Page 22 of Paying Daddy's Debt Collector

“You got it, boss,” Bobby answers and rushes inside the hotel.

“You’re hurt,” Cassidy says, seeing the blood pooling on my shirt.

“It doesn’t matter. Let’s get you home.” I kiss her forehead and wrap my arm around her,

* * *

Back at my place,Cassidy insists that I let her take a look at my gunshot wound. I grunt my disapproval then take off my shirt to reveal the hole in my shoulder just under my collarbone. I inspect my shirt and smile. “See the hole in the back of the sleeve? That’s from the exit wound. It went right through me.”

“So, you have two holes in you instead of one and that’s a good thing?”

“Yes, baby girl. That’s a good thing. It means I don’t need somebody to go digging around in my arm to pull out the bullet.”

“Well, I’m still going to clean it and patch you up. Come up to the bathroom.”

I follow her to the bathroom and sit down on the commode. She steps in front of me with a bottle of alcohol and some gauze, but I put my hands on her hips and pull her close enough to kiss. Her lips taste even sweeter now. I loosen my grip on her so she can work on my arm. When she’s satisfied with the job she’s done, I pull her onto my lap.

“You don’t know how crazy I was when you were gone. I would have burned that casino down with everyone in it if it would have helped me find you.”

“I know. I never doubted it for a second, but I have to tell you something.”

“What?” I ask as my blood pressure rises.

“I almost went with him willingly. He lied to me and told me that my father sent him. He said he was on his deathbed and wanted to see me.”

“And, what? You snuck out on me?”

“No, I said I almost went willingly. After I thought about it, I realized that you wouldn’t keep me from my father if he was dying. I knew that if I told you I wanted to see him, you would take me, so I told that man ‘no’ and he kidnapped me. I just wanted to be honest about it, that’s all.”

I take a moment to consider what she’s told me and squeeze her tightly against me.

“We need to make some changes.”

“What kind of changes? Are you upset with me?” Her face turns red and her eyes glaze over.

“No, little girl. I’m a bit upset with you, but starting tomorrow, we’re gonna do things differently. You’re my girl now. Is that what you want?”

“Yes.” The smile returns to her face.

“Alright, then. Tomorrow, I’m going to take you out. It’s time we have our first date.”

“I’d like that.” She rests her head on my chest. “I’d like that a lot, Daddy.”

Fuck. That word. “Good, now clean yourself up and meet me downstairs. I’m gonna make you some dinner.”

11

CASSIDY

The sun is streaming through the window as I struggle to brush the sleep-induced fuzziness from my mind.

I look at my phone and nearly have a stroke. It’s one in the afternoon, and I didn’t get up to care for the dogs this morning. Chris probably got up early for work and has no idea I’ve slept through my morning obligations. I leap out of bed and hurry to throw on some clothes. I run a toothbrush across my teeth and look in the mirror.

“Ugh, glad it’s just me and the housekeeper. I look like shit,” I tell myself.

I’m moving so quickly through the house that I slide around the corner to the kitchen and nearly slam headfirst into Chris.

“You’re up. I thought you might sleep all day.”

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