Page 44 of Daddy's Protection
“Ready,” Iris said with a giggle. “This is going to be amazing.”
Picking up her phone and putting it in her pocket, Cami said, “Let’s go play our parts.”
She and Lana stepped out from under the wooden structure and did their best to look frantic. Harrison probably should have done this part, Cami thought. He was the actor. But he and Stryker were needed elsewhere. So, she’d just have to try her hardest to seem convincing.
“There’s no way I’m going back there!” she cried frantically. “Not after what I saw.”
“But Cami,” Lana pleaded loudly. “My phone fell. We have to get it.”
Tonya and her entourage had just stepped into the backyard and were drawn to the commotion. The snotty ringleader sighed and said, “What are you two losers fighting about?”
Cami did her best to look hurt. “We aren’t losers. And we aren’t fighting. We’re just… disagreeing.”
“I lost my phone back there in the trees,” Lana said, pointing to the back portion of the yard that was covered in tastefully manicured, yet thick growth. Auntie Athena once told her she’d planted it for privacy. There was a small alleyway behind the property that people walked through, and she didn’t want anyone spying on the Littles. So, it was a mixture of bushes, palm trees, and other greenery that backed up to the high, white stucco fence.
It made for a great hiding spot during hide-and-seek games.
And it was also great for pranks, apparently.
“Well, just go get your phone.” Tonya’s voice was mocking, doing a really bad impression of Lana.
“We… can’t. I saw something back there. A… monster,” Cami said, hanging her head in shame.
It took a moment, as if Tonya had to replay the admission in her mind to make sure she actually heard what she thought she heard. But soon she started laughing.
“Did you hear that? These losers think they saw a monster!”
Her minions behind her laughed on cue.
They’ve got to do what their dear leader wants them to do, Cami thought, suppressing a smile.
She continued to look pained, though. She had a part to play. And she intended to sell it.
“You two are so pathetic,” Tonya said with a shake of her head. “There’s no such thing as monsters.”
“I saw it!” Cami protested.
“Oh, boo-hoo. You’re just a scared little baby. That’s why you wear diapers.” She laughed as her eyes fell below Cami’s waist to the obvious poof beneath her leggings.
Had Cami not been so wrapped up in this prank, she probably would have felt self-conscious about it. Right now, though, she was too giddy to feel embarrassed.
“Hey, we’re all Littles here. This is a nursery,” Lana pointed out.
“Oh, I’m a Little. But I don’t wear baby pants like you two. But I don’t expect anything else from losers like you.”
Some of her friends snickered.
Cami almost wanted to call off the prank and go tell Auntie Athena. There was no way the nursery’s matriarch would tolerate such meanness. But this was going to be too good, and she didn’t want to ruin it.
Trying to sound as hurt as possible, she said, “Look, why don’t you just leave us alone. We’ll figure this out ourselves.”
But the brat and her gang didn’t seem to be going anywhere.
“Oh, I’ll go find your phone. But I’m not going to get it for you. I just want to show you that there are no such thing as monsters. You’re scared for no reason.”
Tonya marched past them, her friends dutifully following.
Staying behind for a moment, Cami and Lana exchanged humored glances before following.
