Page 44 of Gator
“I know you will, but now that we have confirmation this is connected to that trafficking ring, it’s going to take time to get it all sorted out.”
“You would think it would be the other way. That since they know it’s something that serious, they would move faster.”
“You would think so, but the bigger the case, the more hoops they have to jump through, and they want to make sure the case is airtight.”
“So I guess that means it isn’t going to be over with anytime soon.”
He reached over and took my hand. “Fraid not, sugar.”
“I might need to take a look at my schedule then.” I’d worked so hard to turn The Shag Shack into what it is today, and I refused to let these guys take that away from me. But I did wonder if it would be better if I took a week or two off. I hadn’t taken a vacation since I’d opened, and Migs could run the place without me. Most of my clients were regulars and would forgive me if I had to reschedule their appointments either for a later date or with one of my other stylists.
“That’s up to you, Jules. I’m happy to come sit up here and keep an eye on things while you work your magic.”
“I’m sure you have other work to do.”
“Nothing as important as making sure you are safe.” He gave my hand a squeeze.
“Maybe at the very least I can reschedule some of my clients and only come in for the ones that can’t wait.” I took a quick mental run through my schedule, and I could only think of three people who would have an issue with the change. “I should probably gopick up a few more things from my place, though. I only brought enough for a few days.”
“No problem, sugar. Do you want to do it now or later on tonight?”
“We might as well do it now since I don’t live far from here.”
A few minutes later, he pulled up in front of my house.
“Did you turn the alarm off?”
I nodded. “I did, and I know the drill, Daddy. I’ll wait right here.”
He chuckled and leaned over to brush a kiss across my lips. “Good boy. I know it’s a pain, but it makes me feel better to check first.”
I watched as he went up to my door, and damn that man’s ass was to die for. I knew they had a gym downstairs in the Three Bears building, and I was pretty sure Gator made good use of it. You didn’t get glutes like that without a lot of work.
A few minutes later, he came out and opened the door for me. “All clear in there.”
“You know I would’ve gotten an alert if anyone came in, right?”
“You’d get an alert if they opened a door like a normal person. These guys cut power, jam signals, or pop a window like it’s nothing. I don’t trust apps. I trust cleared rooms.”
“Of course you don’t. Come here.” I reached for his neck and pulled him down for a quick kiss. “Thank you for taking such good care of me, Daddy.”
He dropped his forehead to mine. “Always,mon petit. Always. Now let’s go get your things.”
“I don’t need much. There’s a washer and dryer in the apartment, so I should be okay with just a few more things,” I said as I followed him inside the house. He mumbled something, but I didn’t catch it because his back was to me. “What did you say?”
“I said we should probably take the larger cage for Trixie.”
I was pretty sure that wasn’t what he said, but it was so sweet of him to think about her, I let it go.
“It’s huge. Are you sure?”
“Yeah. We’ll probably have to lay it on its side, so you’ll have to take all her stuff out, but I’m sure it’ll fit in the back.”
“I mean, are you sure you want to go to that much trouble?”
“You said she shouldn’t be in that small one for long, right? So let’s take her cage so she’ll be more comfortable.”
If I wasn’t already half gone over the man, I would’ve been after that. Trixie and I were a package deal. African Greys can live for between forty and eighty years, and she wasn’t but around ten years old, so yeah, love me, love my bird was a thing.