Page 60 of When Kings Fall

Love and care.

There was nothing nefarious in his intent toward me.

In his mind, he was doing what he did for me, for us.

He’d already come a long way with it, toning things down and recognizing the wrong way to do that now, but it would still be a work in progress for a while, given that he’d been doing things the same way for so long.

The point was his intent and that he was trying so hard.

“Yes,” I said, rubbing his arm. “I believe you.”

“Put me on speakerphone with Roman’s heir, baby girl,” my dad sounded from the phone, where I’d forgotten to put my hand over the receiver because of the realization about Levi passing on intel to him.

I eyed Levi in question and he gave a nod.

I put it on speakerphone. “You’re on, Dad.”

“Thanks. Knight, I had a real good talk with your old man. He’s trusting you to keep your word with this mission, yeah? You got it in the bag?”

“I do.”

“Are you treating my daughter well?”

“Always. It’s impossible for it to be any other way when it comes to her.”

I beamed out at him. Wow.

“Damn, that’s a hell of a response. Good on you. Keep it up or there will be hell, and you know I can bring it. Roman told me you’ve been researching the fuck out of my daughter and everyone connected to her.”

“I know what you’re capable of, yes. Cards on the table, I’m also a lot more than I seem.”

“Roman made me aware.”

“Good, because that’s what I’m bringing to this mission. The same with Brianna. She’s more than she seems as well. A fuck of a lot more.”

“I know that now.”

“You do?” I cut in.

“You think I don’t watch over you and check in here and there? I’ve downloaded all your apps.”

“You… you have?”

“They’re fucking amazing. I’m real proud of you. And what Levi’s getting at… I’m sorry I didn’t see you had that hard edge and killer instinct in you before. You being my daughter clouded a lot and the way the club worked clouded the rest, you know?”

“I do, yeah.”

“But that’s all over now. I’m not that same guy, don’t see shit the same, Brianna. I promise you that much. I know what you’re worth. I see you now, all right? To prove it, I’m not gonna stop you from doing what you need to do here where Malcolm Lynch and his bitch-ass followers are concerned. I’ve got you. All the way. Roman and me are working together on this.”

Wow. I couldn’t… I couldn’t believe it.

“She’s absorbing it,” Levi spoke, when I couldn’t summon the words.

“I get it, gonna take some time.”

“No doubt. So, where Tommy’s concerned, this contact he’s just made with Brianna wasn’t authorized by you?”

“Sure as shit wasn’t. I’ll drop my protection so you can see into my phone and whatever else you need to prove it if you want.”

---