He’s one of Andry’s new roommates. There are actually several of them, but it works since the house they’re leasing is roomy enough.

When my boyfriend first mentioned this place as an alternative to the sports house, I didn’t know what to think. It didn’t seem all that smart to just move in with strangers, especially when they outnumber you.

But then we met Kendall and his friends.

They’re all so kind. And there’s something in the way they connect that makes me feel safer just being around them. Like I can simply be myself, maybe even call Andry Daddy, and they wouldn’t bat an eye at it.

“Andry! Company!” Kendall yells once he closes the door. He winks at me before skipping down the hall.

I wait in the entry since I’m too keyed up to go anywhere else. Confrontation has never been my strong suit. Add in that I’m about to question my boyfriend about my former bully, and you’ve got a recipe for some serious anxiety on my end.

Heavy footsteps let me know I’ve run out of time to worry. When I look over at the stairs, I find Andry smiling brightly.

“Hey, little genius. I didn’t expect to see you yet.” Strong arms pull me into his chest.

I want to hold my ground. I want to question him about what happened.

But a single whiff of him has me melting.

There’s nothing as perfect as this spot right here.

“Daddy,” I whisper softly.

He shivers at the word, pulling back just enough to look me in the eye. His gaze is hungry, though it dims at whatever he sees in my expression.

“Come up to my room. We can talk there.”

I follow him up the stairs to the last room on the left side of the hall. As soon as he shuts the door behind us, I drop to the edge of the bed.

“Campus police called me today,” I start. “They said I had to come by to sign some paperwork. So I did.”

He nods. “Ok. That’s good. Did they give you any trouble? What were their names?”

“No. There wasn’t any trouble.”

The firm way he demands to know who might have made me uncomfortable only furthers my suspicion he had something to do with Liam’s disappearing act.

Direct is best with my Daddy, so I don’t waste any more time. I just blurt out, “Did you do something to Liam?”

“Describe what you mean bysomething.”

“As in, did you get him expelled? Did you call in favors and stuff? You don’t even know that many people!” I have to fight to keep my voice at a reasonable volume.

“Little genius,” he says softly as he drops to his knees in front of me.

I spread my legs to make room for him. I might be upset, but I’m not going to give up a chance to be close to him.

“You were healing before. I didn’t want to tell you anything that might have upset you.”

“Then tell me now. I want the truth.”

He takes a deep breath, his gaze locked with mine. “The truth? I refused to let someone who hurt you so badly continue to be a threat. I reached out to the guys, and we took care of it. He’s no longer a problem.”

“The guys? As in my brother and his friends?”

He nods. “Bellamy formed a plan, and we executed it perfectly. They also reached out to some contacts to make sure he can’t do this anywhere else. His time on the ice is done. He’ll have to choose a new path.”

My jaw drops.