Page 120 of The Daddy P.I. Casefiles: The Second Collection

“Time to go, Max,” De Leon says.

I couldn’t agree more.

We’re out the door in less than twenty minutes. Maybe even less than ten. I pack up the few things we left out this morning before heading into Exeter and carry the bags downstairs while De Leon settles up with Miz Skirmish. I can hear Miranda crying as I pass the small office off the bar, but I don’t stop either to check on her or to take a parting shot. I want out of here. I’ve done what I came to do and now it’s time to go home.

To where my bumble’s waiting for me.

De Leon falls into step with me on the way to the front door, takes his bags out of my hand, and walks with me to the waiting Uber. My skin starts crawling as we near the car. Maybe it’s eyes on us. If Miranda found us, Ness’s mercs can, too. Maybe it’s just paranoia. Once we climb into our seats, I pull the hoodie up over my head and sink down so they can’t get a shot over the backrest.

“You okay?” De Leon asks as the car pulls out onto the street.

“Never better,” I tell him.

“You need an ice pack or anything for your face?”

I shake my head. I feel the heat and sting, the throb in the bone. But I don’t care. I’ve conquered the dragon. Now I can go home.

De Leon didn’t bother to share with me why he keeps his plane in Philly rather than New York or further upstate, but since it’s less than two hours’ drive on top of the transatlantic flight, I don’t argue with him.

I am a little surprised by the change of driver, though.

As soon as the rickety plane stairs descend, Mac pushes off Manny’s limo, parked on the tarmac. His blue eyes are bright despite it being close to one in the morning. Then I remember it’s only one in the morning for me. Fucking time difference.

“Mac, what the hell are you doing here?” I ask as he wraps me in a hug.

“Lo told me about your close call. I wasn’t letting anyone else see you safely home.”

I thump him on the back until he releases me. He steps back and offers a wary hand to De Leon, who shakes without hesitation. “Master Chief.”

I had no idea De Leon knew Mac, or vice versa.

“Thanks for bringing our boy home safe,” Mac says. “Lo’d like it if you came to his for a debrief, but I appreciate you may feel you’re off the clock.”

De Leon shrugs. “I’m not getting paid by the hour. I’m happy to debrief.”

Mac makes me get into the limo while we wait for De Leon to talk to a guy in a high-vis jumpsuit. Manny’s limo isn’t armored, although the windshield and rear windows are bulletproof, but I don’t argue. I feel safer in its familiar confines.

“Mission accomplished?” Mac asks me as he watches De Leon through the windshield.

“Yes,” I say. And more. Now that I’m hours away from it, I wonder if I did the right thing, confronting Miranda and letting her know what we have on her. I could have walked away. Maybe it was stupid not to. Maybe the same instincts that have pushed me in first Emily’s direction and then Cynnie’s pushed me to protect my friend. Maybe it was something more basic and less admirable than that.

Whatever, it’s done. I pull out my phone, hook back into my own network via the router in the limo, and place some orders that I was contemplating while in England but wanted to do from behind my own aliases and firewalls. Miranda’s accusations are still itching under my skin. I need to spend some time sanitizing any public record her lawyer could find about the things Logan, Emily, and I purchase. I don’t want the evidenceI’ve gathered undermined by an accusation of pedophilia. Fuck if she’s going to prevent Logan from getting custody by smearing his name that way.

Once I’ve checked out of the toy company’s website, I flip my phone over to my messages.

I’m back. All okay with Ty?

Brenna answers as De Leon climbs into the SUV beside me and Mac starts the engine.

Brenna: All good, Daddy Max. I chapped him and his girl to a PG movie. They kissed, no tongue. Trip okay?

The lack of tongue makes me smile.

All okay. Tell me the magic words again?

She sends back a row of smiling emojis.

Brenna: You’re not a pedophile, Daddy Max. You’re awesome and you’re going to make a little very happy.