Page 13 of Daddy’s Protection (The Daddy Guard #3)

“It’s repulsive!” Lana yelled with an excited laugh.

She was right, Cami thought. The ghoulish scene before them was quite repulsive, indeed.

They were back at the Guard’s mansion. Before them were two “corpses”—a man and a woman—standing in the backyard. They had molten, spotted skin that drooped off their faces revealing tormented, sunken eyes. Patchy hair sprouted on top of their heads, broken up by the chunks of exposed skull.

“Oh, it gets better,” Stryker announced. “Harrison, if you would be so kind as to do the honors.”

Holding his phone, Harrison nodded and then tapped on the screen.

Suddenly, the corpses’ jaws fell slack. An ear-piercing scream emitted from them as their skin slid off their face to reveal a now fully exposed skull.

Their eyes glowed a bright red, too.

“That’s awesome!” Cami, Iris, and Lana cheered in unison while clapping.

From the patio, Isaiah asked, “How many more freaky things you going to bring over, Stryker?”

The director grinned devilishly. “As many as y’all want! We have a Halloween party to plan for.”

Cami looked back at the guys. Next to Isaiah, Jack shook his head in disbelief. Ace chuckled and groaned.

“Technically he and Harrison own the damn mansion,” Cami heard Isaiah mutter. “Guess he can do whatever he wants here.”

Ace chuckled again.

Jack appeared resigned to the fact that the place he called home was being taken over by the spirit of Halloween. At least, that’s what the look on his face, along with his lack of protest, told Cami.

“Where we going to put all this stuff?” Harrison asked. “The third floor is already filling up with things. We have that guillotine. And the coffins. Frankenstein and Dracula are hanging out up there, too, along with the stuff for us to build the mummy’s tomb.”

“Oh,” Jack said in a lifeless tone. “That’s… a lot.”

Cami tried not to laugh. The Daddies were clearly having a hard time with all this.

Such was probably normal when living with Littles. Craziness and shenanigans abounded, Cami figured.

This was just the sort of things she’d always dreamed of getting involved in, too. She was glad she had Little friends now so she could be part of the fun.

Did she have a Daddy, too?

Her eyes darted to Isaiah. If the affectionate gaze he was casting her way was any indication, she did.

Remember, he doesn’t want the fat girl, Cami. Calm down.

“Now, how come you all aren’t going to Auntie Athena’s Halloween party?” Ace probed. “Sounds like she’s going to have quite the setup. Lots of snacks and games. I heard they were even setting up a haunted hallway or something like that.”

Jack nodded. “I heard that, too. You walk down a hallway and monsters pop out and scare you and give you candy and stuff.” He raised his eyebrows as if imploring the Littles to think about how fun that would be. “Sounds pretty fun to me. Unless you’re too scared.”

The other Littles scoffed at the idea. Cami giggled.

“I’m sure it’ll be fun,” Iris said. “And we’ll stop by there and see everyone. But… well, that party is for babies. We want something scary.”

“Oh, you’re not a baby?” Jack said wearing a good-natured smile. “And how’s your diaper, little girl?”

Cami looked at Iris in time to see her blush. “Wet. But that’s not the point. Halloween is supposed to be scary! And Auntie Athena wants to keep her party tame so no one gets freaked out. Our party , on the other hand, is going to freak everyone out!”

The Littles—including Cami—cheered at the declaration.

Jack sighed. Ace was still laughing to himself. Isaiah still seemed to have his eyes fixed right on Cami—a fact that was not lost on her.

“We can store some of this stuff in the guest room I’m staying in,” Cami stated.

She had to catch herself, having almost said my room . The mansion wasn’t her home. Yet.

Again, Cami, calm down. You don’t have a prayer with Isaiah.

But he sure sounded like her Daddy when he said, “Honey, are you sure that won’t freak you out? You need to get a good night’s sleep, little one. I don’t want you waking up and seeing these… things… lurking in the shadows.”

She waved off the notion. “I’m all good. I promise.”

“Sweet! And thanks,” Stryker said. “Me and Harrison will carry them upstairs.”

“Yeah. And we’ll bring over some more tomorrow,” Harrison added. “Just wait until you see the zombie organ player. He sits at a little organ and his hands actually move. It’s cool!”

“Oh great,” Camie heard Jack grumble. “Can’t hardly wait…”

Cami was ready for bed.

She had on a dry diaper, pajama bottoms, and a short t-shirt. Isaiah was in the bedroom with her, and she kept tugging her shirt down, wishing it covered more of her stomach.

The last thing he wants to see is my big belly hanging out! That’s more repulsive than the zombie things standing in the corner.

“What are you thinking about, honey?” Isaiah asked her.

“Just… stuff.”

“What stuff?”

He was grinning at her, which made her duck her head bashfully and stifle a giggle.

“The Halloween party is going to be fun,” she told him.

She didn’t technically tell him that’s what she was thinking about. So she wasn’t lying to him.

That’s what she told herself anyway, trying to soothe her aching conscience.

“I bet you’ll have a blast. What all will you do?” he asked as he pulled the covers back on the bed and stood aside.

Getting the hint, she hopped in and got comfortable.

This felt wonderful! He was tucking her in just like a Daddy would. Only if he were her Daddy, he’d get in beside her and cuddle up close. Mmm. His strong arms would hold her tight all night long.

It would be perfect.

If only I weren’t so fat. Then maybe he’d want to do that.

Remembering his question, she tried to stuff those feelings deep inside. But they were always with her. Unfortunately.

Clearing her head, she answered, “We’ll have games and food. And of course, pass out candy. I bet this neighborhood gets lots of trick-or-treaters.”

Isaiah pulled the covers up and then sat down on the bed beside her. “Probably. But I didn’t live here last year. The Guard is kind of new.”

“Yeah. But this is a rich neighborhood. So kids probably come thinking they’ll get really good candy. Like full-size candy bars and stuff,” she noted.

“Those animatronics Stryker is rigging up are going to freak everyone out,” he said.

“I know! Won’t it be awesome?”

Isaiah chuckled. “Right now, I just hope they don’t freak you out tonight. You sure you don’t want me to move them to my room?”

“It’s all good,” she said, looking at the ghastly statues that stood close by.

They were terrifying-looking, but she knew they weren’t real. Despite the crinkling sound her diaper made when she shifted in bed, she was a big girl. She could handle this.

“You’ve had a big day. Get some rest, cutie. Tomorrow, I’m going to do some investigating. I bet soon enough we’ll have that little situation at your house all cleared up.”

“And then I can go home,” she noted.

He laughed. “I didn’t say that. I might just keep you.”

He playfully bopped her nose. She giggled.

But what he did next had her melting.

Isaiah stood, leaned down, and gave her a quick, tender kiss on the side of her head before switching off the lamp.

It was heavenly.