Daddy Me

by Dukey, Ker

  “He gave up a lot. Came home to take care of me so I didn’t get put into the foster system,” Sofina says, with a shrug of her shoulder. Our drinks arrive, offering her a reprieve from Ren interrogating her.

  “What did he give up?” Ren asks once the waitress leaves.

  “Ren,” I bark, shaking my head.

  A light chuckle tickles from Sofina as she places a hand on my arm. “It’s fine.” She takes a sip of her drink and stirs it with her finger before slipping the digit into her mouth and sucking the juice from it.

  For fuck’s sake.

  It’s innocent on her part, but she has no clue how sexual she is by a simple action. Ren’s eyes flick to her finger, then lips, and then over to me with a filthy smirk tilting up his mouth.

  Fucker. He’s thinking the exact thing I am.

  “School, but it was a girl who broke him, you know?” she muses, her brow crashing down.

  “She dumped him?” Ren asks, making me roll my eyes. This shit isn’t our business.

  “He asked her to move back with him, but she wouldn’t. It really took a toll on him.”

  Ren keeps on fucking probing. “Do you feel blame?”

  “Ren,” I growl. He smiles and leans in on his forearms to get a better look at Sofina, daring her to answer.

  “Yes, but I was a kid and didn’t ask him to make that choice.”

  “He’s your brother. It was never a choice,” I tell her, stroking a finger down her cheek.

  “Family is everything. Your brother will come around. Don’t fret, little pet,” Ren says, pouring a whiskey into the spare glass and replacing her lemon drop with it.

  I feel it as her spine straightens. Her head turns to me with her eyes expanding. “I don’t like liquor.” She scrunches up her nose. It’s adorable, and it turns me on more than I could ever explain to her.

  “You’ll like this. Go ahead, sweetheart, numb the chaos and sample a real whiskey.” I wink at her.

  She wraps her nimble fingers around the glass and gulps the amber liquid like it’s a fucking soda. Her eyes widen impossibly big, and then she coughs and waves a hand over her tongue, making both Ren and me burst into a bout of laughter.

  She grabs the lemon drop from Ren and gulps it down. “Oh my God, it burns. I hate whiskey,” she whines.

  Ren slaps the table and holds his hand up to the waitress. “Bring ice and lemon drops. Keep them coming.” Then he turns to Sofina, laughing. “Don’t you own a bar?”

  “Our whiskey is watered down and I don’t drink the stock.”

  “Wussy,” he teases.

  A round of applause sounds through the room as a guy takes to the mic to introduce the next act. “Please give a warm embrace for Nina Rose.”

  “This is our artist. The one I was supposed to meet with,” I whisper against Sofina’s earlobe and groan when she leans into me and shivers.

  Nina’s guitar strums and a few whistles pierce the air before an alluring pulse croons from her lips, filtering into the mic and floating over the audience. She has a country style about her and highly sellable. Everyone in the audience, including the three of us, are captured by her music.

  When she finishes up, Sofina mumbles, “Her tits aren’t even that big.”

  Ren chokes on his drink, spitting half of it down himself. “Why does that matter?”

  I watch a crimson glow redden her cheeks when she realizes she spoke aloud. “Oh, sorry, Eve said she was a stripper and had big boobs.”

  Ren’s phone buzzes with an incoming text that has him grinning and licking his lips.

  “Care to share?” I tease him, getting him back for eyeballing Sofina’s sucking skills earlier.

  “Not in this lifetime.” He flicks beer from the table in my direction before flitting his thumbs over the phone with a reply. “She’s not a typical stripper,” Ren pipes up before slipping his phone away into his pocket.

  “What does that mean?” I drum my fingers on the table and with the other arm drag Sofina onto my lap so I can feel her ass against my cock.

  “I mean, she’s a high paid dancer. She’s behind a screen in a members-only club. Not out on a pole at a biker dive.”

  “Still a PR nightmare if it gets out,” I groan.

  “Artists pole dance in music videos these days, Ronan,” Ren argues.

  “That’s true and look at those lady rappers. They sing about their snatches all the time,” Sofina says, shuddering. And again, Ren and I burst into a fit of laughter.

  When we settle down, Ren nods back to the stage and asks, “She’s good, right?”

  “I like her,” Sofina announces with a sigh. “I’d love to be able to sing in a place like this with her confidence and talent.”

  “You have more talent,” I remind her. “And if you want to sing here you can.”

  “You want me to go speak to the manager? He’s a friend.” Ren winks at her, and she looks up at me expectantly.

  Without waiting for a reply, Ren scoots out of the booth and waltzes off.

  “He’s joking, right?” she breathes.

  “Nope.” I grin, nibbling her neck.

  “Oh, God. I’ll be too nervous,” she whispers.

  “Let me help relax you then,” I rumble, slipping my hand up her dress to brush over her lace-covered pussy. “Be a good girl and part these legs, sweetheart.”

  She does as she’s told, allowing me access to slip beneath her panties and insert a finger into her cunt.

  Wet and needy as always.

  Delicious.

  Her breathing becomes ragged as I tease and taunt her with the promise of an orgasm. Her hand grips my wrist and guides my movements. I allow her to take control, knowing I’ll be dominating her ass later.

  She groans and it makes my dick harden. She squirms and rotates her hips. I nip her lip and use my thumb to circle her clit. Her pussy walls clamp and pulse. Her breathing hitches. I kiss her cries away as she comes over my fingers.

  “Better?” I lick her lips.

  “Yes, so much.”

  When Ren returns, he’s not alone. Nina stands with him nervously picking at her fingers.

  “Nina, you were amazing. I’m Sofina,” my girl says to put her at ease, offering her a hand to shake.

  “Thank you.” Nina smiles and glances over at me briefly before looking away.

  “Sofina, you’re on in an hour,” Ren informs her. “I can’t stick around, but I know you’ll do great. Nina’s going to take you backstage so you can practice and get ready. Brother, I’ll call you.” With that, he pats Nina on the back and takes off.

  Sofina waits for me to say something, her ass not moving from my lap. I hold in a chuckle, tapping her ass to encourage her to go. “You’re going to be amazing. And you’re in good hands. Good job tonight, Nina. You’re going to have a fruitful career.”

  “Thank you, sir.” Nina beams at us.

  My hand tightens around my glass when I see Lucca walking toward me, a scowl on his face. Prick. I called him once Sofina scampered away and told him to meet me here before hanging up. I didn’t know if he would show, but I needed to know I tried for my girl.

  He slips into the booth and glares over at me, arms resting on the table. He’s out of place here with his tattoos and attitude. “Got in okay then?” I smirk. I had his name added to the guest list, and I know it pisses him off that I can pull strings he can’t.

  The thing he needs to learn is this isn’t a pissing contest. I’d win, and it’s pointless. We both want the same thing, I hope—Sofina’s happiness.

  “What the hell do you want, Hayes?” he growls.

  I pour a drink and shove it across the table toward him. “Drink.”

  He picks up the glass, swirls the amber liquid, and then sniffs it before taking a swig. Like he has any clue about the quality of the whiskey.

  “This why you brought me here? To show me you can afford the good whiskey?” he sneers.

  “That good whiskey is what you should be pouring at your pla
ce. It has the potential to be a great bar. It’s in a great location.”

  He holds a hand up and shakes his head to stop my talking. “What is this? You want to talk about my bar?”

  “No, I want to talk about your sister.”

  “Where the fuck is my sister?” he growls, leaning toward me. The friction is palpable in the air between us.

  “She’s going to be performing, and I wanted you to see her.”

  Snorting, he grabs the bottle of whiskey and pours himself another, leaving my glass empty. He reminds me of when Ren went through a rebellious phase. Hated the world for the shitty cards it dealt our mother.

  “I’ve seen her sing. She’s been singing since before she could talk.”

  “Then why do you not want her to pursue her dream?”

  Grinding his jaw, he narrows his eyes on me before sighing and knocking back the drink. “I didn’t want it to eat her up and chew her out. I didn’t want her dreams tarnished by disappointment and opportunists.” He glares at me like I’m some predator.

  “So you wanted to keep her as Cinderella in your dive bar?”

  “Fuck you, man. I only keep that place so she has something. A place to provide for her,” he says with a heavy sigh, rubbing his hands down his face. “I fucking hate that place and I failed her anyway.”

  “What does that mean?” Color me curious.

  Folding his arms, he stares off into the crowd for a few silent beats. “The bar’s a money pit. It was in debt when our dad died, and I’ve tried to claw us out of it, but you have to have money to make it. Right?” He looks tired. Maybe we had this all wrong. He’s not angry—he’s frustrated—exhausted.

  “What were you studying before you came home to raise Sofina?” I pour us both another drink and wave the bottle at the waitress behind the bar, who nods in acknowledgment of my request.

  “Art.”

  “Really?” I raise a brow and get a middle finger from him in response.

  “I wanted to be a tattooist, not some shit one in a ten-dollar skull store, but real art. Intricate and life-changing. Not just inking skin, but creating art.”

  “Let me buy the bar,” I say abruptly, taking him off guard.

  He tenses, scowling at me. “Fuck no. You think I’d let you buy my silence so you can use my sister how you see fit with no interference from me?”

  I can’t help it. I laugh. He’s watched too many movies or is simply fucked in the head. “You’re insane. You know that, right?”

  “I didn’t give up my entire life to come back here to raise Sofina only to allow some pervert hanging a contract like a fish hook so she’d spread her legs for him.”

  My fist slams down on the table, startling him. “You’re way out of line, Lucca, and should hold your fucking tongue.” I roll my neck and open the new bottle the waitress placed on our table. “Sofina’s contract was in place and signed before anything progressed with us. If she wanted to leave me right now, she would still have an ironclad contract that offers her all her heart could desire.” I push the bottle toward him and continue. “I’ve never dated or had relations with an artist from our label before and I take my business very seriously. I’ve never had to use tactics to get women. What Sofina and I have is real. A connection I didn’t expect or was looking for. It just was.”

  “She’s too young,” he snaps.

  “To know she’s in love? To know her own mind and make her own choices? How old were you when you fell in love?”

  “It’s different.”

  “Why? Because she’s your sister?” I roll my eyes, flicking my watch on my wrist to check the time. Won’t be long until she’s on. “We’re not that different, you and I. My mother died, and I had to be the man, take care of my younger brother, and step up. But you need to know. You did your job. She’s grown. She’s starting her career and her life.”

  “I don’t know who I am without her. She’s all I’ve got.” He bows his head and places his hands in his hair.

  “Then don’t lose her by giving her ultimatums and expecting her to choose a mediocre life. It’s beneath her. She’s too talented, Lucca. Don’t darken her dreams by making her live them without you.”

  His head snaps up, his eyes accusing. “Why do you care? Why did you call me here?”

  “Because she misses you. I see her hurting, and it pains me to see her in distress.”

  “You act like you love her,” he sneers.

  “I do love her,” I confirm, truthful and determined for him to understand that.

  “You want my approval and for me to let you have her.”

  “She’s already mine, Lucca. I’m not asking for anything. I’m giving you the chance to stop being a dick and give your sister what she actually needs.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “You. Your support and love.”

  The room becomes silent as the mic croaks and Sofina is introduced.

  Nina makes her way over to us and loiters at the side of the booth we’re sitting in, so I gesture for her to join us. She sits next to Lucca, her face a little pale.

  “I know you from somewhere, right?” Lucca asks her with a furrowed brow.

  Blushing, she shakes her head and offers a tight smile. “No, I don’t think so.”

  I hold in a snort. You a member of any private clubs, Lucca?

  My attention falls to the stage as I watch my girl take her place as the star she is. She glows under the spotlight like a princess. Her hands tremble as she positions the mic and takes a seat on a stool placed in front of it. My heart stills when a melody from a piano sets the tone, and then she sings. I fall deeper for the girl with the angel voice.

  Nerves start as wiggling caterpillars in my gut, but as soon as the music starts, they turn into butterflies and take flight, lifting me up. Singing feels natural when I close my eyes and give into it. The moment the first words tumble from my throat, it’s like I need to let the rest escape in order to breathe. As I sing the lyrics, I think about the man who inspired them. Ronan. Handsome, sweet, protective Ronan.

  Take care of me.

  When the world is throwing rocks at me, shield me and protect me.

  Hold me. Love me.

  Please…just take care of me.

  And I’ll take care of you, too.

  When I finish on a high note, my adrenaline is pumping the blood so fast through my veins I feel drunk on the feeling. The cheers ring in my ear and an uncontrollable smile takes over my face. When the stage light dims, I can see the audience and my breath stills when I see Lucca standing right there.

  He moves around a table and goes to step on stage when a big security guy comes from the sideline and grabs him. Oh God. My brother is a hothead and someone grabbing him won’t go over well. I need to intervene. I race forward as Lucca struggles and hits out at the man as I knew he eventually would. He and the security guard get into a scuffle that ends up involving other people.

  My stomach drops when the quarrel ensues and then screams and shouts ring out. Tables are knocked over, and people are trying to move out of the way of the chaos. But it’s creating more madness.

  I can’t get to Lucca or even see him anymore. Acid floods my bones and lead fills my shoes. Everything stills, and sounds morph and distort. I can’t focus. I can’t see through the mass of people. I’m being jostled around by panicked bodies.

  I faintly hear my name being anxiously called, and then two secure arms wrap around me from behind, and a familiar scent cocoons me, and the baritone of Ronan’s voice penetrates the chaotic noise, and I take a breath.

  He’s lifting me from the floor and carrying me to the back of the stage area. I’m placed on my feet and spun to face him. Frown lines are etched into his beautiful features as he studies me and runs his hands over my body, checking me for injuries.

  “My brother,” I choke.

  “I’ll go get him. Don’t move from here. Okay?”

  I nod, but he doesn’t move.

  “I need you to say
you promise.”

  “I promise.”

  The shouting and screams have silenced. A sickness settles in my stomach. The night was going so well, and it turned to shit in a heartbeat.

  Police enter the club, and my knees weaken. Oh God, are we going to be arrested? Suddenly Ronan is back and not alone. A muscular cop is with him and Lucca.

  I sigh in relief, but it’s short-lived when I see he’s got a busted lip where his ring used to be and a black eye threatening. That’s not the worst of it. His hands are cuffed.

  “Stop struggling, or I’ll throw you in a cell for the night, asshole,” the cop growls at Lucca, manhandling him like he’s made of nothing.

  Tears fill my eyes and spill over. “Lucca.”

  His eyes find mine and darken. “I’m sorry. I only wanted to tell you how good you were.”

  My chest heaves and voice hitches, “Really?”

  “Can we move this out the back? The manager here is pissed and wants to press charges. Luckily, he speaks the language of money like the best of us and is a friend,” Ronan growls.

  Once outside the cop un-cuffs Lucca and shoves him toward me.

  “Stay out of trouble, punk. And don’t be throwing your weight around when you’re half the damn size of the other guy.”

  Rubbing his wrists, Lucca doesn’t say anything, and I can’t help myself, I’m so relieved he’s okay and not in trouble I launch myself at him, and he catches me barely and lets out a wisp of air from his lungs.

  “I missed you,” I sob.

  “I missed you too, brat.”

  “Thanks for doing this, Blaine,” Ronan says to the cop.

  “You’re lucky I was working tonight,” Blaine grumbles back.

  “I know. I appreciate this. You’re always saving my ass. When are you going to give up the blue uniform and come work for me?” Ronan jests. “I could use you to keep fuckers like Xavi in line.”

  I release my brother and give them my attention.

  The cop is tall and muscular. Handsome with the air of authority that comes with the uniform.

  “That asshole still giving you trouble? As much as I’d like to whoop that dude’s arrogant ass, there’s not enough action in security for me,” he replies with a breathtaking grin. “You know I like the thrill of danger.” He reminds me of Ronan with his commanding, daddy tone about him.