9. Adonis

She's a fucking goddess.

My girl. My little, sweet girl is remarkably flawless.

Daddy's girl.

Neither of us had any idea this was what would happen between us. I'd been worried about hurting her at first, despite her begging me to, but holy fuck, the way she looked and felt when I did. Glimpsing the bruises on her body from my hands, my fingers, my teeth, it makes my cock so hard it hurts.

Drawing the blanket up her exhausted body, I crack the window, letting fresh air filter in before moving to the door. Unlocking it, I'm unsurprised to see Blue lying on the floor. "Go on, then," I tell him.

He snarls at me with less heat than the first time we met and waltzes in like he owns the place. Jumping up on the bed, he cuddles up at Soren's feet. Leaving her to rest, I make my way downstairs. The house is quiet; even Zak is out of sight, so I head to my office. I need to check on a new round of fighters that should have been submitted this morning and touch base with the lawyer about this asshole detective hounding my girl.

"Finally came up for air." My eyes flick up to see Zak leaning against the doorjamb, appearing far more relaxed than he is.

"She needs her rest." Logging into my computer, I wait for it to finish booting up.

"Sounded like she may have lost her voice." His lips tilt up on one side.

"Had to make a point." The sooner everyone knows who she belongs to, the better.

Entering the room, he closes the doors behind him. "Fighters look good."

Opening my email, I read over each man"s stats—six in total—and it's the last one that draws my attention.

"Fury Calder. Man seems like he just might have what it takes." Opening an old video of a previous fight, I'm quickly impressed. His opponent is nearly twice his size, but he KO'd him in less time than it takes to inhale and exhale. "I want to see him take on the other guys one after the other."

"You think he'll last?" Zak cocks his head, contemplating his question.

"To be my top fighter, yeah, I do." For years, I've sponsored a local MMA group—one of my more legitimate businesses. However, my most lucrative performer at the moment is getting older, feeling his injuries. It's time he retires, and he's more than earned the right, too. Now, he'll train the new guys, work them every bit as hard as he worked himself, and in no time, Fury will be the best of the best. He'll be the one everyone is betting on and making me a shit ton of money.

"I've got a meeting at the arena in an hour," Zak comments. "Need anything before I go?" I shake my head as I read through an email from my lawyer. Anger ignites my blood, and I'm ready to fucking kill this detective.

Picking up the phone, I make a call. "I want his fuckin' badge."

"Figured you might." Trent has been loyal to me for years, so I'm confident he'll do what I ask and more. "I've got a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner in the morning. If Detective Ferguson doesn't back off within forty-eight hours of his warning, I'll gun for his job."

"Twenty-four. And if there's contact of any kind with Soren, I want his head on a fucking platter and delivered to the commissioner as a message. We clear?" I hang up before he's able to respond.

Standing up, I intend to go find food for Soren so I can replenish her before ravaging her again. Shutting the computer back down, I go into the kitchen and find Sally stirring something in a large pot that smells delicious.

"Whatchya making?" Leaning over, I inhale deeper, and she shoves me away.

"Not yet, young man. It's not ready." There's a grin on her face. She's the only other woman in my life that I have any affection for.

"Yeah, yeah, you always say that, but you give me a taste anyway." I wink down at her before going to the fridge to see what she's got whipped up in there.

"Time to feed the young lady?" she snickers.

"Yup." I grin, feeling happier than I have been in years.

"Any chance I'll get to spend a second with her before you whisk her away again? I assume she's to be permanent in the house." She doesn't pose this as a question, which is good because it"s facts, no matter how you look at it.

"Later, maybe." I smirk as she scowls at me. Snatching a wrapped tray of freshly washed and cut fruit as well as a couple of bottles of water, I head back up to my girl.

"Dinner will be soon!" Sally calls after me.

I'm just about to take a step up the stairs when I hear the buzzer for the front gate. Zak exits the security office next to the front door with a look of disgust on his face. "Better get dressed, boss."

Cursing inwardly, I wonder if murder is an option. "Who is it?"

His radio squawks as he responds, "Her father."

I stiffen. "He doesn't enter the house until I'm back down here." Taking the stairs two at a time, I quietly enter the room. Blue lifts his head, but Soren is exactly how I left her. Fucked into a coma. Precisely how I'll keep her for the foreseeable future.

Placing the water and fruit on the settee, I write a quick note in case she wakes up, letting her know I'm downstairs and I'll be back as soon as I can.

Deciding to only slip into a pair of dress pants, I leave the shirt off and my feet bare. He needs to know sooner or later, and this will show him he's intruding. Closing the door quietly behind me and striding down the stairs, I find Zak with a hand on the doorknob, raising a brow.

"He's going to learn soon enough. She's not leaving here, Zak." I stare him down until he nods.

"Understood, boss." Answering the door, we step outside, leaving the heavy oak panel open behind me. Arms crossed, I watch as Matthew Chambers exits his car, two bodyguards accompanying him. Fucking wuss.

His eyes watch me as he climbs the steps to my house one at a time. The leisurely stroll tells me all I need to know. He's here for something other than his daughter.

"Mr. Lorde?" His gaze zeroes in on Zak, probably because he's impeccably dressed, and I look like the lazy help who can't be bothered to dress.

"Right here," I grunt.

"Oh, well…oh." This man is a bit of a pussy as I'd guessed.

"How can I help you, Mr. Chambers?"

"You have my daughter." That's stating the obvious. I slide one hand across my chest, bringing his attention to the dried blood from my girl's claw marks.

"Indeed, I do." Naked and ready to fuck, if not for this interruption.

"Well, I, uhm, I didn't approve of this…matching. She's promised to another. Her wedding date is set." He doesn't sound so sure.

"She told me that." I nod. "After I rescued her from the dogged detective that's been harassing her." My implication is clear. I protected her, he didn't.

"Yes, well, she was involved in a bank robbery. There are questions to be answered." Not an ounce of concern in his voice.

"I'm well aware; I was there. Shot twice while protecting her. Because she was a victim. Not involved, as you say." This man is even worse than I believed.

"Daddy?" Her soft voice washes over me like a mild gust of wind.

"Yes, princess?" With the way her arms wrap around me from behind, I know she doesn't notice her father here with us. The man before me pales as he realizes what she called me.

"I woke up, and you were gone. I was hoping to get on my knees for you." I drag her around in front of me at her seductive tone.

"Little girl, you can suck Daddy's dick any time you like." Winking down at her, I kiss the side of her neck. "But we have company."

"Oh." Her eyes widen at the realization. She turns her head, and I see her face pale. "Father." There's fear in her voice, and that pisses me the fuck off.

"What the fuck did you do to her?" I snap, uncaring of anything else right now.

"Me?" Chambers shouts at me. "What about her? A fucking whore!"

Zak slips his pistol into my hand. "Be careful of how you address my girl." It's the only warning he'll receive. I'm not above killing him for insulting her.

"What the fuck have you done to her? Calling you Daddy? That's disgusting!"

Soren's sharp inhale tells me everything I need to know.

Cupping her jaw, I tilt her head so I can see her tear-filled eyes. "Sweet girl, go on inside. Sally's in the kitchen cooking something delicious, and she's looking forward to spending time with you." Her head nods, but that's not enough for me. Meeting Chambers' stare, I demand from Soren, "Give Daddy a kiss." She hesitates, and her cheeks flush, pissing me off further, but I wait for her to make the choice on her own.

"Yes, Daddy." Something solidifies in her spine as she raises to meet my lips. The kiss is chaste, over before it's begun.

"Good girl, now go on." Tapping her ass as she walks past me, I watch until she disappears. Gently closing the door behind her so she doesn't hear what I'm about to say and do.

I catch Joe and Eli coming up the driveway, boxing in Chambers and his guards. "Fucking cheap whore. Just like her mother," Matthew curses, disgust curling his lips.

"I warned you." My fist flies, breaking his nose and knocking out a tooth on impact. "I told you to watch what you say to her. She's the queen of my entire fucking world. Never again will she hear a cross word you speak to or about her." Eli and Joe have both his guards in chokeholds, so he's helpless.

"I know you came here to extort me. It's how men like you work. I was prepared to pay off whatever amount you wanted so you would leave her alone and ensure this man you chose for her would as well. Now you're lucky to be walking away with your life." My anger pulses through my veins; the need to eliminate this man is strong. "She's Daddy's girl now, and that's never going to change."

Chambers spits on the ground in front of me, infuriating Zak, who coldcocks the man, forcing his body to fall down the stairs. "Make sure they leave," Zak instructs Joe and Eli as they drag the guards down to the car. "Enjoy your girl," he mutters to me before leaving for his own meeting.

Entering the house, I hear laughter from the kitchen, and it's apparent that Sally has perked up Soren's mood, making me grateful to have her around. She's not just my chef or housekeeper, Sally is family, mother-like, and I'm happy to share her with my little girl now.