Good girl.
I know she acted on instinct when she jumped out of the car, thinking she could save me. Part of me is furious with her for disobeying my order to stay in the SUV, but another part of me recognizes how much I mean to her that she would trade her life for mine.
That doesn’t mean I won’t spank her ass hard at some point after this, but I was going to do that anyway because she will need the release after everything that’s happened today. And I’d made that decision before she was held at gunpoint.
Eloise has gone through enough abductions and hostage situations to last a lifetime. I vow to make sure she never endures anything like this again.
Ghost, Tank, and Rachell join me. Rachell smirks as she puts her foot on Larkin’s knee and presses down hard enough to make him squeal like a baby.
Ghost and Tank each grab an arm and yank Larkin to his feet. The man screams. Good. They drag him toward the warehouse.
I look toward the SUV. Eloise is sitting in the back seat with the door closed. She’s rocking back and forth. I hate that she’s so scared, but I need to take care of Larkin so we can move on with our lives.
Rachell touches my arm. “I’ll take Eloise back to your place and leave you three the SUV.”
Blade is in my ear. “I’m sending someone to clean up.” Meaning, make sure everything either disappears or stage it to look like we were never here.
“Thanks,” I mumble, my words meant for Blade. I turn toward Rachell. “And thank you, too.”
Rachell nods. “Eloise will be okay. She’s strong.”
I smile. “Yeah. I agree.” She’ll just need time and care.
I head for the SUV and open the back door.
Eloise isn’t looking, so she flinches and turns toward me. Tears are running down her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Daddy,” she murmurs.
I pull her into my arms and kiss her temple. “It’s okay, Little one.” I hold her back a few inches and take her earpiece off. She doesn’t need to hear anything else.
Cupping her face, I kiss her. “I need you to go with Rachell. She’ll make sure you get home safely.”
Eloise nods. “Yes, Sir.” My brave girl. “He’s not going to bother me again, is he?”
“No, angel. Never.”
“Good.” She throws her arms around me and hugs me tightly. “Promise me you’ll be home soon.”
“I promise, Little one.” I kiss her one more time and lift her out of the SUV. The gun I’d given her is lying on the floorboard. She could no more have held that at someone’s head than she could have hurt a puppy. It’s not in her nature. No matter how many times she’s been wronged and how badly she wants me to rid the world of Larkin, she couldn’t have done it herself.
She hugs my side. “I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you, too, Eloise.”
I watch Rachell and Eloise get into the car and pull away before turning toward the warehouse. One gunshot to the kneecap is far too kind for the likes of Larkin. He needs to suffer a few more strategically placed shots before I allow him to leave this mortal plane. After all, the man has another kneecap and two elbows. I heard it’s pretty horrifying being shot in the elbow. I bet it’s even worse if it’s done at point-blank range.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Three days later…
* * *
Eloise
* * *
I smile as I slowly turn in Daddy’s arms. The sun is just coming up, and I’m hoping I’ve finally woken up before him. But no such luck. He’s spooning me, but when I face him, he’s grinning.
I giggle. “Do you ever sleep? You’re always awake when I open my eyes.”
