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With both of her parents in the room, Nikki leaned against a counter and crossed her arms over her chest. She wanted to see how Rafe handled the dragon-shifters.
Not that it should matter if he could handle her parents. After all, Nikki fully intended to send him away later in the day.
Still, she looked forward to someone o
ther than her being the focus of her parents’ overprotectiveness and prying nature.
~~~
Rafe barely had time to recover from Delphine’s hugging and squeezing when Nikki’s father stood at the back door. As the dragonman pierced him with a glare and growled, Rafe decided to fuck playing nice and acting complacent. Dragons liked strength; it was time he showed it.
Careful to step around Delphine, Rafe stood tall and crossed his arms over his chest. “Still treating your daughter like a child, I see.”
Hector stormed toward him, but Rafe kept his ground. Nearly eighteen years in the army had taught him a thing or two about dealing with other alpha men.
When Hector finally stopped six inches away and leaned his face toward Rafe’s, Rafe merely cocked an eyebrow. “Are you supposed to scare me?”
Hector narrowed his eyes. His voice was like steel as he said, “Watch yourself, human. You claimed my daughter without my permission. Only because I don’t want my grandchild to grow up without a father am I not beating the living shit out of you right now.”
Rafe shook his head. “Nikki doesn’t need your goddamn permission. She’s twenty-six years old and has survived a fucking war zone. Let her make her own decisions.”
Rafe half-expected Hector to clock him, but the dragonman fell silent. After a few seconds, Hector finally nodded. “If this is how you stand up for Nikki, then I imagine you’ll go further for your own child.”
Rafe blinked. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Slapping Rafe’s shoulder, Hector took a step back and looked to Delphine. “What do you think, sweet?”
Smiling, Delphine answered, “He’s gruff on the outside, but inside, he’s softer than he lets on.”
“What—”
Hector cut him off. “Good, because that makes this next bit easier.”
Nikki finally spoke up. “What did you do, Dad?”
Hector looked over his shoulder. “I made a deal with Bram.”
Rafe eyed Hector with suspicion. “Without talking with either of us?”
“Nikki won’t mind,” Hector answered with a shrug. “And considering I could have you thrown in jail, you don’t have a choice.”
Walking up to them, Nikki raised her chin to meet her father’s eyes. “I repeat: what did you do?”
“Bram is asking Rafe’s commanding officer to let him stay here to better cement your plans concerning the dragon hunters,” Hector answered.
Some of Rafe’s tension eased. “I rather you would’ve asked, but if Bram can manage it, then that buys us some time to find a long-term solution.”
“Rafe,” Nikki bit out. “Did I not make myself clear before? I’m not keeping the child.”
“What?” Hector roared.
Rafe jumped on his chance. “That’s fine, Nikola Helen Gray, because I’m going to raise the child with or without you.”
Nikki’s jaw dropped. “Say what?”
Moving closer to Nikki, he kept his tone firm. “I want to be a father, Nikki. Even if it means raising her alone, I will.”
“Are you crazy? There’s no way the DDA will allow a human to raise a dragon-shifter.”
