The Dark Protector (Kingpin's Property 1)

Shaking my head, I force myself to remember Tallulah is still too young to be seen as anything but a child.

For another year, I have to endure living in proximity to her, avoiding touching her and especially putting my cock inside her.

One year.

After that... I’ll unleash all my innermost desires on the innocent little thing.

And she’ll come to love my twisted attention.

“Why is this happening?” Tallulah pouts, crossing her arms in front of her body.

“It’s to protect you,” I say, nodding at the handyman who’s reinstalling the lock on her bedroom door so it can lock from the outside.

“But I feel like a prisoner here, Xavier.”

“You’re not,” I grit out.

“But I’m not free, either.”

I neither confirm or deny her statement, thanking the handyman instead and slipping some money into his outstretched hand before finally turning back to face Tallulah again.

“I’m only doing this because I care about you,” I tell her, forcing myself to keep my tone calm.

“But I thought I was going to see my parents today,” she pouts. “And my little sister. When will I get to see Mathilda again?”

My lips tighten into a line as I watch her closely. She’s painfully beautiful, innocent in a way that makes me feel guilty for so much as glancing at her. The time isn’t right. But soon, it will be. Soon, she’ll be mine the way it was meant to be all along. I take her by the shoulders and Tallulah turns her pleading eyes to mine.

“Please, Xavier,” she begs in the softest of whispers. “I just want to see Mathilda again.”

“Not right now,” I say calmly. “Not until we understand these threats.”

She exhales, her gaze floating downward with disappointment. She looks so sweet like this, at my fucking mercy. I’m probably the most likely man to hurt her, but I wouldn’t dream of it. I’ll do everything in my power to keep her safe. If anybody’s going to break Tallulah Gunn, it’s going to be me.

“I’ll break the lock,” she threatens weakly. “I don’t want to be a prisoner.”

“You’re not.”

“I am!” She looks genuinely upset as she pulls away from me. “You say I’m not, Xavier, but what else am I supposed to believe? You took me from my home in the middle of the night, and now you’re installing locks so you can keep tabs on me in this room and I can’t leave.”

“That’s not why I’m doing it,” I hiss. “I’m doing it for your own good-”

“Spare me,” she hisses. “I don’t believe you.”

“Is this how you act with your daddy?” I walk up close to her until her gaze grows frightened and her back hits the wall behind her. “Do you disobey Heath like this?”

“N-No.” Her bravery is instantly wiped out. Now she’s shivering at the sight of me, and I’m fucking enjoying it. “I’m a good girl.”

“I’m not buying it,” I say calmly. “And just so you know, my dear angel, if you misbehave again, I have half a mind to put bars on your windows, too.”

“That’s sick,” she whispers, eyes burning up with anger. “You can’t keep me locked up forever.”

“I can keep you locked up as long as I want,” I remind her cruelly, fully meaning what I said. I’ll keep her under lock and key as long as it takes to get rid of the person threatening her. “Take this as a warning, Tallulah. If you misbehave or try to disobey me, I will have to take more drastic measures to ensure your obedience.”

A knock on her bedroom door catches my attention, and I call for the visitor to enter. Julio appears in the doorframe while Tallulah’s cheeks burn with the need to be a little fucking brat - a habit I fully intend on spanking out of her.

“What is it?” I bark at Julio without taking my eyes off Tallulah.

“That business matter we discussed, Don Xavier,” Julio mutters, glancing at Tallulah. I can tell he doesn’t want to reveal everything in front of her.

“Ah, yes. Did you find a man for the job, Julio?”

“I believe I have.”

“Who is he?”

“My younger brother,” Julio carries on. “He’s freshly eighteen and interested in joining our ranks.”

I nod thoughtfully while Tallulah tries to hide her curiosity. “Do you trust him?”

“Yes, I trust Antonio with my life.”

I smile politely, nodding at Tallulah. “What about hers?”

“Pardon, Don Xavier?”

“Her life. Can he handle it? Will he die for her?”

“You can ask him yourself,” Julio suggests. “He’s here right now.”

“Alright,” I drawl out. “Bring him in.”

A moment later, the door flies open again, and a young man enters. He looks just like Julio, with dark hair, though his isn’t closely cropped like his older brother. The younger man looks every bit as inexperienced as he must be - apart from his eyes, which glint with icy determination. He’s tall and lean, muscular and ready to fight. I can tell just from looking at him.