6. Soren

To say my father was pissed about my absence for most of the day and late into the night would be an understatement. I've never been afraid of the man before, but last night, I was. I was terrified when he slammed me against the wall, hand around my throat, and yelled in my face. This morning, I still carry the marks on my neck from his punishing hand.

Thankfully, Blue had been outside. I know what he would have done otherwise, and it wouldn't have been as welcome as when he attacked Hudson because this is my father—the man who has taken care of me my entire life.

But now that I've had time to think on it, I realize my father has become increasingly temperamental over the last year, and I'm not sure why. When he learned who I was with, he'd calmed down some, and I can't be sure, but I think it's because he believes I'll be able to help him land Adonis as a client.

I won't.

My father isn't a good man, and I have no doubt that he would betray Adonis for the right amount of money.

"Soren, darling, why are you packing?" I love my mother, but she's kind of an airhead. She lives in the clouds, not really accepting a reality until it's forced upon her.

"I told you last night, Mother, I was going to stay with Adonis for the weekend." I suspect the man won't let me return home, however.

"You barely know this man." She flounces on the bed like we're girlfriends gossiping about boys.

"That's why I'm going. I want to know him." I want so much more than that. I want everything we spoke of yesterday.

"He's not the type of man you should be with." She tries a different tactic.

"What kind of man is that?" Her shoulder lifts, and she doesn't meet my eyes. "Mom, what kind of man do you think I should be with?"

She huffs. "Well, your father has been pitching you to one of his clients, Robert Stark. He's some kind of architect. He's a good man and could provide a good life for you."

"I'm not dating one of Dad's clients," I mutter. Not a chance in hell.

"I wouldn't expect you to." She smiles brightly. "But the marriage has already been arranged for the end of the summer."

I stand shocked, the color draining from my face. "Are you insane?"

She pouts at my accusation. "Of course not. Look, he wants heirs, so you'll be expected to start sleeping together immediately. He won't marry you until he knows for certain you can produce children." She grabs my bag and dumps the contents into my closet.

Blue stares at her, his eyes narrowed, hackles rising. He can sense my distress. "I'm not sleeping with him. I'm not marrying him."

The doorbell rings, and I rush for the stairs, expecting it to be Adonis. I'm ready to leave this house with nothing but the clothes on my back if necessary. As Megan, one of the maids, opens the door, I halt halfway down when I see Detective Ferguson on the other side.

He spots me immediately. "Miss Chambers, I'm going to need you to come with us." At this point, I'll do anything to get out of this house.

Something I'll come to regret.

* * *

Glaring at the screen and then at the detective, I give him the same answer as every other day this week. "I didn't know him before."

"What about these men?" The video shows Zak, Eli, and Joe nabbing the bank robbers after they fled from the rear of the bank.

"No," I repeat. It's clear that the robbers didn't go willingly. I also remember the phone call Adonis made to someone before he was shot in the shoulder, demanding they grab the men on their way out.

"Come on, Miss Chambers. I know you were at Adonis Lorde's home yesterday. He's more than a stranger to you." He crosses his arms as he sits back.

Blowing out a breath, I finally say, "I'd like a lawyer now."

"Why? Did you do something wrong? Were you part of the robbery?" This man is unbelievable.

"Of course not. But you're hauling me in here every day since it happened, thinking I know more about one of the other victims than I told you, and I don't. I'm feeling decidedly less like the victim I am and more like the perpetrator. I won't say another word until I'm allowed to call my lawyer." He realizes the lawyer is my dad, but he's not who I plan on calling. I don't know who that'll be, but I can't keep up with this.

I'm tired and hungry. The clock says I've been here for nearly four hours already, and my back hurts. I feel more like I've done something wrong just because I wanted to do something right. All I wanted was to save a dog. Now, I'm being victimized repeatedly, and I can't seem to stop it.

My emotions are running high, so when the door opens and a scowling man enters the room, appearing angrier by the second, I burst into tears.

"Detective Ferguson, we already had a talk about this. You've been interrogating my client for no reason, and now, she's been here for hours without me. I'll have your badge for this." Stunned, I don't know what to say, so I drop my head on the table and focus on my breathing.

A door slams shut, making me jump. "Miss Chambers?" I turn my head when the lawyer says my name. "My name is Trent Graham. Mr. Lorde appointed me your council yesterday. Shall we go?"

Blinking up at him, I'm sure I must have heard him wrong, but his warm smile as he offers me a hand says otherwise. "I don't know what they want from me?" I mutter.

"Darling, it's not you they want anything from, it's Mr. Lorde. I promised him I'd take care of this for you, and I've done so. Now let's get you out of here and find something to eat. You're looking a little pale."

Nodding, I accept his hand this time as he leads me from the interrogation room. Detective Ferguson and another man glare as we walk out of the precinct. I get the feeling I haven't heard the last from the man, either.

"How did he know I was with Adonis yesterday?" It's not like I knew where I was going, so I couldn't even tell my mother.

"He's been gunning for Mr. Lorde for years. He obsesses about him without support from the force, and that will be what ends his career." Trent seems so confident of that. "Don't worry, he won't be bothering you again." I'm not so sure, but for now, I let it go because I don't want to think about it anymore.

The heat from the sunny day gives me shivers despite how warm it is outside. I'm shaken and raw, unsure of what's going on and why I seem to be missing the connecting puzzle pieces.

"Princess." Adonis' stern voice calls to me from a few feet away from the station. He stands, leaning back against a Mercedes, arms crossed over his chest, looking every bit the lethal man I know he is. The aura of danger surrounding him has people going out of their way to stay out of his path.

I would have likely done the same if I had seen him without meeting him. But I've delved into his caring eyes, felt his warm touch. Inhaled his masculine scent. Adonis Lorde is deadly and dangerous, with a soft spot solely for me.

Eyeing him curiously, neither of us makes a move toward the other. We seem to be in some weird standoff that grows more uncomfortable by the minute.

"I'm getting married," I blurt out, my face screwing up tight at the prospect.

"Like fuck you are." That sure has him moving quickly. He stands straight and strides towards me in three steps, cupping the back of my neck as he draws me into his body.

"His name is Robert Stark." I don't know why I keep talking.

"He lays a finger on you, and I'll fucking kill him." Oh, that's why. My thighs rub together as my heart flips in my chest, and butterflies burst in my belly. He's very possessive, and apparently, my body likes it very much.

"End of the summer is the date." He growls this time, sounding like a rabid wolf. Slamming his mouth over mine, I'm helpless in his grasp.

He strokes my lips with his tongue and steals the breath from my lungs as he drags me up his body. My feet leave the ground, and before I know it, my legs wrap around his waist as my arms intertwine behind his head, messing up his perfectly styled hair.

"If you're marrying anyone, it'll be me." He grunts, biting my lip and sucking on it. "Say it, princess."

"Yes, Daddy." My body feels like it's on fire, overheating as he stalks back to his car, placing me in the passenger seat and slamming the door shut. Anger and desire mingle within him. He has a quick word with Trent before they shake hands, and he inserts himself in the driver's seat, looking too wild for words.

Pulling into traffic, Adonis places a hand on my thigh, pushing up until he's just a hair away from my sex. "You're not wearing any panties." His fingers are so long and large that they wrap halfway around my leg. Heat pulses off of him in waves. "You knew Daddy would come for you, didn't you."

Spreading my legs a little wider, I scoot down, needing his touch more than my next breath. "Please," I moan when I feel his pinky brush against my soaked folds.

"Fuck, you're dripping wet for me." I gasp when I feel the palm of his hand cover me completely. His fingers gently rubbing through my lips and circling the hole, pushing gently before retreating again. "Hang on, little princess. Daddy will take care of you as soon as we get home."