Page 35 of A Daddy for Maddy

“Hey, what--?” I began.

“Don’t touch that phone,” said a firm, low voice.

I followed Ozzy’s gaze to see a man in casual jeans and a white tank top standing in the doorway.

“Put it down,” the man said, eyes on me.

“G—Griff?” Ozzy hugged Kornie so hard I thought the stuffing would come out.

I wanted to speak but somehow my voice got caught in my throat. Did Ozzy know this man? If the place was locked, how did he get in?

The man—Griff—took a step into the playroom and closed the door behind him. I knew the club was empty and the only people here were security guys and the men in Trent’s office. This man wasn’t supposed to be here.

“Why are you here?” Ozzy’s voice was small, almost shaking.

“Why do you think?”

In a thick, almost-whisper, “I don’t know.”

“I came to take you home, boy.”

I looked from Griff to Ozzy. Ozzy’s big dark eyes started to fill up with unshed tears.

“Home?” he asked.

Was this his ex? The bad man ex?

“You’ve been gone long enough. Now it’s time to stop playing around and come home. Remember who your true master is.”

Ozzy started to shiver. Two tears splashed on his flushed cheeks. A high, desperate sound escaped his throat.

I threw my arms around him. “He’s not leaving. He has a new daddy.” The anger in my voice surprised me.

The warm body in my arms trembled.

Griff laughed and spread his arms. “No one’s around to stop me. I’m going to take him where no one will ever find him. Not even that egomaniac Trent Winterbourne.” He took two steps toward us.

I scurried back on my butt, nearly falling off the beanbag and taking Ozzy with me. I quickly stood up, lifting Ozzy up beside me. We both stepped back as Griff came forward two more steps.

“Stay away or else,” I yelled.

“Or else what?” Griff grinned.

I didn’t know what else. This guy was big. Bigger than Colin, even. Bigger than Trent. We littles didn’t stand a chance.

“Little boy acting so big,” Griff taunted. “Maybe I’ll take you with me, too. I’ll have twinsies. We’ll have so much fun together.”

Ozzy and I backed up faster until we hit the couches where the daddies sat as they watched their boys play. There was nowhere left to go.

Where was Carlo? He must’ve gone back upstairs. They were all preoccupied in their meeting. No one knew we were down here facing a very bad man. We were on our own.

I looked around me, still holding onto Ozzy who was hugging Kornie hard and making huffing sounds like it was getting hard for him to breathe.

“Don’t make me use force, Ozzy. Just be a good boy and come along. Then no one will get hurt, okay?”

Ozzy let out a strange whine, then fell back onto the couch, his eyes rolling up. Kornie fell to the side.

My fear turned to outrage. “You made him faint. Look at what you did! You don’t care about him, or you wouldn’t have done that.”

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