Keeping Katie (Syndicate Kings Book 5)

My girl is exhausted. She needs to be tucked into bed with her stuffed bunny to sleep for a good ten hours or so. I hate to tear her away from Tom’s side, though. Ever since we arrived at the hospital, she’s been sitting with him, holding his hand. It’s clear the man loves her, and she feels the same. She may not have her parents around anymore, but she does have him, and I plan to make sure he’s alive and well for as long as possible to be part of her life.

“Baby girl,” I say softly.

She turns to look up at me, her eyes drooping. Yeah, she’s tired. It’s been a long day. I still can’t believe Sharleen set the shop on fire. Jesus. Thank God Tom was nearby. Who knows what kind of damage would have been done if he hadn’t been.

“It’s getting late. We should go home so you can sleep and Tom can rest.”

Tom nods and pats her hand. “He’s right, Katie-girl. You need to go home and go to bed. I’ll be fine here.”

Katie sighs and rises from her chair, then leans over to hug the older man. “I’ll come see you in the morning.”

As we leave, I offer him a wave, though my attention is mainly on my girl.

Before we pull up to the estate, she’s already asleep. She barely stirs when I lift her out of the car and carry her to our bedroom. It’s not until I lower her to the bed that her eyes flutter open.

“I fell asleep,” she mumbles.

I chuckle and kneel to pull off her shoes. “You did. You were snoring like a bear.”

Her face scrunches up into a scowl as she narrows her eyes. “Nuh-uh. I don’t snore.”

Fuck, she’s so cute. So innocent and sweet. She’s also strong and fiery. I was shocked when she went after Sharleen today, but I was also painfully turned on. My girl didn’t hold back, and it was hot.

“I never got to ask you how your meeting with Marie went today?”

I pull her leggings off, followed by her top and bra, loving that she doesn’t try to cover her lush body from me. I’m going to spend the rest of my life worshipping her beautiful softness. Hopefully, one day, I’ll watch her tummy swell with our child, and I’ll love every bit of her then, too. My cock twitches at the thought.

Ignoring my dick, I go to the dresser to find one of my T-shirts for her to sleep in.

“It went so well. The money will be wired into my account by tomorrow. I can’t believe it’s finally sold, and I can pay off the insurance company. It’s a huge relief, honestly.”

When I pull the bedding back, she crawls underneath and takes Pancake from me when I offer her the bunny. She looks at the soft toy and then moves her gaze to me.

“Daddy?”

“Yeah, baby girl?”

“Do you think we could start doing Pancake Saturday together? I think I want it to become our tradition.”

My heart soars to the heavens to thank her parents for giving me such a wonderful gift. I hate that they’re not here anymore, but I hope they know I’m going to take the best care of her and give her the best life.

“I would love that, baby,” I say tightly, barely able to speak past the lump in my throat.

She smiles softly and closes her eyes. “Me too, Daddy.”

Katie is sleeping when I slip out of bed. She still hasn’t moved when I emerge from the bathroom after my shower. I quietly scribble her a note, letting her know I’ll be back with breakfast. It’s not a lie. I just have another stop to make first.

It’s a few minutes after seven when I walk into Tom’s hospital room. He’s already wide awake with a cup of steaming coffee, though I imagine it tastes like shit compared to the stuff he gets from Twisted Bean.

“Good morning,” I say.

He studies me for a second, then grunts. “Katie still sleeping?”

I nod. “Yes. I came to talk to you privately.”

“You gonna tell me to stay away from her?” he asks. “Because I won’t. She’s like a daughter to me.”

Smiling, I lean back in my chair. The more I get to know this guy, the more I like him. Anyone who loves my girl and wants what’s best for her is okay in my book.

“No. Actually, I came because I want to offer you a job and a place to live.”

That seems to surprise him because he sets his coffee down and gives me his full attention. “A job? I’m an old man.”

“An old man who needs to have a purpose in life. Like watching out for my girl. We have a handful of girls in our family that we keep surrounded with constant protection. I’d like to add you to the team of men.”

He scoffs at that. “I saw the guy you had protecting her yesterday. I’m not in that kind of shape anymore.”

I shrug. “It’s not always the shape that matters. It’s the heart. I know you’d die trying to protect Katie. Besides, I’ve researched your military career. You have skills that never leave a man, no matter how old they are. We have some of the best men in our organization, but they’re young, and you can teach them things only experience provides.”

Tom is a man of honor. He served his country, and he served it well. I don’t give a shit if he’s Irish or not, he’s qualified for the position I’m offering, and Declan backed up the idea immediately. Loyalty is the most important thing in this life, and Tom has been nothing but that to Katie and her family.

He strokes his ragged beard a few times, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes moving as he shifts his gaze around the room.

“This organization you work for. It’s mafia? I’m Italian, and I’m pretty sure by the lull of your accent, you’re Irish,” he says carefully.

Yeah, that’s just one of the reasons he’s qualified. He might be old and weathered, but his instincts are still there.

“Aye. We’re Irish, but the Italians are our allies, and there is a peace pact in place among all the US syndicates. Makes things kind of boring sometimes, but we make more money that way.”

Tom chuckles. “I don’t know how much use I’d be, but I’ll do it if it means helping to keep Katie safe. She’s a good girl.”

I let out a deep exhale. “She’s the best girl.”

“You’re a good man, too, Grady.”

Raising my chin to look at him, I shrug. “I wouldn’t say that, but she makes me better.”

“You’re a good man. I knew it the first time I saw you with her. She needs someone like you in her life.”

He’s not her father. His approval shouldn’t matter, but it does. Her father respected Tom and asked him to look out for her, so in a way, it feels like I’m getting her father’s blessing.

“Thank you, Tom.”

We sit in silence for several seconds.

“I came here for another reason,” I finally say. “I’ve recently purchased a house as an investment, and I’d like you to live in it. It will be part of your compensation for working for us.”

“I do just fine now,” he replies.

I was worried this part would be more of a fight. At least by offering a job, he’s giving me something in return for money. But offering him a house probably feels like a handout to him.

“I know you do. But Katie worries about you, and she’d feel better knowing you’re in a safe, warm home. This is something I’ve done for dozens of low-income families and veterans. I buy homes and rent them to people who deserve them. You deserve this house. I also think it would mean a lot to Katie if you lived in this house.”

“Why’s that?” he asks, lifting a brow.

“Because it’s the home she grew up in.”

The corners of his lips slowly widen into a smile. “You bought her parents’ house. She know about this yet?”

“No. I plan to tell her today. After I get you to agree to live there. She can’t get mad at me for buying it if it gives you a roof over your head, right?”

He’s quiet for a beat before he slaps his thigh with his good arm and laughs. It’s deep and gravelly, but it uncoils the anxiety in my stomach.

“You’re good,” he says.

I grin at him. “I know how to get what I want.”

His response is to laugh harder.

By the time I get home with breakfast, it’s later than I’d planned. Tom and I talked for a while longer, and I gave him more details about the job. The doctor came in and said he’d be discharged this afternoon. Perfect timing since I have furniture being delivered to the house this morning for him.

Katie’s sitting cross-legged on the floor in the living room, leaning against the couch with some papers in front of her and a cup of coffee in hand. Her hair is messy, and she’s still in my T-shirt. She’s the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen.

As soon as she sees me, her eyes light up, and I feel like a fucking king. I hope she always looks at me like that. I hope I can be the man who deserves to have her look at me like that. I wasn’t lying when I said she makes me a better man.

“Hi, baby girl. Sorry, I took a bit longer than expected.”

I sit on the sofa next to her and lean down for a kiss. This is what life is all about. Moments like this. It’s not about money or status or any of those materialistic things. It’s this, right here.

“I missed you,” she murmurs against my mouth.

“I missed you too. I think from now on, neither of us should go anywhere without the other.”

She giggles and rolls her eyes. “Nice try, Daddy.”

“Mm, I tried.” I glance at the stuff in front of her. “What’s all that?”

“Oh, well, since you were gone, I decided to check my bank account, and the money for the house had already been deposited. So, I called the health insurance company to make the payment.”

I scratch my chin and slowly nod, trying to be as nonchalant as possible.

“The strangest thing happened when I called, though. They told me the bill had already been paid. Apparently, there had been a large donation made by a company called G.O. Enterprises for all the outstanding bills—over three hundred thousand.” She turns to face me, sitting on her knees. If I weren’t sweating bullets right now, I’d be pulling out my dick for her to suck it since she’s in such a perfect position.

“You know what’s even stranger? The investor who bought the house was also G.O. Enterprises.” She raises an eyebrow at me, and I know she’s put all the pieces together.

“Baby, let me explain,” I say quickly.

Holding up her hand, she silences me. My gut twists so tight I think I might throw up. I knew this could backfire terribly, but I had the best of intentions and I hope that she’ll understand that eventually.

“Thank you. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, Grady O’Brien, but thank you.” She throws her arms around my neck and crawls into my lap. A soft sob escapes her, and it both heals and breaks my heart all at the same time.

“I’ve got you, baby. I’m right here.” I stroke her hair and rock her, finding my own comfort in her warmth.

Life is full of sorrows, but it’s also full of joy. I think we’ve both faced enough sadness. Now is our time for beautiful bliss.

I hold her for a long time, neither of us saying anything. We don’t need to. We know what we mean to each other. We’re soulmates. There’s no question about it.

When I finally speak again, I tell her about Tom, and she breaks down into tears again. We spend the next few hours in the living room, holding each other, talking, and making love. It’s soft and intimate and slow. It’s perfect.

She’s perfect. And she’s mine. Forever and always.