Page 64 of Break Me, Daddy

“I understand. I’ll take a look at whatever you need me to, as long as I don’t have to actually be in the same room as any of them.”

“Nope. Just pictures.” For now, anyway. Any group that was capable of putting that level of fear and paranoia into a woman as strong as Cordelia Summers likely had a history. And if he could find any evidence of criminal activity, he might need Cordelia’s testimony to help shut them down for good.

That was a bridge to be crossed when they came to it, however, so he didn’t press the issue. The party broke up pretty quickly after that, as nobody really seemed much in the mood for socializing after learning that someone they all cared about was potentially in danger.

As they made their way to their respective cars, he caught sight of Cordelia and Ivy out of the corner of his eye. The former had her babygirl pressed up against the side of their car, her fingers tangled in Ivy’s careful curls, both of them lost in the kiss they shared.

Jealousy wasn’t an emotion he was comfortable with, though he’d spent a lot of time courting it since he’d met his little siren. Usually it was the bright, furious kind sparked by watching her flirt with some Dom at the club.

This was something different. It still felt like jealousy, but it ran so much deeper. More of an ache in his gut than a spark of fury in his chest. It was a longing for something he’d thought he’d had, something that was somehow both right within his reach and just out of it.

Turning away from the scene at the car, and his own heartbreak, he looked over to find Frankie waiting for him by his own SUV, leaning back against it, her bright red hair a flame around her heart-shaped face as she stared down at her phone. Her mouth was turned down in a slight frown as tapped out a message.

A lover, perhaps? Maybe she’d put up a profile on one of those dating apps. The thought brought with it more than the pang of jealousy. It brought grief, the kind that made him wonder what the hell he’d been thinking by telling her he wanted to put the brakes on the romantic part of their relationship.

Ignoring the jumble of emotions tangling in his chest, he made his way over to the car to open her door for her. She barely glanced up, mumbling a “Thanks” as she climbed in the passenger seat and reached for her seatbelt.

That’s Daddy’s job.The words stuck in his throat. It was a protocol they’d established from the very beginning of their relationship, the first night he’d picked her up at a nightclub and brought her home with him.

But even though he was still, technically, her Daddy, it felt far too intimate to enforce now. If she wanted to set her own boundaries, keep her own distance from him, it wasn’t fair for him to insist differently.

Closing the car door, he blew out a breath, silently berating himself for being an idiot, and made his way around to the driver’s side door.

Frankie

She really should have known better.

Before they’d left for Ice and Silver’s house, she’d texted her mother, hoping whatever maternal instincts Delphine had might kick in and she’d be able to talk some sense into Frankie’s father.

No such luck.

MOM

Your father and I already discussed this, Francesca. If you aren’t going to at least make an effort, then we have no choice but to cut you off. We’ve spoiled you far too much already.

Spoiled?When? Where? Every fucking thing she’d ever gotten from them she’d had to earn. Even her rehab had come with so many strings attached she could have knitted herself a sweater from them.

FRANKIE

I am trying. But there’s nothing I can do until next semester anyway. I just need a little time.

MOM

You’ve had plenty of time and you’ve done nothing but waste it. Our decision is final, Francesca.

Loweringher phone to her lap, she turned her head to stare out the passenger side window, praying Holden wouldn’t see her tears. God knew she’d put him through enough lately, and now he had even more to worry about with Cordelia.

Who the fuck would have guessed the strong, take-no-shit-from-anyone badass Domme had escaped a cult? At least, that was what Frankie assumed had happened. It seemed to be heavily implied, though Cordelia hadn’t actually told them the whole story.

Guilt stabbed at her chest. How awful was she, worrying about losing access to her parent’s fortune, when one of her friends was facing so much worse?

Maybe she was as spoiled and selfish as her parents said.

That thought plagued her as they drove home, draped in a heavy silence that seemed to confirm her darkest thoughts. Holden wasn’t talking to her, because he’d also realized what a spoiled brat she was and he couldn’t stand to even look at her.

At home, she headed for their bedroom, pausing halfway up the stairs when she realized he wasn’t behind her. Turning, she met his dark gaze from where he’d stopped at the bottom of the stairs.

“I need to make some calls. You go on to bed, I don’t know what time I’ll be up.”

---