“Heaven comes Hell, kiddo, no one’s touching my family ever again,” his voice is thick with emotions as his words hold a promise; one that would destroy realms before he let it break.
Today, the final remnants of the voice that made me question everything disappear because now I know my papa didn’t loathe me, but loved me. He didn’t forget me even when he forgot himself.
I reluctantly step away before this whole day turns into us just crying on each other. Papa halfheartedly lets me go, not before wiping my tears and softly kissing the top of my head, though.
“You need to stop cryingtrouble. If you cry, I’ll cry, and you know Papa can’t do that.I have a reputation to uphold.”
With tears streaming down my face, I swipe under my
nose. “You can’t call me trouble anymore. I’m a grown woman now. Very decent and docile.”
“Decent?Monkey, there is a limit to lying,” Harvey butts in.
Before I can smack my dumbass, best friend, Seiji joins in, “Docile?Bitch, you made a grown manpee… bystaringat him!”
For fucks sake, can’t they wait until I’m sure Papa loves me blindly before telling him his daughter is a minor nightmare?
Traitors. All of them.
“I think you meantderangedanddangerous,sweetheart.” It’s good that Angel hugs me from behind and holds me hostage because my derange is creeping out.
Papa raises his brow at the subtle way Angel brings me to him and waits for me to elaborate. He already knows who Angel is, but not who he isto me.
“So… uh Papa, this is Angel—Anxo Alarie. Shit, you already know that. He’s my…” I trail off, turning my head sideways to my Angel before continuing, “mate and soon-to-be husband.”
The smile that blossoms on my mate’s face is worth risking my entirety over. This isn’t the first time I’ve called him my husband or husband-to-be, but every single time, I fall in love with him a little more by how pleased he looks with that title.
A fake, obnoxious cough interrupts our gazing, and I turn to find Papa squinting at Angel. It’s weird to see him show any negative or angry emotion when I’ve always seen him cracking people up with his cheerful and cheeky nature.
Clearing his throat, Papa asks in a deep voice, trying to appear threatening. I don’t think it works by how Angel is biting back a smile. “So, you’re her mate?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And you know who I am, right?”
“Dean, I’ve known you—”
“I’m trying to threaten you, boy; go with it.”
“Of course, sir. Continue.”
This is brilliant. It’s hilarious watching Papa pretending to scare someone he clearly adores. Angel stays quiet, though, and lets Papa give him his ‘You hurt my daughter, and I will use my scythe’ speech. These two are so fucking adorable.
“I will find myself another Conquer the day you make her cry or get her pregnant—”
“Wait, no—” Angel immediately lets go of me to grab Papa by his shoulders. With desperation oozing from his voice, he shakes Papa, “Come on, man, I can’tnothave kids. And they’ll be your grandkids…”
“Exactly why I don’t want them. I’m barely thirty-six, which means nograndpabullshit.” Turning to Grace, he repeats, “That goes for you too.No babies.None. Nada.”
“Old man has lost his fucking mind.”
A flying centerpiece hits Harvey straight in his chest. Bending forward, he curses Papa beforepledgingto have a kid in the coming year and teaching them how to say ‘grandpa’ as their first word.
This idiot! That’s exactly what Papa wants.
Ever since we were kids, he knew reverse psychology was the best way to get what he wanted with Harvey because the hot- headed dumbass always fell for it.
Who’s going to tell Papa, Harvey was already eager to jump on the baby train.
