Oddly, I feel cleansed as I enter the playroom.
“That was intense,” June whispers. “Are you okay?”
I smile at her. “That was amazing.”
Eloise giggles. “You go, girl. Take what you need from life.”
Sobering, I ask, “You didn’t mind watching?”
“Not at all,” they both say at once, making all three of us laugh.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Mace
* * *
When everyone leaves, I suggest Autumn eat lunch, but she shakes her head, cocks out a hip, and crosses her arms. “Tell me what’s going on first,” she demands in her adult voice.
I’m fascinated by her ability to switch between her adult self and her Little so seamlessly after only beginning to practice any form of age play a few days ago.
I won’t pressure her on this issue. She deserves to know the truth. Taking her by the shoulder, I guide her to the sofa. I get a certain level of satisfaction from seeing her wince when she sits next to me.
I cover one of Autumn’s hands with mine. “Our PI tracked down Frank’s ex-wife. He spoke to her this morning. Her name is Addison, and she’s been hiding from him ever since she left.”
Autumn’s eyes are wide. “It’s all so bizarre. He always seemed so normal to me. He had two lives.”
“It would appear so. He grew even angrier after Addison left.”
“I still can’t believe he blamed my father for anything that happened during his deployment.”
“According to Addison, Frank ranted all the time about being traumatized by what he experienced during active duty. He grumbled about your father being the cause of his problems. She feared for her safety and couldn’t stand to be around him any longer, so she left, which only made him angrier.”
Autumn twists her fingers together. “That’s so sad. For Addison, I mean. She must be scared.”
I clasp Autumn’s hands with one of mine, hoping to calm her nerves. “I’m sure she is.”
“Can we help her?”
I smile. “Already on it, sweetheart. We were concerned for her safety, considering we have to presume Frank is now even more unhinged and dangerous. They’ve moved her to a safehouse.”
Autumn’s eyes widen. “Just like that? You moved a stranger who’s only peripherally involved in my father’s murder?”
Frowning, I nod. “Yes, Baby girl. That’s what we do.”
“But no one is paying you.” Autumn gasps and sits taller. “I should be paying you. You need to bill me at your normal rate.”
I chuckle. “You’re not paying me, Autumn. Neither is Addison. Sometimes, Black Blade Protection takes on high-paying customers to do a job, and sometimes, we take pro bono cases. This falls under the latter.”
“But I’m not poor. Or, at least, my father wasn’t. I have access to his accounts.”
Squeezing her hands, I lean in closer. “Wipe it out of your head, sweetheart. We’re not having this discussion.”
She sighs. “Maybe another day,” she murmurs.
“Maybe never. Do I need to spank you again?” I reach over and lift her off the cushion to settle her sideways across my lap.
She snuggles against me and wraps her arms around me. “No,” she whispers. “I’m not sure it will ever have the same effect now that…”
