"Have you seen Lulu? She was supposed to come to my place after her shift." Everyone who works for me knows who Lulu is and is very aware that's she's mine. I have no issue staking my claim, especially when it ensures more protection for my Little girl.
She has an aura of anxiety that goes beyond something common. I can't shake the fear that she's afraid of something or someone. Either way, I'll protect her with my life as would the other people around.
Kevin's relaxed face morphs into a frown. "Her shift isn't over yet, Pres. Was she supposed to be off early or something?"
I didn't know it was possible for my muscles to tense even more than they already were. Sure enough, my back goes ramrod straight and my jaw clicks with the ferocity of the clench.
"What the fuck do you mean her shift isn't over yet?"
Kevin shifts on his feet, looking a bit unsure. "Um, didn't you make her schedule? She leaves around seven-thirty each night."
"Excuse me?" My tone comes across much harsher than I intend, but why in the actual fuck is my girl not getting home until dark?
Kevin gulps at the same time I see another guard. Jeremy picked up an extra shift this week for his brother, but normally works mornings. "Jeremy. Come here please."
He pales beneath his blond beard, but I don't have the patience to feel bad about being an ass. "Sup?" Jeremy rumbles stepping up beside Kevin.
"What time does Lulu start her shift each day?" I'm pretty sure I'm going to be pissed the fuck off by his answer.
Jeremy glances at Kevin. "Uh..." He chuckles nervously. "She rolls in right before sunrise. I've been wondering why you have your poor girl working so early. If she were mine, I'd have her in bed until at least seven. And for sure, a nap. Have you seen how hard she works? She's always running around with her notebook and?—"
"That's enough!" I bark, fists clenching at my sides and my temples throbbing with the realization that Lulu has been working almost twelve-hour days. No wonder she doesn't fucking talk to me. She must be pissed about working so much.
Why is she working so much? Why didn't someone say something?
"From now on, if you so much as get a whisper of Lulu coming in before nine and leaving after five, you fucking tell me. Do I make myself clear?"
They nod and chorus, "Yes, sir." Their shocked attention shifts from me to over my shoulder in the next moment right as I hear a small gasp. Turning on my heel, I curse quietly when I find Lulu almost ten feet away with her hand over her plush lips.
"Preston! Don't shout at them!" Lulu trembles and looks like she's about to fall over from exhaustion, yet she stands up for Kevin and Jeremy like they're her friends.
I should be her only fucking friend, I think to myself and quickly dismiss it. No, my Little one can have as many friends as she wants.
"We're okay, honey." Kevin's quick to soothe her, pissing me off all the while making me feel thankful I have good men around her.
Jeremy steps forward and stands next to me with his arms crossed. "Little lady," he rumbles. "Care to explain why you've been working from sun-up to sun-down?"
Now her eyebrows pull together. I've about had it with everyone’s confusion. "Be-because I thought I was supposed to. N-nobody told me times."
That earns me two heavy-ass glares from my guards. "Fuck," I hiss and reach her in under five damn strides. Her big eyes widen even more with each step I take, but I'm done including anyone else in a conversation between Little and Daddy.
Without pausing, or trying to ease her worries, I bend and scoop her up with my hands placed beneath her knees and on her lower back.
"Preston!" Lulu squeaks as she clings to my neck. "Ohmigod. What are you doing?"
Thank fuck she’s talking to me and that stutter in her voice is gone. I don't want her scared of me but we need to have aconversation about self-care. If I have to make it a rule that she listens to the exhaustion so clearly weighing her down I will.
"Home," I grunt, knowing I need to give hersomething.A red ass sounds right for the total lack of care she's been giving herself, but we need to talk first.
She's too warm, and damp fromtwelve-fucking-hoursof sweating in the summer heat. And I didn't see her water bottle in her hand before I swooped her off of her feet.
Enough of the tiptoeing. Lulu clearly needs someone to look out for her and make sure she doesn't fucking die from exhaustion and heat stroke. Next on my list is that damn death trap she drives to and from workin the dark.
Nobody hurts my Lulu. Not even Lulu herself.
"We're going to have a talk about rules, little girl."
nine
