Page 248 of Santa Daddies
“Nothing,” Joey said rapidly.
“Nothing you need to know about,” Anson added, feeling protective of his brother. “But, Joey, don’t let her know that you know, all right? I think she’s always suppressed that side of herself and I don’t want her to feel embarrassed or think that I might have told you.”
“You got it!” Joey agreed. “I don’t want to do anything to scare Alice away. She’s good for you. I like this new Anson.”
“Thanks, brother. One more thing. If anyone ever treated you like that . . . you’d tell me.”
Joey’s eyes narrowed. “I might be a Little, but that doesn’t mean I can’t take care or protect myself. I’m still a man and I’ve studied mixed martial arts for years.”
“I know. Didn’t mean to insult you. It’s just . . . this guy made her feel so ashamed of her needs. I hate the idea of anyone doing that to you.”
Joey shot him a grin. “They wouldn’t dare. I’d use my kung fu on them.” He chopped the air with his hands.
“Does someone want to tell me what’s going on here?” Lochlan asked. “Who are you talking about?”
“The woman that Anson is going to marry,” Joey sang.
“What?” Lochlan let out a burst of laughter. “Don’t make jokes like that, Joey. Anson doesn’t like it.”
Joey’s face dropped and Anson moved further into the living room. “Actually, Joey is just speaking the truth and I’m fine with it. I’m gonna marry Alice.”
Joey sent him a surprised look, then a wide smile. Anson had just spoken the truth, but even if he hadn’t it would have been worth it to make his brother look at him like that.
Shit.
When had their relationship started to deteriorate? It was before the car accident, he was certain. And it had been entirely his fault.
“What?” Lochlan asked in shock. “Who is this girl? Where is she? We need to do a background check on her.”
“I need to speak to you about that. Among other things. But where is your car?” Anson hadn’t seen it when they had driven up.
“I got dropped off.”
Dropped off?
Anson eyed him for a moment. “Is there something I need to know? Why would you get driven here?”
Lochlan sighed. “Nothing you need to worry about. I’m just not driving for a while.”
“Sure you’re all right?” Joey asked worriedly.
“Yep. Nothing for you to worry about Joe-Joe,” Lochlan told him gently.
Joey didn’t look less concerned, but he nodded. Anson sat down across from Lochlan and Joey sat next to him.
“I need you to do some research into someone,” Anson said to Lochlan. “I think his name is George Madison.”
“But that might not be his last name. She might be using her maiden name,” Joey said.
“Yeah, that’s true.” Anson nodded. “That makes things trickier.”
“Who is she?” Lochlan asked, making notes on his phone.
“Alice Madison. Early thirties. Married to an asshole called George. They live in San Diego, well, he does. She used to work in marketing for a supermarket chain. He’s an abusive narcissist who we need to destroy.”
Lochlan’s head shot up at that. “Well, you know there’s nothing I love more to do than destroy the lives of assholes. I had so much fun doing that to Jenna.”
“I want his life utterly destroyed,” Anson said. “He told her that she was stupid. That she was nothing. That everything she did was wrong. He taught her to be ashamed of her Little. And that part doesn’t leave this room.”
