Page 52 of Obsessed Mr. O’Brian

“I didn’t even realize you used your left leg, but you did, didn’t you? Remind me to never, ever spar with you… unless it’s between the sheets.” He leans down and brushes his lips over my temple. “You can wrap those legs around me anytime, angel,” he murmurs.

Goosebumps rise on my flesh. He smirks.

I didn’t ruin everything with my outburst. I protected Lola. Artur isn’t mad.

He’s grateful.

I pull one arm from around Lola, spear my fingers into his hair, tug his lips down to mine, and pour my love and devotion into the kiss.

It doesn’t matter what life throws at us next. Protecting Lola awakened a fierceness in me I didn’t even know existed, and now I’m going to use it to stay close to Artur for as long as possible.

I belong by Artur O’Brian’s side.

Even if that makes me the worst friend ever.

Chapter 16

Artur O’Brian

Even though I know both Lola and Millie are safe, my instincts refuse to stand down. I let my girls out of my sight for less than five minutes, and the creeps came out of the woodwork. I’ll never forget Lola’s scream or the way she clung to Millie’s leg, and I’ll forever wish I could’ve protected Millie before she fell to pieces.

The trust Millie put in me when she needed shelter will forever humble me. I failed to protect her yet she used her own body to shield my daughter then clung to me when her adrenaline dropped.

She was magnificent with her pale blue eyes shining with feminine fury and her viciousness on full display. It doesn’t matter how much cash I have to drop to get rid of the couple who ruined my daughter’s sense of safety and muted Millie’s newfound confidence.

I misjudged her again because of the security footage from outside her apartment. The fierce woman who protected my daughter tonight was nothing like the frozen coward in that hallway.

Pride and delight sweep through me.

She claimed Lola as her own. Her voice replays in my mind as clearly as the moment she said the words.

You owe my daughter an apology.

My daughter sounds so right coming from her lips.

Lola is mine and so is Millie.

Even though I know Regina gave birth to Lola, the lack of mother-daughter connection between them was palpable. I don’t know why I never addressed it.

My heart freezes in my chest.

I never slept with Regina. Regina gave birth to Lola.

Puzzle pieces fall into place. Fear so intense I struggle to breathe bands around my chest until Lola’s giggle shatters the constriction.

It’s taken almost an hour of hiding in a room with just Millie and me behind a locked door for Lola to return to her normal, bubbly self.

I turn my gaze to the little girl who completely changed my world. I love her. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep her safe.

Lola and I may not share an ounce of blood, but she’s mine. Regina cannot have her.

I haven’t even told Millie that Regina is still alive, but I can’t risk her pulling away when both me and Lola need her so badly.

Electing to handle this as quietly and quickly as possible, I excuse myself for a restroom break and make a few phone calls. Less than fifteen minutes later, Quinn—who pauses longer than she has since I hired her eight years ago then breathes an audible sigh of relief and thanks me for not having slept with that wench when I explain the situation—and I have a team with the best lawyers, private investigators, child welfare specialists, and public relations experts assembled and building an ironclad case.

I pace inside the restroom until my nerves calm enough to act normal with the two most important people in my life.

Millie ruins it all when she approaches me before I can interrupt Lola’s play.