"I think it's possible.”
"You think Mallory is behind the break-in?" Gideon's voice was measured.
I huffed. “Honestly? It seems too weird. If he is planning something, wouldn’t he take advantage of the crap security? The last thing he’d want would be to panic her into moving or beefing up her security.”
“Unless he’s laying a motive,” Maddox said. “Give the cops something to look at.”
“Fuck,” I said quietly. She was at an even bigger risk. "Any progress on the break-in?"
Gideon nodded, his expression shifting to what we all recognized as his tactical assessment face. "Security footage from the building across the street shows someone entering around five the day before yesterday. Male, approximately five feet eight inches tall, baseball cap pulled low. He left approximately thirty minutes later.”
He forestalled my next question. "Couldn't get a clear look at his face," Gideon continued, tapping at something on his keyboard. "The problem is there are no cameras inside the building so he could just be a resident. He’s the only one we couldn’t get a facial ID on."
I frowned, unease crawling up my spine.
"We've got someone watching her apartment building now, but so far he hasn't returned."
"What about her work?" Dion asked. "Sunny's Mart?"
"Eric’s running background checks on the employees," Maddox said. "But it's a revolving door of minimum-wage workers. High turnover rate, spotty employment records."
"Her boss," I said suddenly, remembering how Lottie had mentioned him. "Marco. She said he's always been 'kind' to her, but something in her tone didn't sit right."
"I'll ask Eric to look into him first," Maddox promised. "What's your plan, Walker? She can't go back to that apartment."
I scrubbed a hand over my face, my fingers tightening into a fist against my jaw. "I want to bundle her up and tell her she's staying here where I can keep her safe, period." My voice came out deeper than usual, rougher. "But I'm not making that mistake again. Last time I tried to tell her what to do, she shut down completely."
"Even if those decisions put her at risk?" Gideon's voice was carefully neutral, but I knew he was thinking of Abby.
Dion huffed. “We all make those mistakes.”
My jaw clenched. "I'm hoping Fiona can get through to her in ways I can't," I admitted, forcing my hands to unclench. "Woman to woman, diabetic to diabetic."
"Smart," Dion nodded. "But you should have a backup plan ready. If someone's targeting her specifically, they'll try again."
"I know." The thought of Lottie returning to that apartment made me want to sweep her up, tuck her against my chest, and whisper that Daddy would take care of everything—
The fuck?
The intensity of the urge didn’t shock me, but since when had I ever thought of myself as a Daddy? A Dom sure, but... "I'm working on it," I responded weakly when I realized they were all waiting for a reply.
"Whatever you need," Maddox said seriously.
"What about her insulin?" Dion asked, leaning closer to the camera.
"She's been stretching it, skipping doses. Doc says her management is dangerously inadequate." I didn't try to hide the anger in my voice. "She's been trying to access assistance programs, but something always falls through."
"I can help with that," Maddox offered immediately. "I've got contacts at three pharmaceutical companies that run patient assistance programs. And Clare's foundation has a medical fund specifically for situations like this."
“When are you going to tell Lottie what Eric found?” Maddox asked.
“As soon as he gets me something definite. I’m worried about overwhelming her even more.”
They all agreed. At least she was safe at the moment.
After ending the call, I sat staring at my grandmother's photograph. I'd promised myself I would never watch someone vulnerable suffer again. I caught myself arranging a mental schedule—when Lottie would take her insulin, what healthy meals I'd prepare for her, the soft clothes I'd buy her.
I didn’t have a Little room. But was that something she’d even want from me? Lottie wasn't my Little. What was shocking the fuck out of me was that it was something I was even considering. I knew Lottie did, hell, that’s why she had come to the club. Butwanting a Daddy and wanting me were two entirely different things.
