Page 25 of Dagger's Target
“I can make my own,” I inform him tersely. “I don’t need to be treated like a child.”
Dagger dips his head down and whispers in my ear, “I’m not treating you like anything but what you are, my very own queen who should be treated as one. Now, sit your ass down and let me get you something to eat.”
The spot between my thighs quivers at the husky tone of his voice.
Well, okay then.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Dagger
“She really brought a beardy down here for her,” I grunt, watching as Katrina sits with the bearded dragon on her chest, staring at it while laughing and petting the damn thing.
Nothing against the creatures, I think they’re cool as shit, but hell, we’ve got enough going on right now without the added headache.
“Yeah, Boxer wouldn’t let her buy a snake like she wanted.” Lucky laughs, shaking his head. “So bearded it is. They’re pretty easy to take care of for the most part.”
I was going to have to look into how you take care of a bearded dragon. I wasn’t going to just have someone tell me what all you do with one of those creatures. Like anything else, you gotta do it right so they have everything they need.
“They all look to be getting along,” Lucky states, jerking his chin to where Katrina was sitting with her brother, dad, and cousins.
“Yeah.” I’m glad to see the tension worn off and my woman looking relaxed. The last thing I’d want to have to do is knockGrinder on his ass for hurting his sister’s feelings. “You know how long y’all are staying?”
“Chelsea and I will head back home tomorrow. She only wanted to come down to meet her cousin, but she’s not going to want to be away from Sterling for too long.”
“I get it.” I know when Katrina and I have this one, I wouldn’t want to be away from them for long periods of time. There’ll be times I’ll have to be away, runs I’ll have to go on, but I’d hate being away from not just my kid, but my woman as well.
“Yo, Dagger,” Cy calls out as he makes his way toward me.
I turn to him and wait ‘til he’s close before asking, “What’s up?”
“I just got an alert on the alarm I put up at Katrina’s studio,” he says, pulling up the security feed. “This is live now.”
I glance down at his phone, my jaw clenched tight enough to crack my back molars. “We need to get over there.”
“Figured as much.” Cy grunts, shoving his phone in his pocket. “Already sent the prospects ahead of us.”
“I’m heading there. Hopefully, they’re still there so I can fuck them up.” Growling, I start toward where my woman was laughing.
Katrina catches sight of me, and the smile on her face vanishes.”What’s wrong?”
“Someone broke into the studio again. I’m heading there now.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“No.” No way was she going near there this time around.
“What do you mean ‘no’? It’s my studio.”
“Baby, I ain’t got time for this, but you need to stay here where I know you’re safe. I won’t chance you or the baby.”
“Fine,” she huffs.
“I’ll let you know what I find. I promise.” I won’t keep it from her. She’s got a right to know, but I also won’t see her placedin trouble. Pulling her close, I kiss her deeply and let go. With a chin lift to her brother and dad, I leave my woman in their care. I don’t like it, but even with only a few short hours, I know they’ll protect her for me.
Nothing else matters to me more than her safety.
* * *
