Page 65 of Her Protector Daddies

I obeyed quickly because I was certain I would fall down if I stayed standing any longer. Perched on the edge of the desk, I eyed the multiple men that surrounded Andrés like a cloak. He really was untouchable at a glance.

“So…” Andrés sat across from me, angling one leg up so his ankle rested against his knee, then he stared at me across steepled fingers. “They tell me you know how to get in touch with dear old dad.”

I focused on Andrés. If I spent too much time looking at everyone else here and the guns weighing down their belts, I wouldn’t be able to speak.

“Yep. I know how to get in touch with him. You can call him. But only I know the codewords we agreed on. Anyone else does it, he’ll know it’s not me.”

Andrés lifted one thin brow. “Expected for a cop.” He spat the last word so sharply that I had to bite back a flinch.

“He was a cautious person before the uh…”

“The drugs?” Andrés snorted wetly, his gaze unwavering. “Aren’t they all?”

“He’ll only respond to my voice, too,” I added quickly.

“I get it. He’ll talk to you and you alone because you are the only one that knows the code. Anyone would think you’re trying to make yourself valuable. Unkillable.”

I pressed my lips together, curling my hands in my lap and straightening my jaw. “Given your track record,” I pointed out tightly. “I figured I’d show you we have value to each other.”

Andrés nodded slowly and I wet my lips.

Bailey’s voice was a constant in my ear, a low hum of assurance that I couldn’t decipher but just hearing the tone of his voice was enough to keep the terror at bay.

“Cops as parents are certainly something, aren’t they?” Andrés finally looked away from me and picked up the glass resting on the ornate table beside him.

“You’ve no idea,” I replied bitterly.

“Oh, I’m sure.” His snake-like eyes slid back to me. “I’d never choose drugs over my own daughter. Especially if she was a fine piece of ass like you.”

My stomach curled in disgust.

“But he did that and he fled with all that money, leaving you to me. Not exactly father of the year.”

“You can understand, I’m sure, why I’m tired of cleaning up his messes,” I replied.

Suddenly, the curtain pulled back, and two men walked in, barely acknowledging me. One bumped fists and shook hands with a few of the guards in greeting, while the other went straight for Andrés and leaned over him to whisper in his ear.

My heart began to pound uncontrollably as André’s eyes remained locked on me, but it wasn’t his gaze that sent my heart into a panic. The man who leaned over Andrés had a snake tattoo on his arm.

In an instant, I was back in my father’s apartment with my face exploding in pain and that man holding me down with a gun to my cheek. The two new arrivals were the men who had attacked me at his apartment, and I hadn’t even considered that I might see them again.

Snake man turned and smirked when his beady eyes locked onto me.

“Nice t’see you again,” he snickered, then he moved behind Andrés to the drinks table.

I didn’t acknowledge him.

“As I was saying.” I continued tightly. “I’m tired of paying for his mistakes. I’m tired of supporting him when I can’t support him, so I’m happy to help you. I want my life back; I want to get the fuck away from this city and start a new life. So I’ll help you.” I forced a deep breath in an attempt to calm the rampant trembling that darted across my body. “In exchange, I want half the money he stole.”

“Do you even know how much that is?” Andrés asked.

“No, but if you want him this bad, it’s got to be a life-changing amount.”

Andrés lowered his leg and leaned forward slowly. His rings clacked together as he clasped his hands and stared at me over his knuckles.

“Give me Marcus, and you can have it all. Money is replaceable.”

“Will you kill him?” I asked, fighting with the words.

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