Page 22 of Daddy Defender

The news report burns in my mind, Vince’s face a ghost I can’t shake. I want to argue, to tell Henry I don’t need his safehouse or his rules, but the ache in my butt reminds me how fast he takes control.

And that stupid, secret part of me—the part that sparked during the spanking—wonders what it’d be like to let him. To have a Daddy who’s not a snake, who sets boundaries because he cares, not because he wants to own me. I shove the thought down, hard.

No men.

No Daddies.

Just me, Shred, and Poot.

I turn back to the window, the ocean a dark blur, and hug Poot tighter.

“I’ll tell you what you need to know when I’m ready,” I mutter, my voice barely audible. “Just drive.”

Henry doesn’t push, just lets the silence settle, the van’s hum filling the space.

I stare at the horizon, picturing waves, freedom, a life where Vince’s just a bad dream.

I’m in deep, deeper than I ever wanted, but I’ve climbed out of holes before. I’ll do it again.

I justhaveto.

Because if I don’t get myself out of this mess, I’m not sure anyone can. Not even Henry with his big spanking hands, Daddy promises, and Mr. Big Hero Attitude to match…

Chapter 8

Henry

The boy’s fallen asleep.Again. And I can’t say I blame him.

The van’s engine hums steady as I guide the van along the long, winding coastal road, the dark ocean a faint shimmer to my left.

The night’s still thick, no headlights in the rearview, but my Guard instincts keep me sharp, scanning for any sign of trouble. The reality of this situation is that we don’t know who we’re dealing with yet. Not really. Sure, it’s someone who isn’t fooling around—they want to kill Bodie and have the means of doing it.

But what I need to know is what level of asshole we’re talking about here. From all my experience, knowing your enemy’s strengths and weaknesses is pretty much up there as the most valuable information you could hold.

I turn and glance at the boy once more…

Bodie’s curled up in the passenger seat, walrus stuffy clutched tight, his breathing slow and soft. He’s out cold, the spanking and the night’s chaos pulling him under again.

Damn, he’s cute.

Maybe too cute.

But he’s a handful too…

My Daddy side feels a tug, wanting to tuck a blanket over him, but I keep my hands on the wheel. We’re not safe yet, not with Vince and his killers still out there.

I need intel, and I need itfast.

The road straightens, and I spot a turnout ahead, a gravel patch shadowed by pines.

Perfect.

I ease Shred off the pavement, the tires crunching soft, and kill the engine.

The silence hits hard, just the distant waves and Bodie’s faint snores. I pull my burner phone from my pocket, a habit from too many ops where traceable tech could get you killed.

Cole’s number is one of the few I’ve got memorized, and I tap out a quick message…