Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Matteo sat in the backyard, coffee in hand, looking out over the perfectly landscaped lawn.
He hadn’t slept well the night before. Which was bad, because he was going to need his strength as they tackled the big plan that had been revealed.
It was all good. He didn’t feel tired. If anything, he was amped up.
Taking a sip of coffee, he watched as a bird landed on the palm tree near the back fence. His mind wasn’t on that, though.
He was thinking of his sweet girl. Life had been hard for her. Unfair. Cruel. Now her fortunes had turned. But would it last?
What if she’d found him—and her new family—only to have it all ripped from her? Things could go sideways with this mission. One wrong move and Marlot could have her again. It would be as if Matteo and the Guard just hand-delivered her.
The thought sent a chill up his spine. But the fear didn’t last long. It was soon replaced by pure, unadulterated anger.
Matteo figured he owed Edward Marlot for the pain he’d caused Annika. Which was another thing that scared him.
Could he see the man and not beat his face in? Matteo had a strict no-kill policy. When on the LAPD, he’d had to draw his gun several times but thankfully never fired it at a suspect. Sure, he’d had his fair share of scuffles. He wasn’t na?ve. There were times one had to fight.
But he didn’t have a badge now. Upon joining the Daddy Guard he’d made a silent vow to himself that he’d never take a human life.
That was being tested now. What if taking out Marlot was the only way his babygirl could live in peace?
Sure, in so doing he’d go to prison for the rest of his life. One doesn’t just snap the neck of the world’s richest man and walk away scot-free.
That didn’t scare him, though. It would be worth it. Even if he never saw her again but lived out the rest of his days in a lonely, dark cell, he’d be fine—as long as he had the knowledge that Annika was free, safe, and thriving.
Don’t go down that road. The mission will be a success. She’ll be free of Edward Marlot and you two will live your happily ever after.
Matteo hoped that was the case as he took another sip of coffee.
The birds flew away from the towering palm. The morning sun rose a little higher. Somewhere he heard the sound of a sprinkler making that telltale “clip-clip” sound as it watered someone’s yard.
He chuckled. Only in Los Angeles did people water their lawns in late November.
“What are you thinking about, Daddy?”
He turned in his seat to see Annika standing on the patio. Reaching toward the glass-topped table near him, he sat his coffee down. “You snuck up on me. Not many people can do that. I’ll have to watch you.”
She laughed as she padded toward him. It felt wonderful once she was on his lap and his arms were securely around her.
He kissed her. His mind went back to those dark thoughts and horrific what-ifs he’d been pondering.
I’ll do whatever it takes to keep my sweet girl safe. She’s my everything.
“So, what are you thinking about?” Annika asked again.
“Oh. Just… last night.”
“What Stryker and Harrison proposed?”
He nodded and thought of reaching for his coffee mug. It wasn’t so much that he needed a drink as it was he wanted to occupy his mouth so he didn’t have to talk.
Discussing his feelings wasn’t exactly his strong suit. Besides, he didn’t want her to see his fear—though the reluctance wasn’t born of some masculine shame.
Rather, he didn’t want to transfer it to her. Fear could be contagious. But so was hope. He’d much rather impart that.
“Yeah. It’s a lot to keep straight. But we can do it.” He kissed the side of her head. A few moments ticked by before he spoke again. “Honey, are you sure you want to do this? It’s asking a lot of you. If this thing goes south—”
“I want to. He took so much from me. For a while yesterday I was thinking that I shouldn’t even be mad. After all, my journey eventually led me here. To you. To the others.”
She sighed, then added, “But I am mad. I would have met you anyway. Instead of hiding in the trees or on the back wall of Auntie Athena’s place, I would have been in there, having fun with the other Littles.
And me and you would still be right here, in this chair, together.
Edward Marlot robbed me of time. And that’s one thing you can’t get back.
I’m willing to risk everything if it means taking him down.
I won’t let him do that to someone else. ”
Matteo pondered his sweet girl’s words. An ironic smile split his lips. Wasn’t he the one who was supposed to give her strength?
But here she was encouraging him.
He kissed her again and held her a little tighter.
“We’re going to get through this. Together. And know that I’ll do whatever I need to do to keep you safe. Daddy will never let anyone harm his little girl.”
She sighed. “I know, Daddy. That’s why I’m doing this. Because I know you’ve got me. Nothing can hurt me when you’re around.”
Annika was right about that, he mused silently. He’d give everything to protect her. His own life. The life of Edward Marlot.
Anything and everything.
He just hoped it didn’t come to that.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a vehicle coming up the long drive that ran along the side of the house and to the back detached garage. He wasn’t alarmed. Clearly it was someone who had the code to open the gate.
A moment later, a white van stopped in front of the garage. Stryker and Harrison hopped out. They opened the back and grunted as they tried to heave something out.
Matteo stood and carefully placed Annika’s feet on the patio. With one more kiss to her forehead, he told her, “I need to go help them.”
She followed as he bounded down the steps and to the driveway.
“Dare I even ask what that is?”
Stryker grinned. “3-D printer. High end.”
“Yeah,” Harrison said. “We’re talking CIA-type stuff.”
Matteo grabbed one side. It was heavy!
“Dare I ask where you got it?”
The group started slowly and carefully shuffling toward the house.
“No,” Stryker grunted.
And left it at that.