Page 25 of Slash
She could hear the detective's voice through the phone, professional but concerned. Slash's responses were clipped, efficient. "Yes. This morning. No, she hasn't responded. We're implementing Protocol Seven." She didn't know what Protocol Seven was, but the way Slash said it made it sound serious.
This was exactly what she'd been afraid of. Brock was escalating, getting bolder. Next would come?—
"Hey." Slash's hand on her shoulder brought her back from the spiral of worst-case scenarios. His touch was grounding, possessive, safe. "Look at me, little girl."
Nicole met his eyes, finding cold fury there instead of the panic that was threatening to overwhelm her. He wasn't scared. He was pissed. And somehow, his anger felt like armor, like something standing between her and Brock's threats.
"We knew this might happen," he said, his voice steady and sure. "Which is why we have plans in place. Detective Allard is tracing the number. He was bailed out. We don’t know where in the state he is, but his mom picked him up this morning. Theclub is doubling security around the compound. And you and Kayleigh are not leaving my sight until this is resolved."
"But what if?—"
"No what ifs," Slash interrupted firmly. "Right now, I need you to do exactly what I tell you to do, when I tell you to do it. No questions, no hesitation. Can you handle that?"
The command in his voice, the absolute certainty that he could keep them safe, cut through Nicole's panic like a knife. This was exactly what she'd needed, someone strong enough to take control when she was falling apart. Someone who wouldn't crumble under the weight of her fear.
"I need... I need to not think," she admitted quietly. "I need to just trust someone else to handle this because my brain is screaming a thousand different worst-case scenarios and I can't?—"
"Then don't," Slash said simply. "Give it to me. All of it. The fear, the decisions, the weight. Let me carry it."
"Yes," she whispered. "Yes, Daddy."
The word slipped out before she could stop it, and her face immediately burned with embarrassment. But something flared in Slash's eyes; possession, pleasure, promise.
"Say it again," he commanded softly.
"Daddy," she breathed, and watched his pupils dilate.
"Good girl," he said, and the praise made her knees weak despite everything. "First thing, I’ve called all the officers in and doubled the security at the gate. More security there, more people watching out for threats. Nothing matters except keeping you both alive and whole." Slash's hands framed her face, his touch firm but gentle. "I know this is scary. I know you hate having your life turned upside down. But I need you to trust me to handle this."
Nicole nodded, some of the panic finally receding. "I trust you."
"Tell me what you need right now," he said. "Not what you think you should need. What you actually need."
"I need..." she paused, surprised by the question. When was the last time someone had asked her that? "I need Kayleigh to be safe and happy and not know how scared I am. I need to feel like this is handled. And I need..." she dropped her voice to barely a whisper, "I need to not be strong right now."
"Then don't be," Slash said firmly. "Be mine instead. My little girl to protect, to care for, to keep safe. Let that be enough for now."
“Okay.” She consented. She didn’t have any more energy in her to fight it. “Okay, Daddy.”
"Then let's go back and eat breakfast with Kayleigh. Everyone’s going to gather in an hour for a meeting. And Nicole?"
"Yeah?"
His eyes were dark with promise. "When this is over, when you're safe, we're going to talk about how much I loved hearing you call me Daddy."
The heat in his voice made her shiver with anticipation. She'd opened a door she wasn't sure she was ready to walk through. But maybe that was okay. Maybe sometimes the best things happened when you weren't ready for them. Instead of spiraling into anxiety about all the things that could go wrong, she was able to focus on what needed to be done. Hang out with her little girl, not let her know anything was wrong while trusting that Slash knew what he was doing.
Trusting her Daddy to keep them safe.
An hour later, they were settled in a secure room at the clubhouse, surrounded by men with guns and attitudes that suggested they'd welcome an excuse to use them. The place was scary before but now, it looks like a fortress. They’d reinforceddoors, barred windows, and had gathered enough firepower to start a small war.
Kayleigh was playing in the newly developed play room, delighted to be in the heart of the women’s attention. She was the collective niece of every member of the Watchmen and their girlfriends. Spoiled. But, Nicole didn’t mind. She was grateful for the help and the distraction. The playroom was as much for the littles as it was for Kayleigh. They all enjoyed the array of crafts, dolls, building blocks and more. Nicole herself was partial to the comfy cozy reading nook.
She watched Kayleigh building a tower with blocks, tongue poking out in concentration, and felt that fierce maternal love that had kept her going through the worst of times. Everything she'd endured, every sacrifice, had been for that little girl. And now, maybe, they both had a chance at something better.
"For how long?" Nicole asked as Slash finished explaining the updated security protocols to her. He’d shown her around town this week and she’d met some of his friends from Valhalla. They’d taken Kyleigh on a long walk. And now? They couldn’t leave the building, not even to go outside. She couldn’t use her phone. In fact they’d turned it off completely and when Dax arrived later, he was taking it with him.
"As long as it takes," he replied. "Could be days, could be weeks."
