Page 186 of Morally Gray Daddies

Cali sighs and looks up at me with her big brown doe eyes. “I’m sorry.”

I flash her an understanding smile and wink. “Thanks, little one.”

“You really got promoted to top tier?” she asks, the corners of her lips curling into a beaming smile.

“Yeah. A few days ago.”

I’m still in disbelief over it. There have only ever been six leaders in the Irish Syndicate, but Declan and the other five said I deserve the promotion. And with us expanding the business, they need another man, so it’s now the top seven.

Cali leaps for me, throwing her arms around my neck and legs around my waist. Thank fuck I have quick reflexes. Otherwise, she’d have ended up on her butt.

She hugs me tightly, pulling at my non-existent heartstrings. There are very few people I truly care about in this world, and this girl is one of them. Even if she is a pain in my ass.

“I’m so happy for you,” she whispers. “You deserve it.”

I squeeze her back, then lower her to the ground when Declan lets out a possessive growl. It’s no fucking secret that these guys are jealous as hell over their women. Not that I blame them. I’d be the exact same way, if not worse, if I had a girl.

“Thanks, little girl,” I say as I release her.

“Does this mean I have to stop pranking you?” Her expression is pitiful.

I laugh and roll my eyes. “Maybe just not during work hours, eh? And no Silly String. That shit is nasty.”

She sighs, dropping her shoulders. “Fine. I’ll just have to start picking on Cullen or one of the other guys.”

Poor Cullen. I can already tell he’s going to be hating life once the girls set their sights on him.

“You two get to clean this mess up while we go handle some business.” Declan motions to the girls. “And no more Silly String in the house, or it will be your bottoms paying the price next time.”

I don’t miss Cali and Paisley sticking their tongues out behind their husbands’ backs as we all turn to head to the boardroom. Those guys might think they rule their relationships, but they’re so, so wrong.

I’m working in one of Declan’s spare offices when he knocks and steps in.

“Hey, boss,” I greet and lean back from my laptop. “I didn’t get a chance to thank you earlier for the heads-up with the squirt guns.”

Despite us telling the girls to chill with the pranks during working hours, they did not take that advice to heart. Luckily, they haven’t been messing with me quite as often.

Declan laughs and sits in one of the chairs across from me. “You’d think these girls would know by now that we can see everything they’re doing at all times. They know the cameras are there, yet they still do naughty stuff.”

I study Declan for a few seconds. “You know it’s because they feel safe enough to do naughty stuff.”

He pauses for a beat and swallows then nods. “Then we’re doing something right. I’d say they feel pretty safe with you, too.”

Warmth spreads through my chest. “Thanks, boss. They’re good girls. I’ll miss protecting them.”

With my promotion, Declan removed me as one of their lead bodyguards. Part of me hates to hand over their safety to someone less experienced, but I also know how well the men in the organization are trained from the time they’re sworn in.

“They’ll miss you too, but you’ll see plenty of them, and I’m sure they’ll still be pranking you as often as they can.”

I chuckle because he’s right. They aren’t going to stop harassing me just because I’m not their bodyguard anymore.

“Are you a Daddy, Patrick? I assume so based on how you are with the girls, but we’ve never talked about it.”

The question makes me pause. I wasn’t expecting it. I’ve known Declan my entire life, but our conversations have rarely been about our personal lives. Maybe being in the top tier changes that. He’s still my boss. Although when he promoted me, he explained that the top-tier men are all equal, but he has the final say on things.

“I am,” I answer carefully.

I presume it’s not an issue since Declan and the five others are Daddies themselves. Tons of men in our ranks are Daddies. I don’t know why that is but for whatever reason, we like a certain kind of lifestyle.

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