Page 44 of He is… Creed: Part Three

A good general knows how to turn an enemy’s action to benefit. Creed is still a direct connection to Taylor Industries. He is still one of the most powerful GTECHs in existence. And he knows both Caleb and Julian well. With the influence of both Red Dart and my daughter, he’s the perfect commander of my army—on a leash, that is. I’ll capture Creed, break him, and then build him back up.

Ultimately, I’ll own him.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Addie

We have hot, wild, frantic sex that ends with us on our backs, panting, and him looking at me as he says. “No, Addie.”

“You know me going back and dealing with my father is the right move, Creed. You’re just being protective.”

“I won’t apologize for that.”

“I’m not asking you to apologize.” I reach up and touch his face. “I’m asking you to let me be as brave as you and try to make a difference.”

He rolls away from me and sits on the edge of the bed, his shoulders rolled forward. The intercom buzzes on the wall by the door, and he grabs his pants, shoves his feet inside them, and walks that direction, punching the button to say, “What?”

Katie laughs and says, “What back at ya. I left a package at the door. Some colored contacts for Addie and an invitation to lunch. I’m hoping she can cover a meeting for me.”

Creed grunts and releases the button before opening the door and snapping up the package. At this point, I’ve started dressing, and Creed sits back down on the bed and places the package next to me.

“I get why you want to do this, Addie. I just don’t like it.”

I pull my shirt over my head and step in front of him, my hands settling on his shoulders. “You can stay close and keep me safe. I’m lucky that way. Most people wouldn’t have that advantage.”

“I will only agree to this if I get right on the logistics with Caleb and feel good about keeping you safe.”

If I’d known how tormented and protective he felt over me, I’d have never stayed away from Creed. He knew that. Of course, he knew, and that’s why he allowed me to think he was the enemy. He was protecting me then as he is now, and it means everything to me.

“Once I desert ship, he has no moral compass. He’ll lash out. Me going back, no matter how brief, offers you a window to check his actions and intent.”

“We need the blood test results before we solidify anything.”

“Maybe that’s what the lunch is about.” I sit next to him and grab the invitation, reading and then glancing up at Creed. “It’s a lunch meeting for the women you rescued. Katie can’t make it and wants me to run the get-together. I have to go to this.” I push to my feet and kiss him. “I need to freshen up.” I dart toward the bathroom and start inspecting the items I’ve had delivered for my use.

“You should be resting,” Creed says from the doorway.

I set some pretty amazing make-up on the counter and glance over at him. “The injection Katie gave me worked miracles. I feel fine.” I go back to pulling out the supplies I need to pretty myself up.

A second ticks by, two—silence that holds yet more unspoken words.

“You should wear the contacts Katie brought for you,” he says.

“I will when I see my father.”

“The women from Zodius aren’t GTECH, nor are they lifebonds. And considering I was one of their captors, I doubt your being linked to me will work in your favor.”

I abandon what I’m doing and face him. “You were the one who saved them, Creed. I don’t understand.”

“I was their enemy and captor far longer than I was anything else.”

He rotates out of the room, the air charged with his energy. I stare after him with a twist in my gut. He’s afraid of what I’ll discover during the lunch. I pursue him and find him standing with his back to me, hands on his hips, shoulders bunched.

I waste no time advancing on him, stepping to his front, and wrapping my arms around him. “I’m not hiding my eyes from these women, Creed. I’m not afraid of you, and I won’t tolerate them being either. You saved their lives. Furthermore, my bond to you shows them that I am a target for Ava’s fertility testing, just like them. It shows them I have a reason to fight and protect them, and considering who my father is, that’s a big deal. Now. I’m going to freshen up, and I’d like it very much if you’d walk me to where I’m going.”

He cups my head and kisses me hard and fast. “Stubborn woman,” he murmurs.

“Bossy man.”

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