Sue chooses that moment to step in and offer Marcus a beer and a plate. They’re pulled into a conversation with Kevin and Jeremy like they’re best fucking friends.
“Can go play with my friends now?"
My throat clogs with emotion and love. "Of course. I love you, little girl."
"Love you," she says and gives me a final snuggle before I set her down. She scampers off toward Cora and Zeek.
As I look around and reflect on the growth Lulu has experienced since I've met her, I realize a few things.
All my studying in mental health, this dream of Reclaiming Red, and the friends I made who taught me about Daddy Doms, all led me to this moment. To Lulu. My entire life has prepared me for her. My Little, my woman, mysurvivor.
I won't be perfect and Lulu will carry her trauma with her forever, but we have everything we need to enjoy the hard work and perseverance we've struggled through all our lives.
We have love and safety.
"Daddy!" Lulu gasps for breath as she comes running up to me and braces herself on her knees as she giggles. I've never seen such a beautiful sight than her smile and joy. "Tina like bears, blocks, berries, and blankets too!"
My God... I love her with my entire soul. "It's a good thing we have all of the wonderful Bs then."
"Uh-huh!" she huffs then sprints back to her friends barefoot, sweaty, and free.
I'm going to marry, love, cherish, and support Lulu until my dying breath. I'll smother her in all of it like she should have been since the day she was born. She won't live a day without a smile and hugs. Whether it's from her Daddy or her friends, she'll know without a shadow of a doubt she is adored.
Little Lulu is loved.
epilogue
TINA
Run, Daddy said. Desperate, terrified, and completely helpless, Daddy told me to run as fast as possible to Reclaiming Red.
So I did as any good girl would do, I listened. I ran as hard as I could with only one thought in mind—get to Uncle Bash.
Food and water didn't matter on the road, let alone my comfort items. No more diapers or bottles. Only peanuts and rest-stop toilets when the need became too much to ignore.
I just needed to find Uncle Bash before I was lost forever.
There was no guarantee I would make it toward the end, but when the guy with the beard found me trying to escape the disgusting man dragging me from my car, I caught a break. I still can’t believe an MC president saved me, and literally hand-delivered me to Bash.
Daddy told me he would be right behind me except the tone of his voice couldn't conceal his hidden meaning. I may be a Little but I grew up with a father who lied and deceived my mom too many nights to count. I know when someone isn't giving the full truth.
Daddyiscoming for me, but not yet. Judging by the dark, growly tone of his voice the last time I talked to him, he's going after the monster who's chasing me.
Now, I'm all alone, wondering if I'll ever see my Daddy again. I can't be Little without him. He's my compass and my comfort. Daddy knows exactly what I need every moment of every day.
We've been together for years. I figured out how to run on my own but now I don't know how to live without him.
Uncle Bash won't tell me anything and he's hovering too much. He only threatened to punish me once when I didn't eat my dinner. He won't do it again because I safeworded him.
I can't be Little without Daddy. Being Big isn't working either.
Daddy, please come get me.
"I got this for you," a quiet voice murmurs beside me.How did I not notice someone sitting beside me on Uncle Bash’s porch?"Tina?"
I feel my brows pull together more than I actually feel the confusion. When I turn to the boy next to me, I'm struck by how bright his green eyes are up close. Zeek has been nothing but kind and respectful since I got here last week. All I want to do is continue looking at him. His dark-brown waves flopped over his forehead give him a boyish look but the shadows the strands create offer a different vibe I don't understand yet.
He lifts a teddy bear up blocking my view of his face. My breath comes to a halt, and a spark of vulnerability and an inkling of sparkles flare in my veins.
