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“Daddy Z?” Webb asked quietly.
Zander shot him a look. He thought it was cute.
“You’re so pretty. How comes you’re so pretty?” she asked, running her fingers through his hair. “You’re prettier than me.”
He turned to look down at her. Her lower lip was out in the sweetest pout he’d ever seen.
“I’m not pretty.”
“Uh-huh, you so are. And you smells good too. Now I’ve got your hoodie and it smells like you. I’m gonna sleep in it. Then it will feel like you’re hugging me in your sleep.”
Fuck. Could she be any cuter?
“Let me just go through her care with you,” Lochlan said. “I’ve got these antibiotics. And some painkillers. You might struggle to get them into her orally. I have some liquid stuff I keep on hand for other Littles that I treat. Might be easier for her. You need to keep a close eye on her for the next few hours until the sedation wears off. Obviously, no driving or operating anything mechanical.”
“Aww, you’re no fun,” she told him. Then she started humming a tune while swinging her legs back and forth. “Hey, Daddy Z, guess what?”
“What?” he asked.
“I don’t hurt anymore. Not my ribs or my wrists or my face. Isn’t that great?”
“That is great, baby girl. I’m glad you’re not hurting anymore. I don’t like when you’re in pain.”
“Why? Is it ‘cause you like me? Do you like me?” Her face sobered as they waited for Lochlan to sort everything.
“I like you, baby girl. More than I really should or ever thought I would.”
“You don’t wanna like me ‘cause I’m a bad girl.” Her shoulders slumped and he moved to a seat and then settled her on his lap, facing him.
“Look at me,” he told her.
But she wouldn’t raise her gaze. Instead, she stared down at where she’d twisted her hands together.
“Little Thief, look at me.” He firmed his voice.
She peeked up at him.
“Look at me properly, I don’t want there to be any misunderstandings.”
Although with how high she was, he was probably going to have to repeat himself later on.
“Keira, you are not bad.”
“I am.” She sniffled. “I was trying to do the right thing, but it turned into a wrong thing and I really deserve to be given to Bartolli. Cause I was so naughty.”
“No one is giving you to Bartolli,” he snapped at her.
She stared up at him with wide eyes, veering back so sharply that she would have fallen from his lap had he not grabbed hold of her. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Do you remember me saying I’m your guardian now?”
“Yes, but that doesn’t make any sense. I’m too old for a guardian.”
“You’re never too old to have someone look after you. And you need this more than anyone I’ve met. That means that I will never allow someone like Bartolli to hurt you.”
She shuddered. “You don’t know what he’s capable of. He’s violent and mean and he doesn’t care who he hurts or destroys or kills.”
“You speak like you know him.”
