Chapter Six
Andrew
Pulling up to our house, I don’t even wait for the driver to get my door before I am storming up the stairs to my daughter’s room. I have had all of my men out searching for her for over twelve hours. If she thinks for one second that I will let this go, she is mistaken. I stop outside her door when I hear Jaxxson’s raised voice.
“… Unacceptable, Eliana. I don’t care what your reasoning is. It was careless, and as your soon-to-be husband, I will not tolerate your disobedience. Your father and I agreed it was for the best. You could have been hurt, love. Don’t let it happen again, understood?” Jaxxson asserts, surprising me. Good.
“Yes, Jaxxson. No more drugs, please.” She wines. There’s the daughter I know.
“No more drugs. We have a wedding to plan and very little time.”
“Shopping?” she squeals.
“Shopping.” He chuckles.
I have heard what I needed to, so I knock once and walk in.
“You’re home, Poppet.” I narrow my gaze on her as she pouts.
“She is, Andrew. Seems our girl had decided to throw a bit of a tantrum.” Jaxx stands, placing a hand on the back of her neck, and uses his thumb to tilt her head, locking gazes with her. “However, that won’t be happening again. Will it, baby?”
“No, Jaxx.” She turns to me. “I’m sorry daddy. I didn’t like the meds, and I missed my friends.”
I cross the room, sitting beside her. “Something to tell me?”
“What do you mean, Daddy?” she smiles looking down at her feet.
“Perhaps you would prefer to sing it to me?” Jaxx growls as her eyes go wide. “Poppet, never again. You painted a bigger target on your back. You are not to leave this house again without clearance from Jaxxson or myself.”
“Daddy…”
“Eliana,” Jaxx says firmly, and she nods.
“All right, Daddy.” I raise a brow at Jaxx, and he laughs.
“Tell him the rest, baby.” He motions to her.
“Jaxx asked me to marry him.”
“And?” I raise a questioning brow.
“Look at my big ring, Daddy!” she holds out her hand. “So shiny. Oh! I need the black card. We’re going shopping.”
“Beautiful, Poppet. Tomorrow. Get some rest. It’s late. Jaxxson, I would like to speak to you in the hall.”
“Goodnight, Daddy. I love you.” She stands, heading to the bathroom with her clothes. “Jaxx?”
“I’ll be back.” He follows me into the hall.
“Care to fill me in?” I hiss.
“We found her and brought her home just like you asked. She was still pissed, so I figured I might as well put it all out there at once.” He shrugs, grinning. “By the way, I told her you didn’t set a budget for the wedding.”
“No wonder she agreed.” I chuckle. “Whatever it takes, Jaxxson. You staying with her tonight?”
“Yes, I’m done for today and want to make sure she is settled before heading back out. I sent Abel and Cos on to bed; we have been going for over forty-eight hours and need to rest.” He turns to leave, but I speak, stopping him.
“Jaxxson, don’t fuck this up. Keep her happy and in line. If you can’t do it…” he knows what’s on the line.
“I can handle her, Andrew. You saw her submit in there. Nothing to worry about.” He walks into her room, shutting the door behind him.
Not sure how he did it, but he did. Everything is falling back into place, I just need to tie up some lose strings.
Eliana
Once the guys step into the hall, I take a quick shower, letting the water beat away the tension in my shoulders, and release a deep breath. It was over the top, but I think it worked. Daddy needs to believe that I will obey Jaxx when I would normally buck anyone else. It’s not a hard push since I have always trusted him without question.
I step out of the shower, drying off. I study the ring Jaxx placed on my finger moments before Abel informed us of Daddy’s arrival. It really is beautiful, a flawless diamond set in an antique band. He did well.
I wipe the condensation from the mirror above the sink and reach for my toothbrush, freezing when I notice Joshua’s still cradled next to mine. My heart aches, and I suddenly feel sick. Running to the toilet, I hit my knees right as my stomach revolts and empties its contents into the bowl. I flush, turning to sit once I’m sure it’s passed, and wrap my fingers tightly around the locket and engagement ring hanging from the chain around my neck.
“I’m so sorry, Charming. I’m not replacing you. Please come back to me,” I beg then cover my mouth with both hands, smothering a sob. I can do this. I can fake it, make all of them believe I’m fine.
“Munchkin?” I scramble to stand but stumble, falling back to my knees when I hear Jaxx enter the bathroom. “Careful, baby. Dizzy? Want something to eat before bed?” He lifts me into his arms, carrying me to the bed, and lays me down gently.
“No, just tired I think; been a long day. Are you staying?”
“Of course. I won’t leave unless there is work to do and never without telling you.” He takes off his shirt and climbs into bed, wearing the pajama pants I bought him last Christmas after walking in on him in nothing but his boxer briefs, and then pulls me to him.
“Did he buy it? Played it a bit alpha, didn’t you, baby?” I poke him in the side, stressing the word baby, teasingly attempting to lighten my mood.
He laughs, flipping me on my back and tickling me. “As a matter of fact, he did, and I didn’t play alpha, baby. Andrew knows us, and if we are going to sell this, we have to be as real as we can. The less we lie, the less chance we have of fucking up. Got it?”
“And baby?” I laugh. Holy shit, that’s kinda hot, but he’s still Jaxx.
“Felt right. Not sure Munchkin works if we are supposed to be engaged.” He shrugs and brushes my hair back, kissing my forehead. “We should probably get some rest. Hard to tell what tomorrow will bring.”
“Goodnight, Jaxx.” He pulls me to him again, and I cuddle back in with a sigh.
“Sweet dreams, Eliana.” He quiets before softly asking, “You do forgive me, don’t you?”
“Of course I do, Jaxx. You’re still my person. You just made a bad call,” I hug him tightly. Holding up my hand, I ask, “What about you? This ring should be on the finger of a woman you are actually in love with, not mine.”
“That ring is right where it belongs; we’re going to be okay, Eliana.”
“I love you, Jaxx.”
“I love you, too. Rest, baby.”
Costin
I wake to a pounding, and my door swings open, slamming into the wall.
“Get up. Andrew wants all of us in the basement now.” Abel tosses me the pants from my chair.
“It’s still dark. What the hell happened?” I pull on my jeans, grab my keys and wallet, and step into my boots.
“Something about the Laport house. I don’t know exactly, but from the way he’s acting, it’s bad.” Abel glances across the hall to E’s door. “Have you seen Jaxx? His room is empty.”