Page 85 of Daddy P.I. 3.0

Sutter nods slowly. “I considered it gentlemanly to give you fair warning. I’ve heard you’re a power player on the membership committee. As one daddy to another, I thought giving you a head’s up was only sporting.”

He sounds like he’s at the country club. But he doesn’t look like part of the polo-playing crowd. He looks like he wrangles broncos for breakfast. He just needs a black cowboy hat and some spurs.

“And if I run back to the management committee and have you punted out of the club?” I ask.

Sutter tips his head from side to side. “It will be interesting to see who has the greater punching power. You and yourfriendsor the Chairman and my family.”

“This is a test,” I say. “You want to see how much clout I have.”

“And to see if you take care of your own problems or squeal to the committee like a little piggie.”

Heat rises to my face. I feel my nostrils flare as my body gulps oxygen. I know he’s baiting me but my body’s rising to it.

“Are you making yourself my problem?” I ask.

“Not today,” Sutter responds. “Today, I’m just enjoying a trip to the museum with my girl’s new friends. Tomorrow.” He shrugs. “Tomorrow’s another day.”

“So it is. I guess we’ll see what comes tomorrow.”

“I guess we will,” Sutter says. “See you at the Grand Opening.”

I nod. “Enjoy the rest of your day.”

“You, too.” Sutter rocks back on the heels of his boots, which look like they’ve seen their share of real work and hooks his thumbs in his belt loops as he watches our littles.

I cross the room to Emmy, tap her on the elbow, give her the hand-signal for “follow me” and lead her out of the Gem Hall to the nearest bathroom. I walk into the handicapped bathroom and close the door behind Emmy.

“May I kneel, Daddy?” she asks, her wide eyes on my face.

I shake my head. The floor looks dirty.

“How do you know what I’m feeling before I say a word?” I ask.

“Your frowny line.” She blinks, a rim of crystal forming along her lashes.

I hold my arms out. She rushes to me. I catch my girls up in my arms, cradling Livvy between us.

“You met Saoirse and her daddy?” I ask, pressing my lips to her forehead.

“Yes, Daddy. You looked like you were having an intense conversation with Sutter.”

“You could call it that. He wants to tear Blunts apart. I guess his little used to work at the club. I don’t know who it was but they scared her and intimidated her about her littleness. He’s back for revenge.”

Emmy rests her head on my collar and turns so she can see Livvy. Livvy reaches up a fist; Emmy blows a raspberry against her fingers.

“I love you, baby,” I say softly. “I don’t want to hurt someone who could be your friend. But I’ll fucking crush him like a cockroach if he tries to destroy the club.”

“Cockroaches are uncrushable, Daddy. They’ll survive a nuclear apocalypse along with Twinkies. Saoirse said her daddy was just voted in. Why would he join if he’s going to destroy the club?”

“Easier to do it from within, I guess.”

“I don’t think that’s the whole story, Daddy.”

“I wish you’d heard the conversation. You could tell me what I missed. He certainly seems hell-bent on revenge.”

“Can you hold Livvy for a moment?”

I nod and Emmy passes my daughter to me. I cradle her in my right arm and smile down at her.

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