Bellann Summer

 Unedited

Treble stared down at his daughter. He knew his baby girl’s stance echoed his own, arms crossed and tapping one toe. Except her bottom lip stuck out in mutiny. The ten-year-old also clutched a toy bow and soft fluffy plastic arrow bolts in one hand.

“Any lasting damage?” Treble asked. Damian tended to get a bit hyper when he had to calm some parent’s asses down after Wendy pointed out that their precious kid needed an attitude adjustment. For some reason, Damian wouldn’t let Treble near the usually bitching whiners.

Wendy’s gaze dropped down and she became interested in studying her shoes.

“Maybe a few bruises,” she mumbled.

Treble nodded toward the pile of soft squishy balls and the toy gun lying beside them. “Capital punishment is a stiff penalty.”

Wendy’s gaze narrowed as she turned and glared at her quarry. “He deserves it.”

Treble studied the gagged preadolescent tied to the only tree in the small clearing. He decided the kid had to be at least two years older than Wendy. At least she hadn’t humiliated some stupid sixteen-year-old this time. He hated when the older ones cried like a baby.

“How long has he been there?”

He needed to know how long before Damian’s radar pinged, and Treble had to send the kid on his way. The man seemed to sense when their daughter became bored with her play and her edgier mercenary tendencies rose into action. Unlike Treble, Damian wanted to keep the peace with other parents. Treble thought those ideas were a waste of time.

Wendy kicked at a small rock and mumbled, “Maybe a couple of hours.”

“What did he do?” Treble found it best to learn all the details of Wendy’s side of the story before all hell broke loose. For some reason, Damian thought Treble might influence their daughter toward rougher activities. Treble did admit to relief when Wendy decided wearing frilly dresses sucked when going down the slide. Besides, she looked good in black and camo.

Flags of red painted Wendy’s cheeks. “He’s being mean to Patty Pittsville.”

“Patty Pittsville?” Holy shit. Talk about abuse.

Wendy shrugged. “Not everyone can have a cool Dad and Papa.”

“You have to let him go.” Treble would catch up with him later and explain the error of his ways.

“Daaad.” Wendy jerked one arm toward the perpetrator. “He calls Patty fat and makes everyone laugh at her. This morning he threw her backpack into the river.”

Treble glanced at Wendy’s thick braid that reach her waist and tried to keep her corkscrew curls secured. Yep, there were a few pieces of green algae clinging to the dark strands of hair.

 “Let him go,” he told his sweet, brave, daughter. Treble’s gaze held the boy’s gaze. “I think he’s learned his lesson.”

Or he would after Treble had a talk with him.

Wendy turned, walked toward her quarry, feet dragging, and mumbled, “You take the fun out of everything.”

Damian left his spot in the woods and rested his hand on Trebles shoulder. Treble glanced up, noting the raised eyebrow.

“You should have stopped her from jumping into the river,” Damian stated.

Treble thought he should point out, “She had it handled.”

“The kid is six inches taller and a lot older.” Damian’s brows lowered into a frown. “You not only let her tie him up and drag him here, you should have intervened sooner than a couple of hours.”

Treble shrugged on shoulder. “What fun would that have been.”

“What am I going to do with you two?”

“Love us.” To Treble’s way of thinking, that was a pretty easy answer.

“Always.” Damian dropped kiss on Treble’s lips and slung an arm around his shoulders. “Now let’s go see how many ruffled feathers we’re going to have to calm.”

 “Patty’s backpack is in the garage,” Treble ran his hand over his husband’s tight ass. “If the kid doesn’t agree to working off his shitty attitude, we’ll tell his parents what is going on and they can replace the backpack and school tablet inside.”

The corner of Damian’s mouth twitched. “So, you’ve decided to rehabilitate another problem stray?”

“He has potential,” Treble argued. “He didn’t piss his pants in all the time Wendy whispered sweet nothings in his ear.”

“Heaven help us when she reaches her teenage years,” Damian commented.

Treble would have smiled but Damian might get the idea that Treble couldn’t wait to torture all the boys who looked twice at his sweet little girl.