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But his prayers went unanswered. Killian opened the door, striding inside as though he owned the place, his eyes widening slightly as he took in the scene in front of him. “Well. Isn’t this a cozy sight.”
“What part of ‘Go away’ don’t you understand, Killian?”
“Killian!” Hopping off Braden’s lap, Lottie squealed with delight and raced over to the other man, throwing her arms around his neck in an embrace that had Braden’s eyes narrowing. “It’s so good to see you again.”
“You too, sweetheart. But, ah, I’m not looking to die tonight so perhaps you should let me go before your Daddy decides it’s necessary to try and feed me to the alligators. Not that I’d let him,” he added in a loud whisper, with a wink that had Lottie giggling.
Twisting her neck around, Lottie glared over her shoulder at Braden. “Daddy, be nice.”
“This is me being nice, little girl. But unless you want your bottom paddled in front of Master Killian, I suggest you let go. Right now.”
She turned around fully now, but looped her arm through Killian’s, temper sparking in her eyes. “So, what, I’m not allowed to have friends?”
“I’m not going to argue with you, Charlotte.” Mostly because he knew he was being irrational, but it didn’t stop him from not wanting another man’s hands on his fiancée. Especially when that man was Killian O’Rourke.
“You’re being ridiculous, Braden.”
Rising from his chair, he crossed the room, those dark parts of his soul positively cheering when her eyes widened with fear. Capturing her chin between his fingers, he tilted her head back. “What does that tattoo on your ass say, little one?”
“That was just a joke.”
“What does it say?”
“Property of Daddy,” she said with a sigh and a roll of her eyes.
“Which is exactly what you are. Especially when we are in the club. And since you obviously need a reminder of that, you can go put your nose in the corner with your pretty tattoo on display while Master Killian and I talk.”
“But Daddy!”
Out of patience with the situation, he pulled her away from Killian and marched her over to the corner with one hand wrapped around her arm while he swatted her ass with the other. By the time they reached the corner, her bottom was a nice pretty pink, which highlighted the tattoo beautifully.
Oh, yeah, they definitely needed to make that permanent.
“Stay here until I call for you. Feet apart, hands on your head.”
“Yes, Daddy,” she replied sulkily.
“Good girl.” He pressed a kiss to her hair before turning and making his way back to a very amused-looking Killian.
“You’re going to have your hands full with that one.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. Did you need to talk to me about something?”
As if flipping a switch, Killian immediately sobered. “It’s about your auctioneer. Whoever he is, he’s not just good with computers, he’s a goddamned genius. Every time my men get close to him, he changes things up. It’s going to take us longer than I expected to pinpoint him.”
“Dammit. Meanwhile, he’s setting up another virgin auction right under our noses. I was hoping we’d have it shut down before the next one.”
“I know. I’m sorry, I wish it was better news.”
“Me too. Fucking hell. You don’t have a lead on him at all?”
“No. Though, given how thoroughly they’ve woven their operation in with the club, I’m inclined to believe it’s someone who works here.”
Braden’s blood ran cold. “Not just a member?”
“Not a chance. Unless you’ve outsourced some of your computer operations to someone within the club.”
“No. Everything pretty much goes through Martin and his team.” Braden ran his hands through his hair, fury and helplessness twisting his stomach into knots. “Fuck. Somehow that’s worse than it just being a member.”
