Page 56 of Off-Limits Protector Daddy

There are too many unknowns to feel comfortable spending a night downtown with her.

“Not tonight. Why don’t we order in and watch some of those horrible movies you like?”

Her eyes narrow and she stops folding the laundry. “You’re up to something.”

“Aria, I’m just tired and want to spend a night with you without having to look over my shoulder every few minutes. Let’s order in again and then watch some movies.”

That calculating gaze follows me as I walk to the fridge. I know she isn’t buying the lie. She’s gotten too good at seeing through me. It makes me more uncomfortable than I’d like to admit.

Aria is the only person who sees the real me and it’s terrifying as hell.

“You’re not sneaking out without me. You may as well tell me what you’re up to.”

I shrug and grab a bottle of water, cracking it open. “Aria, I have to go looking for your father. You know that as well as I do.”

“You’re not going to look for him without me.”

“I am. You’re going to stay here where I know you’re safe.”

“Over my dead body.”

“I’d like it not to come to that.” I take a long sip of water as she gets to her feet and crosses the room to me. Looking into her eyes, I add, “That’s why I’m asking you to stay here.”

“And I’m telling you that you’re not going into this alone. You and me together. Remember?”

“Fine,” I say, knowing that she isn’t going to leave me alone until I convince her that I’m not going anywhere. “I’ll stay here. We’ll order in but if I’m staying here, we’re watching the movies I want to watch.”

She crosses her arms, a skeptical look on her face. “Fine.”

I grab the selection of takeout menus from the top of the fridge while Aria returns to her laundry. It’s going to be a long night, but I’m doing what’s best for both of us.

* * *

Once Aria isasleep hours later, I get ready to sneak out of our room. I have two guns tucked into shoulder holsters and hidden beneath my jacket. I glance at Aria, still sleeping on the bed. Her hair is a mess and her arm is wrapped around her stomach. There’s a small smile on her face. She looks peaceful when she sleeps.

I stand beside the bed and look down at her, my heart hammering in my chest. When I agreed to go undercover, I never imagined any of this happening. I never imagined I’d find her. I never imagined I’d fall in… No, that’s not what this is about. It can’t be. But this weird feeling inside is telling me that I’m probably lying to myself. Whatever.

“I’ll be back soon,” I whisper before bending down and kissing her forehead.

Aria makes a small noise in her sleep before rolling onto her back. I stay still, waiting for her to settle before I head to the door.

None of the staff seems to notice me as I leave. Heads down and cell phones in hand, they are lost in their own little worlds, which is exactly what I need.

Once I’m in the car, it’s only a half an hour drive to the marina where Antonio Russo’s warehouse is.

The marina is empty apart from a few dock workers as I park the car behind a dumpster. Fog rolls across the ground as I walk along the pier, searching for the Russo warehouse. I stay hidden in the shadows, keeping my head down.

There’re men walking around, rifles slung over their shoulders as they pace back and forth in front of the warehouse. None of the workers pay any attention to the men with guns.

When the men circle around the back of the building, I rush forward. I dodge the spotlights, climbing up on a stack of crates against one wall to look in the window.

The lights in the warehouse are off. As far as I can tell, nobody’s in there. My eyes widen as I take in the crates that are stored throughout the building. There is nothing on the crates that tells me what’s in them.

Although, even if there was, I doubt that I could read it. The only light in the warehouse is coming from the spotlights outside.

I can guess what is in the boxes, though. Antonio Russo is known for dealing in guns and drugs, so it’s safe to assume. Especially since his more legitimate business is importing cars.

The FBI has been keeping an eye on the warehouse but I know they drew back slightly once I went undercover.

---