Page 34 of Storm's Deliverance

I sigh and rub my face. I can’t tell him I kissed his daughter, because he would probably kill me. “We haven’t been that close for a while. I don’t think she will want me there,” I state honestly, but withholding the fact that I kissed her.

He eyes me sceptically. “You think I’m stupid?” He arches his brow. I daren’t answer. “Hendrix, I have fucking eyes. I see the way you look at my daughter, and I see the way you’ve followed her around like a lovesick puppy for years.”

I blink. “I, er, fuck,” I sigh.

He leans on his elbows. “I have just seen my daughter go through hell. She’s fucking struggling to come out the other side of that. She isn’t who she was, and as strong and stubborn as her mom is, she needs a friend right now, and I need someone I can trust. A man I can trust. She needs to be able to trust again, and while she will always feel safe with her mom, with me, her brother, and her friends, she will never fully relax and learn to trust other men. As much as it fucking pains me, she needs to be able to live her life,” he grinds out.

I nod in understanding. “I don’t think trying for a relationship is the best thing for her right now.”

“Damn fucking right it’s not! I’m not pimping my fucking daughter out to you for you to make a move. I want you to sit with her, get her laughing, get her outside the fucking house. Get my girl back,” he says, the last few words sticking in his throat.

My lips twitch. “Sorry, Prez. I wouldn’t have, you know, touched her or nothing.”

“Fuck, boy, do you want to live to see your next birthday?!” he barks, but I catch the amusement in his eyes.

“I’m taking Star out tonight. Enzo will be out fucking god knows what, and I don’t want her alone,” he orders.

“So, I’m just to show up with what? A bag of popcorn and a box of tissues. She may not be herself, but she will just slam the door in my face,” I point out.

Ghost grins. “Yeah, she would.”

“I will tell her someone is coming to be with her while we are out. I don’t want her alone. She will expect it. She knows how protective I am over her.” He shrugs.

“Fine, let me text Ginny.”

Ghost leans back in his chair watching me as I send the text. “You tell her you’re spending the night with my daughter?” he presses.

“Said that I had some club business to take care of.” I shrug.

He shakes his head, a smirk playing on his lips. “Playing a dangerous game, kid. Believe me.” He stands, and gestures for me to leave. I nod and get to my feet, but as I walk past him, his hand presses against my chest, halting me. “And the next time you refer to my daughter as club business, I will break your legs,” he warns.

I grin. “Sure thing, Prez.” I lift my chin arrogantly before leaving. Most men would cower, and while he still scares the shit out of me, I’ve grown up around him. I know when I can push my luck and when to reel it in. He would never hurt me unless I hurt one of his own.