Page 84 of Daddy P.I. 3.0

Warrin’s already mentioned it; he slipped it into conversation casually, idly wondering aloud what the application process was like. I explained it and said I’d be happy to find him a sponsor. It was while we were at playgroup and I’dhave had to be blind not to notice how closely Bravo, Jack, and Henry were following our conversation.

“Good,” I say. “The more caregivers there are among the membership, the easier it will be to sweep away any lingering prejudice.”

Sutter grunts. “Is it the old pedophilia argument?”

“Mostly a lot of resistance to change.”

“Well, I put on my application that I’m bringing youthful enthusiasm and energy to the club. Happy to weigh that against the old guard and see how the scales balance.”

I look more closely at him. He’s deeply tanned, with some white lines fanning from the corners of his intensely green eyes but I think those lines are from squinting into the sun rather than age. His skin’s very smooth, no bags under his eyes, no five-o’clock shadow.

“I must have missed it on your application, how old are you?”

That wide, white, slightly vicious grin breaks across his face again. “Twenty-two.”

Fuck’s sake, can he even grow a beard?

“Youthful enthusiasm and energy, huh?”

“Mmm.”

I’ve been fucking played. We all have. Chess used Mac’s application as a distraction to push Sutter’s through under everyone’s radar.

“You’re the youngest member of the club,” I say. “By about a decade. Possibly the youngest member of the club ever.”

Sutter nods. “I’d assumed so.”

“What do you want with Blunts? To take it over for your family?”

Sutter shrugs. “My immediate interest is revenge. The club hurt my little. It made her afraid. It made her feelless than. No one hurts my baby. I’d thought about exposing the members,making the club’s activities public. Maybe an exposé in the New Yorker.”

I swallow hard.

“And longer term?” I ask.

“Dismantle it, brick by brick. No institution that hurt my darlin’ girl stands.”

I cough to clear the tightness in my chest. This kid’s six years older than True. Over a decade younger than me. Yet I don’t have any doubt he means every word. Could he take on Blunts? Maude’s not the only heavy hitter there. There’s serious wealth at the club and wealth can make a formidable obstacle.

But there are a lot of secrets within Blunts’ walls, too. If Sutter makes those secrets public ... the walls might crumble.

“If the club could make amends to you and your girl?” I ask cautiously.

“That’d be something worth considering.”

I rub my hand over my face, the good taste of roast beef in my mouth souring. “Excuse me.”

He tips his head to the side. “Hope our talk hasn’t put a stone in your shoe.”

I give him a hard look. “I understand being protective of your girl?—”

“Fiancée,” he corrects.

“Fiancée,” I acknowledge. “I would feel as strongly about any group, any institution, which hurt my little.”

“But?”

“But the club’s my family. Some of my best friends are members. You’re threatening my family.”

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