Page 58 of Blade
Simone jumps down from the bed and skips toward Camden.
I have to laugh. I get the feeling she pushes his buttons constantly. She’s not permitted to run in the house, so instead, she skips, barely obeying the rules. I have no doubt I’m right because he growls at her as she slams into him.
Blade comes to me and helps me off the daybed. Bounding recklessly across the room isn’t something I’m ready for. Not yet. Not with a broken arm that hasn’t had a week to start healing. Besides the fact that I don’t want to injure it further, I suspect he would have a heart attack.
Twenty-One
Blade
* * *
Having Simone over was definitely good for June. She’s more relaxed after the two of them leave. More sure of herself.
I can’t blame her for feeling uncertain. She’s new to the lifestyle, and she’s been rather isolated since being introduced. I’m sure she has doubts. She will for a long time. That’s natural. But the more time she spends with other Littles, the quicker she’ll accept that her feelings aren’t unique. She’s not the first woman to recognize she has a Little side and nurture it. It’s more widespread than she realizes, but hearing me tell her that and experiencing it firsthand makes all the difference.
She’s still healing, so she takes another long nap after lunch. As soon as I have her tucked in with her new bear, Brownie, I turn on the monitor, take it with me, and head for my office.
I’ve exchanged several texts throughout the morning with both Mace and Cannon, but it’s time for a call. I didn’t want to worry June by discussing her case in front of her.
When her heavy, deep, sleepy breathing comes through the monitor, I decide to invite my men upstairs for a meeting. I text them both and meet them at the elevator five minutes later.
“Come on in.” I’m carrying the baby monitor, and I point at it to indicate its existence as we make our way to the kitchen.
“How’s she doing?” Cannon asks in a low voice as I make coffee.
“Better every day. I finally had the talk with her.”
Mace chuckles softly. “The Daddy talk?”
“Yes.”
“And?” Cannon asks.
“It went well. It was hard for her to deny her Little side. Just because she’s never heard of age play doesn’t mean she doesn’t actively live the lifestyle. All she was missing was a Daddy and some terminology. Camden brought Simone over this morning. I think that helped.”
I hand everyone a mug of coffee, and we all sit at the island. “Update me.”
Mace begins, “Five minutes ago, I found a match for Stark in her lobby that morning. It was definitely him who broke into her apartment. It helped that he was wearing a particular older gray baseball cap. We’ve seen him wearing the same cap coming and going from the house.”
I nod. “So we know he has breaking-and-entering skills.”
Cannon sets his mug on the island. “Better than that. The man isn’t working in construction.”
My eyes widen, but I let Cannon continue.
“That must be a front for the neighbors. Not that he has many. The house is rural. There are other homes on the street, but they’re far enough apart that no one would hear a domestic disturbance coming from a neighboring house. Makes our job easier because no one noticed us setting up surveillance cameras around the property. Easy peasy. The area is mostly impoverished. Rundown cabins, extremely old motor homes, shacks. Some of them aren’t inhabited. Nevertheless, Stark comes and goes dressed for work. People in town probably think he works on a site. It’s a perfect front.”
“Who does he really work for?”
“A locksmith.”
I groan. That explains how he broke into the apartment without leaving a mark. He has a skill.
Mace continues. “Tank and Ghost have been following him. I don’t think his locksmith job is enough to pay the bills. He takes side jobs.”
“Like what?”
Mace sighs. “They aren’t sure yet. He drives to places and then sits and watches. Tank suspects he uses his skills as a locksmith for burglary.”
