She shrugs. “It wasn’t a big deal. Kind of soothing actually.”
I smile. “Lots of Littles find a spanking to be comforting. That’s not unusual. Some Littles prefer to ask their Daddies to spank them when they need to zone out. It can give you a release when you’re stressed.”
She slowly nods. “I can see why.”
“Good girl. Are you ready to go to the library now?”
Her face lights up, and she smiles.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Cannon
* * *
I’ve never seen my girl so animated in the time I’ve known her. She flits around the library like I’ve taken her to an amusement park, bouncing on her toes in the aisles. And we visit nearly every aisle because she doesn’t want to miss a single genre or topic. Fiction and non-fiction.
I stay right beside her the entire time, letting her pile her selections in my arms. I don’t care if we’re there for ten hours. Whatever it takes to keep that smile on her face.
As soon as we’re back at the SUV, I settle her books in the back seat and help her into the front passenger seat. I buckle her in and round to the other side.
Eloise is still giggling and clapping her hands together as I start the car. Before I put it in reverse, my phone buzzes. The caller ID on the dashboard indicates Blade is calling, so I connect. “What’s up?”
“Cannon. Are you still at the library?”
I stiffen. I don’t like the tone of his voice. In fact, I immediately make sure the doors are locked and look around in a three-sixty. “Yes. We just got back in the SUV.”
“Sorry to tell you this, but we think Larkin is in Seattle.”
Eloise gasps, her excitement instantly ending.
I reach over and take her hand. “How? I checked with Mace before we left the apartment. He said Larkin was seen leaving his house this morning in Virginia.”
“Yeah, and he’s kicking himself right now. So is Tank. Apparently, Larkin played us. He was sharper than we gave him credit for. It would seem he discovered the camera Tank installed to surveil his front door. He installed his own camera next to it, recorded himself coming and going for twenty-four hours, and then managed to put his video on repeat, overriding ours.”
“Fuck,” I growl.
“Yes. Believe me. There’s a lot of that going on around here.”
“How did Mace figure it out?”
“About twenty minutes ago, he realized that Larkin was wearing the same clothes as yesterday, then he went back and found the spot where the feed started over. This is the second day. So, we have to assume Larkin flew in yesterday.”
I glance at my watch. “Shit. If he checked the schedule at the school, he must be there now, expecting Eloise to get out in thirty minutes.”
“Exactly. I’ve got people on their way now. You should head back here.”
I wince. The last thing I want is for anyone to deal with Larkin instead of me. Today is that man’s last day on Earth, and I’ll be the one to watch him take his last breath. No one else.
When I look toward Eloise, she’s shaking, but her spine is rigid as she sits tall. “Go to the school,” she demands.
I shake my head. “No, angel. I won’t put you in harm’s way.”
She points toward the street. “You don’t have time to take me home first. Besides, I’ll be able to identify him. If he’s sitting in the parking lot waiting for me to come out of class, I’ll know it’s him from the car. Your men don’t know him like I do. They’ve only seen pictures and grainy images from a distance. You can’t risk him getting away. This is your only chance.”
I’m surprised she’s so adamant about this. So brave and strong.
Blade speaks again. “She’s got a point, Cannon.”
