All I wanted to do was pull her into my arms and promise that she’d never be alone again. That she and Lola wouldn’t suffer for her family’s choices any longer. That they’d always be safe with me and Zac. That no matter what happened, we would be there to hold their hands and stroke their hair.
All I wanted to do was tell her how fucking special she was to me.
How badly I needed her in my life.
But I couldn’t, because she wasn’t done.
“My brother was cold and calculating. Benedict two-point-oh. He’d been my protector against our father’s cruelty for years, but that day, he dug in the knife and twisted it.” Her voice was basically a whisper. “Last week, I learned he regretted it. Ever since I estranged myself from them, he’s had me watched. Had an investigator keep tabs on me. Every six months, a check shows up at my door, and every six months, I send it back.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want his money. I never have. I’ve only ever wanted my brother back.” She swallowed hard. “I found out last week that he’s been running a college fund for Lola since she was born. She can access it when she’s eighteen. I refused his help, but he still extended it to her. And he’s only ever seen her once.”
My eyebrows shot up at that.
I knew of Damien Fox.
Of course I did. The ruthless businessman, the cold-hearted predator, the sharp, analytical guy behind Vegas’ superpower, second only to the mob.
All above board, much to the LVPD’s frustration.
Except the woman in front of me. She flouted the rules one hundred percent, and I was the reason she wasn’t in a six-by-six cell waiting prosecution.
I would never regret the decision to let the stunning, sobbing blond out of my car. Because now I knew her heart, and the only thing purer than her heart was that of a child’s.
She was broken and burned, harmed and hurt. My instinct had been right. I still didn’t have all the story, and I didn’t care if I didn’t get it all. Not right now. I was satisfied that I’d been correct in the choices I’d made—for her.
If I had to, I’d make the same one tomorrow, and the next day, and the one after that.
I’d make it every single day until I died.
I would always let her go—unless it was personal.
I didn’t think I could do it now.
I wanted her. Wildly. Crazily. Desperately. It was an insatiable desire that would only be cooled by the heat of her body against mine.
Perrie Fox was destined to be mine.
There were no two ways about it.
She was mine.
End of.
Chapter Nineteen
Adrian
Perrie sighed and tucked her hair behind her ear. “When I left the meeting with Dahlia, she told me to call her if I wanted to speak with Damien. She made it clear that he didn’t know we were speaking, and I kind of respected her for that. Damien is…was…controlling. He was all about the power and needing to know everything was just so. She wasn’t the kind of person I ever expected him to fall for.”
“What was it?”
“Weak.” She said it simply. “I guess he learned to respect someone who could argue with him.”
“You never argued with him?”
“Every day.” Her lips twitched. “He hated it. It was the bane of his existence, which is why I never thought he’d get involved with anyone strong-willed. He hated being wrong and doing things any way other than his.”
“But you called her, right?” I moved, taking a seat next to her on the swinging seat. She froze for a second as I laid my arm along the back of it, but she soon drifted her gaze in the way of our kids and relaxed. “So, are you seeing him?”
“Tomorrow.” She paused. “I have an interview at The Scarlet Letter for a position as a bartender. I have to call my sitter.”
“Charity?”
“You’d think, right? But no—Dahlia was very clear. I’m not being offered a job, merely an interview. She’s savvy and smart, I’ll give her that.”
I smiled, looking out as Zac cannonballed into the pool.
Perrie rolled her eyes for me. “Zac! No balls, okay?”
I grinned.
Zac looked back at her, wide-eyed.
“Yeah, Zac! No balls! I don’t want your balls in this pool!” Lola shouted.
Perrie slapped her hand against her face. “Goddamn it.”
I did all I could do—burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Zac asked.
“No cannonballs, Zacco!” I reiterated, forcing my laughter under control. He saluted me, and I snorted when he dived underwater. Judging by Lola’s shriek, he was going for her ankles.
Not a smart choice after the dinosaurs last night.
Lola screamed at the top of her lungs. “Dinosaurs!”
Zac sputtered with laughter as he broke the surface.
“Zac!” I said sharply. “Stop it.”
“’Kay, Dad!” He turned to Lola, and apologized loud enough that we could hear it.