The Dark Protector (Kingpin's Property 1)

“You know exactly what it’s about,” Heath hisses. “My daughter is missing, and you know exactly where she is.”

“I don’t,” I reply, my burning gaze challenging him to argue with me. But I know he won’t. He knows deep down I took Tallulah. Not that I’ll ever admit it.

“Cut the bullshit, Xavier,” Heath mutters. “Just tell me you have her so I can feel better about her being safe. You may be a cruel bastard, but at least I know you won’t let her get hurt.”

In my mind, I recall the red welts I put on Tallulah’s ass mere hours ago. I smirk at her father.

“I heard some rumors,” Heath goes on, knitting his brows together. “About some death threats.”

“It’s true,” I mutter, revealing the truth to him. I don’t mind if he knows. It means he’ll keep Tallulah safe too, even if it from afar. “I have my suspicions about who they’re from.”

He gives me a meaningful look and I know we’re thinking the same thing without either of us having to say it out loud.

“You need to swear you’ll keep her safe,” Heath gets out in a growl. “I know she’s with you. I know you took her. I just need you to fucking swear on your goddamn life you won’t let anybody hurt her.”

“I won’t.” I meet his gaze, not looking away despite the heavy weight in his eyes. “I’ll keep her safe. No one is going to hurt her.”

It’s a confession, though I still haven’t admitted to having Tallulah. But Heath seems pleased with how I’ve delivered the news. At least we both know despite our many differences, our common interest is keeping Tallulah safe.

“I need you to update me on things as they happen,” Heath gets out in a strained voice. “If more death threats arrive, I need to know.”

“I can deal with it myself,” I growl. “I don’t need your help.”

“You fucking owe me,” Heath hisses, making me laugh out loud.

“No, sobrino. You fucking owe me, remember?” I mutter, enjoying the way his face drains of color when I remind him of the deal he agreed to in order to keep his wife. I remember it with delight, though I’m sure Heath doesn’t. But making the happy couple give up their firstborn was one of the best, most wicked ideas I’ve had since I started in this business. I hope it fucking breaks them. They deserve it for what they did to me.

“You broke the deal,” he reminds me. “You took her a year too early.”

“You can’t prove that,” I smirk. “Besides, whatever I do is for Tallulah’s safety. I have her best interest in mind. Either way, this meeting’s fucking finished. Hugo, we’re leaving.”

My man stands up and follows me out of the conference room without saying goodbye. We take the elevator downstairs and get into our Maserati. Hugo is silent the rest of the way home, and I hope my men dealt with the fucking puppies Julio had delivered to my house. They’re just another problem I do not want to fucking deal with.

Once we arrive home, I’m itching to see Tallulah. I don’t feel bad for abandoning her early, but that I did is tugging on my protective instincts and demanding I check up on her to see if she’s okay. I go up to her bedroom, not bothering to knock as I enter the room.

I’m pleased to see the window bars have been installed. I even went to special lengths to make them pretty for Tallulah. They’re cream, shaped in patterns of leaves and roses and preventing her from ever running away from me again.

Unfortunately, Tallulah doesn’t seem to understand their purpose. She’s on her knees by the window, crying quietly as she saws away at the locksmith’s work with a butter knife.

“Fucking busy, are you?” I hiss from the entrance, watching her pathetic attempt from afar. “Not gonna do much damage that way, angel.”

Tallulah’s lips purse and tremble, but she stops herself from crying. My girl is becoming so strong, and I couldn’t be prouder of her. Maybe just a little, if she wasn’t constantly trying to escape me.

“Put the knife down, Tallulah.”

My voice carries a silent warning, which she doesn’t heed. Instead, she saws at the windows faster, even though her little knife has barely made a dent in the decorative bars.

“And to think I went to all this trouble for you.” I shake my head with disappointment. “I picked roses, especially since I know you love them so much, angel. And this is how you repay me? By trying to run from your guardian?”

“You’re not my guardian,” she hisses, angrily wiping away tears with one hand while the other continues to saw away at the bars. “You’re my worst fucking nightmare come to life. And I’m going to run away from you the first chance I get.”