Keeping Katie (Syndicate Kings Book 5)

“Daddy, I’m fine. I’m ready to get out of bed. It’s been three days.”

I love him. So much. More than anything. And I’m going to keep reminding myself of that so I don’t put a pillow over his face while he sleeps.

The over-the-top thing was hot a few days ago. Now, I’m not so sure. He hasn’t let me walk at all. He’s carried me everywhere—not that he’s actually let me get out of bed much. I was lucky he left the bathroom while I used the toilet.

“I like you right where you are. I can keep an eye on you there.”

Rolling my eyes, I sigh.

“Did you just roll your eyes at me, Little girl? Because you don’t have to stand for a bare-bottom spanking.”

Sheesh. I didn’t think Grady would be such a strict Daddy, but he continues to surprise me every day.

Thankfully, his phone rings, distracting him from his threat. When he pulls it from his pocket, he frowns. He’s been doing that a lot lately.

“What’s wrong?” I ask softly.

He shakes his head, his jaw flexing. “Nothing.”

My chest tightens. “I thought it was against the rules to lie. Or is that only a rule for me?”

His head snaps up, his gaze meeting mine. I shrink back slightly. Shoot. I crossed a line. I’m usually his good girl. Surely, a man like him won’t handle me talking back to him well.

Then he drops his shoulders and lowers himself onto the edge of the bed, facing me. “You’re right. Lying is against the rules for both of us.”

I don’t say anything, so he continues. “I went on a date with a woman before I met you. It was horrible. I told her I wasn’t interested in seeing her again, but she’s continued to call and text me, even though I’ve told her repeatedly to stop.”

Something like heartburn settles in my chest. A woman keeps calling him? My Daddy? Oh, hell no. Nope. I’ve given up a lot of things in my life, but I’m not giving up this man.

“Give me your phone.” I hold out my hand.

Without hesitation, he unlocks it and hands it over.

“I’ve only messaged her to tell her to stop contacting me. You can look at our text exchanges.”

God, I love this man. He’s trying to reassure me. He doesn’t need to, though. I trust him. What I don’t trust is the bitch who isn’t respecting his boundaries. And I’m going to put a stop to it right now.

I navigate to his call log and tap on the most recent. Sharleen.

“Hey, stranger. It’s about time you called me,” a sickeningly, sugary-sweet voice answers.

“Hello,” I reply with an edge. “If you were expecting Grady, I’m afraid he’s busy. I thought, since you keep calling, you must be super excited to meet me. His fiancée. I’m Katie! And you are?”

Grady rolls his lips in and brings his fist up to his mouth to keep from chuckling. He doesn’t try to take the phone from me or tell me to hang up. Nope. He’s going to let me handle this and stake my claim on him. I’m so turned on by it.

“Oh, um, his fiancée?” she squeaks.

I grin. “Yes. His future wife. You must be Sharleen?”

“He told you about me?” she asks, her tone full of hope.

“Yes. As a matter of fact, he did. Would you like to know what he told me?”

Grady stares at me, letting me handle the situation. I have no doubt if he thought I was getting upset, he’d step in to protect me.

“Sure. Although, you know you can’t always believe everything a man says.” Sharleen cackles, clearly thinking she’s hilarious.

“Maybe you can’t believe everything a man says, but I believe everything my man says.”

Sharleen scoffs so loud I can’t help but laugh and shake my head. This woman is something else.

“Stop calling and texting Grady because if I have to talk to you again, I’m not going to be so nice next time. He’s mine. Are we clear, or do I need to spell it out for you to understand?”

I’m not a mean girl. I don’t like mean girls. I think the world needs more kindness in it. But when it comes to my Daddy, I think I’d surprise even myself with how nasty I might become.

“Okay. Gosh. No need to be such a bitch,” she snaps.

“Actually, there is. He already asked you to leave him alone, and you didn’t. So now you get to deal with me.”

The line goes dead, and I roll my eyes as I hand the phone to Grady.

He takes it and moves closer. “Did you really just do that for me?”

I shrug. “You’re mine… Just like I’m yours. Right?”

The way he beams at me warms me from the inside out. We belong to each other, and while he might be my Daddy and be the one in charge, he’s never going to make me feel like I’m less.

“Yes, baby girl. Exactly right. And I think it’s time we make it official.” He reaches into the inside of his jacket and pulls out a tiny black box. Suddenly, it’s hard to breathe.

“You deserve a proposal that’s more romantic than this, but I’m too impatient. I promise to do a million romantic things for you later, but I need my ring on your finger and your last name to be changed to mine as soon as possible.”

All I can seem to do is bob my head as he opens the box to reveal a beautifully designed antique ring with an enormous emerald in the center.

“This was my mother’s. If you want something new, I’ll buy you whatever you want, but I also want you to have this. My parents loved each other deeply and unconditionally, just like I do you.”

A sob breaks free from my throat. I throw my arms around him and wiggle free from the blankets to crawl onto his lap, clinging to him.

“I don’t want anything else. I just want you,” I cry, cupping his face as our mouths come together.

Our kiss starts soft and intimate. Without breaking apart, he slides the ring on my finger. As soon as it’s on, it’s like a wildfire catches, and we can’t get enough of each other. He doesn’t care that I haven’t washed my hair in three days. Or that I haven’t shaved, either. He still touches me like I’m perfect and kisses me like he won’t survive if he doesn’t.

My nipples ache against his T-shirt I’m wearing. Ever since he brought me up to our room after the doctor checked me out, he’s been dressing me in his T-shirts. I’ve decided to make them my pajamas going forward because even though they’ve gone through the wash, they still smell like him, and I never get tired of it.

He grips my hips and lifts me. I straddle his lap, then he slides his hands around to my ass, squeezing tightly. I moan and arch into him, his thick shaft pressing against my core.

“Daddy,” I whisper, nipping at his lips.

“What, baby girl?”

“I need you. Please. I need you so badly right now.”

The corners of his lips curl into a soft smile as he meets my gaze. “My good girl for asking for what she needs. I want you to do that every time you need something.”

I nod, though I’m not sure it will be something to come as naturally as it did just now. Asking for things has never been an option for me. I had responsibilities to my parents. But now, he’s giving me the freedom to want and need, and it’s such a beautiful feeling. It makes me love him even more than I did five seconds ago. Our romance has been so sudden, but it’s been too powerful to deny.

“How’s your ankle? I don’t want to hurt you.”

Giggling, I shake my head. “Daddy, it’s been fine for like two days. Every time you take me into the bathroom, I walk on it, and it doesn’t hurt. It was only a light sprain.”

He narrows his eyes, his fingers digging into my ass. “You got off the toilet and walked around when I specifically told you not to?”

Whoops. Probably shouldn’t have admitted all of that to him.

“Daddy,” I whine lightly. “I love that you’re overprotective, but I’m not fragile.”

We stare at each other for a second before he finally nods. “You might not be fragile, but you’re precious to me. I want to keep you in bubble wrap so I never have to worry about you again.”

I cup his face in my hands, loving the way his short beard scratches my palms. “I know you’re always going to do everything you can to protect me, but I also need you to let me live, too. Trust that I’m going to follow your safety rules and that you and your family will keep me and the other girls safe. I know it’s scary, especially after what you went through, but we can’t live our lives in fear.”

He lets out a deep exhale. “You’re right, baby. Just promise me you will always follow your health and safety rules to the T. You can be naughty and break any other rules but those. Okay?”

I grin. “So, I can be naughty, huh?”

That makes him laugh. Soon, I’m laughing, too. I’m not sure how a hot, sexy moment turned into us cracking up together, but it doesn’t matter because this is us, and I think it’s perfect.

A week later…

“Sign here, here, and here, and then we’ll be all done, and the cash will be wired to your account.”

I smile at Marie, who has been the absolute sweetest through this process. I’m so glad Grady introduced me to her. Part of me wishes he were here right now instead of one of his men, but the guys had a meeting to attend, so he sent a bodyguard with me.

When I reach the last line for my signature, I sigh and scribble my name, then look at the line below it. G.O. Enterprises. Hm.

I’m interrupted by my phone ringing. The number is unknown, and usually, I wouldn’t answer, but something in my gut makes me hit accept.

“Hello?”

“Hello, this is Scott from the Seattle Police Department. Is this Katie Shaw?”

Fear clenches around me like a vise.

Please don’t be calling about Grady. Please let him be okay.

“Y-yes, this is Katie.” The tightness already wrapping around my throat makes it hard to speak. Hard to even breathe.

“I’m calling because someone set your coffee shop on fire. The damage is minimal, thanks to a homeless man who saw it happen. He was also able to catch the arsonist and hold her until we got here. We’ll need you to come down since there is a broken window, though. We don’t want anyone getting inside the premises.”

Relief washes through me as I sag against the desk while Marie stares at me worriedly. I wave my hand in the air, trying to reassure her that everything is fine. Because it is. Grady is safe, and that’s the only thing that truly matters. Twisted Bean is rebuildable.

I quickly tell the officer I’m on my way, then hang up so I can call my Daddy. I hate interrupting his meeting, but he told me that if I ever needed him for any reason at any time to call him no matter where he is or what he’s doing.

And right now, I need my Daddy.

Grady is already at the shop when I arrive. He called my bodyguard and gave him strict instructions not to speed with me in the car. It seems Grady’s word is law with that guy because he completely ignored me when I told him to go faster.

As soon as the SUV comes to a stop, Grady is at my door, helping me out. “The shop doesn’t look to be in too bad of a shape. I already have a company coming to fix everything.”

I try to look past him, but he blocks me and cups my chin. “Baby, breathe.”

Nodding, I do what he says and look around as several firefighters survey the building. When my gaze lands on an ambulance, I gasp and take off running.

“Tom,” I cry out as I approach.

An EMT is tending to his arm. When I take a look at it, my stomach coils, and I bring my hands up to my mouth to keep from vomiting.

“You’re burned. Oh, God. What happened?” Tears run down my cheeks as I look him up and down for more injuries.

“He tried to throw a blanket over the flames to put the fire out and got burned. He’ll be okay, if he lets me actually help him,” the older EMT says. She’s pretty and clearly exasperated by Tom, but underneath her irritation, I think there’s something else there. She likes him.

“Tom! You could have been seriously hurt.” I step closer and reach for him, but he brushes me off.

“You women need to quit fussing. I’ve experienced worse during my time overseas. Give me a wrap for my arm and I’ll be on my way.” His words are harsh, but there’s no force behind them.

“Please let her check you out and take care of you, Tom. For me?” It’s kind of low of me to guilt trip him, but he’ll give in to being treated, and that’s all that matters.

Grady walks up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me against his front. I clutch him like an anchor.

“Who would have done something like this?” I ask. I just don’t understand. Arson? It’s a coffee shop. Who would want to burn it down? Was it teenagers pranking?

“Sharleen,” Grady grits out between clenched teeth.

I whirl around and look up at him, my eyes practically popping out of my skull. “What?”

He runs his fingers through his hair. “I’m so fucking sorry, baby. This is my fault. I should have done more to get her to leave me alone.”

“Where is she?” My voice is quiet and deadly. It almost scares me, but I’m too pissed right now to feel anything other than pure rage.

“She’s in the back seat of the cop car over there. She’s been arrested and will be charged. My lawyers will make sure she spends time in jail.”

My feet are moving before he finishes his sentence. No one is standing outside the cop car, thankfully. As soon as I reach it, I swing the back door open and reach in to grab a fistful of her hair.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now, you bitch! You try to burn down my coffee shop! You come after my man! My family is hurt because of you! I’ll fucking kill you,” I scream as I slam her head into the plexiglass window that divides the front and back of the car.

I’m yanked away by a strong set of arms, but I continue cursing her out, and goddamn, it feels good. One of the cops slams the door shut, but it doesn’t stop me from giving Sharleen a piece of my mind.

“Easy, baby. Easy,” Grady croons, his voice amused. “Fuck, you’re hot when you’re mad. I have half a mind to strip your pants down and bend you over the front of that cop car so I can fuck you in front of that bitch.”

My pussy clenches, and my heart pounds harder. What the hell is wrong with me? That is not a hot fantasy. Well, it shouldn’t be anyway.

Grady finally sets me on my feet, and I take a second to get my vagina calmed down.

“I can’t believe she set my shop on fire. How did she know where I worked? Has she been stalking you? Oh my God, she probably has. I’m going to kill her.”

“You talk about stalking like it’s a bad thing, baby,” Grady says, winking at me.

“I’m still going to kill her. Is her nose bleeding? I hope it’s broken.”

Grady stares at me for a second, then nods toward the officer nearby. “You didn’t see or hear anything that just happened.”

The officer immediately dips his chin, the corners of his mouth twitching. “Yes, sir. Not a thing. The way I see it, she had a tantrum inside the car and hit her face.”

I snort. Even the cops obey Grady. Why is that so hot? And how can I possibly be thinking about wanting to fuck my man right now when my shop could’ve burned down, Tom got injured, and Grady has some woman stalking him? I’ve lost my mind. That’s all there is to it. There’s no other explanation.

Grady nudges me back toward where Tom is still arguing with the EMT. I turn and flip off Sharleen as we go. Grady chuckles and shakes his head, smiling down at me with nothing but love in his gaze.

“He’s not going to go to the hospital to get treated. He’s so stubborn.” I drop my shoulders, the reality of what could have happened crashing through me like a tidal wave. Tom could have died. And I meant it when I told Sharleen that he’s family.

“Stay here, baby. I’ll be right back.” Grady leads me to my bodyguard and leaves me with him, then goes over to where Tom is sitting on a stretcher.

I watch the two men talk, and though my heart swells for both of them, I wonder which one is threatening death on the other. Grady is a scary man, but I think Tom could be right up there with him, even at his age.

A moment later, Grady strolls back to me, his features calm and relaxed. Behind him, the EMTs load the stretcher into the ambulance with Tom still on it. Holy shit. Is he actually going to let them take him to the hospital?

“What just happened?” I ask when he approaches.

“They’re taking him in to be treated. We’ll meet him there. Aidan will stay here while the contractors start work and give me an update on when they’ll be done so the shop can open back up.”

I stare up at Grady, my mouth hanging open slightly. “You’ve handled everything,” I say quietly. “I don’t know what to do with myself.”

He cups my face and kisses me. “You just relax and let Daddy take care of you. Be my good girl like you always are.”

Nodding, I slide my arms around his waist and squeeze him tightly. Our lives aren’t perfect, but it’s still pretty damn good, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.