“You need to go back in the lift to floor five.” She hands me a keycard. “Insert this in the lift. It’s good for one trip only so don’t think to accidentally put it in your handbag.”
I smile. “That happen a lot here?”
“Every. Damn. Day. Several times a day.”
“Well, not with me it won’t, I assure you.” She smiles back. I take the keycard and head up to floor five.
Another sleek lobby greets me and yet another reception with yet another model-like specimen behind the desk. I’m asked to take a seat in a lounge which would rival a first class one at an airport. I wonder how much of this business is Deacon’s. I know he’s a partner in it with four others, my snooping showed me that much, but how much he owns I don’t know. I can’t help compare this to the life his brother has though.
The receptionist walks over. “Mr King has asked me to escort you to his office. Please follow me.”
I stand and brush down my black trousers, comparing my Primark specials at the side of the receptionist’s no doubt designer clothing. It’s like another world in this place.
The door is pushed open and the receptionist speaks. “Ms Madden is here, Sir. Do you need anything?”
I take my first look at Deacon King. He sits back in his chair like he’s the King of the World. He smiles at me but it’s like a snake checking you out before it bites. His smile reveals his perfect white teeth. There’s obviously a shit hot dental plan in this place.
“Would you like a drink? Water, a hot beverage, wine?” He drawls.
“No. I’m fine thank you.” I tell him and the receptionist.
“That’ll be all.” He gives one small nod of his head and the woman is gone.
“Take a seat.” He gestures to the chair in front of his desk in an elaborate sweeping gesture. “Because I’m fucking intrigued that someone connected with my dear brother has made an appointment to see me. I guess he has no idea, or you wouldn’t be sitting here now.”
“No, he doesn’t.” I lift up my chin. If this arsewipe thinks he’s going to play Mr Superior with me, he can go fuck himself. “But he will.”
“So, on the phone you said it was, ‘of the utmost urgency’. He run out of condoms?”
I ignore him, determined to cut to the chase. I’m here for one thing and one thing only. Belle. “He found out he was a father. The mother of the child is blackmailing him. She says she wants ten grand. He doesn’t have it and to be honest there’s no way she’s going to settle for that anyway. She’s an addict. Scott doesn’t know, but she waited for me this morning. Her dealer was with her. He threatened to kidnap the kid.”
I jump when Deacon’s fist smashes into the desk. “Did he now?” He grits out.
Deacon’s blue eyes are striking against his tanned skin and the blonde hair that threatens to flop into his eyes. He and Scott are such polar opposites in looks, yet I expect both equally as magnetic to the women around them.
“This kid definitely his?”
I explain about the last week’s events, about the DNA test results etc. “I know you and Scott don’t get along. He’s explained the weird family dynamics, but can you help in any way?”
He tilts his head as he stares through me. I feel like I’m being MRI’d. “My brother and I have a few things in common, even if we try to deny it, and one thing is that he’s a walking dick, puts it in any woman he meets.”
“Did.”
That earns me a raised brow. “You think you’ve changed him?” I get a look of pity.
“I don’t think, I know. However, right now I don’t give a fuck about that. I give a fuck about his daughter. You going to help me or sit there like some gangster for another few minutes, because I’ve things to do?”
He guffaws with laughter. “I see what he sees in you now, Ms Madden. Fiery little thing, aren’t you?” His fingertips drum the desk. “Morgan Durrant will be dealt with.”
“You’ll make her a financial settlement? All legal and drawn up. So she’s out of our hair once and for all?”
The next smile I receive wouldn’t be out of place on The Joker. “Suki. Morgan Durrant will be dealt with. Once… and… for… all.” He quotes my words back at me but enunciates each word. “She’ll never darken my brother’s door again.” His tongue licks around his lip. “That baby is my niece. Whatever my feelings for my brother, I’ll protect what’s mine.”
I feel like I’ve sold my soul to the devil.
“Are you happy with the arrangement, Ms Madden? Because when Scott finds out his brother wants to see the baby he’s going to explode.”
“At least he’ll have a baby for you to see.”
“True.” He stands, showing me this meeting is over. “Good luck with my brother, Ms Madden. Oh, and send him my love. I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.”
Shaking, and trying not to show it, I walk to the door. As it closes behind me, I manage to nod to the receptionist and get myself out of the building before I head into the nearest pub and ask for a scotch. What the actual fuck? Am I in some kind of TV programme? Who the hell did I just meet?
I seriously hope I haven’t just made the biggest mistake of my life. Now I have to go finish my shift and then go back to the flat and face the music.
The scotch warm in my belly, I manage to finish my shift and then I Uber back to Scott’s place. When I get there, I’m shocked to find the place in almost darkness and for a moment I panic that they aren’t there. Until the man himself appears in the hallway and with a finger over his lips he indicates for me to keep quiet and then grabs my hand and pulls me into the kitchen. The table is set with candles and the smell of something tomato-ey fills the air.
“I’d like to take you on a date, but I had a problem getting a sitter, so I thought I’d mock up my own restaurant here.” He says, smiling.
“I see restaurants almost every day, they’re overrated. I’ll take this place any day.” I take my seat at the table.
“Belle’s fast asleep. I swear she knows she’s where she should be now. She gets more content every day.”
I smile as he spoons pasta onto a plate.
“Is everything okay?” Scott pauses partway through serving.
“No.”
He leaves the plate on the countertop and sits across from me. “What’s going on?”
“Hear me out, all of it, and then if you want me gone, I’ll understand. Okay?”
“What did you do?” He growls.
I tell him about this morning.
“You let me come back here tonight, knowing some bastard threatened to kidnap my daughter?” He yells. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me at the restaurant?”
“Because I knew it was too much for us to deal with alone. So… I went to see Deacon.”
For a moment Scott is frozen in place and then fury coats his features. “You did what? Are you fucking insane? What did you think he was going to do? We don’t get on. He hates me. HATES ME. Did he laugh you out of the building?”
“No, he’s going to help.”
Scott slips into his own seat, his head in his hands. “Deacon’s like my father. I told you this. What are his terms for ‘helping’, which I presume is giving Morgan a payoff?”
“He wants to see Belle.”
Scott laughs, a pathetic laugh that’s full of the air of someone who’s given up. “And I have no choice if I want my daughter kept safe?”
I shrug. “You can call the police.”
“We both know the police can’t protect us.” Scott stares at the table for a long time. “I need to call my brother.” He says.
“Okay.”
“And I need you to leave.” He looks into my eyes.
“W- what?”
“You went behind my back. Belle is mine, not yours. Who the fuck do you think you are? Someone threatens my kid, I decide on the course of action.”
Tears begin to spill from my eyes as I stand up. “They didn’t just threaten Belle, Scott. They threatened me too, but don’t
let that get in the way of you being the fucking dickhead I’ve always known you are.”
I snatch up my bag and run from the room.
Fuck Scott.
Fuck Morgan.
Fuck Deacon.
I just hope Belle knows how much I love her, even if I never get to see her again.
Chapter Twenty-One
Scott
The sound of the front door slamming reverberates through the flat. Red hot anger fills my veins. Standing, the chair crashes to the floor and blood races past my ears.
She went to fucking Deacon.
Deacon fucking King is a law unto himself. He’s cold. Controlling and so far removed from any kind of idea of family he changed his surname at his first possible opportunity. He’s a fucking arsehole. I wouldn’t trust him to buy me a pint of milk, let alone go to him when someone threatens someone I love. He doesn’t have a loving bone in his fucking body.
A thought hits me. He doesn’t do anything out of the goodness of his heart. He’ll want something in exchange for this. Probably my soul.
Suki had no right going behind my back and making a deal with the devil. She should have come to me. If her or Belle are being threatened, then I’m the one who needs to deal with it.
The thought of Belle instantly cools the fire raging within and when I break through the haze, I realise she’s crying.
“Fuck.” Racing towards my room, I scoop her out of her cot and cradle her to my chest. “I’m so sorry, baby girl. So fucking sorry.” I’ve no idea what I’m really apologising for. Being a useless fucking arsehole and playing my part in her being here in the first place. For my total lack of discrimination for who I used to dip my dick in and not choosing better knowing it could have resulted in her. For getting too close to Suki and currently feeling like my heart is shattering in half having watched her walk out of my life.
Fuck. I just allowed one of the two good things in my life to walk out.
My heart races and my hands tremble as I make a decision and pull Belle’s polar bear suit from the dresser. “I’m sorry, Belle. Daddy fucked up again, but we need to go and fix it and I’m going to need your help. Like it or not, we’re a team now so you gotta support me just like I always will you. You might think you’re the baby with stuff to learn but you’re soon going to realise that I have too. And I think my first lesson might be grovelling.
I don’t bother with my own coat. I just place Belle to my chest in the complicated carry device I bought and together we head out into the night.
I freaked out. I know that. I heard Deacon’s name, what she did, and I flipped. I sent her away just like everyone else in her life has. The final pieces of my heart splinters that I’ve just become one of them.
I move as fast as I can towards her flat with a baby strapped to my chest. For all I know she called an Uber and is already locked up tight inside. If that’s the case, then I don’t think I stand much chance of getting to her. I need her to be walking. I need to surprise her and attempt to sweep her off her feet. Somehow. Maybe there’s another lesson I need. I can get any woman I desire to fall into bed, but to actually fall for me? That’s a whole other ball game right there.
“I hope you’re praying, Belle. I know you need her just as much as I do.” When I look down, I find she’s falling straight back to sleep.
We’re almost at her flat. The street is empty and only the glow from the dim streetlights illuminates the long road. I squint, hoping to see her at the other end but with the winter fog descending fast I can just about see the end of the car next to me.
I pick up pace, hoping to whoever might listen that I’ll catch her at the last minute.
As a little more of the street comes in to view, movement catches my eye. With my arms around Belle so I don’t jostle her too much, I take off running.
“Suki,” I call, hoping like fuck it’s her and not some random homeless guy. “Suki. Sooks.” At that last name, the figure pauses. I’ve fucking got her. “Stay there, Sooks. Please, please,” I beg, closing in on her.
I come to an abrupt stop when I get to the stairs leading toward her building. She refuses to look up, preferring to stare down at the ground.
“Suki, please. I’m sorry, I’m so fucking—shit.” I climb the stairs and come to a stop in front of her. She turns to me and the sight threatens to buckle my knees. She’s crying. Tough nut, bitch extraordinaire, Suki Madden is fucking crying.
My chest threatens to cave in on itself knowing that I did it. I caused this. I sent her away after she admitted to doing something to keep Belle safe. She didn’t have to put herself in the lion’s den with Deacon, but she did, and I doubt she batted an eyelid.
My cold hands land on her wet cheeks and surprisingly when I step closer, she allows it.
“I’m so fucking sorry. So fucking sorry.” I rest my forehead against hers. Her unsteady breathing fills my ears and I break that bit more. “I freaked out. You shouldn’t have gone to see him, Suki.” She tenses but I don’t stop. “Deacon isn’t like normal people. He doesn’t deal with issues like normal people. I hate that my life forced you there. He could have done anything, requested anything in exchange for–” My words drift off as this thought hits me.
“H- he didn’t. He didn’t request anything of me. But even if he had, I’d have done it no questions asked if it meant Belle was safe and with you. I’d do anything for you two, Scott. When are you going to realise this?”
“I’m so sorry. I’m, I’m screwed up, Sooks. You need to remember that.”
Her own hands lifts and she holds onto the side of my neck. “You are not screwed up, Scott. You’re…” She trails off and I raise a brow at her as I wait. “You’re pretty incredible and you’re a fantastic dad.”
“Really?”
“It causes me physical pain to admit it.”
I let out a low chuckle. “Do you know what I think about you?” Her head slowly shakes against mine. I slide my fingers into her hair and hold tight, afraid she might bolt again when I say the words. It’s not the first time today they’ve slipped past my lips but right now I mean them more than any other words I’ve said… ever. “I think I’m in love with you, Sooks.”
Another sob breaks free from her throat and her body sags a little.
“Come home with us. Make it your home too. Be with us, always. Make us a family.” Her cries get louder, especially with the final word, and she steps into my side and wraps her arms around my waist. I’m desperate to pull her into me properly but we’re both aware I’ve got a sleeping baby hanging from my chest.
She says something into my shirt as her tears soak the fabric.
“What was that?”
“Ithinkimightloveyoutoo.”
“I’m sorry, again?” She pulls her face out and her teary eyes stare up at me. They glisten in the soft street lighting and I immediately lose myself in them.
“I- I think I might love you too.” I gasp, my heart threatening to thunder out of my chest. But then she does something that has my own tears spilling from my eyes. She drops her hand and gently places it to Belle’s head. “I love you too, baby girl.”
My lips find hers and I kiss her in the cold on her doorstep for the longest time. I’ve never really been a fan of kissing, just seeing it as a necessary means to a more pleasurable end, but suddenly I realise that I could kiss this woman for the rest of my life and be happy. Being connected to her like this, feeling my heart racing in my chest, knowing she needs me just as much. It’s fucking everything.
“Let’s go home,” I whisper against her lips and she nods. Reluctantly, I break away from her. “Do you need to go in and get anything?”
“I just need you right now.”
“Fucking hell, Sooks. You’re killing me.”
She drops her hand to the front of my trousers, palming my solid dick. I wasn’t actually just referring to my need to bang her into next week, I was talking about my feelings, but knowing I’ve already confessed enough tonight, I allow
her to continue.
“Hmmm, you might want to stop that.”
“Oh?”
“The next time I come I expect it to be deep inside you.” She bites down on her bottom lip, her eyes bouncing between mine.
“We should probably go then.”
I pull her into my side and with my arm securely wrapped around her waist, we begin the walk back.
“Aren’t you cold?” she asks when she realises I’m only wearing a t-shirt.
“Fucking freezing.”
“Let’s go a little faster, hey?”
We’re practically running by the time we turn the corner and towards the entrance to my—our—building. I’m not sure if it’s the cold or our desire that has us moving so fast but whatever it is, we’re equally as impatient as each other to get inside.
I guess by this point I shouldn’t be surprised that Belle wakes up as we climb the stairs and looks up at me with her wide eyes.
“You want feeding, baby girl?” She blinks her response. “You’re on her side, aren’t you?” I ask, flicking a look to Suki. “You want to help her torture me a little longer for being a dick?”
“You should probably stop swearing in front of her. Her first word will end up being fuck.”
“She’s two months old. I’m sure it’s fine.” Suki gives me a ‘don’t tell me I didn’t tell you so’ look before taking the keys from my hands and unlocking the door.
What I really want to do is forget about everything and fuck her up against the hallway wall, then on the sofa, and finally we might make it to the bed; but with the eyes staring up at me, I know that’s not happening quite yet.
“Why are you staring at the wall?” Suki asks when she realises I’ve stopped.
“Just making plans.”
“That involve the wall?”
“The wall, you, your legs around my waist. My cock deep—”
“Just feed the baby, Scott.” She interrupts, “I’m going to use the bathroom.”
It feels like she’s gone for-fucking-ever. I’m sitting on the sofa feeding a sleepy Belle when she eventually reappears.
Hot Daddy Package: An Enemies to Lovers Romance Page 13