Her eyes light up with fury as her face turns a shade of red. There it is, honey, let me have it. Give me an excuse to break your little face. I don’t normally pick a fight but she seems like someone I would have fun with.
“Oh, honey, you’re delirious if you think I’m in love with him. If you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m his partner, not his lover. Neither are you, though. You’re just a stripper looking for a sugar daddy or an agent to have in your back pocket,” she spits out at me.
Before I can fly over and slam her face into the metal table, the door swings open to a very pissed off Alaric and an even more pissed off what looks to be the director. My lawyer pushes through the doorway of the two bulky men and rushes to my side.
“This interview is over. You have disrespected my client and treated her as if she’s a suspect rather than someone who saved the scared little girl in the other room. Here are court papers. Gabby is to be released to my client and we will be suing for discrimination.” My lawyer tosses the documents on the table.
His hand meets the middle of my back, ushering me out of the room. My eyes meet Alaric's, showing him the fire in my face. He’s either pissed at me for provoking his partner or pissed at her comment. Either way, I’m pissed. I knew there might be issues between our lines of work if he ever found out that I took over the Mafia, but I didn’t think there would be drama with his jealous as hell partner. I didn’t sign up for this and won’t tolerate it.
“Celeste, can we talk?” Alaric comes after me with panic in his voice.
Turning around, I face off with him. “I’m just a stripper looking for a payday, remember?”
“I don’t think of you that way. She’s just fired up with this case and it’s making everyone on edge.” He steps closer to me.
Even if he doesn’t feel the same, I’m too fired up to even have a clear head to consider his words. All I want to do is bash her face in.
“That doesn’t give her a right to speak to me like I’m some sort of suspect. Especially speaking to me like I’m the piece of gum on the bottom of her shoe once she found out I own a club. This is why my girls get shit all the time. Instead of looking at what they do as art, a job that keeps food on theirtable and making sure their kids are taken care of, they’re accused of being trash. Some partner you have.” I raise my hand to stop him and turn on my heels before he can say anything further.
Approaching my lawyer, who had gone over to the information counter, we obtain the room number Gabby is being held in. I don’t even spare a glance back at the shell-shocked agent. I can’t.
“Monroe. Solace. My office now!” Their director barks orders with a livid, shaking tone.
We head into the room where Gabby has been waiting and, as soon as we walk in, she catches the sight of me and runs towards me. I drop down in a squat and catch her in my arms, rising up. I grabbed her rabbit from the officer who was keeping her company and thanked her for watching over her.
“Once we leave, I’ll head to my office and start the paperwork to go after that agent for discrimination.” My lawyer leads me outside to the waiting SUV by the curb.
I raise my hand, waiving him off before placing Gabby into the car. Do I think she earns some sort of punishment for how she spoke to me? Yes. I would have cut her damn tongue out, but I’m not interested in suing the department.
“Hold off for now. Let them think we’re going to but don’t do it yet. She’s just in a pissing match because of my relationship with her partner. She’s probably getting her ass reamed by the director right now. Keep it in our back pocket in case she causes more issues. Thank you for getting the paperwork done quickly and meeting me here.” I smile at him with appreciation.
He’s one hell of a lawyer and I wouldn’t doubt that he’d get me a pretty penny. This agency is the least of my concerns. My focus is to bring Samantha home and maybe shed some blood while I’m at it.
“Very well. Let me know and I’ll have it ready for you. Celeste, thank you for keeping me on even though your father is no longer here. I appreciate it and I vow to make sure you’re taken care of like I did for him.” He leans over and gives me a quick hug.
“I can’t think of anyone else I would rather have.” I nod before stepping into the waiting open door to get Gabby buckled up.
I take my seat next to hers and direct the boys to take me to the mansion where I know she’ll have eyes on her at all times when I’m not with her.
Larson puts on kid music to help keep Gabby comfortable, which seems to work because she’s bobbing her head to the beat. I look out the window, going into my own world, trying to figure out how I’m going to get Samantha back to her baby safely and put an end to this sick fuck. I will need to get one of my tech guys to hack into the FBI system to see what leads they have on him and if they have discovered an identity. A soft hand grabs mine, breaking me from my thoughts.
“CC, that scary man took my mama. You get her back?” Those little brown eyes peer up, begging me.
She looks so much like her mother, it’s scary. Such a sweet girl, exposed to an evil world.
“Yes, baby. I’ll make sure I get your mama back safely, okay? Don’t you worry.” Giving her a soft smile, I brush her hair out of her face.
She takes my hand into hers, intertwining her fingers with mine. She trusts me with all her little being and I can’t let her down.
“Mama always said that each of us has a guardian angel protecting us. You’re my angel.” She leans into me, resting her head on my arm.
My heart swells for this tiny human. For a four-year-oldkid, she’s smart as hell and speaks so fluently. Samantha did such an amazing job with her. I hope whenever the cards are dealt, I’m half the mom she is. Coming home from Rome, children were not in my cards. I’m full of rage, danger, and I’m not a good person. I wouldn’t want to bring a child into this fucked up world. But now, having this bundle of joy next to me makes me want to have a sweet little thing running around my house.
“That’s very sweet of you, Gabby. I will always protect you. I’m taking you to my home for you to rest, okay? I’ll make sure we get you some new clothes and toys delivered tomorrow and you can help Ms. Adelina, my housekeeper, bake cookies. How does that sound?”
She nods her head and squeals with excitement. I smile down at her, glad to get her mind off the traumatic events she just witnessed. Speaking of bundle of joy, I pull my phone out realizing I need to get this little one pajamas for tonight. I feel horrible asking a favor from Blakely since I’ve neglected her, but she’s the only one who’s five minutes from the mansion, who also has a little girl around Gabby’s age who would have something I can borrow for the night.
Me: Don’t stab me but, I need a favor.
