Ruled by her Daddies (Harem of Daddies)

She placed her hand over his. “Thank you, but you don’t have to.”

“I want to.”

Leaning in, he kissed her then moved to talk to the stallholder. She wandered over to the next stall, making sure she could still see Aleki.

“Miss! Miss! Come see my sister!”

Her hand was tugged and she glanced down at the little boy, standing there. He was gorgeous with big eyes and scruffy brown hair.

“Miss, my sister needs help! Please!” He tugged urgently at her hand.

“Help? What’s wrong? Just let me get my boyfriend.” She turned back to catch Aleki’s eye.

“Please, miss! Help!”

She tried to find someone else to help, but they were all busy. And Aleki was haggling with the owner of the jewelry stall.

“Where is she? Does she need help?” she asked, torn over what to do.

“She’s just over here. Please, miss!” He burst into tears and her heart melted.

“Okay, show me.” She couldn’t let

a child suffer.

She’d check on the little girl. Get her some help if needed and get back to Aleki. Surely, he couldn’t be too mad? It was a child.

The small boy was surprisingly strong. He led her to an alleyway behind the stall. Unease filled her. Okay, this wasn’t right.

“I can’t go in there.” She drew her hand back. “I need to get my friend. I’ll bring him back for your sister.”

“No . . . no, you have to come . . .” The young boy practically threw himself around her. “Please!”

God, the distress in his voice was killing her. She took a step closer to look in the alleyway. A woman dressed in a long white robe stood there. The woman’s hair and face were hidden under a wide-brimmed hat.

Horror filled her as she saw the small girl being held against the woman, a knife held to her tiny neck, a hand over her mouth. The little girl had tears racing down her cheeks.

What the hell was going on?

“Hey! Let her go!” she cried out, stepping forward to grab the girl. “What are you doing?”

“Shut up! Come with me quietly and I’ll let her go.”

Her heart skipped a beat. Fuck. She knew that voice. It was Marilyn. What did she think she was doing?

“I’m coming. I’m coming. Don’t hurt her!” What choice did she have? It was a child at risk. She walked slowly forward. Marilyn shoved the child down and the small girl immediately started wailing.

Marilyn snatched at Vivi, drawing her into the alleyway. Her nails dug into her arm and Vivi winced.

“Ouch! Ease up, you bitch!” Vivi snapped at her, trying to drag her way free.

“Shut up! Shut the fuck up! This is all your fault!”

Vivi looked back to where the children were, but they’d disappeared. Good. At least they were safe.

“What’s my fault?” she asked as calmly as she could. She wasn’t sure that she could get away from Marilyn, not with that knife she held. But she had a far better chance than that child.

Marilyn shoved her and her back hit the wall behind her. Bitch was strong. She waved her hands around. It was cooler here, darker. But Vivi was still able to watch the knife swinging through the air. Somehow, she needed to get that away from her. She could try to run but her ankle still wasn’t that strong. And she didn’t want to let Marilyn go free, either. Not if she was going to go around threatening children.