Page 1

Bash

I checked the clock on my phone for the fifth time before slamming it down on my station table. Where the hell was she?

“You good, man?” Smoke asked, sliding into my tattoo booth on his rolling chair.

“Yeah.” No. I wasn’t fucking good. Allyson should have been at the shop an hour ago. She was never late and I’d spent the last sixty minutes picturing the worst scenarios.

“Okay, well, you maybe want to tell that to your face? You look ballistic,” Smoke said.

Running my fingers through my short hair, I sighed. “Allyson isn’t here yet.”

“Was she supposed to help you with something? I have time between clients,” he offered. His offer was kind, but only added to my annoyance.

“No. She’s just never late,” I bit out.

Smoke laughed, actually fucking laughed. “Are you worried?”

Scowling, I flipped him off.

“You are! Big Bad Bashie is worried,” he mocked.

“Shut up, asswipe.” The urge to punch him in the face was overwhelming.

“You gotta put a dollar in the swear bucket!” Eloise, my pseudo-niece, said as she ran over to me. Her pink tutu floated around her and I smiled despite my worry. She was my best friend Blade’s Little girl and a big ball of sparkle and glitter. She kept us entertained every day she was at the shop with us.

I pulled out my wallet and deposited a ten into the pink beach bucket. We had started with a swear jar, but we all cursed so much that we’d had to upgrade to something bigger within just a few days.

“Oh, ten monies!” she exclaimed, peeking into the bucket.

“It’s a credit for the rest of the day. I’m sure I’ll need it,” I said dryly.

“Why are you grumpy?” she asked, then wrinkled her nose, and corrected, “Well, more grumpy than normal.”

“Because Allyson is late.”

“She’s not late. She’s sick. She called Uncle Leland and told him she couldn’t work today.”

“What?” I asked, sitting up in my chair. “What do you mean she’s sick?” How was she sick? What was wrong? Fuck! I should have asked someone sooner.

“I don’t know what’s wrong. I texted her, but she hasn’t read it yet.” Her smile fell a little. “I’m worried about her, actually.”

I was sure she was worried. Allyson and Eloise had met in a local shelter earlier in the year. Eloise had been running from an abusive ex and Allyson had aged out of foster care two years before. The women had quickly become friends and were inseparable. Both had recently started working at Daddies Ink. Eloise now lived with Blade, but Allyson still lived at the shelter, much to my frustration. Many of us had offered her a room, but she was a stubborn little cuss—the sweetest little cuss. She had a heart as big as Texas. The world honestly didn’t deserve her.

Looking at the time on my phone again, I calculated I had about an hour and a half before my next client came in. “Go tell your Daddy you’re coming with me, kiddo. We’ll go get her.”

“Okay,” she agreed, running off to his station.

Standing, I gathered my keys, wallet, and phone.

“Uh, where exactly are you going?” Smoke asked.

“To get Allyson.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s fucking sick and alone.” And because I hated when she wasn’t around. It made my skin itch and my head too jumbled. He didn’t need to know that, though. For a long time I hadn’t wanted her to know either. I’d been worried I was too rough for her, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized maybe I was exactly what she needed. Maybe she needed a hardass to help her see she was worthy of all of our love.

Smoke didn’t say anything, but he did send me a smug grin before sliding back into his station. Fucking asshat.

“Where are you taking my baby?” Blade yelled across the shop.

Sighing, I walked over to where he was working on a client. “I’m going to get Allyson.”

“And take her where?”

Fuck, I didn’t know. I hadn’t made it that far yet.

“I’ll figure it out when I get there,” I said instead.

“Okay. Eloise needs to eat lunch at 12:30 so she can take her meds,” Blade reminded me.

I scoffed. Duh. I had an alarm set on my phone for his Little one. Smoke did too. We all cared about the Little ones. They’d really made our makeshift family complete.

He laughed. “I’m sorry. Overprotective Daddy. Be good, Little girl.” He opened his arms and she gave him a big hug while I swallowed down my jealousy. I wanted a love like theirs so badly. I was a mean, sadistic son of a bitch, but I knew I’d be a damn good Daddy too.

“I promise,” Eloise vowed solemnly, releasing him and turning to take my hand.

I led her from the shop and out to my truck. After buckling her in, I climbed in and started the truck.

“She’s at the hotel on Second Street,” Eloise informed me. “I checked her location.”

“Why is she there?” I asked with a frown, heading toward the older motel. It was run-down with no security, definitely not safe for a Little girl, especially a saccharine sweetheart like Allyson.

“It’s the closest hotel to the shelter and they charge by the hour,” she explained, blushing a bit. Yes, they did charge by the hour because it was a hotel that tolerated sketchy business. Drug deals and prostitution. Bile burned the back of my throat. Was Allyson in a bad situation?

“Eloise, honey. Is Allyson okay? Does she need more money or maybe some help?”

“No, why would you…. Oh goodness! No, Uncle Bash. She just can’t stay at the shelter during the day. But she’s sick and couldn’t come to work, so she went there to stay until she can check back in at the shelter. It’s not the best, but it’s cheaper than paying for a full night.”

I blew out a breath as relief filled me. “She can’t stay at the shelter even if she’s sick?” Poor baby. Poor babies . It must be so hard to have to pack up everything and find a place to stay when you weren’t feeling well. I wondered what the women who didn’t have jobs did. Allyson could afford a few hours because she worked at Daddies Ink, but what did the other women do?

“No. Nobody is allowed to stay after the alarm goes off.”

Reaching over, I grabbed her hand and squeezed.

“It’s okay, Uncle Bash. We were really lucky not to have to sleep on the streets and Ms. Ramsey is still really nice to us. She just is getting older and can’t keep it open during the day too.”

I thought over her words, but didn’t comment. Daddies Ink did a lot for the shelter, but it looked like maybe we needed to do more.

We pulled into the parking lot and she waited like a good girl until I could help her out of the truck. “We’ll go talk to Mr. Murray and see if he remembers what room she’s in,” Eloise told me. “He’s the owner. He’s kinda mean, but he doesn’t bother us as long as we pay up front and leave on time.”

Oh. That was a good idea. I’d been fully prepared to beat on every door until she answered.

***

Allyson

I was the sickest I’d even been in my entire life. Shivers shook my body so hard that my teeth rattled together. Every muscle in my body hurt and I was thirsty, but every sip I took came back up. Worse than all that, guilt also sat in my tummy like a rock. I’d let my friends down by not being able to work. They’d been so wonderful to me and I hadn’t been able to do my part to help them.

Fear that they wouldn’t like me because I hadn’t been helpful haunted me, kept my brain spinning around in circles. I was terrified of being a burden and of not being wanted. I’d been placed in foster care when I was just four years old. My mom died of a brain aneurysm and I didn’t have any other family. The next fourteen years of my life I’d spent being the best girl I could be. I never argued, never got into any trouble, and was a star student. My foster parents had often talked about what a good egg I was, but in the end that hadn’t been enough for them to keep me. Because of that trauma, I worked very hard to earn my place in people's lives. I knew it wasn’t healthy, but I was too scared to stop.

A particularly sharp pain in my head made me cry out and I grabbed my head, desperately wishing for sleep.

Worry that I needed to pay Mr. Murray some more money was another thing keeping me awake. I’d only paid for a few hours, but I didn’t think I would be able to make it back to the shelter at 7 pm, or even be around the other women as sick as I was, but I didn’t have the energy to pick up my cell and call the front office. I definitely didn’t want to get on his bad side, though, he was so mean.

A knock on the door startled me and I jumped. Immediately my muscles protested in agony. Fuck, what if it was Mr. Murray?

Forcing myself upright, I walked across the small room, holding onto the furniture for support. It took my shaking fingers a minute to unlatch the door.

“Eloise?” I gasped. “Are you okay?” Adrenaline filled my body and made my heart race. Why was she here?

“I’m fine, but you don’t look so good,” she said.

“Oh, honey,” Bash said from behind her. I hadn’t even seen him at first. Studying him for clues about why they’d shown up at one of the worst hotels in town, I noticed his brows were drawn tight, as were his lips. I stepped back and allowed them to come inside the small hotel room. “I don’t understand. What’s wrong? Why are you both here?” Was it because I missed work? Were they mad? I grabbed my stomach as another wave of nausea almost drowned me.

“We’re here because you’re sick, Little one. Can you tell me what feels bad?” Bash asked, knotting his brows. He pulled out a chair for me and helped me sit down.

“Everything,” I admitted.

His hands cupped my face and the coolness felt so good to my fevered skin. “Fuck, you’re burning up.” I’d figured as much.

“Do you want me to call Mr. Elliot?” Eloise asked.

I knew Elliot was a friend of the group and that he was a doctor and often made house calls for them. I’d never met him, his Little girl, or their partner, but I’d heard the nicest things about him. One time I’d visited their home when Eloise was being treated for an infection after being shot, but they hadn't been there at the time.

“Yes, tell him to meet me at my house,” Bash said, his eyes not leaving my face.

“Yes, Sir.” She moved toward the back of the room to make the call.

“I can’t go to your house. I’ll get you sick. You two shouldn’t even be here right now,” I argued. My heart pounded in my chest. I couldn’t be a bother to him. I’d already failed him by not working my scheduled shift.

Bash ignored me and knelt beside me. “What hurts, Little one?”

If I hadn't been pink from my fever, he definitely would have noticed the flush on my face. Everything about Bash screamed Daddy. Our group was very open with our interests and we didn’t hide our tendencies around each other. I knew he was a Daddy Dom and even though he and I had never played together, I knew he’d be a good one. He was so thoughtful and protective with the Littles in his life. He played our silly games and always supported our interests. When he was working the same shift as me, he always made sure I ate and drank my water. I imagined he’d be a very possessive Daddy and that meshed well with my desire to belong to someone. Stupid fucking foster care.

“Allyson, are you with me, honey?”

Realizing my thoughts had drifted, I shook my head to try and clear it, but that hurt and I cried out. Bash surprised me by easing me into his arms and then standing. Even his gentle movements hurt. My muscles complained again and I groaned.

“Shhh, I’m sorry, Allyson.”

“I have her things,” Eloise said. “Mr. Elliot said he would be there at four.”

“Can you take my phone, call my client Peter P. and reschedule him?” Bash asked her.

“Don’t cancel your client! I’ll be fine!” It was getting worse and worse. The list of things I’d done to affect his day was only growing. He was going to hate me after everything was said and done.

“Yes, Sir,” Eloise chirped, ignoring my protests as she did what he asked.

Bash opened the door. “Eloise, walk in front of me, honey, and stay close. I don’t trust this area.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“I can’t leave with you,” I argued. My throat was tight and my eyes burned with unshed tears. He was having to do so much already and as much as I probably needed his help, I wouldn't risk losing him because of it.

“You’re very sick, baby. We’re going to get you feeling all better soon. Try to close your eyes and just rest, okay?”

“Peter said that was fine and I rescheduled him for Saturday at two. Saturday was the only day I remember you having open,” Eloise said.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” Bash answered. “Saturday is fine.”

A sob broke free from my throat and Bash’s deep brown eyes studied mine. “Why are you crying, little one? Does it hurt that much? Maybe we should go to the emergency room.”

“No! It’s not that bad. I’m just causing you so many problems! Please take me back. I promise I’ll be okay.”

“I can’t do that, Allyson. You’re too sick.”

“But you have things to do, you don’t have time to help me!” I cried. Tears were freely rolling down my face by now. Why was he being so stubborn?

“Oh, you silly little goose. I will always have time for you.”

Eloise opened the truck door, and he set me inside before buckling me in, then he helped Eloise in the back seat before climbing in the driver's seat.

“I’m going to take you back to the shop, Eloise. Can you tell your daddy you’re on the way?”

“Yes, Sir,” she answered. Her voice was strained and I felt even worse knowing I was worrying her too.

“You’ve been such a good helper today, Eloise. Make sure you tell your Daddy that, okay?” Bash said as he started the truck and pulled out of the hotel parking lot.

I couldn’t see Eloise from the backseat, but I hoped she was okay. I needed to tell her thank you for all her help today too. She was such a good girl and she deserved all the praise. Guilt filled my belly even more than before. I wasn’t being a good girl. I’d missed work, made Bash leave work, and made him reschedule a client.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized, turning to look at him. All the movements and emotions must have made my nausea so much worse. I slapped a hand over my mouth, but before he could even stop the car, I vomited all over myself and the inside of his new truck.

Definitely not a good girl.