Page 63 of The Billionaire Babe

“Don’t say it. I feel ridiculous enough as it is. I can’t wait to get it off,” she says, pulling at the fabric, obviously aware of what I was thinking.

“Are you okay? How do you feel?” I ask her, because she seems too relaxed. Perhaps she is in shock. Brady and Cody told me she was counting on me being here. Riding in like a knight in shining fucking armor. Never in my life did I ever think that would be a phrase to describe me, yet here we are.

“Ready for the fight of my life. Seems like I also just found my stalker,” she says, out of breath, and I move my eyes from the road quickly to look at her in confusion.

“Your fucking father?” I almost roar as I try to remain focused while I pull into the garage under her building. I spot some of my team positioned on either side of the roller door. They have been here since yesterday, all guarding my girl.

“He admitted it. Wanted to keep me low. Out of the company, out of the way.”

“He is a fucking piece of shit,” I spit out, feeling murderous.

I see the others pull up, tumbling out of the car and grabbing the elevator. “Let’s get upstairs; we need to secure you inside. There is no telling what your father is going to do now,” I tell her, but before I can open the door, she jumps across the seat and onto my lap in a mess of fabric and tulle and who knows what else she is wrapped in. Her lips hit mine, and it is like I can breathe again for the first time all week, and I find her waist and pull her to me. I taste her, hold her body, touching her everywhere to ensure this is real. That she is real. I feel her hands grab on to my shirt collar as our tongues tangle, and I lift a hand, cupping her face and diving in deeper, never wanting to stop. But I know we need to, so I pull back slightly and look right into her eyes. “I fucking missed you,” I tell her quietly.

“I missed you too,” she says as her forehead leans against mine.

“We’ve got to move.”

She nods so I open the door, pulling her out and into my arms. I carry her to the elevator, not yet wanting to let her go.

I am sure we left her father in a wake of media barrage and confusion. But he made the mess, so he can clean it up. Unfortunately for us, now we have no idea of his next move, other than knowing a man like that won’t stop. He will want revenge.

As soon as we are in the apartment, everyone starts talking at once and Bordeaux is barking the walls down, chasing everyone's feet. The girls crowd around Val, and questions fly.

“I can’t believe that just happened,” Chloe says, walking straight up to us.

“Garage is secure,” Brady confirms to me.

“Got any snacks?” Levi yells, and my head whips in his direction, where I see him in Val’s kitchen, currently looking in the refrigerator.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, surprised. Last I saw him, he was with me when I had the visit from Valerie's father and my bike got smashed. After that, things are a blur, and I assumed he went home.

“Looking for something to eat.” He smirks back at me, and I growl. Him being here is something else I need to get to the bottom of, but Levi can wait. I look Val up and down, assessing for any damage, and my anger at this whole situation starts to unravel.

“Brady, I need you with Victor downstairs. I have a feeling there will be a lot of people hanging around very soon.” I bark orders out to the room, my eyes remaining on Valerie. It will take less than five minutes for the media to be at the front of the building, and it is going to be hectic.

“On it,” he says, walking straight out the door.

“Levi!” I yell at him, and he pulls his head out of the open refrigerator as he raises his eyebrows. “Get on that computer of yours. Find out what you can about today and what is happening.” I might as well put him to work. He has the skills, and we can use them.

“Pfft, easy,” Levi says, shutting the refrigerator and biting into an apple and holding it with his teeth. He grabs his laptop and slouches on the sofa like he lives here. Bordeaux jumps up next to him, settling into his side like they are best friends. How long has he been here?

“Cody, we need more guys,” I tell him, and he nods.

“On it.” He pulls out his cell, taking a seat at the dining table off to the side, using it as his work desk, then he starts calling people in. We don’t have many more to call, but we will get as many as we can to help us.

Brady, Cody, and I have already organized how today is going to roll and we know what we need to do. Victor downstairs is fully briefed, the security team from this apartment complex all alerted and now double in size. I have some Fortress men positioned around the apartment block, a small team working with Victor downstairs and others based in the garage. No one is coming in or out without me knowing about it. She wanted me to run her security, and that is exactly what I am going to do.

“What is going on?” Valerie asks me, her hands going to her hips, obviously not liking being kept out of the loop.

“Ladies, thanks for watching my girl all week for me. Given the situation, you are not to go anywhere alone. Brady, Cody, or one of my guys needs to be with you all the time. Including at your jobs, if you go out…” I start to brief them, and Simone interrupts.

“We know the drill. Brady briefed us. I will be here, work, or home. That’s it,” Simone says, nodding.

“I’ve closed the shop because I knew the media would be insane,” Chloe says, and I nod in agreement.

“Me too. Customers will come in for the gossip, not for beauty, so I shut my books this week,” Chelsea says, and Val looks at them with concern.

“I’m sorry you had to do that,” Val tells them.

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