Page 58 of Vicious Kitten

“Keep in contact with your mum. She worries too.”

I nod. “Yep. I will.”

Dad picks up a couple of shopping bags with food in it. Some pre-cooked by Mum to make sure I’m eating right, even though I’ll only be gone for a few nights, and we head to the car.

Apparently, the guys are all travelling together to the secret location with Shaun’s brother Derek, so Dad drives me out of Fox Pines and tells me as we are driving across the open countryside that our destination is Redfield Lake. I get butterflies at the mention of Redfield Lake because I’ve heard it’s a beautiful spot where those with more money like to flock to over the summer. Cabins and luxurious houses hide in the thick bushland that wraps around the lake, a huge contrast to the more rundown, mill-style homes in the town of Redfield, where crime is high, and strip clubs are open twenty-four hours.

About thirty minutes later, we weave through a narrow bush-lined street, passing strange-looking letter boxes made out of tin to resemble an animal, or tree, or person, and we eventually turn into the driveway for number 37.

I can’t help but bounce in the seat with excitement as we bump our way down the pot-holey driveway until a cute little log cabin comes into view.

"Ehhhh!" I squeal, and Dad chuckles. “This is so freaking adorable!”

As we pull to a stop by the wide steps that lead up to a wraparound veranda, the door to the house opens, and four of my five stud muffins stroll from the cabin.

I throw the car door open, leaping out and rounding the front, colliding into Simon at the bottom of the steps as we come together for a hug.

“It’s so good to see you, Cherry.” Simon pulls back, speaking quietly. “I know we only just saw you last night, but I bloody missed you.”

“I missed you too, Sy.” I grin and ruffle his longish hair, making him laugh.

“Let me help with that.” Garrett’s deep voice draws my attention, and I watch him move down the steps to help my dad with the bags. I take a moment to watch how my dad responds, seeing that he seems comfortable with Garrett. I guess he would after cleaning up the blood from his face the other night, although the confrontation at my front door a few days ago had me worried.

Shaun steps down from the veranda as well, taking the bags from my dad's grip, smiling at him, and my dad smiles back.

“You all healed up?” Dad asks Shaun quietly, and my Casanova nods. “I’m uh… sorry about… you know. Hitting you.”

“All g, Mr Rogan.” Shaun smiles. “It was an accident.”

“Even so. My behaviour has been questionable of late. I appreciate you protecting my daughter.”

I leave Simon’s side then, sidling up next to my dad and slipping my arm around his waist as I look up into his light brown eyes. “You’re not the only one that’s had questionable behaviour, Dad. I’ve been pretty testing.”

He leans down and presses a kiss to my forehead. “Have a good weekend, Rhys. Keep in contact, so we know you’re safe.”

“Okie Dokie, Daddio.” I beam, and he chuckles before backing away, his eyes roaming over the guys.

“Oh, and boys, if anything happens to my daughter, I will fuck you up!”

I gasp, slapping my hand over my mouth as I try not to laugh at my dad, and I see a fierceness in his eyes that tells me he will do exactly what he said if something happens to me.

“Understood, Mr Rogan,” Marcus speaks for the guys. “We will protect her with our lives.”

My dad gives a curt nod before climbing back into his car and slowly backing out of the drive, leaving me with four of my guys. My heart pangs, longing for Tyler, so I promise myself that I’ll video-call him later. Maybe I’ll give him a little show, so he doesn’t forget me.

“Come inside, Kitten. Check out our digs for the weekend.”

I turn to Shaun, his grin infectious, my own lips tilting up as excitement rushes through me. I do a little jump and a clap and run up the steps and into the cabin, which looks a little rustic on the outside but has some modern-day furnishings on the inside.

There’s a stone fireplace along the side wall, with a wide-screen TV above it and rustic bookshelves on either side, lined with books that I’m going to take some time looking through later. A rich timber square coffee table sits in line with the fireplace, and a long, cushiony beige couch faces the tv, with two armchairs along the windows that overlook the lake and a slim day bed on the other side.

“Whose house is this?” I ask, darting my head around to the guys to see them wearing slight grins as they watch me.

“It’s an Airbnb.” Simon answers. “I bribed Mum into shouting it for me for the weekend. She didn’t care. She tossed me dad’s credit card and told me to go for my life. I think what won her over was that the alternative was we spend the weekend at home,andI might have mentioned that there would be cherry pie involved. She was more than happy to help.”

I giggle. “I can imagine your mum’s expression, Sy.” I turn to see a dark timber dining table with eight seats lining it, cushioned in the same beige as the couch, with a dark timber kitchen at the back of the room. It’s not overly big, but looks to have everything one would need.

“So, what are we going to do all weekend?” I ask as Marcus shuts the cabin door, closing us in. An electric current shoots to Kitty as her naughty thoughts take over my mind.

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