Daddy's Angel (Montana Daddies 7)

“Well, I’m sorry I wasn’t thinking clearly,” Larry said snidely.

“You were thinking clearly enough to call the press and tell them that Ari had been receiving threats though,” Bain snapped back.

“Arianna, darling, I was only doing what I thought was best for you. I always have your best interests at heart. You don’t look well. Why don’t you go lie down and I’ll take care of getting rid of these two?”

“Rid of them?”

“They’ve shown how incompetent they are. Why, you could have been hurt last night in that crowd.”

“Because you had Joe take you home,” Bain snarled, walking closer to him, his hands curling into fists. “You’re trying to turn this on us. You just made it so much harder to do our jobs. She can’t even walk out the door without paparazzi getting into her face. How fucking safe do you think that is? Her stalker could hide in the crowd, could pull a gun or knife and hurt her. You did that with your stupid stunt. If anyone is leaving, it’s you.”

“I. . .I. . .” Larry had grown pale.

She felt ill. Bain was right. How long was the press going to be hanging around? How long until she felt safe leaving her home again?

“Arianna, are you going to let him get away with talking to me this way? I hope you see why you have to get rid of him.”

“Leave, Larry.”

“W-what?”

“Leave,” she said more firmly. Her hands were shaking, but this felt right. It was something she should have done a long time ago. “I can’t have you near me right now. You. . .you. . .you paid Joe to spy on me. You went public with these threats. I can’t have you around me right now.”

“But. . .I. . .”

“Go!” she said more harshly.

He just gaped at her in shock. She guessed she’d never spoken to him like that before. She’d never really snapped at anyone like that before.

“Leave, Larry. Now.”

The panic was weighing down on her. She didn’t want to see him. Didn’t want to see anyone.

“I guess I’ll come back when you’re being more reasonable,” he snipped.

“Leave your access card as well,” Bain demanded.

“Arianna,” Larry wheedled.

“You heard him,” she said. He didn’t need it to get out of the building. And truthfully, she’d never liked that he had a card. He’d bullied her into getting one for him.

He scowled at her. “You’re making a huge mistake.” But he strode away, throwing his access card onto the floor.

“Arianna.” Bain turned to her. “Are you—”

“I need some time alone. I don’t feel well.”

And knowing she was being a coward, she fl

ed into her bedroom.

Bain stared after where Arianna had raced out.

Shit.

He hated how stressed she looked. Although he was proud of her for telling Larry to fuck off.

“Anything I need to know?” Dominic asked carefully.