Chapter 8 #2
"Good girl," he said, and the praise made her knees weak despite everything.
"First thing, I’ve called all the officers in and doubled the security at the gate.
More security there, more people watching out for threats.
Nothing matters except keeping you both alive and whole.
" Slash's hands framed her face, his touch firm but gentle.
"I know this is scary. I know you hate having your life turned upside down.
But I need you to trust me to handle this. "
Nicole nodded, some of the panic finally receding. "I trust you."
"Tell me what you need right now," he said. "Not what you think you should need. What you actually need."
"I need..." she paused, surprised by the question.
When was the last time someone had asked her that?
"I need Kayleigh to be safe and happy and not know how scared I am.
I need to feel like this is handled. And I need.
.." she dropped her voice to barely a whisper, "I need to not be strong right now. "
"Then don't be," Slash said firmly. "Be mine instead. My little girl to protect, to care for, to keep safe. Let that be enough for now."
“Okay.” She consented. She didn’t have any more energy in her to fight it. “Okay, Daddy.”
"Then let's go back and eat breakfast with Kayleigh. Everyone’s going to gather in an hour for a meeting. And Nicole?"
"Yeah?"
His eyes were dark with promise. "When this is over, when you're safe, we're going to talk about how much I loved hearing you call me Daddy."
The heat in his voice made her shiver with anticipation.
She'd opened a door she wasn't sure she was ready to walk through.
But maybe that was okay. Maybe sometimes the best things happened when you weren't ready for them.
Instead of spiraling into anxiety about all the things that could go wrong, she was able to focus on what needed to be done.
Hang out with her little girl, not let her know anything was wrong while trusting that Slash knew what he was doing.
Trusting her Daddy to keep them safe.
An hour later, they were settled in a secure room at the clubhouse, surrounded by men with guns and attitudes that suggested they'd welcome an excuse to use them. The place was scary before but now, it looks like a fortress. They’d reinforced doors, barred windows, and had gathered enough firepower to start a small war.
Kayleigh was playing in the newly developed play room, delighted to be in the heart of the women’s attention.
She was the collective niece of every member of the Watchmen and their girlfriends.
Spoiled. But, Nicole didn’t mind. She was grateful for the help and the distraction.
The playroom was as much for the littles as it was for Kayleigh.
They all enjoyed the array of crafts, dolls, building blocks and more.
Nicole herself was partial to the comfy cozy reading nook.
She watched Kayleigh building a tower with blocks, tongue poking out in concentration, and felt that fierce maternal love that had kept her going through the worst of times.
Everything she'd endured, every sacrifice, had been for that little girl.
And now, maybe, they both had a chance at something better.
"For how long?" Nicole asked as Slash finished explaining the updated security protocols to her. He’d shown her around town this week and she’d met some of his friends from Valhalla.
They’d taken Kyleigh on a long walk. And now?
They couldn’t leave the building, not even to go outside.
She couldn’t use her phone. In fact they’d turned it off completely and when Dax arrived later, he was taking it with him.
"As long as it takes," he replied. "Could be days, could be weeks."
"And you?" Nicole tried to keep the neediness out of her voice and failed spectacularly. "Will you be here too?"
“Where else would I be? You think I'd leave you to face this alone?" Something in Slash's expression softened, and he pulled her against him, backing her against the wall. "I'm not going anywhere, little girl. You're stuck with me. My brothers will run any pertinent errand that needs done.”
Relief flooded through her, followed immediately by arousal as she became aware of how thoroughly he'd caged her in. His body was solid against hers, all hard muscle and controlled strength. "Good. Because I don't think I can do this without you."
"You could," Slash said seriously, his thumb tracing her bottom lip. "You're strong enough to handle anything life throws at you. But you don't have to. Not anymore. You've got me now."
"My Daddy," she whispered, testing the word again, watching his eyes darken.
"Careful, little girl," he warned, his voice dropping to a growl. "We're not alone here, and I'm already fighting the urge to show you exactly what calling me that does to me."
"What does it do to you?" she asked, feeling bold despite everything.
His hand slid into her hair, gripping just tight enough to make her gasp.
"Makes me want to bend you over my knee and turn that pretty ass red for breaking my rules.
Makes me want to fuck you until you're screaming it.
Makes me want to keep you forever, mark you as mine so thoroughly that everyone knows exactly who you belong to. "
Nicole's breath came in short pants, her body responding to his words, his touch, his proximity. "Slash?—"
"But first," he continued, releasing her and stepping back, leaving her aching and empty, "we keep you safe. Priorities, baby girl."
As she settled into the room and waited for everyone else to arrive for the meeting, Nicole found herself thinking about the difference between running and being protected. And for the first time in her life, she had someone she could trust and submit to, in all the ways that mattered.
That made all the difference in the world.