Page 64 of Daddy P.I. 3.0

“You don’t need to apologize to me.” Bren nudges me toward her office chair. She casts a longing glance at the fancy coffee machine Mac bought her before she starts up the little electric kettle in the corner of her office. “I just want to make sure you’re okay after that confrontation with Bitch-face.”

I pinch my lips between my teeth to keep from giggling at her name for Miranda. Daddy wouldnotapprove.

“I’m okay,” I say honestly. Would I be okay if Daddy and I hadn’t worked so hard on my insecurities? If he hadn’t made the rules so clear the other night? Maybe not. But I’m unshakable in Daddy’s love.

“You looked like a goddamn Valkyrie standing between Miranda and that stroller. Everyone who saw you was scared of you.”

I don’t think Miranda was scared of me but I did feel fierce.

“Is it wrong for me to feel a little sorry for her?” I ask.

Bren hands me a steaming mug and perches on the edge of the desk. “Look, we all love your empathy, Em but I think it’s wasted on the Mir-bitch. She absolutely would not have had any for you if things had gone the other way.”

“I know.” I blow on my tea to cool it before taking a sip. Ouch, still too hot. “I just can’t imagine how she’s feeling. She’s lost everything.”

“She deserves it.”

“Right,” I agree. “But I just worry a little about what losing everything might drive her to.”

“It might drive her to taking a good look at where her bad decisions have led her and turning her shit around. Althoughpersonally, I don’t see that happening. People like her won’t ever see themselves as being in the wrong.”

I wrinkle my nose, unable to imagine that level of certainty. Maybe that’s how Daddy feels? I’ll have to ask him but I don’t think so. Daddy asks for input on too many of his decisions to have that level of certitude.

“You didn’t look in need of rescuing,” Bren says. “But I’ve got your back. If you need me to kick Miranda’s ass, just say the word.”

I giggle at the thought. “I don’t think so. Daddy wouldn’t approve.”

“Actually, he was fine with it.”

Daddy agreed to physical violence? The spot in my chest that’s been warm since I looked up into Miranda’s blue eyes and felt serene and confident in my Daddy’s love warms a little more.

“Well, it’s not necessary,” I assure Bren. “I had it covered.”

“I saw.” She leans over andtinksher cup against mine. “You handled that bitch like a boss. Proud of you.”

My eyes sting and I blink the sensation away. “You are?”

“Sure.” Bren shrugs. “I’ve had my own run ins with exes from Hell. Mac’s ex is in the running for world’s biggest bitch. I’ve had more than one unfriendly conversation with her. But I wasn’t constrained by the rules you live with. And I knew if Amy got really up in my face, one good right hook would knock her right off her Louboutins. Miranda’s got five inches and probably twenty-five pounds on you. I’m not saying you couldn’t take her but I’d need to get you working on a bag for a couple of weeks first.”

I giggle at the thought. “Bruiser baby.”

Bren snorts. “Anyway, you dealt with her well and I know it can’t have been easy, so good job, and if you ever need backup, call me. I got you, babe.”

“Thanks.”

I stay until Bren has to get ready for her first client, chatting about the book we’re doing together, my ongoing war with Master Mac for control of the kitchen, and a scene Bren’s salivating about that Mac’s promised her. It’s a full-on abduction and cage scene. Mac’s planning it for the weekend before Thanksgiving and Bren’s vibrating with anticipation.

I walk briskly back through the East Village. It’s gotten cold and even though I’m wrapped up well in a coat, gloves, and scarf, the wind stings my cheeks and makes the tip of my nose go numb.

While I walk, I think over the confrontation with Miranda. I always overthink things like this, turning them over in my mind for days, coming up with comebacks that didn’t even occur to me in the moment.

But today, there’s nothing that makes me prickle with embarrassment. There’s nothing I would have done differently if I had a do-over.

When I walk into the house, I hear Daddy still on the phone with Max. I take off my clothes, fold them, and leave them on the rack by the door. Then I walk into Daddy’s office and kneel by his chair.

“Uh, I think that’s it for now, Max,” Daddy says.

I smile to myself at the sudden gruffness of his voice. Daddy likes seeing me naked and kneeling.

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