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“You have me.” She rests her head on my shoulder, her mouth brushing my neck. I hold her, listening to each one of her breaths. I finally allow myself to relax, reminding myself that she and the baby are safe and back in my arms.
“I want to know more. Why is my father terrible?” I give her what she wants. I always do.
“Your mother was his mistress. He had a whole other family. She knew this. She actually worked for them as a housekeeper. When they started hooking up, he made her quit and put her up in some apartment. Then things got too real when he found out she was pregnant.”
“Gosh. That’s all so horrible and sad.” I nod in agreement. “I’m nothing like them, am I?” She lifts her head.
“Far from it. I don’t know how you came out of that mess sweet as could be. Shy too. It took me over a month to get you to even kiss me. I kinda had to steal the first one.” I smirk at her.
“That I believe since you stole one in the bathroom.” She laughs. “Now tell me why a man as handsome as you would have to chase after me.”
“You think I’m handsome?”
She rolls her eyes. “You know you are.” Her fingers play with the button on my shirt absently.
“Your parents’ shit left marks on you. We come from two different worlds.”
She looks around the extravagant hotel suite. “Clearly.”
“You thought I’d be the same as your dad. I had to prove to you that I was all in and only wanted you. It didn’t help matters that you were a housekeeper at my family's estate. So much so you made us hide our relationship.” I tell her the truth. She’s already lost so much that I don’t want to hide anything from her.
“You let me do that?” She lifts an eyebrow, already understanding how I can be.
“For a little. I’d worked so hard to get you to even give me a chance. I wasn't going to spook you. I let it go on for a while. Until I couldn’t take it anymore. I wanted to get married. Start our lives together. Get the hell away from my family. We have that in common. Mine is shit too.” With her, though, family could be everything to me.
“I’m sorry.” Sadness shows in her eyes for me. It wasn't even there when I told her about her family. That’s Kennedy though. Worrying about the people around her and not herself. That’s where I came in. I’d worry over her enough for both of us.
“Don’t be sorry. You told me one day we’d make our own family. I’m holding you to that.”
“Pretty sure we already started.”
“Seems so.” I rub my hand across her belly, knowing whoever did this is going to pay. People call me ruthless for a reason. I do whatever it takes to get what I want.
There is no stopping me.
7
KENNEDY
Dane’s presence is overwhelming. It’s not only his size but all of him. He’s bigger than life. He fills up the room with his power, dominating all the space around him. It reminds me of Fawn’s husband, Roman. He can do that at times too. While it can be intimidating, knowing that he’s my protector has me relaxing more than I have since I woke up in the hospital.
“Kennedy.” Dane swipes his thumb across my lips. I watch as he brings it to his mouth, sucking the icing off. I lick my lips, tasting the sweetness of the dessert he ordered with lunch. “Do you need anything?”
“What?” I snort a laugh. “We barely put a dent into this.”
My eyes almost popped out of my head when they brought in the room service earlier. Dish after dish had been placed on the table. I enjoyed all of it. Dane really did know how to order for me. He even fed me half of it himself. He insisted I was eating for two, but it looked as though he ordered for ten.
“You might have a craving.” He shrugs.
“I’m fine really.” I’m not sure he believes me, but I can see he’s fighting some battle inside of himself.
“You’re not fine.” He rises to his feet, running his hand through his dark hair as he paces back and forth. He ditched his suit jacket, rolling up the sleeves of his buttoned-up shirt. He might look more casual and relaxed, but Dane is nowhere close.
“But I’m safe?” He stops pacing.
“You’ll always be safe with me. I don’t care if I have to build a house and dig a moat around it and fill it with water.” I think he’s joking, and I wait for him to crack a small smile or something but it never comes. I think he’s dead serious. A warm feeling fills my belly at the thought of the lengths he’d go to protect me.
