6. CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 5
Baz wanted nothing more than to rip Karim’s vocal cords out. If he growled at Channing one more time, he just might, especially when he felt Saleh tensing up in fear whenever the sound erupted from him. The Alpha might have proven to be stronger and a better fighter than Baz, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t do whatever it took to keep them safe from him.
Technically, having gotten to know Karim for the past thirteen months, Baz knew he would never harm Channing, but that didn’t mean he had the right to scare him. That Saleh could sense, even at her young age, the sound was directed at her dada, made it that much worse.
“I got you, sweetheart,” he whispered to Selah even as he plastered himself as close to Channing as possible without interrupting the hug he was giving Braydon. He placed a hand on his mate’s back, fully prepared to yank him out of the way in case he was wrong about Karim.
It wasn’t until Channing stepped back from Braydon that Baz realized he’d been holding his breath. Releasing it in a whoosh, he heard Saleh do the same thing, which caused him to glare at a stunned Karim.
The shark shifter must have heard Saleh’s exhale of relief. Clearly ashamed of his behavior in front of the child, Karim’s cheeks bloomed in a rosy hue. “I didn’t… I mean… Sorry,” he finally mumbled.
Baz gave him a curt nod of acceptance. When Saleh gave Karim a nod too, Baz didn’t even try to hold back the grin that formed. She was going to be a handful. A cherished one, but still a handful.
Wanting the awkwardness over so Saleh and Channing were more comfortable, he stepped back, his hand on his mate’s hip, pulling him back with him. “Why don’t we pack up what you want to take so we can get going? When we have you and Saleh on Salvation, where you’ll be safe, I’ll feel a lot better.”
Channing cocked his head, his brows drawn together. “Salvation?”
Braydon bounced on his feet. “It’s an amazing place where shifters live, most of them water shifters, but there are some land animals, too. It’s about the safest place on the planet for our kind. Ellery, Zayan, and Maylee are there.”
“It’s my home,” Baz whispered. “But if you end up not liking it, we can move anywhere in the world you’d like. Even here.” Although the tiny place might be tight with three of them, he would move in if it was what Channing wanted.
He might make a few additions to give them some breathing room, but he’d live in a cave if that’s what his mate wanted. When Channing leaned against him for briefly, Baz relished the slight weight against him. Wishing he could hold his mate and their daughter longer, Baz wasn’t about to complain when Channing stepped further into the tiny home and started to collect Saleh’s toys into a bag.
“Would you like some help?” he asked, hoping to make this quick. Baz hadn’t been kidding when he’d said he would feel so much better once he had both Channing and Saleh on Salvation.
“Actually, keeping Saleh occupied is help enough.” Channing pointed around the small home. “It’s not like we had room to own much. Just a few clothes and toys the villagers gave us.”
It was like a punch in the gut to discover his mate and daughter had so little. Then again, he imagined that mattered less than them being together and safe from outsiders attempting to hurt either of them. Still, all that would change when he got them home.
Baz currently lived in the manor with his boss and Alpha, Yosi. He was Yosi’s helicopter pilot, the only quick way off the island. Although, he imagined since he’d been gone once discovering he had a mate, who had been adrift at sea with no way to locate him other than searching every square inch of the ocean and the surrounding islands, he’d most likely hired someone else to fly him around.
Still, Yosi and he go way back. There was no way Yosi wouldn’t hire him back. Maybe with two pilots, he’d have more time to spend with his mate and daughter.
Taking the already filled toy bag in his free hand, Baz carried Saleh back outside. Happiness flooded him when Saleh took one look at Karim and curled against him as if she knew he would never let the great white shifter near her. Not that he was thrilled she was frightened, but it was hard to deny the satisfaction he got that she instinctually trusted him to protect her.
“It’s okay, Saleh. Karim won’t hurt you.” He might not exactly get along with Karim, but Baz wasn’t about to let his daughter believe someone they knew would actually harm her. “He might growl a lot, but he’s as harmless as a butterfly.”
That caused Saleh to giggle when Karim glared at Baz. Shoving the bag of toys at Karim, he cuddled Saleh close before tossing her into the air and catching her. Her giggles turned into a full-out belly laugh as she put her arms up to show she wanted him to do it again. Not about to deny her anything, Baz did as she silently requested.
His heart grew bigger than he’d ever imagined as she continued to laugh with glee, completely trusting him to not to drop her. When she’d had enough, she didn’t cry or fuss, just pointed to the ground.
Without hesitation, he set her on the ground. He couldn’t imagine ever denying her anything.
“Hey, Saleh,” Braydon said softly as he kneeled next to her, tugging his mate’s arm to join them.
It was obvious Karim wasn’t certain that was wise, but when his mate turned to look at him with pleading eyes, the Alpha sighed and got on his knees, too. “Hi, Saleh,” Karim said. “Do you mind if I play with you while we wait for your dad?”
She stared at him for a long minute, as if sizing him up. Then her gaze went to the toy bag he was still holding. Whether it was because of the toys, or she’d decided he was okay, Baz wasn’t certain, but she gave Karim a nod before pointing at the toy bag.
If it had been about just Karim, Baz would have let him figure things out, but this was about Saleh. “There’s a ball in there she likes to play with,” he suggested.
Technically, he was certain she enjoyed all the toys, but in the interest of not pulling too many out, he figured the ball was the easiest thing they could all play until Channing was finished. Sure enough, the moment she saw the rubber toy, she squealed and held out her hands.
Clearly having experience with Braydon’s nieces and nephew, Karim rolled the ball to Saleh and clapped when she ‘caught’ it. Giggles ensued just as they had inside, but Baz heard a difference. It was as if she was having fun, but… Hard as it was to imagine, he would swear she was more… guarded? Baz couldn’t be certain, but the laughter just didn’t sound as carefree as it had been when she’d been with just Channing and Baz.
The moment Channing opened the door and stepped outside, Baz took the two duffle bags he was carrying and slung them over his shoulder. When Saleh raised her hands up to Baz, he didn’t hesitate to lift her up. The soft smile he received from Channing caused his own lips to curve upwards.
“What did I do to deserve such a gorgeous smile?” he asked softly even though there was no doubt with their shifter hearing, Karim and Braydon had heard him.
Even though the question wasn’t exactly overly personal, Baz was grateful when they scooped up the ball and hurried to the shore, where a small boat waited to take them out to the four speed boats that were anchored just offshore.
When they were out of earshot, Channing answered him. “You are a natural with her.” His mate reached out and touched Saleh’s leg. “She rarely likes others holding her. She will play with some villagers, but not let them hold her. Yet with you…” Channing looked bemused. “You she took to like fish to water.”
Leaning over, Baz placed a kiss on Channing’s cheek. “Maybe that has more to do with you trusting me. Although, she shows good judgment by being wary of Karim.”
It had been a joke, but Baz had forgotten his mate didn’t know the man. Braydon had met Karim because his shoal had attacked him, which was the reason Braydon and Channing had been separated in the first place.
A frown appeared on that angelic face as his mate’s gaze went past him to stare at Karim and Braydon, who were waiting by the speedboat. “Is he safe? He won’t hurt us, will he?”
Kicking himself for worrying his mate, Baz answered. “No,” he said a little too loudly. “Sorry. I just meant we had our issues.” It was a longer story than they had time for, but he owed his mate a shortened version at the moment.
“When Karim’s shoal had attacked Braydon, he saved him and brought him to Salvation. But your blood was on Braydon’s dolphin, and I thought he was my mate. Obviously, that didn’t go over well with both of us trying to claim Braydon as our mate.” Was Channing’s frown increasing? Shit. He really wasn’t telling this story right.
“You tried to claim Braydon?” Channing asked so quietly even with his shifter hearing, Baz had nearly missed it.
“No,” he practically shouted, causing Saleh to not only stiffen in his arms, but to suddenly lunge for her dada. Fuck. He was really screwing this up. “It wasn’t like that. I was just an ass because I assumed he had to be my mate, but I think my octopus knew better because he was hostile from the beginning.”
“I get it.” Channing’s voice sounded… lost… hurt… dejected.
Before he could try to rectify the situation, his mate practically ran for the shore where the boat was waiting to take them back home. Well, Baz’s home. He could only hope he hadn’t fucked things up so badly that Channing would refuse to come with him. Not that it mattered. His mate and daughter were his home. Wherever they went, he would follow.