Page 15 of His To Protect

“Transfer it now,” Nicolas demanded, looking back at her.

“Will you let me go? Will you let my father go?”

“Sure, chica,” he said with a chuckle that clearly conveyed the opposite. “Your mama, too.”

“Make the transfer, puta!” Nicolas riffled through her purse and whipped her cell phone at her. “Call the bank.”

“I…I don’t know the number,” she stammered.

“That’s a smartphone.” Samuel nodded at the phone in her hands. “You take more than a minute and I’ll let my brother fuck your ass while you search.” He smiled—that cruel devil smile. “And when you’re on the phone with the bank, I’ll take my turn. My cock will split your ass wide open.”

Alexis blinked, trying to control her panic as she fumbled with the phone in her hand. The woman from earlier stumbled out, tear streaks on her face and yelled at Samuel. He went to her, legs fueled by anger, and slapped her. She roared angrily, shoving him. At first, Alexis couldn’t take her eyes off the couple, but then she remembered his threat. Movement caught her eye as she turned away from them. More movement at the door behind Nicolas. Her gut flipped. It was Jack. It was just a flash, so fast she wasn’t even sure she hadn’t imagined it, but then he was rushing in.

The element of surprise was all they had going for them, so she yelled at Nicolas, since he was closest.

“Catch, dickhead!” She threw her phone as hard as she could at his face. His arms flew up to block it, and she launched herself forward and kicked him as hard as she could, with the top flat of her foot to ensure full contact, right in the cojones. That was a word she hadn’t learned from the app, but from TV. Balls. She kicked him in his Spanish balls.

“Run!”

Jack had already tackled Samuel. With Nicolas down clutching his crotch, Alexis grabbed her purse and ran just as Jack ordered.

At the last second, she stopped, grabbed a large ashtray from the table by the door and turned back, smashing it over Samuel’s head as he swung a fist at Jack. As Samuel fell, Alexis grabbed Jack’s hand and ran for the door again. This time with Jack behind.

Thankfully, Jack had left a taxi waiting at the front. He’d even left the door open as if he’d expected things to go down as they had. He was dragging her by the time they hit the street, so he pulled her right into the cab in a barrel roll, yelling ‘vamonos!’ to the driver.

The car took off with a squeal before the door was even fully closed, and when she spun in her seat to look back, Nicolas ran out of the building in a limp-jog.

“Sit properly and put your seatbelt on.” Jack’s gruff, irritated voice was such a relief to her ears that she ignored his instructions and threw herself into his arms. Despite Jack’s curse and grousing about her foolishness, his arms held her tightly—comforting, lovingly.

She was safe in Daddy Jack’s arms.

After several minutes, when her breathing had become somewhat regular, Jack released his strong hold on her and moved her back to her seat. He leaned over and buckled her in himself. And then shot her a look that made her rethink her first thought.

She was safe—for now.

Jack was livid. She’d seen him annoyed. She’d seen him hangry, hell, she’d even seen him pissed off, but this was a whole other level. She bit her lip. He chewed his, eyes narrowed and holding her stare. She swallowed hard and then released a breath.

“I—”

“Don’t!” His hand landed on her thigh and squeezed. “Don’t you dare open your pretty mouth, young lady. There isn’t one thing you could say that will save your ass from the thrashing you’re due, so don’t waste your breath. You’ll need it for wailing.”

She clamped her jaw tight, pressed her lips together and turned her attention to the passing scenery. God, if his words didn’t scare and thrill her equally.

When the cab pulled up in front of their hotel, he clasped her hand again. Tight.

“I’m not going to run, Jack,” she told him with a roll of her eyes. “That man was not my father and he was my only lead, so I have nowhere to go.” He only glared. Glared so hard she had to look at her feet the rest of the way to their room.

When the door slammed behind them, she prepared herself. But she wasn’t prepared for what she got.

Jack’s mouth slammed hard into hers, his lips hot and demanding. She fell back against the door and his body pinned her there. When his lips stopped their punishing kiss, his eyes, molten with desire, focused on hers.

“That was stupid, little girl. So God-damn stupid. I have never been so afraid in my life.”

“I’m sorry, Daddy.” The name rolled off her tongue easily. “So sorry. I was petrified. And all I could think was that if I had the chance I’d tell you how much I want to be yours–really yours. The little girl and the woman in me want to be yours, Daddy.” He pecked her several times on the face with his lips and then yanked her off the door, both hands once again tightly around her upper arms.

“I have no clue why I feel the way I do about you, Alexis Riker. I’m brusque, impatient, and surly as hell sometimes, but you make me feel things I haven’t felt for anyone in a long time. I am going to make you mine, little one, and then I’m going to make you regret being mine. Because, my little brat, what you did was so beyond dangerous the only thing I can think to do to make sure you never ever do something so stupid again is to take my belt to your backside. I can’t lose you and if that means I’ve got to tear your ass up so you’ll be more careful, I will.”

“Daddy, I was terrified. I need you. I need you to keep me safe from my impulses and recklessness. I’m too headstrong and think the best of people. Daddy, anchor me so I don’t float away on my whims and good intentions—anchor me to you!”

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