Page 43 of Impressing Brett

Daddy tucks me in with all three of my dolls and Banana.

“Where’s Bear?” I ask.

“You want me to get him? I wasn’t sure if he was welcome,” he teases.

“Of course. He needs to meet Jasmine, Molly, Pricilla, and Banana. They’re not mean. They will accept him.”

Daddy kisses my forehead. “Be right back.”

By the time he returns thirty seconds later to tuck Bear in with the rest of us, I’m almost asleep. I’m kind of surprised I can rest with everything happening in my life, but I feel safe here. Protected. That peace lulls me into slumber.

Chapter 12

Brett

* * *

“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath as I lean back in my desk chair and fold my hands behind my head.

“That bad?” Blade asks from the door to my office at Black Blade Protection.

“Just frustrating.” I sit up and lower my head. “Come on in. What’s up?”

He takes a seat on the chair in front of my desk. “Just checking in. How’s Lacy?”

“She’s adjusting. She’s pretty quick to slide into Little space in the evenings when she gets home from work, but it’s hard for her to transition in the mornings. She insists on driving herself, which makes me nervous, but I can’t argue her point. She needs that time to get in her adult headspace before she arrives at her office.”

“It’s understandable. Lots of Littles need an adjustment period, especially in the mornings. And it’s only been four days.” He lifted his eyebrows. “I saw on the news that they opened the apartment building back up to most of the residents. Has she agreed to stay with you and not go back?”

“Sort of. She’s in my house for now but doesn’t want to give up her lease yet.”

Blade nods. “Be patient. Don’t rush her.”

“I know. Sometimes, I want to speed up time a few weeks or months to get past this trust-building stage of our relationship.”

Blade chuckles. “I know what you mean. Any progress on the will?”

“Nope. It’s maddening. I don’t know what the Rutherfords are up to. They surely have an ulterior motive, but damned if I know what it is.” I’m fucking lucky to have a boss who doesn’t mind a bit that most of every day this week has been eaten up by me helping my own Little with her problems.

“Are they still refusing to share the will?”

I nod. “They don’t realize I have her old phone, and I’m the one monitoring and reading their incoming messages and texts. I’m glad she isn’t seeing that shit. It’s enough to make me want to vomit.”

“Do you think they might come here?” Blade asks.

“Oh, I feel confident they already have. Not directly but indirectly. I can’t prove anything, so I haven’t said a word of my suspicions to anyone else, but I’d bet my last dollar they hired someone to start that fire in her building to chase her out.”

Blade grits his teeth. “I’ve considered that, too. I think it’s time to hire someone in Indiana to snoop around.”

I sigh. “That thought has crossed my mind, but I’m so close to the case I feel I might be overreacting. I hate to ask you for the resources to get eyes on the Rutherfords.”

“You’re not overreacting. Your gut is telling you something smells bad, and I tend to agree with your gut. I’ll make a few calls and get someone on this.”

“Thanks. Appreciate the support.”

“Did I hear you telling Colt you’re going to take Lacy to Surrender tonight?”

“Yes. That’s the plan. She says she wants to see firsthand what a club is like and meet other Littles. I wonder if she’s doing this to please me. I hope I’m not pushing her too soon.”

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