Page 143 of Lonely Alpha


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“Fine,” I said. “I’ll keep looking into your mother. I’m scouring high society gossip blogs to see if there are any photos of her that hint at anything. Maybe the place she goes to gamble, or how she’s still getting the money to do it.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s committing white collar crimes, but threatening to expose those won’t be any more or less damaging to her reputation than simply telling the world she’s broke. She cares more about her reputation than anything else—even the idea of criminal consequences.”

“Knowledge is power.”And I have nothing else to do.

“True. Hopefully Liberty knows something useful.”

Dash wandered into the kitchen then, his cheeks flushed and hair still dripping. The casual button up he wore was hanging undone, his jeans riding low on his hips.

When Leighton had disappeared into the bedroom with Ambrose and Kiara, he’d vanished into the shower, abandoning the sewing machine. Dash had always been shameless, but his cock had to be raw after how long he’d been in there.

“You’ve got the filming of your little internet show,” Leighton said. “Are you ready to go?”

He smirked. “Are you my babysitter today?”

She snorted. “No. You’re going to have to function without a babysitter.”

Dash’s eyes widened slightly. He glanced at me, and I shrugged. “She doesn’t seem to believe you can get in too much trouble at the studio. I’m staying with Kiara, and Ambrose is going with her.”

“Daddy, it’s only you who worries about me,” Dash said with a shrug. He slung an arm around my shoulders.

I cringed, pushing him off. “Christ, don’t fucking call me that.”

“Why not?” He teased. “You treat me like I’m your son, always making sure I stay out of trouble.”

Dash had brought this up before, but after our conversation the weight of it was different. His green eyes were dimmer than usual, not holding that typical Dash sparkle like when he was intentionally stirring shit.

I’d lost myself in my desire to keep the pack together, and I’d been chipping away pieces of him too.

“Because you get into a lot of trouble,” I grumbled.

“Maybe I won’t anymore.”

I didn’t need to muse over Dash’s self-sufficiency today, not when I was barely able to process this blossoming relationship with Kiara. It was a long time coming, though.

“Go get into trouble then. Or don’t. Either way, I won’t stop you,” I said. “Just don’t call me Daddy again.”

He planted a sloppy kiss on my cheek. “OK. I’ll do whatever you tell me to, Daddy.”

I groaned, wiping it away with the back of my hand. “Someone needs to fucking spank him orsomething.”

Leighton chuckled, and Dash went a little pink as he danced backwards.

At least I wasn’t the only one getting dommed by Leighton.

Not that I was, but…

I kept feeling the phantom of her hand around my throat, and I wanted more.

“I’ll be in the living room. Kiara can come and find me when she wakes up,” I mumbled, taking my laptop into the other room and leaving those two to do… whatever it was they were doing.

For a second, I’d felt like part of a family. A functional pack.

And that was too dangerous to think when it could all fall apart.

* * *

Kiara stayed in the bedroom for so long, I was beginning to believe I wouldn’t see her until everyone returned home.