Daddy’s Little Warrior by Lila Fox
Chapter Twenty-One
He’d never been so angry or scared at the same time. Didn’t she realize if she had made it to the embassy, all she had to do was ask for asylum, and there was very little he could do to get her back?
When Ryker had called him, he hadn’t believed him at first. Why in the hell would she want to leave him? They had just found each other again.
Ryker showed up in his office, telling him Aisha just walked out the front door with a bag and was headed to the embassy, and he’d panicked. He hadn’t waited for the elevator but raced down the stairs and out the front door. He looked right and left and tried to remember which way the embassy was.
Drake headed one direction and hoped she’d gone this way.
He breathed a small sigh of relief when he caught a glimpse of her dark hair when the crowd parted for a brief moment. He called her name and then cursed when she started walking faster the other way.
Only when he finally caught up with her and had a hand on her was he able to take a breath.
He wanted to get her home and behind closed doors before he whaled on her ass. He almost snorted. Like he’d ever hurt a hair on her head, but the thought of spanking her ass until it glowed made him feel better.
Ryker was waiting for them with his arms crossed at the entrance of the building. Drake could tell he was upset by what she almost did, too, and determined he had a right to be a part of her punishment.
“Come with us, Ryker.”
The man nodded and followed them into the elevator.
The three were quiet on the short trip up to the condo. Drake pulled her through and into the bedroom, waited for Ryker, then shut and locked the door.
“Strip.”
She took a few steps away from him and turned. “W … what?”
“I said strip.”
He watched her nervously glance at Ryker and then back at him.
“But…”
“Precious, you scared the hell out of not only me but Ryker too, so I think it only fair he gets to punish you, too.”
“But I was doing it for you.”
His eyebrows rose. “How is that?”
“There’s so much that points to that assumption.”
“Like…?” Drake asked.
She swallowed. “I’ve been here close to the ninety days, and nothing has been said about staying. You’ve also been pulling away from me the last few weeks, and when I ask, you don’t talk to me about it and just tell me not to worry. And then I heard you on the phone today.”
He thought back to what she could have heard. “When?”
“You were on the phone, and it was right before lunch.”
“Ah, that’s why you were acting differently.”
She nodded.
“What did you hear?”
“You talked about feeling guilty and that you didn’t know what to do with me. Then, you went on to say you’d have to tell me, and you seemed so sad.”
He wiped a hand down his face. Fuck, he could see how she’d take the conversation differently when she’d heard just his side of it, and some of his anger dissipated.
“I know that you find my back ugly and can hardly stand to look at it. I understand. I really do. Those scars I will never be able to get rid of.”
He stared at her intently, trying to figure out what to deal with first.
“I want to leave, Drake.”
He shook his head. “That will never happen.” It felt like someone stabbed him when she pressed her hands to her face and started to cry. He realized at that moment she rarely did, or she hid it from him, and he hated the fact she was suffering in silence.
“It doesn’t matter anyway. I’ll have to leave in a few weeks,” she said.
“You’re not fucking going anywhere,” he said with a growl. “Do you realize if you had managed to get back to Afghanistan, you probably would have been murdered?”
When she nodded her head, he almost howled, the pain was so great.
“You don’t care if you died?” he asked in outraged shock.
“I … yes, but—”
“But what?”
“I don’t have a choice.”
“But you do, you stay here with me.”
“I won’t do that. The thought of making you unhappy makes me sick. I’d rather be dead.”
His stomach twisted because he truly believed she meant what she said.
“You’d rather be dead than be with me?”
“You’re making it sound like I’m taking something from you when I’m trying to give your life back to you,” she exclaimed.
“But you are taking something from me. My heart. I can’t imagine not having you in my life, and I wake up thanking God that I’ve got you back, and you want to take that from me?”
“That’s the guilt…”
“The fuck it is,” he yelled. He took a few breaths to calm down and looked at Ryker. “How in the hell and I going to get through to her?”
“You’ll have to tell her everything, man.”
“But I’m terrified the plan will fall through, and then she’ll hate me.”
“I could never hate you, Drake.”
He turned back to her and sighed. “Have a seat.” He indicated the bed, and she walked over and sat.
“Since you’ve been here, Ryker, a few others, and I have been trying to get your cousin and aunt here.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “Is that even possible?”
“It’s very possible, baby. We’ve got people there who are helping them pack essentials, and one of them is your grandmother’s wedding ring. Your aunt wanted me to have it to give to you.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“That’s what I was talking about on the phone. I know if I had been in your shoes, I would have taken it the wrong way, too. But all I feel guilty about is not being there to protect you, and if you think for one second that I don’t find everything about you beautiful, you’re crazy. I don’t give a fuck about the scars, but when I see them, I feel the pain you must have felt, and it makes me crazy.”
He crouched down in front of her and took her hands. “Baby, I can’t say it any plainer than this. I love you with my whole heart, and you’d have to kill me to let you go. We are engaged as of now. I wanted to wait for the ring, but you’re more important. So, if by chance we can’t get them here by next week, we’ll get married but have a wedding when they get here.”
He studied her face. “Do you have any questions?”
