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“Jesus, you are fucking pathetic,” Chanel bites out. Her father and I both look at her and I know from the intel Royal supplies me with, that she hasn’t spoken to her father and blames him.
“Chanel–” Vincent tries but she cuts him off.
“No. I did what I said I would. I moved on and stepped up to be the best second, I could be for Royal.Youare the one that can’t let go.” Fuck, that stings. “He is here under Royal’s invitation, not mine. What the fuck more do you want from me?” She doesn’t give him a chance to answer. “I have done everything I can for you to see me as an equal but still, you treat me like I am fragile. I’m not a little kid anymore, Dad.” Her voice is thick with emotion. “I gave him up… for you,” she mutters the last part and fuck me, it kills me inside.
Vincent’s face pales. He pulls out of the guy’s arms and rushes toward Chanel, but Royal is quick and cuts in front of his uncle, placing a hand on his chest. The two of them stand there for a second silently just staring at each other.
“She is trying. I am not asking you, Uncle V, I’m telling you to leave her be and let her go. You may not see it, but she is fucking hurting inside because you can’t allow yourself to see that it doesn’t matter what you think or feel about him, she loves him.” Royal’s words have my brows raising in surprise. I cut a glance to Chanel to see her with a look of shock on her own face.
Vincent nods stiffly. Royal steps aside and allows him past, then shoots me a loaded look that says more than words. He didn’t do that for me, he did that for her. I suspected he was up to something when he invited us here today. He could have just called but he demanded that we come to him. Carlina shoots her husband a look of warning as he comes to a halt in front of his daughter. Chanel looks up at him with a sour look on her face. I hate that I can see pain in her eyes, I never want to be the cause of her hurting.
Vincent tentatively reaches out and cups her cheek. She doesn’t melt into his touch even though I can tell she wants to. “The last thing I ever want to do is hurt you. I know you think I am being hard on you and trying to punish you for growing up and becoming a… woman.” That word sounds tainted coming from him. I have to fight to keep the smile from my face. “There are only three people I have ever loved in this world: my sister, your mother and you. I’m a simple man, Chanel. I don’t need lavish homes, fancy cars and expensive clothes. All I need is you and your mother, with both of you by my side, I would be richer than any man.”
He drops his hand to his side and steps back giving her some space as he runs a hand through his hair trying to find the courage to express himself. “You could never put a stain next to my–our name, I knew the day we found out we were having a daughter that one day my princess would grow up and become a queen and find her own king. I guess I just… didn’t expect for you to grow up so fast and not need me.” The hurt in his tone has her darting forward to wrap her arms around her father and hold him close. Vincent pulls her closer and rests his chin atop her head. “I have never been prouder of anyone in my life. You growing up isn’t a bad thing, baby girl.”
“I’ll always need you,” she whispers. The way Vin’s eyes shudder closed is indication enough that he needed to hear those words from her.
“I have never thought you were less than me or any one of these boys.” He pushes her back and places his hands on the top of her shoulders, as bends at the knees so they are eye level. “You are better than me, truth be told, Chanel. You proved it when I couldn’t even track you and Royal had to turn to…himfor help.” As if she can’t help it, she flicks her eyes to me for a second before she quickly rips them away. “You can hunt, track and eliminate better than I ever could. You are not my equal, my dear daughter, you are my better.” Her brows rise in surprise. “I may be theBloodhoundto the world but, baby girl, you will be known as theHellhound.” Gasps sound out, pride swells in my girl’s eyes as she looks at her dad. Fuck, I admit I even stand here with a goofy grin on my face.
“You mean that, don’t you?” she asks.
“With every beat of my heart. It just took me a minute to realize that you didn’t need me to protect you anymore because you have proven you can protect yourself.”
“Thank you.” Those two words from her hold so much weight. Vincent smiles, drops his hands from her shoulders and straightens. The happy look he was just sporting on his face vanishes, bringing a frown to my face.
“Now, you may be the new and improved Hellhound who can outwit her old man, and might just be the only person on this earth that can evade me, but I am still your father and regardless if you throw a tantrum or not, I cannot deal with…boys.” Laughter bursts out of the three girls, even London has a smile on her face. Vincent scowls at each of them, especially his wife. “Stop laughing, Gucci. I’m being serious!”
Carlina places a hand on her husband’s chest and smiles up at him. “I know, babe. That’s what makes this so comical, because you can allow your daughter to hunt and kill but the thought of a boy sniffing around her, you go all caveman and alpha male.”
“I don’t care what she says, he isn’t good enough for her and the fucker calls mesir!” He shoots me a glare over his wife’s head. I remain still and calm, not wanting to anger him further and risk getting another eye blackened. “You help end this but you stay the hell away from my daughter,” he grits out.
“Will anyone ever be good enough for your baby girl?” Xav asks. My stupid friend must have a fucking death wish. Vincent smirks and nods at Xav before turning back to me with an evil glint in his eyes.
“A eunuch.” I choke my own spit. Chanel coughs to mask her laughter.
“What’s a eunuch?” London asks Erika, but Vincent beats her to answer the little girl.
“A real man, darling. When you grow up, Papa V will find you the best eunuch there is and I swear to God, grandpa will be so happy and welcome your man with open arms.” Royal begins to snicker and shoots his uncle a frown. Vincent stares his nephew down for a minute. “Ah, so you lecture me on my daughter and giving her freedom to love whom she chooses, but when it concernsyourchild…” He lets his sentence trail off, knowing he just won that round against Royal.
“I don’t want a man. Uncle Havoc says boys are disgusting and that girls are way better and nicer.” Royal and Vincent both splutter at London’s answer, while me and my boys can’t contain our laughter.
“I’ll be having words with Uncle Havoc,” Erika grits out.
“You will do no such fucking thing,” Royal abolishes. “Havoc is right, boys are disgusting. Right, Sin?” The fucker shoots me a wink before looking back at my girl and imploring her with a puppy dog look to agree with him. Chanel shakes her head at her cousin, then kneels down in front of the little girl.
“It doesn’t matter what gender they are, if they love you and treat you like the queen you were born to be then they are good in my book–”
“Chanel!” Royal warns, but she ignores him and pushes on.
“Just remember what I taught you about stashing a dagger under your pillow and how to go straight for their jugular.”
“Jesus Christ,” Romeo says in horror. I look around this strange group of people and begin to wonder if my prejudice against crime families was warranted, or was I just looking at it from the wrong side?
The twin’s step outside and the easy feeling in the atmosphere changes. Each of them wear solemn looks. It takes Chanel a split second to be on her feet and by Royal’s side. I see it now. Her loyalty isn’t out of obligation or because they are blood, he has earned it and she has earned his. I never understood her blind trust in him until this moment. He may have a fiancée by his side, but Sin is his shadow as he is hers. They are one and the same.
“Havoc made a call,” Chaos says robotically. Havoc turns and looks away and it’s then that I see a bruise beginning to form on his cheek. Did they have a spat?
“He’s hiding out there, isn’t he?” Royal phrases it as a question but he already knows the answer.
