“Hi, Daddy.”
Aero settled one hand around my waist and gave me a gentle squeeze.
“You good?” Dad asked.
“Oh, I’m golden,” I ground out. “You know why I’m golden?”
Dad smirked. “Got a feelin’ you’re gonna tell me.”
“I’m golden because I’m in love with a man who treats me like a queen and my daddy loves me so much, he’d never do anything to jeopardize that.”
“Yeah?” Dad retorted.
“Yes,” I hissed.
“Violet,” Aero growled.
I looked up at him. “Are you hungry, honey? I’m starving.”
Aero cocked his head. “I’m in the middle of somethin’.”
“It’s good,” Dad countered. “We’ll finish up next week.”
Aero nodded, and we made our way toward the grill. But before we reached the door, Aero tugged me back toward one of the bunkrooms, closing us in and crossing his arms. “What the fuck was that all about?”
“Do not use that tone with me,” I snapped.
“Did we, or did we not, have a conversation about this?”
“I’m just making sure they know where I stand.”
He sighed. “Theydefinitelyknow where you stand.”
“Jasper, don’t make light of this.”
He cupped my face. “It’s all good, beautiful. I promise.”
“If they hurt you, I might kill them.”
“Baby, the whole point of the gauntlet is to prove what you’re made of. They’re gonna hurt me, but they won’t kill me.”
I gripped his cut. “You realize this is about the dumbest thing anyone has ever done, right?”
“Letti,” he breathed out. “Will you quit harpin’ on this?”
“I’m worried!” I snapped.
“Are you? I wasn’t picking up on that.”
“Don’t be a dick.”
“Stop worrying,” he retorted.
“I can’t.”
“You can.”
I wrinkled my nose. “I need alcohol to forget I’m worried.”
