She turned back toward the exit and pulled on the doorknob. It wouldn’t budge. Kyler stepped up behind her. He reached around her, and Kylie scrambled away. He pressed his thumb against the scanner near the keypad and punched in the four-digit code. The scanner beeped, and the lock disengaged. He turned around and leaned against the frame.
“Now that it's all out on the table. If you’d like to join us, we’d be happy to have you, but we have some rules for littles under our protection and under our employ. It’s up to you to determine if you want to follow them or not. I’ll leave it to Patrick tocontinue with your orientation. Welcome aboard or not. The power is in your hands, little one.”
I half expected him to offer his hand to shake, but instead he stepped out into the hall. Rayna leaped off my lap and ran into Kyler’s arms.
“Daddy, are you okay?”
“Of course, Rayn Drop.” He kissed her neck and carried her off down the hall. I watched the monitors as Kylie lowered herself onto the couch along the wall, staring at the open door.
I gave her a minute to collect herself. I keyed in the code, shutting down the monitors and resetting the panic room's security, my mind on the woman waiting just outside. I stepped into the doorway, waiting for her to acknowledge me. She sat slumped, her chin resting in her hands, scanning the floor. Her head shook from side to side. She seemed to be having some sort of internal dialogue with herself.
“Kylie.” Her gaze shot up, taking me in. She stood and wiped her hands on her dress. She took a tentative step towards me but stopped. Her chin dropped to her chest.
“I’d like to leave, please.” She was at war with her little. Her voice came out so childlike, I had to refrain from pulling her into my arms and holding her tight instead of stepping to the side.
“I’ll walk you out.” She nodded but didn’t look at me. She stepped around me, out the door, and down the hall. Her steps were slow but measured. Her fingers worked at a loose thread on the sleeve of her sweater, pulling at it, then smoothing it back down, then pulling again. Something tightened in my chest.
We got to the front door of the apartment. Kylie reached out for the doorknob, but it wouldn’t turn. She gasped and tried again with more effort.
“Ugh.” She pushed and pulled at the door. Her panic turned into anger. She glared and raised her foot. I pulled her back before she broke it, kicking the double-enforced steel doorthat wouldn’t budge. Why was she so set on trying to prove something and not ask for help?
I pressed my thumb against the panel, and the door clicked and released. I pulled it open further.
She whispered something under her breath.
“What was that?”
“I said son of a bitch.” She raised her head and adjusted her shoulders, and walked out the door.
I followed.
“You calling me a son of a bitch?” I was more amused than angry.
“No, the door.” She waved back at it, reiterating her annoyance at the inanimate object. “This whole thing. You're trying to keep people out or keep people in?”
“Like Kyler stated, you are always free to go.” She reached the elevator and pressed the button. Nothing happened.
I pressed the button, and it lit up.
“Are you fucking serious?” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“You always curse this much?” I asked.
“Yes, when I'm mad.”
“What are you mad about?” The elevator arrived. I stepped in, but she remained in the hall, biting her lip. She looked every bit the little I imagined. Feisty, defiant, bratty and super cute.
Not really the kind of little I like. I didn’t need blind obedience, but I didn’t want to wrangle a brat all day, every day. But on Kylie, it was endearing and appealing. So damn appealing. It awakened all my daddy senses. The skin on my palm tingled from the need to correct her in a more impactful manner. We were nowhere near that, but it seemed like she didn’t want to leave, and I really wanted her to stay.
She opened her mouth?—
“Why don’t you hold that thought, and we can talk more in my office.” I pressed the third-floor button.
She hopped into the elevator as the doors closed.
I sent a message to my assistant to reschedule a couple of meetings. It wasn’t a good idea to let Kylie out of my sight.
The elevator stopped on the corporate floors for all the Quadrangle Hotels. We had another office in New York where Grant Enterprises was housed. The Quads were an entity under the Grant Enterprises umbrella.
