Page 30 of Daddy’s Oath (The Daddy Guard #2)
Chapter Thirty
It was late afternoon when Lana went back to Auntie Athena’s place with Iris.
“We’re sorry, Auntie,” she said, handing a folded piece of paper to the matronly woman.
“Yeah. Sorry,” Iris offered. She passed her own piece of paper, too.
“It’s quite all right. I’m just glad you’re safe and sound. And I assume your Daddies dealt with the issue,” Athena said as they stood in front of her mansion.
“You bet we did,” Ace commented.
Jack just grinned and gave a little nod.
“And what are these?” Athena asked, looking down at the papers she now held.
“Apology letters, Ma’am,” Iris explained. “Like we said, we’re very sorry for what we did today.”
“Well, I accept your apologies. I’ll read these in a bit.” Athena shoved the notes into the pocket of her jeans. “Now, are you two ready to put that unpleasantness behind you and have some fun tonight?"
“Yeah!” the Littles cheered in unison.
“Good. Because we have plenty of arts and crafts as well as a bunch of Littles who are eager to play. We still have a full house here. So, you can take your pick of what you want to do.” She pointed to a spot on the walkway nearby where four Littles—two guys and two ladies—were coloring a large banner.
“They have plenty of space if you want to help them paint. They’re making a sign for the upcoming open house I’m hosting.
Littles are coming in from all over the area and even a few other states to see what the nursery has to offer.
Or there’s a group playing hide and seek.
I’m sure they’d love to have you join them, too. ”
Lana looked at Iris. “What do you want to do?”
“I’m sort of in the mood for hide and seek,” Iris answered.
“Sounds good to me.” She turned to Ace, threw her arms around him, and said, “Goodbye, Daddy.”
“Goodbye, honey. We’ll only be a few hours. But hopefully we can start closing this thing out so you can get your life back,” Ace said. He smirked and added, “Well, some of your old life back. Except you’ll live with me now.”
She giggled. As much as she enjoyed her apartment, living at the Guard’s mansion with Daddy and her new Uncles and Iris was even better! The main thing she wanted back was her job. Everything else could go away.
She had everything she’d ever dreamed of and more. What else could she ask for?
“You listen to Auntie tonight, okay?” Ace commanded.
“Yes, Sir,” Lana answered. She was feeling extra obedient after her spanking.
Not to mention more than a little humbled.
“Daddy, is what you’re doing dangerous?”
Much to her relief, Ace shook his head. “No. It’s mostly computer work.”
“Connected to what Stryker did earlier?”
She’d been told enough of the day’s plan—and overheard some—to have a pretty good idea that Stryker was hard at work trying to trace whoever put those cameras in her apartment.
“Yep. And this might be the big break we need. I bet we’ll find out where these guys are, call the cops, and have this thing settled soon. How does that sound?”
“Perfect!” she said with a giggle as she jumped on him again.
Once they were finished saying goodbye, she watched him go back down the walkway with Jack. She knew the other Guard members were just on the other side of the property wall, waiting in the big van that had driven the girls over.
“Be careful, Daddy! And… I love you!”
Part of her felt silly for blurting that out. She hadn’t known Ace long. Most people would think she was crazy for already falling for him.
But there was no denying it. She was in love with Daddy. There was no doubt in her mind.
Did he feel the same way?
She was relieved when he turned around and offered her a warm grin just before stepping out through the gate. “I love you, too, babygirl. You mind Auntie. I’ll be back soon.”
Lana giggled and waved.
Tonight was going to be perfect, she told herself. She’d have fun playing with Iris and the other Littles. And the Guard would do what they do best. Soon, this whole mess would be behind them and they could get on with their new life together.
But little did she know that just around the corner, someone lurked.
Someone who was preying on Little Lana.
It was an hour later, with the game of hide and seek still going strong, when an idea struck Lana.
“They keep getting away from us! They make it back to base before we can tag them every time. Which means we’re going to keep being it until we can turn the tables.”
Iris agreed. “Do you have a plan?”
“I sure do. I’m going to sneak out the front gate, climb the back fence, and come at them from behind. You come around from the front. We’ll trap them between us.”
She could tell Iris was thinking it over. A moment later, she said, “But you have to go off the property. Won’t you get in trouble?”
Lana shook her head. “It’s not like before. I’m not leaving or anything. Just going to try and turn the tables on them so we can be the ones to hide for a change.”
After some more thinking, Iris said, “That back fence is really high! It’s hard to climb. That’s sort of the point. And there’s lots of bushes beneath it. You’d have to jump in them and that would hurt!”
Lana waved it off. “Nah. I’m really good at climbing. Besides, I was looking at that tree back there earlier. Its branches extend far enough where I should be able to reach one and swing onto it, avoiding the bushes.” She shrugged. “It’s worth a shot so we have a chance at winning.”
“I guess it’s worth a shot,” Iris admitted. “But do you want me to do it?”
“No. It was my idea. I’ll take the risk.”
“Just don’t get caught. Auntie might spank you and if your bottom feels anything like mine, it’s still on fire! You don’t want to add to it.” She hugged her friend. “Be careful.”
Lana happily skipped off, ready to turn the tide on their opponents.