Page 21 of Dripping Pearls

"She was," Brax says.

Kieran jerks his head in a nod, eyeing us silently. "She's afraid of storms."

"She was safe," I murmur. "She'll always be safe with us."

He's silent for a moment and then he sighs, raking a hand through his graying hair. "I fucking knew this day was coming," he mutters under his breath, pegging us with a deadly look. "I knew it five years ago when I found that fucking article tucked under her mattress. So I'll only say this once. Make her cry, and I will make you bleed. Hurt her, and no one will ever find your bodies. Are we clear?"

"Crystal," I say.

"We're clear," Braxton agrees.

Kieran shakes his head again, muttering another curse. "One of you better plan on putting a fucking ring on her finger."

"She'll be wearing our ring," Braxton says. "And she'll have our last names. Both of them."

"Good."

"That's it?" I frown at him "That's all you're going to say?"

He turns those piercing eyes on me. "I've been watching the two of you since the minute I found out she was going to work for you," he growls. "I've seen you with her. I know everything there is to know about you. I know where you eat, where you shit, and where you sleep. And I know that you feel the same goddamn way about her that she feels about you. So yeah, that's it." He shakes his head. "Her mom would kick my ass if I tried to come between the three of you, and one thing I don't do is piss off my wife."

"We live for her," Braxton says simply.

Kieran nods again. "I know. It's the only reason I didn't break down the fucking door last night and drag her out of there."

"You were outside." Braxton frowns.

"She wasn't answering her phone, so I tracked her." He shrugs unapologetically.

"Shit." I grimace. "We should have had her call someone and let them know we got caught by the storm and decided to wait it out at our place."

"Yeah, you should have," he says quietly. "Don't make the same mistake again. She's my daughter. I've gone to war for her mom. I'll do the same for her without hesitation."

"So would we."

"I'd go to war for them too," she says from behind us.

I sigh quietly. Of course she didn't stay in the car. No one tells Lola what to do outside of the bedroom. She's the sweetest little lamb, but she has a mind of her own. She's stubborn and independent and so damn beautiful for it.

"Morning, baby girl," Kieran says, holding out his arms for her.

"Hi, daddy." She rushes into his arms, letting him fold them around her. "Please be nice," she whispers in his ear as her feet leave the ground. "I love them."

"Figured that out a long time ago, Lola," he grunts, setting her back on her feet.

"Oh." She frowns up at him. "You did?"

He chuckles, shaking his head. "Yeah, kiddo. You're shit at keeping secrets."

"I'm better than you think I am," she mumbles.

He chuckles again, glancing from her to the two of us. "You're headed to Tahoe today?"

"We are," Braxton says.

Kieran nods. "Savannah will expect the three of you for dinner when you get back." He scowls. "And she better fucking not be pregnant when you get back."

"Daddy!" Lola cries, her cheeks blazing with heat.

---