“You’re not mad I went snooping?”
“Kitten, if I really wanted to hide something from you, I wouldn’t put it somewhere you could find it in thirty seconds flat. No, I’m not mad at you for being your curious little self.”
“Oh. That’s good.”
“But if I tell you the truth about that photo, you have to promise me it stays between us. The truth would put a lot of people in danger if it ever got out.”
My heart slams against my chest, the weight of his trust in me settling heavy in my gut. “I promise, Daddy. Cross my heart and hope to die.”
“Thank you, kitten.” Settling back against the tub, he wraps his arms around me, holding me close. “You know the story about how I got my scar.”
“Only vaguely. A territory dispute or something.”
“Mmm. Or something. There was a dispute, but it was more over what they were using the territory for than them encroaching on ours.”
“What were they using it for?”
“Trafficking. Children, specifically. When I found out, I… went a little crazy. Basically declared war on them. Burned their entire fucking operation to the ground and then handed the pieces over to the FBI. The one and only time I’ve cooperated with law enforcement.”
“Seriously?” Twisting in his arms, I gape up at him. “Why the hell would you keep that a secret?”
“Because, the fewer people who know I was involved, the better. The last thing I need is them coming for my people, or trying to track down the women I relocated.”
“You said you gave the feds information. Didn’t they do anything?”
“They did what they could. Some of the men responsible went to jail, others slipped through the cracks.” He shrugs, but the nonchalant gesture doesn't match the furious glow in his eyes. “Even the ones in prison still have contacts and ways of getting the information they want. Which is why it’s very important for this to remain just between us.”
“I understand, Daddy. I won’t tell anyone, I promise.”
Everything about him seems to soften. “I know, kitten. To answer your original question, the woman in the photo is one of the girls I helped to relocate. She’s married now, with a son, the one you saw in the photo. Somehow she tracked me down and sent me that picture a few years ago with a note that just said ‘Thank you’. I keep it in my desk as a reminder that there are things in this life worth fighting for.”
“You’re a good man, Evander Hawthorne,” I murmur, running the tips of my fingers over the scar on his cheek.
“I’m not. But even I have my limits.”
“A good man.” Rising up on my knees, I turn to face him, straddling his thighs as I wrap my arms around his neck, pressing my forehead to his. “I love you.”
“I love you too, kitten. Let’s get you washed up so we can see what Mikhail’s making for lunch.” He grins, quick and wolfish and my heart stutters in my chest. “I seem to have worked up an appetite.”
We hurry through the rest of our bath, and he wraps us in matching robes before carrying me out to the sitting area just off his bedroom. Sitting on a chair with me on his lap, his hands slide beneath the robe to where I’m bare and open to him. And before lunch is even delivered, we work up an appetite all over again.
Natalie
A week after my mega-punishment, I’m curled up in the library with a book, waiting for Daddy to get done working. It’s been raining for a solid two days, so Papa won’t let me outside to play no matter how much I beg and plead and promise to wear my raincoat and boots, and Daddy’s been cooped up in his office for hours every day since he got home from his trip. Leaving me alone to my own devices, which is far more boring than it should be when I have so many books and toys at my disposal.
Setting the book aside, I sigh and stare out the window at the rain pounding against the glass. I don’t even really want to go outside, I just want to dosomethingother than sit around all day.
“That was an awfully big sigh for such a Little girl.”
Turning, I pout up at Papa. “I’mbored. I wanna go outside.”
“I know, little one. But your Daddy will have my head on a platter if I let you go outside in the rain and you get sick.” Bending down, he plucks me off the window seat and settles me on his hip, mischief sparkling in his eyes. “Besides, if you go outside now, you won’t get to see your surprise.”
“Surprise?” I immediately perk up at this news. “What surprise?”
“You’ll have to see.”
No matter how many questions I pepper him with, he remains tight-lipped as he carries me from the library down the hall to Daddy’s office. Stopping in front of the door, he knocks, and I’m more confused than ever.
