of Lucky.”
“Nuh uh. Daddies choose how to punish their Littles and so it is their fault! Not like she spanked herself!” Margot interjected.
“Margot!” Savage scolded. “This conversation does not concern you.”
“Oh no? Well, it doesn’t concern you either, then.” She stuck her tongue out at him and turned back to Trinity. “Who does he think he is? He’s not the boss of me!” She could be heard whisper yelling.
“Princess,” Irish started, tapping her on the nose. “While I am proud of you for caring about your friend’s comfort, her Daddy said no thank you to the pillow. Now, unless you need me to rewarm your behind?—”
“No! No! It’s okay, Daddy.” Makenzie’s hands flew behind to her bottom. Irish imagined it was still a bit tender from her earlier spanking. When he woke her from her nap, she was in a much gentler mood. He slowly removed the plug before cuddling with her for a few minutes. She’d been much more complacent since her spanking and plugging, and he was very much enjoying her Little side.
“Good girl.”
Makenzie scurried over to sit next to the other two girls again. As they snacked, they talked quietly among each other.
“She’s something else,” Savage said, looking at Margot.
“Whoever ends up with her needs to have a firm hand. She’s a lot,” Lucky said.
Savage held up his hands, “I have big hands.”
“So you do,” Lucky observed with a smile. “But, as far as I know, Margot isn’t looking for a relationship. She’s happy to hang out with other Littles once a month at The Citadel.”
“Oh, she is, is she?” Savage asked.
“Yes. I’m pretty sure if you ask her out, she’ll turn you down.”
“It’s like that, is it.” Savage said and Irish recognized the determination in the man’s features.
“What do you mean it’s kinda my fault?” Makenzie’s voice rising interrupted the men’s conversation.
“She didn’t mean that,” Trinity said, glaring at Margot.
“Nope, I sure didn’t!” Margot said.
“Yes, you did too! What do you mean her spanking was my fault?” Makenzie demanded, her voice getting louder by the second.
“Never mind,” Trinity said, rising to her feet. “I think it’s time to go.”
“No!” Makenzie jumped up and stood directly in front of Trinity. “You can’t say that and just leave. I thought I’d gotten away from mean girls. I thought the women here were nicer and trustworthy, but it turns out all women are the same.”
“Makenzie!” Irish’s roar filled the room. The look of hurt on Trinity’s face caused him to be doubly disappointed with her. He snapped his fingers and pointed to the place directly in front of his feet. “Come here. Now.”
“Uh oh,” Margot muttered.
“Margot, I would sit there and be quiet if I were you. You might not be my Little girl yet, but that doesn’t mean I won’t turn you over my knee and blister your behind if you hurt my friends,” Savage warned.
Margot open and closed her mouth, but wisely, remained quiet.
Once Makenzie was where he wanted, her turned her around so that her back was to his chest and wrapped an arm over the top of her chest. Hugging her tightly to him, he spoke again. “Would someone please tell me what is going on?”
Trinity sat on the edge of the couch, staring down at the floor, Margot sat with her back against the wall, flipping through a coloring book, Makenzie stood rigid in his arms. None of them spoke.
“Let me try this again. Margot, what made you say that Trinity’s spanking was kind of Makenzie’s fault.” Irish was direct and to the point.
“Irish, can I speak with you for a second?” Lucky interrupted before Margot could say anything.
Irish looked at him quizzically, it wasn’t like the other man to interrupt correcting the Littles. Lucky nodded toward the kitchen. Irish released his hold on Makenzie, took her by the hand and marched her across the living room to the farthest corner from the kitchen. With a firm swat on her behind, he spun her and placed her nose into the corner. “Stand right here and think about the mean things you just said to your friend. Uncle Savage is going to watch to make sure you don’t move from this spot until I get done talking with Uncle Lucky, do you understand me?”
“Yes, Daddy.” He heard the quiver in her voice and wanted to scoop her back in his arms. Shaking his head, he shot the other two girls a look that told them to stay right where they were and headed into the kitchen.
“What’s going on, brother?” Irish asked Lucky in a hushed tone.
Lucky handed Irish his phone. “This is why Trinity got a spanking.”
As Irish read the conversation on the screen, he came to realize two things. One, Trinity absolutely had his little girl’s back and two, when he got ahold of the fucker who hacked her LittleLife account, he was going to make sure his death was slow and painful.