Page 36 of Controlling Chloe

I take a breath and stare at the lines. A bead of sweat rolls down my neck. Can’t she see how hard I’m working to catch my breath? I can’t do it. Can’t get myself under control. “Give me a minute, Chloe. I need a minute, baby.”

She nods and doesn’t move while I continue to trace my finger over each mark. Seventeen. He will pay for this. Seventeen times, he will pay. More. A lot more. Because that’s the thing with me. If you hurt what’s mine, the revenge is paid back tenfold.

When my heart rate finally starts to slow, I raise my gaze to hers. Her blue eyes are wet with tears, and it kills me. She looks so fucking scared.

“You’re mine. Do you understand?” I growl.

She sniffles. “Yes, Daddy.”

Framing her face with my hands, I pull her toward me and kiss her. It’s not soft or sensual. It’s claiming. Dominating. Primal. When I let her go, we’re both gasping for air. I promised her nothing would happen tonight, and I meant it. Tonight, the only thing I need is to take care of my Little girl so she feels the kind of love she’s never experienced before.

“Let’s find a shirt for you to sleep in.”

She smiles, and I help her climb off my lap. I stand and nausea bubbles in my stomach. I’ve seen a lot of shit in my life. More blood than any normal person. I’ve slit throats, dismembered bodies, and put more bullets in people than I can count, but none of that shit has ever kept me up at night. What I saw on my girl—knowing what she went through—will haunt me for the rest of my life.

I’ve got to pull myself together. My focus is her. Getting her ready for bed. Tucking her against my body and hoping I can somehow erase all the bad things that have ever happened to her.

I find the softest T-shirt I can and turn to her. She’s retreated into herself, her eyes downcast, and her bottom lip trembling slightly. Her scent surrounds me like a blanket. Just being close to her soothes the monster inside me.

“Baby, look at Daddy.”

She does, and when her blue irises meet mine, I fight back the tears burning in my own eyes. My chest is so tight, I wonder if I’m having a heart attack. Can you die from heartbreak? My pain doesn’t matter, though. She’s all that matters. “I don’t know what you’re thinking right now, Chloe, but I know I don’t like it.”

“Do you think I’m a freak?”

I yank her against my body and squeeze her tightly. “No. I think you’re so fucking strong. You deserved so much more than that fucking asshole. It kills me that Kieran didn’t know what was happening. He would have put a stop to it.”

A small sob escapes as she buries her head against my chest. “My father did whatever he could to keep me away from him.”

“I know. I know he did. No more, though. You belong to this family now.”

We hold each other for a long time. When she lets out a deep sigh and her shoulders relax, I finally release her.

“Will you trust me to get you ready for bed? To get you changed into my shirt?”

She peers up at me from under her lashes and gives a slight nod. “Yes.”

Taking her hand, I lead her to the bathroom. When I stop and turn, she’s looking around, taking it all in.

“Why do you have a bottle of my perfume?”

I glance at the white bottle on the counter. I also have one in my closet, my office, my nightstand, my car, and my kitchen. But I’ll keep that to myself for now.

“I wanted to smell you whenever you’re not around.”

The corner of her mouth twitches. I shrug. “Don’t judge me. It’s not creepy.”

For the first time since we got home, she giggles. Then she raises her hand and motions with her index finger and thumb a few inches apart. “It’s a little creepy.”

“Get used to it, baby. You think that’s creepy, just fucking wait.”

She laughs again and shakes her head. “I should probably be running for the hills, but instead of being frightened by all your unhinged behavior, I feel safe.”

I kneel at her feet and reach for her shoe. “You are completely safe with me, Little one. In every way. Physically and emotionally. Hold my shoulders and lift your foot.”

Her fingers warm me through my jacket as she obeys. When she’s barefoot, I rise and gently turn her around.

“We need to talk about your rules,” I say as I untie the bow of her dress and then unzip it.

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