Off-Limits, page 11
“I… Maybe? Is that okay?”
She nodded enthusiastically. “Will you and Daddy get married?”
I felt sweat mist my forehead and upper lip. Shit, this kid asked all the hard questions. “Are you hungry? Let’s have a quick dinner tonight.”
The good thing about children Josie’s age, they were easily distracted. “Can we make grilled cheese?”
“Sounds good.” I would have agreed to anything if it stopped the line of questioning that was making me edgy.
But more than that, it reminded me that a future like that wasn’t in the cards for Howler and me. I was just happy to take what time we could get together. With Judge’s head stuck on Ellianna, we had a reprieve, but I knew it was only a matter of time before he made his best friend choose.
Howler still wasn’t home when the driver dropped us off—and stayed in the driveway to watch the house. I fed Josie then helped her with her bath before tucking her into bed.
As I turned off the light in Josie’s room, I heard Howler downstairs, and I went down to see if he was hungry.
Walking into the kitchen, I expected to see Howler, but the room was empty. Figuring he was just in his office, I backtracked and knocked on his office door before sticking my head in the room. “Hey, are you…hungry?”
The light was on, but the room was empty. Other than the window that overlooked the backyard, the door was the only way into the room, and the window was closed. I hadn’t seen Howler in any other room, and I would have if he were home.
A feeling of unease began to stir in my gut, and I found myself running back upstairs to Josie’s room as I called Howler.
“Hey,” he greeted after two rings. “Sorry I’m late, babe. The client wanted three more rooms added to the plans, and we had to figure that out before I could leave. I’m on the road right now and should be home in fifteen minutes or so.”
“Howler,” I whispered, walking into Josie’s room and checking every inch of it to make sure no one had gone in there while I was downstairs. “I heard someone downstairs a few minutes ago. I thought it was you. I went into your office to ask if you wanted something to eat, and the light was on.”
“Fuck. Is the guard in the driveway?”
“I don’t know. I was more worried about checking on Jo.”
Opening the closet door, I was relieved to find it empty. Turning back to the bed, I knelt down so I could look underneath.
“Her room is empty.” I sat on my rear, leaning my head back against the bed. “If there was someone in the house, I think they were only in your office. They probably heard me and ran off.”
“I’ll be there in five minutes. Lock yourself in Josie’s room and don’t come out until I get you.” Before I could respond, the line went silent.
Grimacing, I stood and went back to the door. Locking it, I turned off the light I’d switched on when I first entered the room, which surprisingly, hadn’t woken Josie, and moved to the window. There were a few lights in the backyard, and I tried to see if there was anyone out there. But all I saw were shadows, and nothing moved, not even the wind blowing the tree branches.
Maybe I just thought I heard someone downstairs.
But that didn’t explain the light on in Howler’s office. Judge’s security was parked in the driveway, but that didn’t mean someone hadn’t walked through the backyard. The locks had been changed the day after Howler thought Gwen had been in the house, but maybe the office window hadn’t been locked.
No, I quickly told myself. Howler checked the windows in each room every single night before bed.
“Lyla!”
I didn’t even want to think about how many laws he’d broken to get home as quickly as he did, but I was just thankful he’d gotten here in one piece. Unlocking the door, I opened it and was engulfed in a bone-crushing hug.
“Are you okay?” he choked out, his arms finally releasing their vise-like hold so he could skim his hands over every inch of my upper body.
“I’m fine,” I assured him. “Nothing happened. Maybe… I don’t know. Maybe I just thought I heard someone downstairs.”
“No. You didn’t. Tony wasn’t in the car in the driveway when I pulled in. He must have seen something.”
From the bed, Josie made a grumpy noise. Releasing me, Howler walked over to look down at his daughter. Bending, he kissed her forehead and tucked the covers up over her more securely.
As he straightened, his eyes met mine. “Stay here. I’m going to call Judge and the cops. I’d feel better if you were here with Josie.”
“Of course. I won’t leave her.”
His lips tilted up ever so slightly. “Thanks, baby.” As he walked to the door, he paused long enough to brush a soft kiss over my lips. “I’ll be back up as soon as I can. Go ahead and get comfortable. This may take a while.”
Chapter 17
Howler
This shit was getting old fast. This was twice Gwen had gotten into my house, twice my girls had been put in danger by that bitch.
The rage that was burning through my veins was making my head throb.
Judge and five of his security team were in my kitchen, along with three police officers. After the cops had inspected the entire house, they determined there had been no forced entry, but I was sure Lyla was correct. Even though she second-guessed herself about hearing someone downstairs, I knew she must have.
Tony had seen someone walking around the side of the house and run after them, but he’d lost them two blocks later. From the height and build he described, it had to be Gwen.
But how she’d gotten into the house, and why she’d been in my office, were both unanswered questions. Nothing had been misplaced. Other than a few papers out of order in the top drawer of my desk, there wasn’t really anything to tell me anyone other than I had been in the room. It was like she was a fucking ghost the way she got in and out and then disappeared so easily when Tony was chasing her.
Or she had someone helping her.
But who would be stupid enough to help her when they knew I would kill them if anything happened to my little family? Whether people accepted it or not, Lyla was a part of my family. She was mine, and I would always protect what was mine.
“Let’s get security cameras put in on all sides of the house,” Judge told his men. “I want them up and running by morning.”
With a nod, they filed out of the kitchen to get it done. After we spoke to the cops one more time, they left as well, promising to have patrolmen driving the neighborhood every hour.
When we were alone, Judge leaned back against the counter, his massive arms crossed over his chest. “We can’t prove it, but Gwen broke the restraining order. If we could show it, then the cops could arrest her. Which is another reason to have security cameras installed. Maybe we should talk about the girls moving in with me until she is no longer an issue.”
I clenched my jaw, hating the very thought of Lyla and Josie leaving my house, but I knew he was right. They would be safer at his place. There was more security, and he lived in a gated community.
But before I could so much as nod in agreement, Lyla spoke from behind me. “I’m not leaving.”
“Lyla—” Judge started in a beseeching voice, but she was already shaking her head.
“No,” she snapped angrily. “I’m not running away and hiding behind my brother from this crazy cunt. Bump up the security, put in the cameras. Do whatever else you have to, but I am not running away.”
“He’s right, Lyla,” I attempted to reason, even as my gut clenched painfully.
Hurt flashed in her eyes, but she clenched her jaw. “No.”
“Think about Josie,” Judge tried again.
“I am thinking about Jo.” Crossing her arms over her chest just as her brother was doing, she glared him down. “I’m showing her that she should never run away. Even when the boogeyman is her own goddamn mother.”
“Stop being so fucking stubborn, Lyla!” Judge shouted, losing his temper. “Your life is at risk here. She has a gun. Do we know if she can actually handle it? No, but do you really want to chance your life to find out?”
“The only way I’m leaving is if Howler tells me he doesn’t want me here,” she told him, not even sparing me a glance. “I can and will take care of myself. And Josie too. Keeping Gwen out is your job. Fucking do it.”
If she thought I would ever want her to leave, she was crazy. Hell, I didn’t even want her or Josie to go to Judge’s place. It burned and caused a dull ache in the region of my heart to send them there when it was my job to protect them both until my dying breath. But that was exactly what having them stay with him would be. Protecting them.
“Howler, tell her,” Judge tossed at me.
“No.”
My answer had them both looking at me with surprise, but it was Lyla’s expression that made me want to punch something. Preferably myself for making her doubt her place in my life. Sometimes, it was like Lyla thought we had a timetable and it was quickly running out. But I’d be damned if I ever let her go.
Josie and I both needed her too much for me to lose her now. I didn’t care what I had to give up to keep her, but she was ours and I wouldn’t let her slip through my fingers again.
“You look confused, Judge. Let me clarify. Fuck. No. Lyla stays as long as she wants. I’m not telling her to go because I’m not going to lie to her and tell her I don’t want her here. She belongs here. This is her home.”
“You…you really mean that?” she whispered, taking a hesitant step toward me.
I grabbed for her before I lost my mind with all the distance between us. “Of course I fucking mean it. I love you, Lyla.”
“I thought—” She broke off, shaking her head even as she threw her arms around my neck. “It doesn’t matter what I thought. I’m just so happy you didn’t tell me to go.”
“You two are a real pain in the ass, you know that?” Judge grumbled. “Fine. Have it your way, Lyla. I’ll make this place as secure as fucking Fort Knox.”
Her arms only tightened around me. Realizing his sister was done talking to him, he muttered a curse and pushed away from the counter. “Guess I’ll get to work, then. Try to calm your shit down, Lyla.”
“Try to change your dickhead attitude, Judge,” she called after him without turning around. “Maybe then Ellianna could possibly stand to be in the same room with you for more than two seconds.”
She couldn’t see him, so she missed the way his entire body seemed to turn to stone. His face tensed, and he opened his mouth to blast her, but our eyes locked before a single world left him. I shook my head, giving him a look that told my best friend he would regret it.
I knew Lyla ran her mouth, and sometimes she was definitely a bitch, but I loved her, and I wasn’t about to let anyone disrespect her. Not even her damn brother.
He stomped through the house, and I barely heard the front door slam shut behind him on his way out. As soon as he was gone, the kitchen felt calmer, and Lyla began to relax.
Tilting her head back, she smiled as she looked up at me through those thick as hell lashes. “You said this is my home?”
“Fuck yeah, it’s your home, baby. Right here beside me and Josie is where you belong from here on out.” Brushing the hair back from her face, I touched my lips to hers in a kiss that barely skimmed over her mouth but had her gasping nonetheless. The sound was like a shot of pure lust straight to my cock. “You’re ours, Lyla.”
Tears filled her eyes, her smile trembling as she shook her head at me. “That’s all I’ve ever really wanted. You and Jo, that’s all I need. Nothing else matters.”
“Thank fuck,” I growled, kissing her again. This one was deeper, more demanding, so she wouldn’t run her mouth when I lifted my head and told her point-blank, “Now we can move your shit in here.”
Dazedly, she lifted her brows. “Did you honestly think I would say no to that?” Grasping my shoulders, she used them as leverage as she jumped up and wrapped her legs around me. “Judge has this. Let’s take a shower,” she purred at my ear before sinking her teeth into my neck.
Fighting myself not to back her against the fridge and fuck her right there, I grabbed her ass and sprinted through the house. As I took the stairs two at a time, she giggled against my flesh.
“Fucking killing me,” I muttered as I walked through our bedroom and kicked open the bathroom door.
With her still in my arms, I turned on the shower to let it warm up before carrying her to the sink and sitting her on the edge. Her fingers were already working on the buttons of my blue button-up, a small growl leaving her when the fourth one got stuck.
Pulling back, I ripped the shirt apart, causing the rest of the buttons to go flying around the room. Her teeth sank into her bottom lip as her eyes skimmed over me hungrily. Tossing the shirt aside, I started on the rest of my clothes, afraid if I undressed her, I would hurt her in my need to touch her soft skin.
“Get naked,” I commanded, and her giggle as she started pulling off her clothes was music to my ears.
By the time I had my boxer briefs down, she was standing there completely bare. I paused, taking in the sight of my woman. She was so damn beautiful with her long dark hair falling over her shoulders, her soulful eyes brushing over me like she couldn’t stop herself from looking at what belonged to her.
Realizing that she was really there, that she was mine and moving in with me, was too much to take in. Getting everything I’d ever wanted had my legs going weak. I dropped to my knees before her and pressed my lips to the soft skin just below her navel.
Her fingers combed through my hair before cupping the back of my head and holding me to her. “Howler,” she murmured. “You’re trembling.”
“Just taking all of this in, baby. I love you so goddamn much it hurts to breathe right now. Give me a minute.”
She stroked her fingers down my neck as she dropped to her knees in front of me. Her lips brushed over mine, a gentle kiss that made my eyes close in sweet agony. I wrapped my arms around her tiny waist, pulling her closer, needing all of her pressed into me.
But when her teeth nipped my bottom lip, I lost it. With a savage curse, I dragged her to the floor. Cupping her pussy, I felt how wet she was, and there was no saving her from what was coming.
Thrusting deep, I didn’t give her time to adjust before I was pounding into her. Her nails scratched down my back, marking me as I tried to imprint the shape of my cock inside her.
“Ah fuck,” she whimpered. “You feel so good. Please don’t stop.”
“Couldn’t, even if I wanted to,” I panted. “Hold on to me, baby. Hold as tight as you can.”
“Harder,” she begged, amping me up. “Please, harder.”
“Fuck. Grab your knees, Lyla. I need to go deeper.” Sweat was already rolling down my face and back. “Goddamn, baby, your pussy is so wet. Are you going to come for me so soon?”
Her pussy clamped down around me, proving to me how right I was. Her back arched, her hips pushing up into me as I thrust so hard into her, I saw stars as I came deep inside her.
It was several minutes before I could get my breathing under control. Groaning, I pulled free from the tightness of her body and got to my feet. Bending, I lifted her and carried her into the shower that had filled the entire bathroom with steam.
A content moan left her as I lathered her hair, massaging her scalp as she leaned limply against me.
“We have to stop having sex without a condom for a little while,” she muttered sleepily. “I haven’t started the pill yet, and if you’re not careful, Josie is going to get a little brother or sister.”
I hid my grin as I continued to wash her hair. “You say that like it’s a bad thing, babe.”
Fighting a yawn, she pressed her forehead to my chest as I started massaging her neck. “I don’t think you’re ready to be a daddy again.”
Carefully, I tilted her head back into the spray to rinse her hair. “Lyla, with you, I’m ready for anything.”
Chapter 18
Lyla
By the end of the week, we were all on edge. There’d been no sign of Gwen, not even at the drug dens. Judge had all eyes looking out for any sign of her, but it was like the woman really was a ghost.
My brother was true to his word and turned Howler’s house into a fortress. Howler’s office had an entire wall of screens dedicated to all the security cameras surrounding the house. There wasn’t just a driver sitting in the driveway, but four different members of Judge’s personal security walking the perimeter of the property at any given minute.
And classes, well, I’d given up on those for the rest of the week and emailed all my professors to tell them I had a family emergency come up. Instead, I went to work with Howler every morning. When Josie didn’t have school, she came with us, and I spent the days running the office and watching over her.
Cherie was practically bouncing around the place with me helping her out, and she left early every day. Her son hadn’t been wrong when he’d told me she wanted to retire, and I was sure she thought I was going to take over for her full time.
The idea wasn’t without appeal. I enjoyed the work more than what I’d been doing with Barrick.
I wasn’t hiding anything or sneaking around behind anyone’s back, babysitting people I couldn’t stand. Everyone in the office seemed to like me, and I got to spend more time with both Howler and Josie throughout the day. And with Howler having chosen me and telling my brother to basically fuck off, then asking me to move in—more like commanding it, but I was going to pretend like he’d asked—I was considering the job position more and more.
“We’re leaving early,” Howler announced as he came out of his office, minus any building plans, for once.
I looked down at my desk overflowing with a hundred things that needed my attention before I could leave. We still had three hours before we normally left, so I hadn’t worried about getting it done. “I have a lot to do.”
