Page 26 of Daddy's Oath
“I’m going to protect that little girl, no matter what.”
Chapter Thirteen
Lana awoke to find Ace was gone.
With the brilliant sunlight falling in the window, she wasn’t scared to be by herself. Plus, she’d seen enough of the mansion last night to know the place was secure.
It sat behind a locked gate. On the drive over, Ace and Isaiah had explained that the doors were reinforced and the windows were bulletproof.
But the biggest reason she felt secure had to do with the smoking hot, strong Daddies who called the grand old house home.
Even had it just been Ace, no one was getting to her. Not within those walls.
But she’d seen other Daddies last night. She couldn’t remember their names, but some had come out of their rooms to greet her and make her feel welcome.
Still, she wished it was a normal day. She’d love to go in to work.
The studio thought she was out sick. Her bosses were cool. Besides, she’d never taken time off. Her dedication to the job was obvious. They knew how much it fulfilled her. So, they toldher to take as much time off as she needed and come back when she felt better.
Would she be able to go back at all? she wondered as she got out of her bed and left the guest room behind.
Her thoughts shifted to the mansion, though, as she continued to traverse it.
Goodness! The place was amazing!
She remembered what Ace had told her last night. She could see Theda Bara walking around the place, in all her radiant beauty.
Knowing that she was in the same space once inhabited by the silent screen vamp made Lana feel better about not being at work.
Walking down the large staircase, she held onto the polished banister, the wood feeling smooth and glossy beneath her palm. She was just coming off the staircase when a man said, “Good morning. How’d you sleep?”
She yelped, startled by the guy she didn’t recognize. He looked to be some kind of repairman or something. Why would he act like he knew her?
“Uh, yes, sir.”
The guy smiled. “You don’t recognize me.”
That voice was familiar. Was that…
“Ace?”
He laughed. “Yep. Guess my disguise works. This is going to help me sneak into your apartment.”
Lana laughed, too, as she noticed Stryker and a woman she’d never met before coming up behind Ace.
“A little movie magic,” the woman said with a proud smile.
“Hey, Lana. Meet Sheila. She’s a makeup artist at the studio.”
Stryker didn’t mention which studio, and fear clawed at Lana’s insides as she feared it might be hers. Had she just beenouted as a Little to a colleague? Surely Stryker and the Daddy Guard wouldn’t do that!
As if reading her fears, Sheila stepped forward and smiled. “You are as cute as can be! And as a Mommy, I know a lot about cuties. And you’re one of the most adorable ones ever.”
It made sense to Lana now as to why this woman had been allowed into the inner sanctum. She felt more comfortable in her presence, too.
“Thank you, ma’am,” Lana replied. She felt herself sliding into Little Space. Being in the Guard’s mansion just seemed to have that effect on her.
“I need to get to work,” Sheila said.
