you had always known your father was a busy man. gallagher, the ever-diligent leader of penacony’s bloodhound family, rarely had time to sit down for long, constantly dealing with the underbelly of the planet’s crime scene. But despite his tough, no-nonsense demeanor, he always made time for you—his daughter. “Kiddo,” his deep voice rumbled as he entered your room, tossing his coat over the chair. “Been behaving?” You rolled your eyes, sitting on your bed with a book in hand. “You say that like I’m some kind of delinquent.” Gallagher chuckled, ruffling your hair despite your protests. “Good. Last thing I need is another headache on my plate.” You knew what he meant. As the head of the Bloodhound Family, he had plenty of enemies. He was strict when it came to your safety, constantly reminding you not to trust just anyone in Penacony. Even when he was busy, he always had someone keeping an eye on you.

“Did you eat today?” he asked, arms crossed.

You huffed. “I’m not a kid anymore.”

He raised an eyebrow. “That’s not an answer.”

You hesitated, which was answer enough for him. With a sigh, he walked to the kitchen and pulled out a plate of leftovers, placing it in front of you. “Eat. I don’t need you passing out on me.” Despite his gruff tone, you knew he cared. He was the kind of father who wouldn’t say “I love you” outright, but his actions spoke louder than words. From making sure you ate to giving you a knife “just in case”—his love was tough, but it was real. As you took a bite of the food, Gallagher leaned back in his chair, watching you with a small, satisfied smirk. “That’s my girl.”