Page 81 of Daddy's Bodyguard

“Give it two days. If she doesn’t call by then, prepare to spend some serious money and get familiar with being on your knee.”

“Oh, I have no problem with that,” I tease.

She smacks my cheek lightly. “To grovel! Get your head out of the gutter. Keep being honest. Really honest. Be uncomfortably honest.”

“Dating advice from my little sister. This is what it’s come to?”

“Valuabledating advice,” she corrects me. “Next time, please have your money upfront. My services aren’t free.”

I chuckle and ruffle her hair. She shoves me off; then we’re bickering like we should be. I feel better, just having talked to her. But I’ll feel best when I have Sofia back in my arms. Safe. Whole. With a smile on her face.

Chapter 25

Sofia

I rub my face. This is too much to take in. Way too much. Too much to the tenth degree. Scarlett gets me some tea, and I stare at it stupidly. “Why do I feel like whiskey would be better?”

Dad chuckles, and Scarlett smiles. “She’s definitely your daughter.”

“Her ambition says that more than anything.” Dad flashes a smile, but it dies as I take a sip of the tea. “I know this is a lot, Princesa.”

“More than a lot, Papa. You’re holding evidence that could get Tiberon a death sentence if you hand them over to the authorities! Why didn’t you tell me?”

I should have known something didn’t add up. Why would Tiberon want to kill us because my father lost the case? Now, this makes perfect sense.

“The less you knew, the better, Sofia,” Dad calmly replies.

I wildly gesture around the room. “Better for who? I’m stuck here with you, aren’t I? And based on what you just told me, I’ll probably always be on the run like a fucking criminal. Oh, my God. I think I’m going to be sick.”

“I’m sorry, Sofia. I wish you didn’t need to endure this with me.”

“Sorry fixes nothing, Dad. It never does.” I argue. “Only a change in behavior fixes things. Apologies … they’re words.”

And words are thin as fucking air. Like Jasper telling me that we could get through this together. Like him telling me he’d be there for me. Like the hint of us having a future. A future that started to sound like a pleasant dream, almost like a life I could have. Like I could take on the world and come home to a warm body instead of a quiet house with the lights off and premade food in the fridge. But instead, all I have is this… what is this? A lifetime of living in fear?

I adjust the hem of my dress and shake my head. “This is so much. Too much. How the hell are we going to survive this?”

Dad glances at Kingston, then back at me. “There’s a plan, but I need you to trust me, keep your head low and wait for Tiberon’s sentencing. That’s all I ask.”

“Just give him the evidence, and he’ll leave us alone, Dad. We could get back to our lives in a heartbeat.”

My father scoffs. “Tiberon’s a cold-blooded criminal. Do you really think he’ll allow us to live?”

“Dad—”

“Trust me, Sofia. Please. I’ve done a poor job of taking care of you all these years. Give me a chance to make it right.”

I nod in response, but I hate it. I hate that there’s nothing I can do to fix our situation, to help keep us alive. Dad hugs me, and I don’t flinch. I pat his back. He takes a slow breath as his familiar smell washes over me. He always smells like fresh laundry, clean and warm.

“Te amo.”

“Papa.” I sigh. But I’m not good at reconciliation, especially after all these years. I need to think about how me and Dad will move forward before I say a word. “I … I should sleep. It’s been a long day.”

“Yes. Get some sleep. You’re safe here. I’m sure it’s been hard the last few weeks. Not being sure.” He rubs my shoulder. “Not to mention dealing with a stranger.”

I shrug. “It was okay.” Better than okay while it lasted. Now, it feels like a little like regret. Not for the intimate moments Jasper and I shared but the way I behaved afterwards. I wasn’t fair to Jasper. He was just doing his job.

“You’re exhausted,” Dad says, squeezing my hand when my eyes drift close. “Your bedroom’s upstairs. First room off the landing. You can rest without worrying about someone breaking in. We have multiple layers of protection. Cashton and Kingston are the best of the best.”

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