Page 72 of Fight Me Daddy

"Try me," I bit back. "Even if that's not what I want, I don't give a damn. I'll put you out of my damn house."

Gabriele searched my face before he settled back against the headboard. "Next?"

I watched him for a while until he finally made eye contact. He sighed, his shoulders slumping. That's better. Stop being so damn closed off.

"He didn't abandon me."

"Bullshit," Gabriele snapped. "He-"

"He ran off because he was scared and overwhelmed. Ever since I started dealing with your family and collecting debts? I can see why he took off. Was it the right thing to do? Fuck no. I'd never do that to my kid if the situation was reversed, but I get it now." I sighed. "He's not good or bad, Gabriele. He's human and humans fuck up."

Gabriele frowned before he reached out and tousled my hair. "Why are you so smart?" he asked. "Feels like you're smarter than me most times."

"I am smarter than you." I grinned. "You're a hothead who doesn't think first and I'm the opposite of that. No shit I'm more intelligent than you."

He flicked my forehead.

"You're a child," I growled.

"True," he sighed before he shook his head. "Maybe you're right. I talk about you having views of black and white, but I'm the same with your father. I still think he's a piece of shit."

I shrugged. "I can't change your mind about that. I'm smart enough to know that." I laughed before I thought about something else. "What about my debt? Does it still stand?" I jumped out of bed and winced as I walked over to the floor and removed one of the boards. I dug up the cash Conor had dropped off after I reported to him the night before. He'd stopped by after Gabriele took off and thanked me. I scooped up the cash and laid it on the bed. "That's not everything, but it's most of it. A hundred grand is left, and if I can just go to a few more underground fights, I'll-"

Gabriele was up so fast I jumped. His hand wrapped around my neck and my back slammed against the bed. I stared up at him and reached out to grip his arm. He squeezed and I immediately pulled my hands away and laid them on the bed instead. Like a dog, I rolled over and showed my belly to the alpha in the room.

I never thought I'd be so pathetic.

"We agreed," Gabriele growled. "What was it?"

"No...more fights." I shook my head. "I know, Daddy."

My cock twitched when I called him that and I forced myself to calm down. Focus.

He searched my face. "No more underground fights," he said again. "If I catch you at even one. I'll chain you to my bed and you'll never leave again. And if you think I won't? Try me."

I didn't see an ounce of a lie on his face. He really would chain me to his bed and while that seemed like fun for an evening, doing it for the rest of my life would grow old fast.

"No more underground fights."

Gabriele loosened his grip. "Let's not have that discussion again."

I sat up when he allowed me to and touched my throat. Even when he wasn't touching me, I could still feel him. Lately, I could always feel him. And I didn't hate it.

More like I love it.

That firm grip, his warm hands, the look in his eyes. All of it made me feel like I was wanted. Maybe I was sick in the head, but when Gabriele manhandled me, I just wanted more.

He leaned down and kissed my neck. "I wish you'd stop pissing me off so much," he growled.

I grinned. "Yeah, I don't think that's going to happen. It's the thing I'm best at."

Gabriele grunted and then burst out laughing. "It is," he said as he wrapped his arms around me. "Why do I enjoy that?"

"We're both fucked in the head?" I asked as I sat back and stared up at him. "But seriously, what about my debt?"

He frowned. "I don't have the authority to erase it. But I have a meeting with Amadeo later and we're going to talk about it. Okay? If I have to punch him in the face repeatedly, he better listen to me," he said as he stared off.

I took his hand and Gabriele gazed back at me. "Don't do that. I feel like Amadeo would kick your ass."

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