Page 117 of Daddy P.I. 3.0

thirty-three

EMILY

I’ve always knownmy daddy is awesome but watching him mobilize support to protect the house submissives like a general commanding his troops makes him thatleetle bitawesomer.

By the time I wake from my nap and give Livvy a feed, there’s a crowd in the small conference room downstairs. Daddy, Masters Theo, Bull, Mac, and Javier, Daddies Bravo, Henry, Max, and even Laurel’s Masuta. Faolan and Jack have stayed up in the Nursery to keep an eye on the subbies—well, mostly to keep an eye on Sammi—but they have ear-pieces in their ears and I think they can hear what’s going on. When Faolan suggests going to the Stables to visit the fluffle and fainting mini-goat, I take Laurel’s hand and peel off from the group as we troop downstairs.

“I think it’s time for subbies to be involved, too,” I say. “Will you be okay if there’s some talk about things that have scared other subbies?”

“Yes.” Laurel nods her proud, magenta crest without hesitation.

I squeeze her hand. She’s the bravest person I know.

I lead her into the small conference room, which looks like the bridge of the Enterprise now. Max has brought some of his equipment and it’s spread out on the conference table. There are three big screens and lots of laptops on the go. Daddy and Theo are huddled at one end of the table, working together on a laptop while Theo cradles a phone between his shoulder and ear.

I don’t want to disturb Daddy, so I creep over to where Laurel’s Dom sits at a laptop, typing with a frown on his face.

“Tatsu,” Laurel says to get his attention.

Jiro nods and points at the floor next to his chair. Laurel kneels and I kneel beside her, which is somewhat awkward with Livvy in her harness on my chest but I manage.

“Petto. Emily,” Jiro says after a minute. He turns in his chair to look at us.

“We’d like to help,” Laurel offers.

Jiro nods. “Do you still have the number for that professional Domme, Harlow? I’d like to access her network as well.”

“Yes, I do.” Laurel gets out her phone, scrolls through it, and hands it to her Dom.

“Thank you.” He takes her phone and makes a call. He doesn’t say much other than identifying himself, letting Harlow know that a very troublesome situation has come to light at Blunts which affects the whole community, and asks her to call back. I gather the call’s gone to voicemail.

He returns the phone to Laurel. “We’re trying to identify all the members of this odious Wolfpack and the clubs and parties where they’ve been hunting submissives. We know of nine so far?—”

I gulp. Daddy only mentioned Masters Drew and Emmett and a nasty guest named Hans. But nine! That’s so much bigger than anything I’d understood.

“You type a great deal faster than I do,” Jiro says to Laurel, holding up two fingers. Laurel and I giggle. “If you’ll take my seat, I’ll walk you through the searches I’m doing. Emily, I suspect your Daddy very much needs a hug by now.”

“Yes, sir.”

At Jiro’s nod, Laurel and I rise to our feet. Laurel gives her Dom a long, tight hug. Jiro strokes her back and whispers something to her. I barely catch it but I think he says, “I couldn’t prevent what happened to you, petto. I couldn’t avenge you as much as I wanted to. But I can help stop this. I’ve given Logan my full support and my resources. I hope you agree.”

“Yes, Tatsu,” Laurel says. “I do.”

I back away when he kisses her and steal over to Daddy’s side.

“Baby doll,” he says, rising out of his chair. “Is it dinner time?”

It is dinner time. A little past dinner time, if I’m honest. But this is more important than the faint growling of my tummy. I don’t mind putting off surf and turf to another night.

“It is but that’s not why I came to find you. I thought you might need a hug by now.”

Daddy smiles and opens his arms. I unclip Livvy’s harness so I can press against my Daddy. He takes her and cradles her in his left arm while he pulls me into a snuggly hug.

Daddy kisses the top of my head. “I always appreciate hugs from my baby girl. I believe you were promised a yummy dinner that you don’t have to cook.”

“I was,” I agree, stretching up to kiss his jaw. “But I’m happy to take a rain-check if you’re busy with this. It’s more important.”

Daddy slips his hand under my chin. “Nothing is more important than my little girl and Daddy always keeps his promises.”

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