Page 18 of Her Protector Daddies

I would have asked for more if I wasn’t so damn tired.

“Given everything that’s happened, are you sure you still don’t want to tell us anything?” Bailey moved from the fridge and stood directly in front of me, trapping me in his intense gaze. If he wasn’t so handsome I would have flipped him off.

“No,” I snapped as tension rose in my chest. Is that really all they could think about? Getting me to flip on my father? “Like I told you, I haven’t seen my father in weeks and I know nothing, okay? I was attacked twice, and I’m getting really sick of you looking at me like it’s my fault.”

Bailey’s face hardened and his eyes narrowed, but before he could speak, Jay jumped in with his soap-sud-coated arm.

“Selena, that’s not it at all. I know it may come across like that because Bailey acts like a starved dog with a bone,” he said, elbowing Bailey out of the way and sending a look that very clearly said back off.

I simply grunted.

“I knew your father actually,” Bailey continued and he smiled softly.

I squinted up at him, racking my tired mind for any time my father might have mentioned someone called Jay but I came up blank.

“We worked together for a few years. He was a good guy and he always had my back,” Jay continued. “So, I would consider it an honor to represent you just until we get this all wrapped up and you can go back to your life.”

Jay spoke of my father with a lightness in his eyes that I hadn’t seen in a long time. There was certainly no lightness left in my heart for him.

“He’s not a good man anymore,” I snapped quietly, fighting back a yawn. “Look, I don’t have the money to hire a Private Detective and I just… this is a lot.”

“We can work that out later,” Jay replied.

“Or we can head back out and scour LA for an official safehouse. Should be easy at 3 am,” Bailey interjected.

His comment was enough to ignite a burst of anger and I glared at him over Jay’s shoulder. Why was he being such an asshole? A few hours ago he was leaping to my rescue and now he was back to being the grizzly detective more interested in questions.

“Look,” Tyler cut in. “It’s been a long day. The nurse said you needed rest more than anything, rest under observation since we had to take you out of the hospital so how about you sleep on it?”

I glanced at him and a sympathetic smile sat on his handsome face.

“Then, in the morning, we can reassess?” Tyler glanced slowly between everyone, seeking their approval of his suggestion.

Jay nodded in agreement immediately but Bailey was a little slower. As soon as rest was mentioned, it was all I could think about. I was so tired that my limbs felt like lead and the painkillers were wearing off enough that I could feel the sharp ache in my head a lot clearer.

“That’s a great idea,” Jay said. “Selena, you can take the room just on the right of the stairs. The bed is already made up. But if you need anything, just let me know.”

I knew I should thank him but I wanted to get away from Bailey and fall into the deepest sleep of my life. So, with only a glance at Jay, I slipped from the stool, set down my mug and left the room.

Halfway up the stairs, I curled both hands around the wooden banister and leaned over just far enough to catch their voices drifting through the kitchen door.

“I can’t believe she’s Marcus’ daughter,” Jay said.

“Right?” Tyler chuckled. He sounded tired.

“There’s no sign of him,” Bailey said. “Not a peep. His daughter gets attacked and the fucker can’t even pick up the damned phone?” There was something so heated about Bailey’s tone that caught me by surprise and my heart jittered slightly.

“He’s got to be caught up in something with Andrés,” Tyler sighed. “You think he’s back to his old ways?”

“Maybe?” Bailey said.

“The hit-and-run,” Jay said over the splashing of water and the clatter of dishes. “You said on the phone it was connected to Selena’s attack?”

“Her car was used to run over a guard at one of Dorame’s Casinos. We caught it on CCTV recklessly racing away from The Bleeding Heart, which isn’t that uncommon given the fact how often people lose their fortunes there and try to run,” Bailey explained. “But the guard that was run over, he was one of Andrés private security.”

“You think Andrés was there?” Jay asked.

“Maybe,” Bailey sighed. “But we all know his private security team doesn’t waste time guarding normal casino hauls.”

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