Fierce Daddy

by Laylah Roberts

  Fierce Daddy

  Laylah Roberts

  Laylah Roberts

  Fierce Daddy

  * * *

  © 2021, Laylah Roberts

  Laylah.roberts@gmail.com

  laylahroberts.com

  * * *

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher.

  * * *

  Cover Design by: Allycat’s Creations.

  Photographer: Reggie Deanching

  Model: Derek Bryant

  Editing: Celeste Jones.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Let’s keep in touch!

  Books by Laylah Roberts

  Trigger Warning

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Epilogue

  Her Daddy’s Sunshine

  Let’s keep in touch!

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  Books by Laylah Roberts

  Doms of Decadence

  Just for You, Sir

  Forever Yours, Sir

  For the Love of Sir

  Sinfully Yours, Sir

  Make me, Sir

  A Taste of Sir

  To Save Sir

  Sir’s Redemption

  Reveal Me, Sir

  Montana Daddies

  Daddy Bear

  Daddy’s Little Darling

  Daddy’s Naughty Darling Novella

  Daddy’s Sweet Girl

  Daddy’s Lost Love

  A Montana Daddies Christmas

  Daring Daddy

  Warrior Daddy

  Daddy’s Angel

  Heal Me, Daddy

  Daddy in Cowboy Boots

  A Little Christmas Cheer

  Sheriff Daddy

  Her Daddies’ Saving Grace

  MC Daddies

  Motorcycle Daddy

  Hero Daddy

  Protector Daddy

  Untamed Daddy

  Her Daddy’s Jewel

  Fierce Daddy

  Harem of Daddies

  Ruled by her Daddies

  Claimed by her Daddies

  Stolen by her Daddies (coming 2022)

  Haven, Texas Series

  Lila’s Loves

  Laken’s Surrender

  Saving Savannah

  Molly’s Man

  Saxon’s Soul

  Mastered by Malone

  How West was Won

  Cole’s Mistake

  Jardin’s Gamble

  Romanced by the Malones

  Twice the Malone

  Men of Orion

  Worlds Apart

  Cavan Gang

  Rectify

  Redemption

  Redemption Valley

  Audra’s Awakening

  Old-Fashioned Series

  An Old-Fashioned Man

  Two Old-Fashioned Men

  Her Old-Fashioned Husband

  Her Old-Fashioned Boss

  His Old-Fashioned Love

  An Old-Fashioned Christmas

  Bad Boys of Wildeside

  Wilde

  Sinclair

  Luke

  Trigger Warning

  Please note that Tabby was in an abusive marriage. While this book doesn’t go into any real detail and it’s all in the past, this may be triggering for some readers. Please read with caution.

  1

  Someone was stalking her.

  Or at least that’s what it felt like. Turning, Tabby studied her surroundings.

  Nothing.

  However, as she started jogging again, a sense of urgency filled her.

  Then a scream pierced the early morning.

  Keep running, Tabby.

  Not your problem.

  If you get hurt, that’s the end of your freedom.

  Another cry, more muffled this time. But there was no mistaking the anger and fear in that sound. Tabby jogged in place.

  How often did you wish someone would help you and they never did?

  Fuck it. What did she really have to lose? So she got hurt and had to go back to Jared’s house. He was expecting her to fail.

  She wasn’t going to, though. And she wasn’t going to be the type of person who stood by while someone else got hurt.

  Turning, she raced towards where she’d heard the sound. There was a small park nearby and as she grew near, she spotted a large man trying to shove someone into a car. The vehicle had its lights off, but it was close to six in the morning and the sun was starting to lighten the darkness.

  She reached into the pocket of her front pack and drew out her pepper spray.

  “Hey! What do you think you’re doing?” she yelled.

  The big man froze. It was just enough for the person he held to break free of his hold. Tabby raced towards the kidnapper, who’d turned to chase his prey.

  “Hey! You!”

  When he turned, she raised the pepper spray, spraying it directly into his face before taking off, not wanting to wait around.

  Perhaps she should have brought her stun gun. Maybe she needed a real gun.

  Jared would have a freaking fit if he knew what she’d just done.

  But as she raced away from the man, who was howling in pain, she smiled. This was the most alive she’d felt in years. Adrenaline pumped through her as she darted into some trees that were along one side of the park.

  She’d actually done something. Something good. She’d helped someone.

  It felt darn good.

  “Psst.”

  Freezing, her heart racing, she turned her head carefully. Relief flooded her as she saw the person she’d rescued.

  Well, the kidnapper was hardly going to call out, ‘psst’, was he?

  “Over here.”

  Now that the rush of adrenaline was receding, she realized it was a feminine voice. Which made her feel safer.

  Silly, really. Women could be dangerous too. But in Tabby’s life, most of the people who had hurt her were men. It was men who had used and controlled her.

  Abused her.

  Yeah, she might have a few issues.

  Glancing around for the big guy, who’d stopped screaming, she moved carefully to where the girl was peering around a large tree. How old was she? Tabby was slightly built and only reached five foot five, but she still felt like she was towering over this other girl.

  “Come. We have to go before he starts searching. Do you know someplace safe we can go to?”

  The other woman had a slight accent. Sh
ould she take her back to her apartment? Probably not. But where else?

  “There’s a twenty-four-hour diner not far from here,” she told her.

  “Okay, that might work.”

  Christ, Jared would have kittens if he knew she was being so reckless.

  “Let’s go.”

  Quietly, she started creeping out of the trees. The girl wasn’t wrong about it being dangerous to stay here. That guy wouldn’t be down for long. And this was the logical place to look.

  It was growing lighter, which meant that they didn’t have the cover of darkness. But neither did he.

  She glanced back. She couldn’t tell how old the other woman was. She wore a dark hoodie up over her head and she was limping.

  “Are you hurt?” she whispered.

  “I’ll be fine. Keep going. Please.”

  Reaching the edge of the park, Tabby poked her head out and looked both ways. A car approached and she darted back, but she didn’t think it was the same make of car as the one that guy had been driving.

  “We’re just going to have to make a run for it,” the woman said, crouching. “Pretend we’re out jogging, which it looks like you were already doing.”

  “You don’t want to call the police?”

  “Christ, no. My Papi would have a fit if I involved the cops.”

  Relief loosened the knot inside her. If she got involved with the police, Jared would drag her back to Chicago.

  “Did that guy just randomly attack you?” If he had, that meant he might have already high-tailed it out of there.

  “No. He’ll be looking for me.”

  “Let’s go, then.” She still had her pepper spray in hand. They started jogging down the road. The other woman hissed.

  Crap. She was injured. There was nothing she could do, though.

  Tabby’s heart pounded. Fear rather than exertion making her sweat.

  “Fuck. How much further?”

  “Just over there.” Tabby pointed across the street. They’d made it to the other side of the road when another car started approaching. Shit. Was it him?

  “Quick, inside,” the woman stated.

  They hurried inside and the car drove past. Tabby let out a sigh of relief. The diner was only about a third full, but she knew it would start getting busier from now on. She’d only lived in the area for a week, but she’d jogged past the diner enough to know it was popular.

  The other woman strode toward a booth at the back. Probably a good idea. They’d have a good view of anyone who came through the door. Tabby followed, her gaze down, trying not to garner notice. She slid into the booth by the girl.

  “Do you have any money?” the girl whispered.

  “Yes. Are you hungry?”

  “Starving. I could eat a horse.”

  Tabby shot her a surprised look. She’d expected her to say that she was too upset to eat. Although, now that she mentioned it, Tabby could maybe eat too.

  “You’re awfully chilled about all of this,” said the girl, who still had her hoodie up. “Most people would have just called the cops and let Bert kidnap me. Even if they were brave enough to help me, I don’t think they would be so calm afterward.”

  “I could say the same about you,” she replied. “You’re awfully calm for someone who was being kidnapped.”

  “It’s not the first time,” the other woman said glibly. She turned, then hissed. “Fuck.”

  “What is it? Do you need a doctor?” she asked.

  “I’m fine. Could I borrow some money? I’ll pay you back.”

  “Of course,” Tabby said immediately. She was driven to help this girl. This was something she could do. Right in this moment, she didn’t feel out of control or helpless.

  She was aiding someone who needed it.

  “Could I also borrow your phone? Do you know exactly where we are?”

  Tabby dug her phone out of her pack and handed it over. She felt a bit gross sitting here without showering after her jog, but she didn’t have much choice. She couldn’t leave until she knew this girl was going to be all right. The girl tapped away on Tabby’s phone as a waitress approached. She remained quiet, so Tabby ordered them both full breakfasts and coffee.

  “And chocolate milk,” the girl said.

  “And two chocolate milks,” Tabby added. It had been so long since she’d had chocolate milk, but right now, it sounded delicious.

  The waitress nodded then looked down at Tabby’s companion. Fuck, did she think it odd that the other girl didn’t order for herself? Or look up from her phone? Or that she was sitting in the booth, slumped with a hoodie over her head? Then the waitress smirked. “I have a teenager just like that. Glued to their phones. Although mine wouldn’t be up this early. Lucky if I can get her up to go to school.”

  “I know, right,” Tabby replied.

  Turning, she walked off.

  “Teenager? Huh. I’m twenty-three years old.” The other woman placed her phone on the table, tapping it with a nail that was painted bright blue.

  “You are?” Tabby gave her a startled look. Mind you, she couldn’t actually see the other woman’s face. She was so slight.

  “Yeah. People always think I’m young, though.”

  “Well, it helps in this instance. She just thinks you’re a surly teenager, hiding because you didn’t want to get up so early.”

  The other woman nodded. “I haven’t seen Bert, at least. I think we might have lost him.”

  “Bert? You know the man who tried to kidnap you?”

  “What? Oh no, Bert isn’t his real name. There were two of them. So I nicknamed them Bert and Ernie. Although it’s actually an insult to Bert and Ernie. These guys were thick as bricks. Ernie ate some bad chicken. His guts went while we were in the car. Jesus, I almost threw up, the stink was so bad.”

  Ew.

  “So, Bert pulled over by that park because there’s a public toilet. Ernie ran out to use the toilet and I took the opportunity to take off. They thought my hands were tied, but they’re crap at tying knots. Unfortunately, Bert caught me. He was trying to get me back in the car when you called out. Thank you for that. Seriously. He probably would have knocked me out and shoved me in the trunk if it wasn’t for you. That was really brave.”

  “I’ve never thought of myself as brave.”

  “Well, you were. I owe you. Big time.”

  The waitress brought them their drinks.

  Tabby took a sip of chocolate milk. Yum. “You don’t owe me. I’m just glad I could help you.”

  “You’re a strange woman.”

  “So are you,” Tabby told her.

  As she turned, Tabby caught a glimpse of her olive skin and surprisingly bright green eyes. “I know. It’s much more fun being different, right?”

  Tabby wouldn’t know. It felt like someone had always dictated how she should act, should think.

  She had no idea who she was.

  “You okay?”

  “I guess. I’m Tabby, by the way.”

  “Oh my God, I’m Cat. Together, we’re Tabby-Cat.”

  Tabby had to grin at that.

  “Seems we were destined to meet, huh?” Cat nudged her arm, then groaned.

  “What’s wrong?” Tabby asked.

  “Just some bruising. Seriously, I’ll be fine.”

  Tabby’s phone beeped and Cat picked it up, relief filling her face as she answered the call. She said something quietly that Tabby didn’t understand. It sounded like she was speaking Spanish. Tabby had always wanted to learn another language but there had never been time.

  Well, you’ve got time now.

  True.

  Too much time. With nothing to do. She sighed. What was the point in fighting to gain her freedom if she did nothing but sit at home, watch crappy TV, and go jogging? That wasn’t living.

  “Good news?” Tabby asked when the call ended. It was obvious the other woman held a lot of secrets. But in a weird way, it felt like they were kindred spirits.

  “Yeah, someone
will be here within the hour to get me. Will you stay with me until they’re close?”

  “Of course.”

  Cat sent her a smile. She was taken again by her beautiful green eyes. They were so distinctive.

  Tabby knew she was rather plain. Ordinary brown eyes, dark-brown hair, pale skin. Average height. Average build.

  She had a feeling that there was nothing average about Cat.

  Their food soon arrived and they both dug in.

  “Wow, you eat almost as much as I do,” Cat commented. “Guess you were hungry after your jog and saving me, huh?”

  “Oh, um, I guess.” She usually ate a lot. She didn’t know if it was all the jogging or just her metabolism, but she was pretty much always hungry.

  “Well, I haven’t eaten since yesterday morning. I’m starved. Damn, this chocolate milk is good.”

  “It sure is.” Tabby drank hers down.

  Cat let out a small laugh. “You’re looking at it like it holds the secrets of the universe.”

  “I just forgot how good it tastes. Like I forgot what it’s like to sit and eat breakfast in a diner with good company. Sorry, that probably sounds silly. I just . . . I’ve learned not to take the little things for granted.”

  Cat squeezed her hand briefly. “I’m really glad you were jogging by that park, Tabby. And that you’re brave as fuck. Foolish. But brave.”

  Tabby let out a small bark of laughter.

  “You know, you really shouldn’t be jogging in the dark by yourself, right?”

  Tabby shrugged. Yeah, she knew. But when you didn’t think you were long for this world, then you didn’t tend to worry as much about personal safety.

  “They’re fifteen minutes out,” Cat said suddenly after checking Tabby’s phone. She tapped away on it. “You should probably go now.”