Daddy's Soul (Crime Boss Daddies Book 4), page 1
DADDY’S SOUL
LAYLAH ROBERTS
Laylah Roberts
© 2024, Laylah Roberts.
Laylah.roberts@gmail.com
https://laylahroberts.com
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author/publisher.
Editing: Woncas Creative; Celeste Jones.
Photographer: Jeanne Woodfin.
Model: Sean Michael Rae
Cover Design by: Allycat’s Creations
Created with Vellum
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BOOKS BY LAYLAH ROBERTS
Doms of Decadence
Just for You, Sir
Forever Yours, Sir
For the Love of Sir
Sinfully Yours, Sir
Make me, Sir
A Taste of Sir
To Save Sir
Sir’s Redemption
Reveal Me, Sir
Montana Daddies
Daddy Bear
Daddy’s Little Darling
Daddy’s Naughty Darling Novella
Daddy’s Sweet Girl
Daddy’s Lost Love
A Montana Daddies Christmas
Daring Daddy
Warrior Daddy
Daddy’s Angel
Heal Me, Daddy
Daddy in Cowboy Boots
A Little Christmas Cheer (crossover with MC Daddies)
Sheriff Daddy
Her Daddies’ Saving Grace
Rogue Daddy
A Little Winter Wonderland
Daddy’s Sassy Sweetheart
Daddy Dominic
Daddy Unleashed
MC Daddies
Motorcycle Daddy
Hero Daddy
Protector Daddy
Untamed Daddy
Her Daddy’s Jewel
Fierce Daddy
A Little Christmas Cheer (crossover with Montana Daddies)
Savage Daddy
Boss Daddy
Daddy Fox
A Snowy Little Christmas
Saving Daddy
Daddies’ Captive
A Foxy Little Christmas
A Little Easter Delight
Guardian Daddy
Harem of Daddies
Ruled by her Daddies
Claimed by her Daddies
Stolen by her Daddies
Captured by her Daddies
Kept by her Daddies
Haven, Texas Series
Lila’s Loves
Laken’s Surrender
Saving Savannah
Molly’s Man
Saxon’s Soul
Mastered by Malone
How West was Won
Cole’s Mistake
Jardin’s Gamble
Romanced by the Malones
Twice the Malone
Mending a Malone
Malone’s Heart
Malone’s Pride
Malone’s Fate
New Orleans Malones
Damaged Princess
Vengeful Commander
Wicked Prince
Men of Orion
Worlds Apart
Cavan Gang
Rectify
Redemption
Redemption Valley
Audra’s Awakening
Old-Fashioned Series
An Old-Fashioned Man
Two Old-Fashioned Men
Her Old-Fashioned Husband
Her Old-Fashioned Boss
His Old-Fashioned Love
An Old-Fashioned Christmas
Crime Boss Daddies
Daddy’s Obsession
Papi’s Protection
Papi’s Savior
Daddy’s Soul
Bad Boys of Wildeside
Wilde
Sinclair
Luke
Rawhide Ranch Holiday
A Cozy Little Christmas
A Little Easter Escapade
Jolie’s Little Fourth of July
Standalones
Their Christmas Baby
Haley Chronicles
Ally and Jake
TRIGGER WARNINGS
Please note there are trigger warnings for spousal abuse (not the main characters), physical abuse, and emotional manipulation.
Reuben can be a bulldozer when he wants something, but he’d never harm Faith.
1
“You look tired.”
Reuben shot Alejandro a quelling look. “We’re not doing this.”
“You’re running yourself ragged.”
Reuben groaned. Was this fucker for real? “You’ve gotten soft since meeting Cat.”
“You forget who you’re talking to,” Alejandro warned.
Alejandro’s two bodyguards, The Scot and Cairn, flanked them as they waited for the elevator.
“Listen, just concentrate on Cat. I don’t need to be fussed and worried over.”
“I do not fuss,” Alejandro told him. “And Cat is fine. I will always keep her safe.” There was a touch of irritation in Alejandro’s voice.
Reuben understood. But still . . .
“I’ve got an itch.”
“Uh, do you need to see a doctor?” Alejandro asked.
They stepped into the elevator.
“No, I’ve got a feeling . . . like something big is going to happen.” Reuben tapped his fingers against his thigh.
“You think something is coming?” Alejandro frowned at him.
“Yeah. I can feel it.” He’d had this feeling for weeks. The only problem was that he didn’t know whether what was coming was going to be good or bad.
“Whatever it is, I will keep Cat safe.”
“But will Cat do as she’s told?” Reuben asked.
“Catarina is a good girl. She does what I tell her.”
Reuben stepped out as the elevator doors opened.
Right into a web of falling spiders.
He sighed. Cat.
And as if that wasn’t enough, something cold and slimy landed on his head. He shuddered, resisting the urge to reach up and wipe his hair.
Instead, he turned to Alejandro.
Did the other man just hide a smile?
“Did you know?” he asked as he heard giggling in the distance.
“No. Of course not. I would never have allowed this. Kitten!” Alejandro yelled, walking inside.
Reuben noted how Alejandro, The Scot, and Cairn looked up and around cautiously. As though they expected more spiders. Or slime.
“Rafael!” Alejandro called out.
“I’ll get her,” Rafael grumbled, stalking past. “But I had nothing to do with this.”
“You could have warned us,” Reuben said to the large, tattooed bodyguard.
“I’m her bodyguard, not yours. Deal with it.”
Asshole.
“Come on,” Alejandro told him. “You can clean up while I scold my Kitten.”
Scold? The brat needed a good, hard spanking.
But Reuben knew better than to suggest that.
He wasn’t an idiot.
Reuben walked into the spare bedroom wearing just a towel. He’d occasionally used this room before buying his own apartment in Manhattan and thankfully, he’d left some clothes in the wardrobe.
“Papacito rico,” a feminine voice said. “You’ve got some nice muscles for a guy who sits behind a desk all day.”
For fuck’s sake.
“Great. I really didn’t want to die tonight, Cat,” he grumbled as he set down the towel he’d been using on his hair.
“Why would you die tonight?” she asked.
She was sitting on the bed with a freaking bowl of ice cream in her lap.
Oh yeah, Alejandro had really scolded her. That was clear to see.
“Because Alejandro is going to murder me when he finds me half-dressed in a bedroom with his wife,” he said dryly.
She waved her spoonful of ice cream through the air. Drips fell onto the bed cover.
Reuben liked things a certain way. He enjoyed order and control.
Cat was chaos personified. She was a wildcard. He never knew what she might do next.
She wasn’t the sort of woman he could ever be with. Hopefully, Alejandro remembered that after he discovered her in here.
“Papi won’t kill you, Reuby. He loves you.”
“Don’t call me Reuby,” he grumbled as he gathered up his clothes and stomped back into the attached bathroom.
Please don’t be there when I get out.
His prayers weren’t answered. Cat was actually licking the bowl when he walked back in.
“Cat,” he grumbled.
She glanced up, sticky ice cream around her mouth. “What?”
“What are you doing in here?” His hands twitched with the need to clean her up.
She is not your responsibility.
“Cat! Where are you?”
Reuben found himself longing for his quiet apartment for some peace and quiet.
“She’s in here,” he yelled out as he sat to put his shoes on.
He’d prefer not to die with bare feet. Just a strange quirk he had.
The door banged open and Alejandro entered. His gaze narrowed as he took them in. “What the fuck is going on in here?”
“Papi!” Cat smiled and held her arms up. “Up.”
“Catarina,” Alejandro said warningly.
“What?” she asked innocently.
“What are the two of you doing in a bedroom together?” Alejandro asked.
“We were about to have a wild affair, of course,” Cat replied.
Reuben raised his eyes heavenward. “All I ask is that you give me the chance to call my sister and say goodbye.”
“Oh, Rocking Reuby, stop being so dramatic,” Cat told him.
“Nope. Not calling me that, either.”
Cat sighed. “Papi isn’t going to kill you, because there’s no way he’d ever think I’d cheat on him. Would you, Papi?”
Alejandro’s scowl disappeared, and he sighed. “Of course not.” He picked Cat up and put her on his hip. “Doesn’t mean you’re allowed to be in a bedroom with another man, mi Pequeña.”
“Silly Papi, he’s not a man. He’s Reuben.”
“Thanks,” Reuben said dryly as he stood. “That makes me feel so good about myself.”
Cat smiled widely. “You’re welcome.”
“We all need to talk.” Alejandro strode out of the bedroom and into his office. Reuben followed.
Alejandro sat with Cat on his lap and reached into a drawer, pulling out a packet of wet wipes.
Reuben sat across from him as Alejandro cleaned Cat’s face and hands.
“That’s better,” Alejandro said. “Did I say you were allowed to eat ice cream?”
“Is anyone ever not allowed ice cream?” she replied sassily.
“Yes, naughty kittens who spider-slime guests,” Alejandro told her.
“Reuben isn’t a guest,” she protested. “He’s always here. He’s like part of the furniture.”
“You could have said a part of the family,” Reuben told her.
“Hmm. I could have.” Cat’s eyes twinkled.
Such a brat.
“Right. What do we need to talk about? Is it the new chief of police?” Reuben asked.
Smith Childs was the new chief of police. He was trying to make a name for himself, and his interference was making things difficult for them.
Alejandro frowned. “I’m not that worried. Every new chief of police tries to push their own agenda. He’ll settle down. Or we’ll find something to make him settle down.”
“You want me to get onto that? I can start looking into his background.”
“Yes, see if you can get something on him we can use if he becomes too troublesome.”
“Consider it done.” Reuben nodded.
“But now, back to something more important,” Cat said as she leaned forward. “Reu-Reu.”
“No.” He eyed her.
“We’re worried about you.”
Dear Lord. Why? Why him? What had he done to deserve this?
Actually, scratch that. He wasn’t a good guy, so this was probably his penance.
“You’re . . . worried about me?” he repeated, moving his gaze to Alejandro.
The other man was grinning.
Oh, fuck him.
Reuben was going to kill the bastard. He didn’t care that Alejandro was the closest thing he had to a brother.
He was dead.
“Why are you worried about me? Shouldn’t you be concerned about sitting?” Reuben asked.
“Why would I worry about that?” Cat asked. “I sit just fine.”
She shouldn’t be after the way she’d just spider-slimed him.
“We’ll discuss that later,” Alejandro told her firmly. “Cat has been worried that you look worn out. She keeps telling me how concerned she is that you haven’t found anyone else to help you since Gwen left.”
Alejandro was no longer smiling. He didn’t like it when Cat thought about anything other than him.
“It’s kind of you to be concerned, Cat, but I’m fine,” Reuben told her.
“I think you’re working too hard. You need to have some fun. Maybe even find someone to have some fun with.” Cat smiled slyly.
Oh, hell, no.
“Do not even think about trying to find me someone,” he warned.
That was the last thing he wanted or needed. Reuben wasn’t even sure he was capable of caring about someone like that. He’d had a few girlfriends before he’d decided he’d rather just have fuck buddies. That was much simpler.
Less messy.
“I wouldn’t dare.” Cat held up her hands. “No, what I think you need is an assistant.”
“An assistant?”
“Yes. To take some of the workload off you.”
“You really want me to bring in an assistant? To help with my work?” he said the words slowly. What was Alejandro thinking?
“Uh-huh.” Cat nodded.
“Cat, I can’t just hire someone to help me. Who would we trust with information about Alejandro’s businesses?” he asked.
“But what about Alejandro’s legitimate businesses? And the other work you do? An assistant could help with those things. Right?”
“Other work I do?” he asked.
“Yeah, all the pro bono stuff.”
Reuben sighed. “I’m fine, Cat.”
“You look terrible,” Cat told him. “Pale and tired. And you’re cranky. Crankier than usual. Even more than McGrumpface, and that’s saying something.”
McGrumpface was her bodyguard, Rafael. And he rarely cracked a smile.
But then, neither did Reuben.
“Cat is going to worry about you until you get some help. So, get some help,” Alejandro ordered.
Cat smiled at him.
Fuck. Seemed he was getting an assistant.
How had his life turned out like this?
Working for a cutthroat, savage mastermind.
And then, there was her husband.
2
Faith had her head down a toilet when she heard goats bleating.
Straightening, she dropped the toilet brush into the toilet.
Fudge knuckles.
Pulling off her gloves, she grabbed her phone out of her pocket as the goats kept bleating.
She saw it was Asta from the employment agency calling and quickly answered.
“Hello, this is Faith.”
“Faith! I have it! A job for you.”
Faith stood. “You do? What sort of job?”
“Personal assistant for a lawyer.”
She bit her lip. “Asta, you know I don’t have any experience as a personal assistant. And for a lawyer? Wouldn’t they want someone who knew something about the law?”
All she knew was how not to break it. Faith would never do that.
She was a good girl.
“That’s the great thing. He’s desperate.”
“Well. That’s awesome.” She felt so great about herself now.
“Isn’t it?” Asta gushed. “He’s gone through three assistants in the last two months.”
What the hell? How was that even possible?
“Who is this man?” she asked. Suddenly, cleaning toilets wasn’t looking so bad.
“His name is Reuben Jones. I’ll be honest; he’s kind of intimidating and scary. Not that I’ve met him, but I’ve heard stories. Anyway, that doesn’t matter. What does matter is that he’s gone through everyone we had who was available . . . and willing. So that leaves you! Isn’t that great?”
Yeah, wasn’t it fantastic that things her life had become so terrible she had to take a job no one else wanted. With someone who sounded like a possible tyrant.
“It’s a trial to see if you are a good fit. But the job pays twenty-eight an hour. If you last three months, it goes up to thirty. Health benefits kick in at six months. And after a year, you get thirty-five an hour.”
Holy. Crap.
That sort of money would be a dream. She could send three times as much home to her family than she was able to now.
“Listen, so the guy is kind of cold and a perfectionist. That doesn’t mean you can’t do the job and bring in the money, honey.”
Asta was nothing if not supportive. And energetic. It was just wrong for someone to have that much energy.
Faith certainly didn’t. She felt worn down and slapped around by life. As though it just kept kicking her time and again.
