Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
The sun was out and bright when Annika finally woke up the following morning.
She sat up with a start. Looking around the room and panting, it took her a moment to collect herself enough to remember where she was.
Tears flooded from her eyes as she sniffled. A moment later, Matteo was in the room, at her side.
“Honey, why are you crying?”
She looked at him as he kneeled beside the bed. The brilliant sunlight from the window to his right highlighted his gorgeous features perfectly.
“I’m okay. I was just… expecting it all to be a dream. Like I didn’t think I’d really wake up here. Figured I’d open my eyes in the little shed I’d made out of boxes and crates and stuff.”
She felt silly for admitting that to him. It wasn’t sympathy she was seeking. But she didn’t want to lie to Daddy.
Ever.
Stop thinking of him as Daddy. You’re just setting yourself up for disappointment when you two have to say goodbye.
But it didn’t sound like Matteo had any intention of ever telling her goodbye, because he said, “Well, you don’t have to worry about that. You’re home now, honey.” He stood and smiled down at her. “And I have great news.”
“What’s that?” she asked, throwing the covers back and hopping out of bed.
“The Little we were helping last night—her name is Carrie—she’s safe now, honey. Because of you.”
“You mean I really helped her?”
“That’s right. We were able to find lots of crazy stuff in the club’s financials.
But more than that, on the security feed, we saw when the club owner was trying to get rough with Carrie and some of the other girls that worked for him.
Thankfully, we got there in time, before anyone was hurt.
But that wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for your skills. You’re a hero, babygirl.”
Annika tried to wrap her mind around it. She’d helped save someone? The thought made her smile.
She knew what it was like to feel alone and desperate. To be terrified. The fact that she was able to help another Little had a satisfied warmth spreading through her core.
“With that case wrapped up so easily,” Matteo said, “I’m free today. How about we go out? I have some things I’d like to do with you.”
Annika gasped.
She had some things she’d like for him to do with her—and to her. But she was way too bashful to suggest them.
So, she simply said, “I’m free. Obviously. We can do whatever you want.”
She almost added, “And I do mean whatever,” but once again her shyness kept that little innuendo in.
“Good. You can get ready and then we’ll go. Iris put some of her clothes in the bathroom.”
“But I feel bad borrowing her stuff so much.”
Matteo shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. She’s happy to loan them. But after today, you won’t have to worry about it any longer.”
She wondered what he meant by that but had her answer a few seconds later when he spoke again.
“Because I’m taking you shopping, little girl. And I intend to spoil you rotten.”
Annika was in awe when she stepped out of the mansion and saw the long, sleek, black limousine waiting for her.
“What the heck?” she asked as her eyes grew wide.
“I figured you didn’t want to go shopping in that big van of ours,” Matteo told her. “So, I called up Harrison and asked if he could send a car over. He was happy to oblige.”
It took Annika a moment to form her words again. “You mean… I get to ride in this thing?”
“You bet,” Matteo replied. “Come on.”
He took her by the hand and led her to the back door where the driver stood waiting.
“Good morning.” The driver opened the door while smiling pleasantly.
Annika couldn’t believe this was her life. Never in a million years would she have thought she’d experience something like this. A squeal revealed just how excited she was.
Once they were in, Matteo thanked the driver as he shut the door. A moment later, the driver was behind the wheel, looking back through the open window that separated the front compartment from the long passenger section.
“Where to, Sir?”
“Melrose and La Cienga,” Matteo replied. “There’s a couple of stores I want to take this cutie to.”
“Coming right up.”
With that, the window slid closed, the car smoothly moved forward, and Annika and Matteo were off on their adventure.
The first store they went to on Melrose was a boutique with a pink and white stucco exterior, gorgeous potted plants out front, and vines growing up the side of the building.
Annika stopped beside a palm tree on the sidewalk and surveyed the place. The big green leaves at the top of the tall tree swayed in the slight, pleasant breeze and cast shadows on the clean concrete beneath her feet.
Gosh, they sure were a long way from the back alleys she was used to, it seemed.
“Uh, I’m not sure they’ll let me in there.”
“Why not?”
Embarrassment set in. But she managed to answer. “Homeless girls aren’t exactly welcome in fancy stores like this.”
Matteo took her hand in his. “I’m sorry if people were unkind to you. No one deserves that. But honey, you aren’t homeless now. And if anyone is ever mean to you again, well… they’ll have me to answer to.”
Annika turned her head to look at him. He looked at her. His eyes held no insincerity. Only affection.
And… love?
Could it be? They barely knew one another.
She was feeling something she’d never experienced before. It couldn’t be named. Not yet. But her gut told her this was big.
“Want to shop?” he asked.
“Yes!” she said.
He held the door open for her. On her way in, she stopped, cast a glance over her shoulder, and took another look at the awaiting limo parked at the curb.
How was this her life?
The trunk of the limousine was full of boxes and bags by the time it pulled into the parking lot of the final store.
“We’ll be out soon,” Matteo told the driver.
“Of course, sir. Take your time. Would you like me to get the door?”
“No. But thanks, Rick. I’ll grab it.”
They had got to know the driver a bit during their excursion. He was a nice guy and was really good at handling the oversized car. Annika admired his skill. She didn’t think she could manage such a long vehicle.
Stepping out of the backseat, she looked around the store and then the parking lot.
She didn’t recognize it.
“This must be a super fancy store! It’s behind a gate,” she noted, looking at the black iron fence lining the property.
But the store itself didn’t look very opulent. In fact, it was kind of plain and nondescript.
They’d been to some ritzy places already. Annika had enjoyed every moment of it. But she’d felt out of place just about everywhere they’d gone.
Was this going to be more of the same?
“It’s not fancy at all,” Matteo replied. “It’s just… unique. Come on. I’ll show you.”
Annika expected there to be a man standing at the store’s entrance.
They’d encountered that several times already today.
Sort of a store bouncer. Or whatever they were called.
Annika assumed they were stationed there to keep poor girls like her out.
She was shocked they didn’t want to check tax statements to make sure she or Matteo made enough to even shop in those places.
But this door was unguarded. There was, however a small electronic card reader attached to the wall. Matteo held something up to it. Annika heard a beep and then a click.
He held the door open for her. “After you.” His grin was wide. “Just wait until you see what’s inside. You’re going to love it.”