Page 41 of Kneeling for Daddy
The two of them leave, and the apartment is quiet again. Just me and Ani. I exhale slowly, the tension in my shoulders refusing to ease.Today could have turned out so differently.I look at Ani, and can tell that beneath her brave face, she’s still rattled.
I sink to my knees in front of her, ignoring how much it hurts. My bloody hands rest gently on her thighs as I stare up at her. “You don’t have to hide from me, little pet,” I rasp, my voice soft and warm. “Daddy knows you’re scared. I will protect you. Always. With my life if it comes to it. No one will ever hurt you. Not while I’m still breathing.”
Her lips part, and her eyes glimmer with unshed tears as she stares down at me. She lifts her hands and gently cups my face. “I know,” she whispers, her fingers lightly raking through my beard. “And that’s what scares me… Because I don’t want to bury you either.”
With my arms around her thighs, I pull her closer and hold her tightly as the world narrows to the simple truth burning between us, even if we don’t say it.
We love each other.
The bright sun is reflecting off the nearby buildings, and the city is growing louder beneath me as it wakes. Still in my robe with my hair barely brushed, I’m sitting cross-legged on the terrace with a hot cup of coffee. Nik slides open the patio door and calls my name to garner my attention, which is immediately entirely focused on the stomping boots behind him. Directly on his heel are two men I don’t recognize, both walking with self-assuredness and rigid postures.
I pull my robe tighter around myself and cover my semi-exposed chest with my free arm. “Who are they?”
“We talked about this.” Nik sighs, rubbing the back of his neck before gesturing toward both of the men. “This is Jagger and Damon.”
“Ma’am.” They both nod almost in unison.
I set the coffee cup on the glass-topped table with a clink. “Actually,youtalked about this and said I didn’t have a choice in the matter.”
“Because you don’t.” Nik lowers his voice, and I can’t miss the tinge of annoyance in it. “I am not leaving you alone after what happened.”
“Fine,” I heavily exhale, folding my arms and leaning back into the patio chair. “But do they really need to beinthe apartment?”
His eyes narrowing, Nik stares at me before completely glazing over my question. “These are the same men who protected Eavan. I trust them with my life… And with yours. They are not here to suffocate you, and most of the time, you won’t even know they’re around. Hopefully, that will make this a little easier to accept.”
I glance between both the men and back at Nik. “I don’t like it,” I admit, my voice dropping to almost a whisper. “It reminds me too much of home…” I trail off, remembering how my father always had men hovering over me.
Jagger tilts his head slightly, understanding already written across his face. He steps closer, his voice is calm and authoritative when he says, “Here’s the deal, Mrs. King. You’ll have your privacy. Your space. You can go about your day without us breathing down your neck. We’ll only be around when you leave the building. Otherwise, you’ll never know we’re here. Discreet is our middle name.”
I study him carefully, and he looks like he means it. He has one of those faces that has a way of inspiring trust without trying. “I don’t wantanyoneall over me, Nik. I don’t like it. It makes me feel trapped.”
Nik steps closer, gently palming my face and tipping it up toward his. “I get that. I really do. And I’m sorry, my little pet, but I refuse to leave you vulnerable when I’m not around. The menwe’re protecting you from would happily hurt you just to get to me or your brother.”
I huff, my gaze falling toward the floor as I struggle to meet anyone’s eyes. My cheeks flush, a mix of irritation and embarrassment causing them to burn.I hate needing protection.
Nik crouches slightly, bringing his face closer to mine. “These past few weeks have been a lot. More than most people face in a lifetime. I know you don’t want this, but Ineedto know that you are safe. That’s what this is about.”
“And if I refuse?” I stare up at him and let out an exasperated sigh. “What if I make them so miserable they refuse to watch me and quit?”
“You’re a brat,” he growls with a low laugh, his fingers tenderly tucking a stray hair behind my ear. “Do you know that?”
“I am,” I reply, lifting my chin defiantly. “You are not wrong about that.”
“I’m not wrong about the protection, either.”
Jagger chuckles, stepping back and giving me a long, appraising look. “You’re in good hands. We’ll stay out of sight as much as possible. Promise.”
“Give them a week,” Nik urges. “If it’s as horrible as you think it’s going to be, we can talk. I can’t promise I’ll make a change, but we can talk about it. Can you do that for me?”
I let out a heavy, annoyed breath, knowing I am never going to convince the three of them to get my way. “Fine.” I sigh. “I’ll try to be okay with it. But only because you asked so nicely.”
Nik smirks, giving me a condescending pat on the cheek. “Good girl. That’s all I ask.”
Jagger and Damon spend the morning asking me questions about my schedule, explaining in detail how their security works, how they’ll rotate when the other two men arrive, and what kind of check-ins they will do when I am in the apartment. Their professionalism is calming, but it doesn’t entirely erase the memories of how my father used his guards to control me.
“Hey,” Nik whispers, reaching for my hand when he senses my unease. “They aren’t here to watch you. They are here to protect you. And I promise, there is a difference.”
“I know,” I admit. “It’s just…”
