5. Morrison

5

MORRISON

S omething yanks me out of the most peaceful sleep I’ve ever had. My heart thrashes inside my chest, instant panic washing over me. I leap out of bed, my fight or flight response kicking in when I hear a car door slam.

“Micaela!” I call out even though I know she’s gone. I don’t feel her presence, her warmth. My babygirl isn’t here, and what’s worse, I have no fucking clue where she’d run off to or why.

Anger courses through my veins when I think of how she put herself in danger. Again. My wrath quickly gives way to worry and the pressing need to find her. When I catch my sneaky little minx, I’ll have to punish her for stepping out on me.

I throw on jeans and a sweatshirt before dashing into the kitchen to grab my keys from the bowl on the counter. That’s when I see it. A note.

Thank you for the best night of my life.

I know it was supposed to be just business between us, but I let myself believe in the fantasy. You’ll be in my heart and soul for eternity.

Love always,

Your Babygirl

“What the fuck?!” I shout, reading the note over again to make sure I understand. How could she think it was just business between us? There was no fantasy, it was two souls finding each other and connecting on every level.

I take a deep breath, quelling some of my rage. I’m pissed at myself for not making it crystal clear I wanted her in my life for keeps. I’m even more upset with her father, that fucking lowlife scumbag. He kept her isolated and filled her head with poisonous lies that broke her spirit. She doesn’t think she deserves good things, but I’m about to prove her wrong.

I just need to find her first.

Next to the notepad, I notice an unfamiliar phone. It must be Micaela’s. The phone is unlocked with a string of messages pulled up. I don’t care if it’s a violation of her privacy, I have to use every tool available to get to her.

“Shit,” I mutter to myself when I read the texts. They are from her father, who apparently has better lawyers than I thought. Instead of being detained overnight for trespassing and property damage to the auction house, he must have made bail or even had the charges dropped completely.

Everything snaps into place in my mind and I race outside once I realize what the slamming car door I heard earlier means. Sure enough, I see the tail lights of Samuel’s Lexus turning at the end of the long, winding driveway.

I hop in my truck, speeding down the driveway and following the black sedan as it exits onto the highway. I assume he’s headed to his home but I stay on his tail in case he makes any last-minute decisions.

Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I set it on the dashboard of my truck and use voice command to call an old buddy, Lorenzo. When it starts ringing, I put the call on speaker so I can concentrate on driving.

“Speak of the devil,” Lorenzo answers after the second ring.

“Huh?”

“I was just telling a colleague about the arrogant shithead who thought he could run a gambling ring in Vegas without the Caparelli crime family noticing.”

Despite my current crisis, I find myself smirking at his cheeky response. Not many people know about my upbringing in the streets of Las Vegas. The city was literally built with mob money and continues to be a hotbed of organized crime. I did what I had to do to survive.

“To be fair, you didn’t notice for almost a year.”

He chuckles. “I still don’t know how you got away with it. Or how you charmed your way out of a bullet between your eyes, for that matter.”

“Business is business,” I reply. “I made the Caparelli’s good money once we struck a deal.”

“Indeed. You know there’s a spot in the family if you ever change your mind.”

“Maybe someday, but right now I need a favor.”

“You never call to chat anymore,” he teases.

The man rivals me in size, which is saying something. For all the brawn and muscle, you’d think he’d be a growly son of a bitch. He can be, especially when fulfilling his duties as the enforcer for the Caparelli crime family. But to his friends, Lorenzo is a smart ass with a sharp wit.

“It’s important and time-sensitive,” I say, snapping back into protector mode. I can catch up with my friend later. Right now, I need to get to my woman.

“As most favors asked of me usually are.”

I roll my eyes but continue with my request. For all the shit he gives me, Lorenzo is a loyal friend. "I have a shady-as-hell boss who is definitely on the wrong side of the law. I don't have evidence at the moment, but I was hoping you could pull one of your Vegas magician moves and dig up enough dirt to put him away for a long time."

“First off, the proper term is illusionist , not magician. And secondly, I told you never to speak of my one-man magician act under threat of violence.”

“I heard the proper term is actually illusionist,” I deadpan.

“Do you want my help or not?”

“Yes,” I’m quick to respond. “The man’s name is Samuel Rillington. He owns Maverick Motors here in Colorado.” I proceed to tell Lorenzo everything I know, including his most recent arrest and the fact that he wanted to exchange his daughter for the upper hand in a business deal.

“Jesus,” he mutters. “That’s fucked up.”

I grunt in agreement. “I’m on my way to get Micaela now. I already broke Samuel’s nose last night so I don’t think he’s going to be much of a threat. However, I need enough proof to lock him up for good.”

“I’m on it, Morrison. Go get your girl. I’ll text you when I have an update.

I thank him and hang up right as the black Lexus turns onto the street where Samuel lives. I slow down, not wanting to give away my location until I get eyes on Micaela. What I see has my blood boiling as red clouds my vision.

Samuel gets out of the driver’s seat while another man steps out from the backseat, dragging someone out with him. It takes half a second for me to recognize my babygirl’s light red hair and sinful curves. She has zip ties around her wrists and a fucking piece of duct tape covering her mouth.

How the fuck did he get to her so fast? Why didn’t I wake up before Micaela walked out? I could have talked her down and convinced her we’re for real and what we have is special.

None of that matters now. I park my truck across the street and unbuckle my seatbelt. I’m about to storm the house when I receive a text from Lorenzo.

Holy shit this guy is more corrupt than half the dickheads we deal with here in Vegas. I don’t have all the evidence yet, but it’s not just his daughter he was selling off for profit. Something to do with Synopsis Enterprises. I’ll text when I know more.

Fucking degenerate. I wish I had known about all of this earlier. I would have found a way to put a stop to it. Better late than never, as the saying goes. Still, the lives I could have changed or possibly saved will haunt me for the rest of my days. Right now, there's just one life I'm concerned with.

Filled with righteous anger, I storm across the street and kick in the front door, causing Samuel to shout. “What the fuck are you doing here? Haven’t you done enough?”

I take a second to assess the situation. Samuel is in poor shape after his beating last night, and the strange man with his hand wrapped around my woman’s arm is about half my size. Micaela looks up at me through tears in her eyes, which snaps the last of my control.

I spring into action, kicking the back of the skinny man’s knee and sending him toppling to the floor. I stomp on his foot, crushing the tiny bones beneath my steel-toed boots. He wails and writhes on the living room carpet and I wrap my arm around Micaela, tucking her safely into my side.

“Now hold on a goddamn minute,” Samuel says, taking a step forward.

I growl at the despicable excuse for a human being, the rage and murderous intentions shining through my gaze as I focus my attention on him. He at least has the decency to flinch slightly.

“I suggest you cut your losses and get your affairs in order,” I grit out. “Micaela is the least of your worries. Make no mistake, we will be pressing assault charges. But I have a feeling that will pale in comparison to the charges being brought against you for your involvement in Synopsis Enterprises.”

His face turns from tomato red to ghostly white at the mention of the shady company Lorenzo name dropped. “How…?”

“The truth always comes to light.” Samuel blinks at me, then looks at Micaela before his eyes glaze over and he stares off into the distance. I’m sure he’s reliving every felony he’s committed over the last decade and realizing his world is about to crumble.

Without another word, Micaela and I leave her father standing in his living room with his accomplice whimpering pathetically on the floor, clutching his foot. Karma is a bitch, and she’s headed straight for Samuel Rillington with a vengeance.

“Come on, little love,” I murmur as I usher Michaela out of the house. I grab my keys, unfolding the pocket knife I have on my keychain. I carefully cut the restraints off of her and then cup her face. “I’m so sorry. This might sting but I’ll make it better.”

She nods and I rip the tape off of her face, hating the little yelp she lets out.

“You’re here,” she whispers, disbelief in her bright green eyes. “But… why?”

It kills me that she still doesn’t get it. “Because I’m your Daddy and I’ll always protect you,” I answer. “Let’s get you home before we discuss it any further. Apparently, I didn’t make myself clear last night. I’m keeping you, babygirl.”

She throws her arms around me, clinging to my shoulders as I lift her up and carry her to my truck. I open the door for her and buckle in my girl. It’s been an eventful morning already, but she still needs to be taught a lesson.