Even if that meant getting away from Costello.
“Answer me.” The threat was there, unspoken beneath the darkness. Ignore him much longer, and she’d be tossed over his knee, or over the bed, or anywhere that would give him access to whip her ass.
That idea shouldn’t make shivers run through her body.
But it did.
She clenched her eyes for a brief moment, and when she opened them, his steady, dangerous glare remained focused on her. He’d outwait her without problem.
“You’re my daddy.” The words danced on her breath. Soft and sweet, and in her bones, deep in her core, the truth took root.
Costello released Ariana’s chin and stood to his full height. “That’s right, little girl. I’m Daddy, and you’re still going to obey me, and you’ll still get your ass whipped if you don’t. Am I making myself clear?” He dipped his chin and folded his arms over his chest. There could be no misunderstandings here. Not only to keep her safe, but to draw out the right dynamic from the start.
It had been years since he had anyone he was willing to call his, but now that he was going to do it, she needed to understand how things would operate.
“You still want me to color for you and play with dolls and maybe you’d like to give me a bottle now and then?” she asked with more snark than he liked, but it wasn’t an unfair question. Lullaby girls behaved exactly that way until they were adopted, then their new daddy would mold them to whatever behaviors they enjoyed.
“No, you don’t have to do any of those things.” He paused. “Unless you want to. You may have been pretending, but there were moments when you enjoyed the carefree time. You can’t deny that, even though you may want to.”
She blushed.
“We can talk about it later,” he said with a laugh. She’d had a rough afternoon as it was, making her face desires she wasn’t ready to analyze could be put off a little longer.
The door opened and Maria walked in. “I’m sorry, Costello. But Frank wants you down in his office.” Her gaze moved to Ariana then back. “I’ll finish getting her settled. He wants you now.”
Costello’s muscles tensed. “Okay.” He looked back at Ariana; her wide eyes fixated on him. “It’s okay. Don’t worry. Maria will get you down for a nap, and I’ll come get you for dinner. Okay?” He ran the tips of his fingers over and down her cheek.
“Okay, Daddy.” Ariana’s voice went up a pitch.
“Nancy there?” Costello asked Maria as he passed her.
“I believe so.” She nodded. “I’m sorry. I just…Nancy had such a mean look in her eye when she called Ariana with the other girls.”
Costello shook his head. “You did the right thing calling me. I’ll handle it,” he said and shut the door behind him as he entered the hallway.
The House was quiet as he made his way down to Frank’s office on the first floor. The girls would probably be put down for their naps now and the Daddies would convene for a meeting. If they weren’t having a special play date with one of the girls, that is.
Nancy was already sitting in front of Frank’s desk when Costello entered. She craned her neck enough for him to see the over confident smirk on her dried-up thin lips. Her dark hair was pulled into its usual bun on top of her head. Deep wrinkles framed her mouth. Probably because the woman seemed to get off on misery.
“Costello.” Frank leaned back in his chair. “Don’t bother sitting.” He waved his hand. “This will just take a minute.”
Costello kicked the door shut and leaned against it, with his arms crossed over his chest. He’d been working for Frank for years outside the House, and he’d never had an issue with the man before. He’d been one of his top earners, which is why he’d been picked for the House assignment. He was able to keep his rackets going on the outside while giving the House the attention it needed while he was working with the girls. He was the model employee.
“What’s this about Nancy telling me you broke up her lesson?”
“I didn’t break up the lesson. I removed my girl from it,” Costello said bluntly. This wasn’t high school, he wasn’t a weak boy, and he wasn’t going to pussyfoot around the truth. “I never gave my permission for Ariana to be taken to the Mommy class. This is the second time Nancy has made a decision like this without my knowledge. I am the assigned Daddy. I am the one in control.”
Frank turned his tired gaze to Nancy. “You want to explain that?”
“Ariana cannot be given special treatment,” Nancy said with a whiny tone, as though that explained anything at all.
Frank frowned. “I let you teach the Mommy shit because some day there might actually be a higher demand for it. But right now, it’s only for girls who are handed over for it. You don’t decide shit.”