Page 25 of Shotgun Daddy
But Reece couldn’t resist giving a small glance behind him once more. And he was there again, lingering by the granola, trying to act natural but failing badly. Whoever this creep was, he really needed acting lessons!
Reece’s stomach twisted, and he felt his heart thumping hard and fast inside him. This wasn’t a fluke, the man was definitely following him. He darted down the next aisle of pasta and sauces, the shelves a blur of red jars and yellow boxes. Reece grabbed a jar of marinara he didn’t need, his hands trembling as he tossed it into the cart, and risked another peek. He was closer now, maybe ten feet away, pretending to study a box of spaghetti. His dark suit looked like a cheaper version of the kind of suit that Faustino would wear, and this only added to Reece’s worries. He didn’t know who this man was, but every fiber of him screamed danger.
Stay calm.
Don’t panic.
Act causal, and ask Daddy…
Reece’s fingers fumbled for his phone in his pocket, nearly dropping it as he typed a message to Faustino…
REECE: At grocery store. Guy in dark suit following me. Scared. What do I do, Daddy?
Reece hit send, clutching the cart’s handle so tight his knuckles whitened, and wheeled toward the checkout.
The aisles blurred past… baking goods, frozen foods… his eyes darting for any sign of him. There he was again, near the bread, his hat dipping as he turned his way.
Reece felt his phone buzz and Faustino’s reply flashing across the screen…
FAUSTINO: Get out NOW. First Uber you see, come to my hotel suite. Address incoming. Don’t wait around, don’t hesitate, but do not run. Keep it as low key as you can, boy. Daddy’s Orders.
In his panic, Reece immediately forgot about the no running part of Faustino’s message. As he abandoned his cart mid-aisle, a few shoppers glanced his way as he speed-walked and par ran toward the exit, his sneakers squeaking on the floor, the automatic doors whooshing open as he burst into the parking lot.
A cab was loitering just outside the parking lot having moments ago dropped someone off. Reece quickly looked around for the man who had been following him and made a dash for the cab, yanking the door open and sliding into the backseat, his chest heaving.
“Drive, please, anywhere for now,” Reece said, struggling to contain his emotions. “I’ll give you the address in a second. Please, just floor it!”
“You got it, kid,” the driver replied, duly powering away and leaving the grocery store parking lot in the dust as they weaved through the city traffic at speed.
Reece could feel the sweat dripping down his back.
This wasn’t good. In fact, it was terrible.
Faustino had promised to protect him, and Reece believed him, but this was just a trip to get some groceries, and he had found himself running away from danger in every aisle.
Something had to change, and it had to change quickly…
“Wow, if this was my home, I’d never leave,” Reece said, looking in awe at the hotel suite that Faustino was currently taking residence in. “It’s so big. So much room to play. And no housemates getting in the way and stealing your ketchup!”
“Ha, yes, there is that,” Faustino smiled, shutting the door behind him. “But listen to me, we need to be serious for a moment.”
Reece stopped and took a seat on the big, elegant couch that looked out onto the floor to ceiling window that overlooked the whole city.
“I know,” Reece said, his mind suddenly right back inside the grocery store and trying to remember as much as he could about the man who was following him. “I don’t think I can remember much beyond his suit. It was like yours. But… kinda not as good.”
Reece looked at Faustino as he paced up and down. It was clear that this was troubling him, and Reece was sure that he hadn’t made it up in his head either. This was real, there was no doubting that now.
“Leave this with me,” Faustino grumbled. “I know people. Well, you know that already. But trust me, I’ll get to the bottom of this.”
With that, Faustino walked to the couch and took a seat next to Reece. As their eyes met, a spark lit between them – the same spark that occurred in the back of Faustino’s SUV.
“Kiss me,” Faustino said, leaning on the couch’s firm back. “Climb on top of me and kiss me, boy. That’s an order.”
“Yes, Daddy,” Reece said, his special place immediately lighting up and turning the heat all the way to ten. “Like this?”
Reece duly climbed onto Faustino’s lap and began to kiss his lips. Soft and quick, over and over.
“Good,” Faustino purred, his eyes wild with desire but somehow managing to control himself. “Now take your top off. And your trousers. But keep your briefs on.”
