Page 10 of Echoes of Desire

Steel

I storm into the office, my anger a steady pulse behind my ribs. The moment I step inside, the air shifts, heavy with the weight of my presence. The bastard sitting in the chair looks up, smug as hell—at first. That expression doesn’t last long. His confidence falters when he sees the look on my face.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” I ask, my voice low, sharp, and cold enough to make him squirm.

The man shifts in his seat, glancing away for a moment before forcing himself to meet my eyes. He’s uncomfortable now, but he’s still trying to hold his ground. “I was just trying to discipline him. That’s what Littles need, isn’t it?”

My jaw tightens, and I take a deliberate step forward, placing my hands on the arms of his chair and leaning in. The distance between us disappears, and I can see the crack in his composure start to spread. “What Littles need,” I say, my tone razor-sharp, “is love, patience, and understanding. What theydon’tneed is someone like you, who has no clue what the hell he’s doing, trying to play Daddy.”

He opens his mouth like he’s going to defend himself, but I’m not finished.

“You took him to the quiet room and punished him for something that’s part of who he is. You humiliated him. Terrified him. And you broke the trust he had in this place.” I lean in closer, narrowing my eyes as his face drains of color. “Do you haveanyidea what damage you’ve caused? Not just to him but to every Little here?”

He doesn’t answer. He can’t.

“You’re lucky Taylor didn’t tear you apart before I got here,” I continue, my voice dropping to an icy calm. “But let me make something crystal clear. You’re banned from Oasis. Effective immediately. And if I ever see your face here again…” I let the threat hang in the air, unspoken but heavy enough to make him swallow hard.

I straighten, crossing my arms as I stare him down. “Get out.”

The man doesn’t hesitate. He scrambles out of the chair, nearly tripping over himself in his rush to get to the door. His footsteps echo down the hallway as he disappears, leaving the office in silence.

I take a deep breath, running a hand through my hair as I try to steady myself. My hands tighten into fists at my side, and for a moment, I let the anger simmer before forcing it down.

This is my club. My sanctuary. And I won’t let anyone tarnish it or hurt the people who trust us to keep them safe.

I shove open the door, the tension in my shoulders refusing to ease as I head toward the Little Room. I know Blaze is handling Ollie, but I need to see for myself that the Baby is okay.

When I step inside, the scene hits me harder than I expect. Ollie is curled up on the couch, his small frame trembling as he clings to a stuffed animal. Blaze is beside him, murmuring softly, his arm around Ollie’s shoulders.

The other Littles are clustered in a corner, their wide eyes filled with fear and worry. Knox, Taylor’s Little, is standing just a few feet away, his own eyes red and glassy.

Blaze glances up as I enter, his expression a mix of relief and tension. “He’s calmed down a little,” he says quietly.

I nod, stepping closer. “Ollie,” I say, keeping my voice low and gentle.

The boy doesn’t look up at first, his face buried in the stuffed animal.

“It’s Uncle Steel,” I say, kneeling in front of the couch. “You’re safe now, Little one. No one’s going to hurt you. I promise.”

Slowly, he peeks up at me, his tear-streaked face breaking my heart all over again. “I… I didn’t mean to,” he whispers, his voice trembling. “I didn’t mean to be bad.”

My jaw tightens, but I keep my tone calm and steady. “You weren’t bad, Ollie. You didn’t do anything wrong. Do you hear me?”

His lip quivers, and his eyes search mine, desperate for reassurance.

“The man who hurt you,” I continue, my voice firm but kind, “didn’t know how to be a Daddy. He was wrong. What he did was wrong, and he’ll never come back here again. I made sure of that.”

Ollie stares at me for a long moment before fresh tears spill down his cheeks. Without thinking, I reach out and pull him into a hug, holding him close as he cries against my shoulder.

As I hold him, I glance at Blaze, who’s watching us with a pensive expression. I know he’s thinking the same thing I am. Moments like this—when trust is broken, and we have to pick up the pieces—are the hardest part of what we do.

I look back at the other Littles, their small faces filled with worry. “You’re all safe here,” I say, my voice steady. “I know tonight was scary, but I promise you, this is still your home. We’ll protect you. Always.”

Knox steps forward, his hands clutching a small blanket. “Uncle Steel?”

“Yes, Boy?”

“Will Ollie be okay?”

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