Page 221 of The Daddy P.I. Casefiles: The Second Collection
“CityMD on East Thirty-Seventh, but I’ll bring him to your place. He’s in a bad way, Bren. Asshole used him as a punching bag when he was done.”
“Has he said who it was?” Cappa’s one of the few house submissives who still trolls the New York clubs for tops, and this isn’t the first time that he’s made a bad choice and ended up a victim instead of a bottom. But Cappa’s also come out of a few scenes at the club more torn up than anyone should be. There’s a dark rumor at the club that he won’t use his safe word there and that a couple of the Blunts Doms are taking advantage of it. I’venever hoped that club gossip is just bullshit more than right now. “Is it anyone we know?”
“He said it’s no one we know and he’ll put the guy on the club blacklist just in case, but I don’t know, Bren. I think he’s lying. Maybe you can get it out of him.”
If he’s not too much of a mess, I’ll try. “Okay. Text me when you get here so I can open the security door for you. Should I call anyone?”
Austin’s silent for a long moment. “Master Logan.”
Hell.
“Are you sure? What about Mistress Maude or Ryan?”
“I’m sure.”
I blow out a long breath. I’m just endearing myself to Logan all over the place today. “Okay, I will.”
That’s how, for the second time in fourteen hours, I find myself in Logan and Emily’s guest bedroom. I’m wearing Mac’s clothes again, this time a T-shirt, because Logan didn’t even give me time to pack an overnight bag before he swept me up in an Uber on the way to CityMD. I’m in the guest bed, curled around a man’s back again, but this time it’s Cappa’s slender, bony back instead of Mac’s huge frame and it’s the smell of sweat, antiseptic, and Cappa’s patchouli cologne in my nose instead of Mac’s warm tea, tobacco, and leather scent.
Cappa’s sleeping deeply now, and like last night, I’m lying awake, staring at the ceiling, looking for answers in the shadows.
Why is it that everything exciting, everything really satisfying, is dangerous? I know submission is dangerous. Giving my physical and mental safety over to a man whowantsto hurt me is dangerous. There could be no clearer examplethan Cappa, lying next to me with sixteen stitches and strapped ribs. Why couldn’t knitting fill my soul the way submission does? Of course, I’ve never tried knitting. Would knitting give me orgasms? Probably not. Unless I pierced my own clit with a knitting needle. They’re sharp, right?
I sigh and lift my phone off my chest to check the screen. It’s dark. No response from Mac. I’m being an idiot. It’s after two in the morning. He’s probably asleep. Everyone else is. I should be. I’m going to really regret two nights of fucked up sleep tomorrow.
My phone screen lights up, chasing back the room’s shadows.
I found her. She’s a mess. I’ll need to stay a few days to get her help. Rain check on this weekend?
I smile stupidly at the screen before I text back.
No problem. Glad you found her. Hope she gets better soon.
Mac sends back a thumbs up, which deflates my smile a little. But he’s probably exhausted. I am, even though I can’t seem to close my eyes and turn off my mind. Beside me, Cappa shudders and whimpers in his sleep. I rub my hand up and down his arm, avoiding putting any pressure on his broken ribs, while letting my phone drop back onto my chest so the room falls dark again.
I’m still clutching my phone to my chest when the door opening wakes me. Emily peeks in and I see the hall behind her is filled with light. I blink blearily, feeling like I haven’t slept at all. I shift away from Cappa, so I don’t wake him when I stretch. Every muscle complains. First separately and then all together. Damn, I feel like Mac hit me with a dozen rubber mallets instead of a few strips of animal hide.
Rubbing my very sore neck, I roll carefully out of bed and pad over to the door.
“I let you sleep in as long as I could,” Emily whispers.
What the hell time is it? I check my phone and feel surprise ripple through me like a cramp. Five minutes to noon.
“Thanks for waking me, hon. I’ve got to jet. I’m gonna be late.”
Emily nods. “Daddy asked me to ask you if Cappa said anything more to you about who hurt him?”
I shake my head. “He’s sticking to the same story as last night.”
“Daddy says he’s going to stay with us until the weekend. Can you come back tonight?”
I lean in and kiss her on the head. “Yeah, I’m closing tonight, but I’ll come straight here afterwards.”
“I’ll keep dinner warm for you.”
“You don’t need to feed me.”
“I know. It’s chicken chasseur with sourdough bread.”
