Page 80 of Goddess of Mayhem

Her mouth opens then closes. Delaney is now running down the hall and she comes to a stop in front of me.

“In there.” I point to the room I directed Breckin to and give her a slight shove to get her moving faster. I turn back to Malia and place my hands on her shoulders. “Please, don’t fight me Malia. Your mother is on the run, and she saw you and Liam at the ball. He might be a target for her to use against you.”

Malia blinks at me. “Okay, but Daddy—”

I shake my head. “No arguments. Go get some rest before Liam comes back and everything will be taken care of.” My hand covers her cheek, and she leans into it. “I will take care of you, baby girl.”

Leaning in, I kiss her forehead and run into the room. Chantelle lay unconscious on the bed and Delaney already has her hooked up to oxygen. Her small body is limp, some black from ash and blood from scrapes and cuts.

I do not know how long Martinez has been watching Insatiable. It only makes sense that he was for him to mark that building amongst the others I own. This is my fault, if I had not visited the club so often recently then it would not have been targeted.

There’s no telling how much he has seen between Chantelle and me. At this point there are too many important people involved in my mess that I am at risk of losing.

If there’s a chance that Martinez knows of my interest in Chantelle, I will not risk him taking her. I have seen what happens when vengeance is dealt at his hand, and I refuse to let Chantelle, or my daughter go through that.

“NATE.” A RASPY VOICE calls me from my sleep.

I must have fallen asleep when Delaney finished with Chantelle. She had suffered mostly smoke inhalation, a few scrapes along her body, and a small laceration on her head.

My back is stiff and cracks as I straighten. Chantelle’s small hand rests in mine and my head had been lying on her lap. She is awake, her eyes heavy with exhaustion and pain as she looks at me.

She goes to speak again and starts coughing. I jump up to grab her some water and she waves it away.

“Drink it, Little Bird,” I order, bringing the cup to her lips. She leans up to take a sip but not before she glares at me. I smile relieved that she will be okay, and her attitude is still there despite everything that has happened. “Delaney will be in to check on you shortly, she had some calls to make.”

Chantelle clears her throat, and she pushes the cup of water away. “What happened?”

I sigh, placing the cup down next to her so she can reach it if she needs it. “Insatiable was blown up tonight. You got caught in some of the rubble, it took hours, but we got you out of there.”

“Oh, good, she’s awake!” Delaney walks in with a chart that has her notes on it. I have fully stocked the infirmary with everything she might need to care for my people should they become injured. “You’re a lucky one, Chantelle.”

“Who are you?” Chantelle asks, eyeing Delaney suspiciously. I bite back a laugh wondering who she could be thinking Delaney is to me.

“This is Dr. Delaney Vett,” I say. “She works for me, Little Bird. She’s been handling your care since you’ve been unconscious.”

Both Delaney and Chantelle look each other over for an uncomfortable moment. Delaney can think what she wants of Chantelle and me, she is here to do a job regardless of her feelings on the matter.

“And who is Chantelle to you?” I hear Malia say from the door. She is leaning against the doorjamb with her arms crossed and an impassive look on her face.

I turn to face the doctor. “Do what you need to do while I have a word with my daughter.”

Delaney nods and I step out of the room with Malia.

“You should be resting,” I scorn with a tired but stern tone.

Malia snorts and rolls her eyes, crossing her arms tight against her chest. Her green eyes narrow on me and her lips thin. “Who’s the blonde, Daddy?” She jerks her chin toward Chantelle’s room. “If you say no one, I swear to god, you will never come off my shit list!”

I chuckle at the pointed look she gives me. “I have no reason to lie to you, baby girl.” Malia’s eyes widen in disbelief. It is a bit of an insult considering I have been keeping things from her. I will not hide this from my daughter.

Malia could be just as dangerous to Chantelle as Martinez if I withhold information about her.

“You killed a man for her last night. I saw the uncontrolled anger as you sliced through that man’s arm lie fucking butter—”

I raise my hand, cutting my daughter off from her tirade. “I just told you I have no reason to lie to you about this, Malia. If you’d let me talk I can explain it.”

Her eyes squint as if she is trying to figure out if I am going to tell her the truth or not.

“I’ve seen Chantelle a couple of times.”

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