Page 23 of Papa's Beloved

“Shh, baby. It’s alright. I’m here.”

Nay turns in my lap and clings to me. I rub her back and murmur soothing words. I don’t know how long we sit here until the tears stop. I tuck her head under my chin and continue rubbing her back to give her time to regroup.

“I told them. I had to tell them. The looks on their faces,” she says before she starts sobbing again.

I’m guessing she told her family about Linden, and in order to do that, she’d have to tell the entire story to her siblings. Her aunt already knew. She told me earlier.

“How did they take it?”

“Good, bad, better than I expected.”

“Do you feel better now that your secret is out?”

She nods her head. “I truly feel lighter, but the look on Micah and Maya’s faces when I told them about our father’s plans broke my heart. I’ve had years to deal with this. No doubt they still have dozens of questions. I answered every one they had, yet I know they’ll have more. It takes a lifetime to wrap your head around the cruelty perpetrated on you by your own father. Some days, I still can’t believe he faked his illness so he and Linden could prostitute me out. I was just a little girl.”

“Baby, this may sound crazy, but we should have a service for that little girl. The one that died the first time your uncle sold you.”

She looks at me with wide eyes. “That’s brilliant. I’ll talk to Lily. I think it’s a great way to help me mourn the loss of my innocence and maybe to finally release the pain.”

I kiss her gently. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are? I’m not just talking about that fine ass or those tits. I’m talking about a little girl that would sacrifice everything to take care of her younger siblings. After that, you’ve always looked out for everyone you care about. I remember Kelsi’s first night at the club. She was so nervous and I thought she’d lose her mind when she saw Gambit and I spit roast you in the common room.”

She smiles. “Yeah, she was impressed, jealous, nervous.”

“Jealous?”

“Yeah, she said she wanted to be the one getting spit roasted by two hot men.”

I throw back my head and laugh. “That explains why she tried to recreate that night a few times.”

Nay shrugs, then smiles. “I’m glad we can talk about my doll days without either of us getting upset.”

“No use getting upset over the past, Beloved. I’d rather live to today and grow into the future with you. Speaking of, we took a vote like Stormy asked.”

I feel her tense up. I grasp the back of her neck and squeeze gently.

“Not one man thinks you are unworthy. We took the vote before I told them about Linden. Baby, they'll never see you in the same light again. I don’t mean that negatively. but they know you’re a warrior. A survivor. A thriver. You’re a fucking rockstar Chardonnay Rene Danvers.”

I see the blush rise to her cheeks and it makes me smile more. Linden stole so much from my girl, but not the ability to be genuine. By all rights, she should be bitter and jaded. She’s not, she’s the opposite and I’m one lucky son of a bitch.

“Why don’t you get dressed? I’d like to take my woman out to dinner. How does Pele’s Palace sound.”

“Can I wear a dress?”

“I can drive my cage.”

She brings her hands up to cup my head and pulls me down for a scorching hot kiss. I’m at full mast by the time she’s finished.

“I love you, Gabriel.”

“I love you, Nay.”

Chapter 19

Nay

Ihurry into the bedroom, thankful the girls packed a lot more clothes than I originally intended. They even helped me unpack. Papa had long ago made room for me in the apartment. I have my own walk-in closet, complete with a dresser.

Strong arms wrap around me and I feel lips on my neck. I laugh.

---