1
Dakota’s Sleepy Little Princess
“But wait, Daddy.” Samantha Luck twisted around and stared at him, her bright eyes brimming with excitement.
“What, punkin?”
“This princess is different.”
Dakota Luck smiled at her. “It would appear that way, Sammy Lynn. Should we see what she does next?”
“Okay.” His daughter snuggled back into his lap. He loved the way she trusted him without question. And his heart melted at how her tiny hand clutched his as he gripped the picture book resting on his thigh.
Dakota continued reading about the defiant princess who refused to take orders from anyone, not even her dad, the King. A woman so strong-willed, she carved out her own damn path. He liked this bad-ass princess.
Forcing himself to focus on the story, he continued reading until his precious bundle had fallen asleep—a small lump, out cold in his lap. He set the book on the side table next to the custom rocker he had purchased when Beth had been pregnant. The cushions hugged his large frame, his broad shoulders forced into that too-tight space. He was twice as big as she had been. Though he had contemplated replacing the rocker with something larger, Dakota thrived on being uncomfortable. Hunting down the motherfucker who took his wife gave him purpose. That, and the precious angel asleep in his arms.
With tender care, he laid his child onto her toddler bed. Her eyes fluttered open. “I’m not sleepy.”
Every night, she fought hard to stay awake.I don’t like to sleep, either, sweet baby.
He squeezed into the opening between the wooden slats of her small bed and gently moved the hair from her face. “I’m going out, but the sitter is here.”
“Where’s Mrs. Morris?”
“She’s on vacation, visiting her son.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead.
“Uh-huh.” Sammy’s eyes closed. “I remember.”
“Tomorrow is Saturday, so you don’t have to get up early for daycare,” he whispered.
Her brow furrowed, but she didn’t open her eyes. “I’m a big girl,” she murmured. “I go toschool.”
“Right, school.” He tucked the sheet around her neck. “How ‘bout pancakes for breakfast? You can add the blueberries.”
“I love can-cakes,” she said before slipping her thumb inside her mouth.
“And I love you.”
Her eyes flew open and she flung her small arms around his neck and gave him a tight squeeze before settling back down.
A damn lump formed in his throat every time she did that. Ever since turning four, she’d blossomed into a little girl. His waddling, pudgy toddler had vanished. The only remaining trace was the baby blanket she dragged around the house, the worn cloth fraying at the edges.
Dakota pushed off the bed and stared down at his child. He would kill for her. No way in hell would he let her down, like he had her mother. If it took him the rest of his undeserving life, he’d avenge his late wife. For no other reason than to quiet the raging demons in his head that plagued him every moment of every good-for-nothing day.
He left the lamp on. Somehow that oversized princess night-light helped stave off her nightmares. After closing the door, he squinted in the harsh hallway light. He needed to get a dimmer switch. Or lower the bulb wattage. Hell, he needed to do a lot of things around the house. Right now, there was only one thing on his mind.It’s time to focus.
He trotted down his stairs. Marcus Freethy stood by the pillars in his two-story foyer. Built like a brick building, Marcus took shit from no one, and that’s exactly how Dakota liked it.
“Is the sitter here?” Dakota asked.
“Living room.”
In addition to owning and managing a private security company, Marcus was Dakota’s part-time bodyguard. Marcus only smiled when he wanted the asshole standing in front of him to see his gold front tooth. He had a shaved head and large diamond studs in his ears. And Marcus would catch a bullet with his teeth if he had to.
“Who’s watching the house tonight?” Dakota asked.
“Craig will run surveillance out front. Hillendale in the back.”
