He could tell by how her voice trailed off that she definitely didn’t want to do that. “Not going to happen, Little girl. You’re living here with me. We’ll get your apartment cleared out this weekend.”
Her lips curved up in a delighted smile. “You’re the sweetest. Taking over your world is too much. Just let me stay until I feel safe again. I can’t invade your life permanently.”
“Baby girl, remember our conversation that we had right here?” he asked, patting the bed.
Her face turned an enchanting shade of red immediately. “We talked about a lot of things….”
“What did I tell you before we made love? If I took you….”
“You’d never let me go,” she whispered.
“I’m not going to keep you twenty miles from me, Baby girl. I want you with me.”
“I’d like that too,” she admitted, sliding her hand over his chest.
“Then everything is settled. The Devil Daddies will help. We’re getting good at relocating Little girls into the compound,” Vex told her as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
She swayed toward him, lifting her mouth for a kiss. Vex acted on that invitation, capturing her lips in a sizzling exchange that left them both wanting. When he leaned away from the tempting minx, Vex warned, “No more, Baby girl, or we’ll go to visit your dad and that wimp with you appearing thoroughly fucked. That might not be a bad idea,” he suggested and dipped his head back toward her.
Giggling, Angel slid off his lap to stand before him. “We have to go, Daddy.”
Grousing, he walked over to grab the keys to the truck he’d borrowed to drive her. He’d avoid taking her on his motorcycle until the heat with the Ravagers died out. “Okay. Remember, I could have acted nicer if I’d buried myself in your heat first.”
“Daddy!” she said, turning red again.
“Come on, Baby girl. I’ll be on my best behavior unless Trevor touches you. Then all bets are off.” He held out his hand for hers and smiled as she skipped to his side.
Damn, he loved his Baby girl. His. He’d make sure Trevor understood that Vex wouldn’t voluntarily step out of Angel’s life. He’d never been a gentleman and wouldn’t start now. Especially with so much at risk.
Vex kept his eyes open as he weaved his way through town. He wanted to notice anyone watching who could be a scout for the Ravagers. The area around Inferno was clear. The Devil Daddies wouldn’t put up with enemies close to their territory. Inferno and the mansion where Angel had grown up were on completely different sides of town. That was where he expected to notice someone.
Angel was quiet in the seat next to him, clinging to his hand when he could remove his grip from the wheel safely. Her nervous energy radiated toward him, making Vex hypervigilant and setting him on edge. He hated that her homecoming wasn’t a joyous event.
“Baby girl? Am I going to meet your mother?” Vex asked, trying to distract her.
“No. Dad sent my mother out of town when I was in second grade. I haven’t seen her since.”
“Why?” Vex asked in surprise, glancing quickly at the woman in the seat next to him to check on her. What could have happened for a man to send a child’s mom away?
“According to the servants’ gossip, she protested his affair with his secretary.”
“And she just left?”
“You can’t win against my father. I’m sure he had some kind of threat to hold over her. My father is a gentleman at business unless you cross him. Then he considers you a liability and he’s ruthless. Maybe someday I’ll get to see her again.”
“You’ve never searched for her?” Vex asked.
“No. I guess I figured she’d reach out to me if she wanted to get in touch with me.”
“Okay, so your father is a manipulative bastard,” Vex announced as he came to the front gate. That made his lack of paying her ransom more in character. With only one remaining parent, Angel must have always looked at him through rose-colored glasses.
“He likes me,” Angel said and leaned forward to point at a speaker on a pole. “Pull up there and press the intercom button.”
Vex followed her instructions and hit the raised red space.
“Deliveries and repairmen use the rear entrance,” a dismissive cultured voice announced, and the intercom cut off.
After rolling his eyes, Vex repeated the motion.
