Page 105 of Ruin Me, Daddy

“Sounds good. I’ll, ah, talk to you then.”

“And Ice?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

Emotion clogged his throat, nearly choking him as he gave her the words back. “I love you too, Mom.”

The moment the call ended, Silver’s arms were around his neck. He clung to her as the storm raged inside him, buried himself in the warmth of her love until he felt steady enough to speak.

“They want to come to visit. The weekend after Thanksgiving.”

“Really?” Tears filled her eyes as a grin split her face. “Oh, Ice, that’s amazing! I knew she’d come around.”

“Yeah. She said they’ve been going to therapy, her and Dad.”

“Good. I can’t imagine what this has done to them. I hope it helps them heal.”

Lifting a hand, he tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “I love you.”

Pure joy lit her face. “I love you, too.”

“I’ve been thinking… How would you feel if I made an offer on this house? It wouldn’t have to be our primary residence but?—”

“Yes!” She cut him off with a delighted squeal. “Whatever they want for it, we’ll pay it.”

“Within reason,” he said with a laugh. “Let’s not get carried away.”

“Nope, I’ve made up my mind. We’re buying this house, no matter what.”

“Hmm.” Settling his hands on her hips, he forced his expression into stern lines. “That sounds a bit like you trying to give orders to your Daddy, little girl.”

Pink rose to her cheeks as her pupils darkened and her lips parted on a sharp intake of breath. “What if I am?”

“Well, as you said earlier… I am always looking for a reason to spank you.”

With a shriek of laughter, she leapt up from his lap and took off for the bedroom. He chased her into the room, and back out again. Around and around they went until he finally captured her, pinning her to the bed beneath him.

Which is where he kept her for the rest of the morning, as he reminded her over and over again who she belonged to.

Now, and forever.

EPILOGUE

BECKETT

AUCTION NIGHT

From the back of the pit, he watched the auction play out. Ice certainly had his hands full with bratty little Silver, but he seemed to like it that way. Even after that brattiness had nearly gotten her killed, it didn’t look like Ice was attempting to curb her defiance in the slightest.

It made Beckett itch, little ants of worry and anxiety crawling under his skin every time he thought about how Silver had looked in that hospital bed. Soft and pale and lifeless. And him, helpless to do a damn thing about it, just like before.

Not the same. It’s not the same at all.

The one saving grace in all this was that the asshole who’d put her in the hospital was on the other side of the country, and from what Beckett had heard his parents had him under careful guard.

Still, he couldn’t quite understand how Ice could just laugh when Silver thumbed her nose at his rules yet again. He knew damn well Ice hadn’t wanted her to play tonight, that he was still worried about the potential damage to her hands. But Silver had found a way around him, yet again.

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