Page 25 of Daddy’s Protection (The Daddy Guard #3)

“It’s Halloween!”

The words were spoken by Cami as she ran into the den where Iris and Lana waited.

It was several days after Cami and Isaiah had consummated their relationship— for the first of many times. By now, she couldn’t keep her hands off Daddy. Plus, she had a newfound confidence—since Daddy couldn’t keep his hands off her !

She had also settled into a new routine in the Guard’s mansion, as well.

Life was going pretty good. In fact, at this point, she didn’t know what she’d do when the mess at her old house was straightened out.

Moving back in didn’t seem like the best option.

She’d miss Daddy too much. Perhaps she’d just rent it out or something while staying at the Guards’ mansion.

There was time to figure all that out. Today was the spookiest day of the year.

And one of the most fun!

“It’s going to be a blast!” Iris said, sitting at a card table that had a protective canvas over the green felt.

It was a good thing, too. Because she and Lana had pumpkins and paint out.

“Come on. We got you a pumpkin,” Lana said, patting the empty chair beside her. “Our Daddies wouldn’t let us get a knife and actually carve. But we can paint some jack-o-lanterns.”

“That’s a good idea,” Jack said as he entered the room from a door on the opposite end, strolling past the beautiful, distinguished wood paneling and built-in bookshelves that lined the wall.

Behind him were Isaiah and Ace. “And you’re right about the knife.

Too dangerous. But we carved some for you three. ”

Cami’s eyes lit up when she realized each Daddy was holding a jack-o-lantern. “Thank you!”

“Thought these would go good on the porch tonight when all the trick-or-treaters come by. Of course, they can’t compete with Stryker’s decorations. But they’ll add some spooky atmosphere.”

“I think they’re just perfect.” Cami spoke the words as she jumped on Daddy.

He laughed as he fumbled the pumpkin. Somehow, he managed to hold onto it and Cami.

She’d been jumping on him a lot lately. But she couldn’t help herself. In Daddy’s arms was her favorite place to be.

“We need to talk about tonight,” he announced.

“Is everything okay?” she asked.

“Just fine. But there’s a break in your case. Why don’t you girls have a seat on the couch while we explain.”

The three Littles moved to the sitting area while the Daddies stood before them, as if giving a presentation.

“We have a couple of hours until the festivities start,” Jack said. “But we might be tied up until then.”

“It’s about my house?” Cami asked.

All three Daddies nodded, but it was Isaiah who explained.

“We installed some cameras in your house. Sure enough, we caught a guy coming inside.”

The announcement sent chills up Cami’s spine—and they weren’t of the fun, Halloween variety.

“A man was in my house? Was it the guy who set up the projector and faked the ghosts and all that?”

“There’s no way to know for sure,” Isaiah told her. “But odds are it was. Here’s the kicker: we recognized him.”

The Littles gasped.

Jack took over the explanation. “His name is Jeremiah Bond. Used to be a bailiff. As cops, we had to testify in lots of cases. We were at the courthouse quite a bit.”

“More than we wanted to be,” Isaiah added. “But sure enough, the guy on the video inside your house is good ol’ Jeremiah.”

“Let me guess,” Cami said, “he was a bailiff in Judge McConnell’s courtroom.”

“You’d make a good detective, honey,” Isaiah told her with a proud smile and a wink. “And yes. It seems Jeremiah is still doing the judge’s bidding.”

“We need to explore this some more,” Ace said.

“But obviously, this is a big break in the case. We have a friend at the hall of records who is going to stay open a little later for us tonight so we can see just how many properties the judge owns. And we might watch McConnell for a while. See if he incriminates himself in any way.”

“If we get enough, we can take it to some of our buddies who are still on the force,” Jack said. “But will you cuties be okay on your own?”

“Of course,” Iris replied. “But we don’t want you to miss all the fun.”

Jack grinned. “Never. We’ll be gone just a few hours tops. I promise.”

Cami exchanged glances with the other ladies. “We could catch a ride-share. Go hang out at Auntie Athena’s for a while and then move the party over here.”

They all agreed.

“Just be careful,” Isaiah told her. “Stryker and Harison are coming over tonight, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Good. Maybe let them answer the door when trick-or-treaters come.”

“Yes, Sir,” she said. “But may I still help pass out candy?”

“Of course, my love.”

Cami giggled.

This was going to be the best Halloween ever.