Chapter Four #3
The room was silent. Shock all around. Shit…. Linking her arm through Elon’s she ignored it “Let me show you my office.” And walked him to it. Going in. He looked around. Finding the on-world Commander and Kito coming in too.
Great….. “Tea or coffee Papa?” Her face and voice back to neutral.
“Tea child.” She looked at the other two, they both nodded.
Punching in for Caron. “Caron tea for 4 please.” She cut it off again. “Anyone want to sit?” They all did. Quiet, waiting. She held their gaze saying nothing. She’d said enough.
“Father?” Kito asked eventually.
She looked to Elon. And raised an eyebrow. He’d sent Kito and waited. Guess he’d not told it all. “Yes.” Elon said simply.
“Something that would have been good to know Councillor.” The On-world Commander asked.
“Why?” she asked directly. “I am the same as everyone else. Just with a special father.”
“You are a Lady of the Empire.” The Commander stated. “You have status that requires recognition.”
“I did not want that.” She said quietly.
“It is not about what you want!” Bit out Kito. His voice full of emotion. She eyed him and he pulled it back. Cranked his neck. “A heads-up would have been welcome Councillor. When you saw my interest, you did not inform me she was your child.”
“That’s irrelevant now.” She told him. All eyes gazing at her. “Commander tells me you have recorded your Mate. So this is done.”
No one said a thing. That wasn’t good. “What?”
“Child.” She looked at Elon. “He recorded you.”
She sat back. “No. And hell no.”
Kito laughed. Which she did not expect. More emotion. “Difficult indeed Councillor. But worth it. I will spend my life deserving her.”
She thinned her lips. Narrowing her eyes ready to give him a blast. “Jane.” Elon stated calmly.
“No Papa. You know why.”
“He can give you a life.”
“I have a life and this is a private family conversation.”
“He is family now.” Elon said quietly. A knock and Caron brought in the tea.
She gave her a nod in thanks. Caron leaving again closing the door quickly She poured the tea, handing one to Elon, who was looking at Caron’s exit, then gave the Commander his.
Eyeing Kito she gave a nod to the other one. And ignored him. He could get his own.
“How do I get out of it?” she asked her father.
“You don’t want him?” Elon asked sipping his tea.
“She does. Denies it.” Kito.
“No one asked you.” She bit off.
He smirked drinking his tea. “You didn’t mind in bed last night or this morning.” He said quietly.
She froze. Her face flaming despite the control. He did not just say that in front of her father …. Oh yes he did….. Using the weapons he had…. “Then that is settled.” Elon stated. The hell it was….
“No. It’s not. I was injured from the attack. Repaired in the medbed and resting and he joined me. Nothing happened.”
“Plenty happened.” Kito stated.
“Would you shut up! And get out!”
“No. I’m done with the denials.”
Elon eyed her. She looked at him. “Are you staying with me Papa?” He looked to Kito. “Don’t ask him, he has no say in my home!”
“I would welcome spending time with my child Jane.”
She smiled relieved. “I’d like that too.”
Elon stood, so did the other two. “We will leave you to your work and I’ll see you for dinner child.” She came around her desk and fell into his open arms. Holding him tight.
“It’s good you’re here.” She told him softly. “It’s been too long Papa.”
He patted her shoulder. And stood back. “I will see you for dinner.”
Walking out they left her. And she breathed out. Going back to her desk.
Shit…. Now what?....
The three of them sat in the on-world Commander's vehicle. Taking them back to the CC. His optic told him he was angry. Concerned. Needed more data.
“Explain Commander Kito, how you were uninvited in my daughter's bed.”
He didn’t hesitate. “5 men attacked my Mate. Her injuries were substantial. I watched the vid in that carpark. She was broken but would not bend, carrying injuries that would have put down any man. Still standing she beckoned the leader of the group to come at her again with a fucking smile.” He took a breath.
“I am never getting that image out of my head.”
They would both understand it. He’d nearly lost her.
“She has not chosen you.” Elon stated fact.
His chest ached. “She has, but struggles with it.”
“I told you it would not be easy.”
“She fears sharing anything.”
“She fears being dependent on anyone else.” Elon told him.
“But she trusts you.” Elon gave a nod. “How?”
“I let her come to me. Gave her choices. Waited.” Kito frowned.
“She has 4 charities, a secret partnership she supports. Helping abandoned and victimised children. It’s important to her.
She buys and renovates houses to help fund it.
Always looking for one that could be home to her. You should start there.”
He blinked. Logic. “She was abandoned as a child. There’s nothing on the Hub until she was 4 years old.”
“Yes. If she is indeed your Mate. Make it work. I want her with me. Not dying on me.” Elon.
“I will do better, Father-in-law.” He inclined his head.
“Not yet. Good. Now, tell me who dares to hurt my child and who planned it. And are they dead.”