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"You promise you aren't going to surround me with bodyguards and interfere with my life?" I ask, worried that's exactly what he's going to do. "Because if that's your plan, you should know that I'm not going to cooperate."
"She doesn't need bodyguards," Jude growls. "We protect our family."
Hands and Cash both nod their agreement.
"I see that," Uncle Dante says drily, his gaze flickering to the brothers still waiting by Cash's SUV. His eyes come back to Jude. "If you keep her safe, I won't interfere. But the first time her safety is jeopardized, you and your club will answer to me."
"That day won't come," Jude growls.
"See to it."
"Agreed," Jude growls.
"Agreed," Cash says.
Jude tilts his head toward mine. "Princess? What do you think?"
"Welcome to Silver Spoon Falls," I say, giving my answer without reservation. The three men I love most in the world all in one place? It's almost a perfect fairytale ending. Besides, I know Jude won't allow Uncle Dante to go back on his word. He's my daddy. He'll do whatever it takes to ensure I'm safe without losing my freedom. That's who he is. It's part of why I love him so damn much.
Chapter Seven
Jude
"You'rebeingweird,"Igrowl at Devin, watching her intently from across my room. We're back at the clubhouse. I wanted to take her to my place for the night, but Cash convinced me to stick around here for another couple of days, just to make sure everything is copacetic with her uncle before I take her off the property. It's a smart plan.
He cleared everyone else out to give us privacy. I know we're not entirely alone though. Cowboy and Kyra are at the ranch right next door. Rulie and Gloria are bunking with them for the night. I imagine he's got Giant watching the place tonight too.
"Am not," Devin says, flitting from place to place like a little fairy. She's antsy, unable to sit still. I can practically hear the wheels of her mind spinning from here. She's not talking though. It's driving me up the fucking wall. I hate not knowing every thought that crosses her mind.
"You are."
"Am not," she sing-songs, making me smile. She's too fucking cute for words.
I push off from the wall and pace toward her, snagging her around the waist before she can dance out of my reach. "Remember what happens when you lie to daddy, princess?"
She moans softly.
"Daddy likes sleeping with that little cunt wrapped around him," I growl, pulling her flush against me. "Wouldn't you rather do that than sleep in wet, uncomfortable panties?"
"Oh, yes," she breathes, her eyes already dilating. Jesus. She's a vision. How'd I manage to keep my hands off her for eight months? I must have been a saint. No, I wasn't that. I was an idiot. Too worried about what people would think about her to see what was right in front of my face. To see how badly she needed her daddy.
The world is still fresh and new to her. She's tasted freedom and thinks she's safe. I'll never tell her any differently. But I'm not stupid. I know she's not safe simply because she's out of sight. With Dante and Dimitri moving here, she'll have a target on her back again. She'll never know that though. She'll never see it. I won't allow her to spend the rest of her life like she spent the first seventeen years—locked up and living in fear. She's had more than enough of that.
It's my job to eliminate any threat that comes for her. She'll never know about them, never have time to fear them. For the rest of her life, I'll be the thing standing between her and anything that means her harm. Me and my brothers. We'll protect her, just like we protect Hadley, Kyra, Samara, Catriona, and London.
I have a feeling Dante and Dimitri will be around to help. Whatever business drew them here…I doubt it's the legal kind. And I doubt they picked this place at random. If the cartels are involved, I'm guessing they're here because she's here, because they'll never let them close to her again. They almost lost her once. Only a fool would risk her twice. Her uncle and brother are far from fools.
I'm not entirely sold on either of them yet, but it's clear they love her. It's equally as clear she idolizes them. I'll swallow my own fucking tongue before I make her unhappy fighting with them. We'll sing kumbaya around the goddamn campfire if it makes her happy. Whatever it takes to keep her smiling. That's my priority now. My princess. Her world. What she needs.
"Then be honest, baby doll," I croon, sliding my hand around her throat to crane her head back. Her bright eyes lock on mine as if she's unable to look away. "What's going on in that head of yours?"
"Do you want to marry me because you think you have to marry me?"
"What?"
"You think you're too old for me and that what we do is bad," she whispers. "You think it makes you bad." Her bottom lip quivers. "D-do you really want to marry me, or do you feel like you have to do it because it's the right thing to do?"
I gape at her, shocked by the question. Horrified by the tears swimming in her eyes. My god, she really has no idea, does she? Even though that's my fault, it pisses me off. Maybe it pisses me offbecauseit's my fault. Because it's intolerable that this girl doesn't already know that my heart beats for her and her alone. It has since the moment I set eyes on her.
