Page 25 of Dangerous Devotion

She nodded, and then I pulled her with me. Together, we moved down the stairs toward the big room where I could already hear my future father-in-law’s booming voice.

He was not happy. And there was a realistic chance this might end bloody.

CHAPTER SIX

Iwalked down the stairs, my fingers intertwined with Vince’s, my heart pounding like a jackhammer. We crossed the entrance, and the familiar scent of my father’s cologne hit me before we even reached the door.

A wave of nostalgia washed over me, and I suddenly remembered the hours I’d spent in his office growing up, studying, reading, or just on my phone while he was working at his desk.

You wouldn’t believe how much paperwork running a criminal organization involved—even though, what did I know? Dad never actually involved us girls in the actual day-to-day business. Would Vince be the same? Would he—out of his protectiveness—keep me away from the business? Or would he stay true to his word and involve me—like a real team?

As we stepped into the room, I caught sight of Dad’s face—a storm of emotions playing across his features.

“Jemma!” he roared, pushed Hawk aside, and rushed toward me.

I tried to untangle my hand from Vince’s, though he didn’t let go. I gave him a sideways glance. His jaw was clenched as if he braced himself for impact.

Dad’s eyes scanned me from head to toe, searching for any sign of harm. “Are you hurt? What happened? Why didn’t you call me?” The questions tumbled out in rapid succession, his voice tight with worry. Then he looked at our joined hands and cast a glance at Vince, his eyes sparkling with barely contained anger.

A lump formed in my throat as I realized how much I’d put him through, how much my dad really loved me.

All the resentment I’d had because of the arranged marriage suddenly disappeared. All my dad ever wanted was for us girls to be happy. “I’m okay, Dad,” I said, my voice wavering slightly. “Really, I’m fine.”

He pulled me into a fierce hug, and I melted into his embrace. For a moment, I was a little girl again, safe in my father’s arms. The familiar scent of his aftershave filled my nostrils, and tears suddenly gatheredat the corners of my eyes.

“You scared me half to death,” he murmured, his voice gruff with emotion. “When I heard about the attack…”

I pulled back slightly and met his concerned gaze. “I’m sorry, Dad. Everything happened so fast, and?—”

“It’s my fault,” Vince interjected, stepping forward, putting his arm around my waist, and pulling me back against him. “I should have contacted you immediately.”

My father’s eyes narrowed as his attention shifted to Vince. I could feel the tension crackling in the air between them, and I held my breath, unsure of what would happen next.

The air in the room seemed to thicken, charged with tension.

Dad’s face darkened, his eyes narrowing as he turned and faced Vince fully, anger practically radiating off him in waves. “Do not touch her.”

Vince, for his part, remained unnervingly still. His posture wasn’t defensive; if anything, he looked…accepting of whatever was coming his way. But he didn’t let go.

It hit me then—he was prepared to take whatever my father dished out.

“Since Jemma is an adult,” Vince said calmly, “she’s the only one allowed to tell me not to touch her.”

The expression on Dad’s face turned from dark to thunderous. “You think so? You scum, you put her in danger, and now, you dare to touch her?”

I stepped forward, ready to intervene, but Vince, instead, pushed me behind him.

Then I felt hands on my arms. Fee and Alex pulled me back gently but firmly.

“They need to have this out,” Alex murmured in my ear.

I wanted to protest, but deep down, I knew he was right. This was inevitable. Not that I liked it, but my dad and Vince had to come to an understanding.

What a mess.

And then everything seemed to move too fast and in slow motion at the same time as Dad pulled back his arm and his fist unexpectedly connected with Vince’s jaw.

Vince’s head flew to the side, and the sound of the impact made me flinch.

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