Page 22 of Daddy's Desire

Courtney was charmed by the way the man blushed, and she could tell he adored her friend.

“Your daddy is already out in the car,” Elder told them.

“Okay. Thank you, Elder. We’ll be back soon.”

Elder tipped his head forward. “I’ll be watching for you, Miss Larkin.”

Larkin grabbed onto her hand, and they walked out of the house and down the front steps to a long car with another man holding the back door open. Larkin released her and hugged this man, too.

“Courtney, this is Hicks. He gets to drive me and my friends places.”

Hicks grinned and patted Larkin’s shoulder. “That’s right, Miss Larkin. We have a lot of fun.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too, young lady,” Hicks said.

Courtney scrambled into the back seat and saw Darian on one side and Ronin on the other. She went to Ronin and sat beside him.

He immediately took her hand and squeezed. “It’s going to be okay, Honey.”

She hadn’t realized how tense she was until then. She nodded, relaxed, and enjoyed the ride.

Courtney could feel her anxiety rise as they pulled up to a large white building. She didn’t have to be told it was the police department because of all the police cars in the lot.

They got out and moved up the few steps to the door. Her hand tightened on Ronin’s as they were met by a man in a suit. He took them to a conference room.

“Go and sit next to Larkin,” Ronin said and released herhand.

“You’ll stay, right?”

He kissed her forehead. “Yes, Honey. I’m not going anywhere.”

Larkin patted the chair next to hers. “Come on, girl. Just relax. My daddy and Ronin will take care of everything.”

Courtney grabbed Larkin’s hand and nodded. She really hoped it was true. She just wished it was over so she could go back to Larkin’s house, where she felt safe.

Chapter Nine

When her mother walked in with a man she vaguely recognized but couldn’t place, her stomach started cramping, and she felt like she would throw up.

Larkin squeezed her hand. “Don’t you dare let that woman scare you. There is nothing she can do. Get your chin up, and don’t show any fear. It will just make her happy to see you upset.”

Courtney nodded, took a deep breath, and felt some of the tension release its hold on her.

Her mother, the man she came with, Darian, and the cop stood talking by the door. Ronin was standing behind them, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. The look on his face made a shiver run down her back.

He looked so different. He looked hard and menacing, and it almost frightened her. When he turned to her and winked, she knew he was pretending to be mean to scare her mother.

Darian turned to her and waved her over. Courtney stood and glanced back at Larkin.

“Daddy said I had to stay here, but you won’t be alone,” Larkin said.

Courtney nodded, turned, and walked to Darian’s side. She made herself look at her mother, Diana, but she didn’t show any fear.

“Hello, Mother.”

“Dear. Do you know how much you scared me?” the older woman said and patted her own chest.

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