“She’s fine,” Buck answered for her. “You kicked his ass, didn’t you, honey?”
“I tried,” Daphne admitted as she leaned against her dad. “He got some good hits in.”
“You broke his arm,” Walter told her proudly.
“How do you know that?”
“Because we stopped by the police station, and I broke his other one.”
“I got his nose,” Buck added.
Daphne chuckled and immediately clutched her ribs as she groaned in pain. “It hurts to laugh.”
Before I could offer her a seat, Diablo appeared out of nowhere, barking loudly.
“Oh, knock it off, knucklehead. You know I’m not hurting her.”
Diablo proceeded to headbutt Walter’s thigh until he reached down to pet him. “I hope you know you’ve spoiled this dog.”
“Looks like you’re the one spoiling him,” Daphne returned.
“Do you want to sit down?” I asked her.
“Yes, please.”
While Walter helped her to one of the couches, I ran back to her room and grabbed a blanket and pillow for her. She smiled when I handed them to her and thanked me.
Walter turned and gave me an appraising look. “Are you the one that brought her here?”
“Yes, sir. Well, Ink drove, but I convinced her.”
“Thank you,” he said and held out his hand for me to shake. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t want her going back home until we’ve figured it out.”
“Dad, I’m a grown woman.”
“You will always be my baby, even when you’re in your fifties and have grandchildren.”
“Dad,” Daphne gasped dramatically. “Don’t say the f-word.”
“Forty starts withf,” Buck pointed out.
“I am not in my forties!”
“Oh good. That means I’m not as old as I thought,” Buck teased.
“All right, you two, that’s enough,” Walter said. “What are we going to do about this situation?”
“What do you mean?” Daphne asked.
“She’s going to stay here at the clubhouse for a few days,” I said.
Walter pointed his finger at me. “I knew I liked you.”
“Then what?” Buck asked.
“We haven’t gotten that far, but she’ll have our protection if she wants it,” I said.
“She wants it,” Walter declared.