Daddies Brat

Katriona

We pull up outside my apartment complex and slip inside my unit without a problem. A few people peek out, and as soon as they see my men’s grim faces, they quickly slam their doors and return to minding their own business. Until the next person comes walking through, I’m sure. No one around here can keep their noses clean.

“I won’t be long.”

I shove aside the embarrassment of having them see the dump I’ve called home for six months. It’s nothing new to them anyway. If they sat outside for even half of that, less even, they know the kind of neighborhood we are in.

Drake leaves the two enforcers who came with us downstairs, so no one is getting in or out without them knowing.

I dash off to my room and shed my uniform in favor of a pair of jeans, flats and a cute halter top that sparkles with tiny amber sequins that the sales lady said matched my eyes.

I stand in front of my mirror and flip my hair over to gather the long, thick mass in a top knot. When I stand back up, I nearly swallow my own tongue, which prevents me from screaming.

A brutish, rough hand clamps over my mouth, and I don’t need a proper introduction to know whose filthy hand is cutting off my air.

Marcus.

My closet door swings open, and another guy comes waltzing into my room. The one feature I loved most about this tiny apartment is going to be what gets me killed.

Like hell. I have finally found my happiness. I’m not going out like this. My fear quickly turns into rage.

I kick out, not really aiming for anything and when my foot hits my dresser, glass crashes to the floor.

Heavy footfalls carry through my apartment, and I scream around the sausage fingers covering my mouth.

Muscles pulls out a gun with a long tube at the end.

Oh shit. He’s finally going to get what he wants.NôvelDrama.Org © content.

I draw my feet up, and the sudden shift of weight knocks my captor off balance, making his hand pull away from my mouth.

“Gun!” I scream and get a good backhand across the cheek for it. I can take it. The harsh force behind the hit knocks me against the door, and I fling it open, taking cover behind the skimpy sofa. Luckily it’s not pushed up completely against the wall. I don’t know where the men are, but I know a shootout isn’t new territory for them.

A deep voice bellows from my room. “You’ll pay for that, you little whore. Just like your father did. Nobody cheats me and lives.”

The words mean nothing to me, and I’m not about to answer him back and give up my position.

Several zings of metal against metal fill the silence and loud thuds thunder over the floorboards.

I duck around the edge of the sofa and catch Sylan just as he buries his fist into Marcus’ ugly, puckered face. Thug number two is taking aim from my bathroom door at Grey.

“Grey!”

I have a lamp in my hand, ready to swing when Drake busts through my front door, leaving it hanging on the hinges, and with murder in his eyes.

Two bears are barreling toward me from the right, and I’m caught in the middle of a gunfight turned all-out brawl. I duck behind a cement wall and am reminded of Sylan’s sister and how her refusal to listen to others eventually killed her. True, I don’t know the full story but I can relate. Sylan didn’t want me to come here, and I refused to hide in fear. I didn’t even try for a happy medium that would safeguard me and not place those who have sworn to protect me in jeopardy.

Sylan slams his fist into Marcus’ meaty face, blood spilling from more gashes than I care to think about.

How stupid of me.

Drake throws the second thug who I’m guessing is Marcus’ replacement as his right-hand man against the brick wall with a loud thud.

Marcus gets the same treatment with a pistol whip to the bridge of his nose.

Metal casings fall to the bare floorboards to my left, and I see Drake put a bullet in a third thug who came out of nowhere. He drops to the floor dead.

I gasp stumbling back, shock robbing me of all my senses.

“Do not pity him, Kat,” Drake warns, and I draw my gaze to his. “He’s the filth of this world and would have been the one to break your body in for far darker sexual depravities than any woman should have to suffer. His death is on me. Not you.”

“You don’t carry this blame alone, Drake. I won’t allow it. If anything, we share this. You want all of me, then I take all of you.” His face turns grim much like Sylan’s does.

I turn my focus to Grey who stands over Marcus’ right-hand man. Blood drips from his mouth and what little air he’s pulling in hurts like a mother.

I turn to Sylan. “And Marcus?” I ask but I can’t feel much sympathy for the man.

Sylan has the barrel of his gun aimed at the man’s head who is huffing and puffing.

Sylan moves so fast my eyes don’t catch the movement or the sound of the bullet until afterward. Marcus howls and I see him clutching his knee. “Now you won’t be able to sneak up on innocent young women or kidnap them. Fucking scum. I should put a bullet between your eyes and be rid of you.”

I push to my feet and walk over to Sylan, and I slip my hand into his, interlacing our fingers. Sylan turns and leads us out of my apartment, leaving Marcus with Grey and Drake.

Two rounds go off and I hear screams ricochet off the walls.

“They didn’t kill him, just evened the odds for when the local thugs find him.” I shiver with the implications of his words.

“Fate will have to handle that outcome.”

Seconds later Grey and Drake join us, roughed up, looking a little bruised but strong.

Drake and Grey take the front seat while Sylan and I slip into the back. Sylan has me on his lap, and I’m right back where I was an hour ago-in his arms-and I have a feeling this won’t change anytime soon.

I lean into him and nuzzle my nose against his neck. “I’m so sorry, everyone. I put all of us at risk over material things. I have my memories of my mother and that’s enough. I can’t live with the idea that something could happen to any of you.”

Drake turns in his seat and takes my hand and we sit like that in a long silence as Grey steers the car out onto the interstate.

I take Sylan’s hand in my other and notice the bruising already forming. “I’ll never ask you for anything again that will put your family at risk.”

“We are your family now too.”

Who knew so few words could mean more to me than all the gold and money in the world?

“Thank you,” I whisper, awestruck, and their smiles tell me they understand all too well what I am feeling. I turn to Sylan, and he brushes his lips over mine. “I’m sorry. I mean what I say.”

“You can apologize thoroughly later. Once we get home and check over every inch of your body to make sure you’re okay.”

I perk up and lean in to whisper, “Does that mean another shower? But this time I want that kind of shower.”

My words have the effect I’m going for and he pulls me closer with a growl, the exquisite hunger in his eyes all the answer I need.