Chapter Thirteen

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Anurak

Ace: You down for some shopping? Winter’s getting ready to roll in, and I need a new wardrobe.

I snorted, shaking my head as I typed out a response. Anurak always needed something, whether it was makeup, hair color, clothes, shoes, or even new cologne.

Anurak: Don’t you already have winter clothes?

Ace: Oh, honey. My winter clothes from last year are no longer trendy.

I blinked at his message. Ace, while I adored him, was a total diva. But it was kind of fun. I liked that he wore makeup and colored his hair and liked dressing up in feminine clothes sometimes. He wasn’t afraid to be him , and he made me feel so comfortable in my own skin as I explored some of those things with his guidance.

Heels were decidedly off the table after I tried walking in a pair and almost broke my neck, but I did like crop tops and really short shorts.

Rico really liked them, too. The first day he’d seen me in them after a shopping spree with Ace, he’d bent me over the nearest surface and proceeded to tongue fuck my hole so well, I was nothing but a sobbing, babbling mess by the time he’d finally got his cock inside me.

Anurak: Let me ask Rico if it’s okay if I go out.

Locking my phone, I got up from the couch, where I’d been watching TV and texting Ace, heading toward Rico’s office. When I entered, he immediately looked up, his eyes softening. Warmth spread through my veins, just like it always did when he looked at me like that. Like I was the brightest part of his day and seeing me immediately made him relax.

“What is it, perrito ?” he asked.

“Ace wants to go shopping and asked if I could come. Is that okay?”

Rico rolled back from his desk just enough to reach into his pack pocket, pulling his wallet free. He held out a black card to me. Frowning in confusion, I stepped forward and took it from him. “Give this to Bento. You can go, but Bento and Niran are with you the entire time, clear? Buy whatever you want. Bento will know to use that card to pay for it.”

I beamed at him. “Really? I can go?” It wasn’t often Rico let me out of the house without him. But if he was, that meant his workload was pretty heavy, which made me worry a little.

He chuckled. “Yes, perrito . Have fun and shop to your heart’s content.”

I quickly rounded the desk and leaned down, planting a kiss on his lips with a loud smack. He was grinning at me when I pulled back. “Thank you, Papi. And please remember to eat,” I begged.

He cupped my cheek. “You’re welcome, perrito . And I will. I promise.”

When I’d met Ace and Gunner at the mall, I truly had not expected to buy anything because I didn’t want to use Rico’s money for stuff that wasn’t a necessity. But just like always, Ace started shoving clothes into my arms and dragging me into the fitting rooms, both of us trying on clothes together, and well… I ended up buying stuff.

In my defense, I really liked how I looked in them.

“Okay, I’m starving,” Ace said, grabbing my hand in his. He tugged me toward the food court, and my pulse leaped into my throat at the crowds. I wanted to go somewhere else to eat, but I was afraid to voice my concerns, not wanting Ace to think I was weak. I could deal with this, couldn’t I? Ace wouldn’t put me in danger. And we had Gunner, Bento, and Niran with us. I was safe.

I was safe .

I clutched Ace’s hand a little tighter as he led us toward the Asian food spot on the edge of the food court. And while we ordered, he continued holding my hand, even tightening his hold when my palm began to sweat.

I thought everything would be okay. I really did. I was okay. We were near the end of the line, and Ace was telling the kind lady on the other side of the glass partition what else he wanted in his tray.

But then, the scent of old, stale cigars and too strong cologne assaulted my nostrils, and I was gone . My heart lurched into my throat, immediately beating too fast. It hurt . Tremors wracked my body. I couldn’t breathe. I needed to breathe.

Why couldn’t I breathe ?

I was only vaguely aware of hands grabbing me. I fought them, panic seizing my lungs. Rico promised I would be okay. He promised nothing would ever happen to me again.

Where was Rico ? I needed Rico !

Cool air suddenly washed over my face, and then, I was somewhat aware of asphalt biting into my butt through my jeans. Hot, slightly sweaty palms grasped my cheeks and gently shook me. “Breathe!” Ace shouted at me. I blinked, hot tears streaking down my flaming cheeks. His blue eyes ran over my face, slightly panicked. “Little bunny, I need you to breathe. You’re having a panic attack.”

I sucked in a ragged breath, a sob tearing from my throat. “I want R-Rico,” I choked out.

Ace straddled my thighs and wrapped his arms tight around me, crushing me to his chest. I curled my fingers into his long-sleeve shirt, sobbing and falling apart. I was safe. They’d kept me safe. No one had taken me away.

“R-Rico,” I sobbed. “Papi. I need him.”

“He’s coming, little one,” Gunner soothed, rubbing my back. “Niran is on the phone with him now. Just focus on breathing.”

I couldn’t stop shaking, and my lungs hurt. Honestly, every part of me hurt. And I knew it was because I was too tense. My muscles were locking up, but I coudn’t force them to relax. Even wrapped up in Ace with Gunner at my back, my brain didn’t understand no one was going to take me away.

“Rico is on his way,” Niran announced. No one responded, and honestly, I was crying too hard to form a sentence. I just wanted my Papi. He’d protect me. And if anyone was trying to take me away, he’d slaughter them just like he’d slaughtered my master.

But I was so fucking sure the happiness I’d found was going to be ripped away before he got there. That I’d never see Rico again.

My lungs threatened to seize again at the mere thought, and I whimpered into Ace’s chest. He just clutched me tighter, gently shh ing me.

“Area is secure,” Bento announced a few minutes later. “No threats. I think he heard, smelled, or saw something that triggered him and caused a panic attack.”

Tires squealed. Ace immediately reached for his gun, but then, Rico was beside me, gently shoving Ace aside. I looked up at him through watery eyes, reaching for him. He crushed me to him before lifting me from the ground. “I’m here, perrito ,” he rasped as I wound my arms and legs around him, tucking my teary face into the curve of his neck. “Papi is here. You’re safe. I’ll never let anyone take you from me.”