“You know nothing about me.” Paddy’s face turned bright red.
“I know you cash checks your ass can’t cover and your daughter could’ve paid a hefty price had the President been someone else.”
“You think I don’t know that?”
“I don’t’ know. You seem pretty ambivalent to me.”
“You don’t get to come in and judge me.”
“Aren’t you doing the same thing?” Demon laughed.
“No, I’m trying to protect my daughter from getting her heart trampled.”
“Listen up old man, ‘cause I’m only going to say it this once. The shit between me and her is the forever kind. You try to step in between it and I will shut you down. I don’t give fuck who you are.”
Understanding flickered in green eyes identical to Ardy’s. “You really do love her don’t you?”
“Yeah, I do.”
Paddy shook his head and laughed. “Her mother’s going to have a shit fit over this. Don’t know that I can manage my blessing, but you have my acknowledgement.”
“Better take on respect too. You talk out of turn to her or me and we’re going to have a problem.”
“No, I’m done meddling. I get it. Don’t like it much. You get my daughter hurt or killed and I’m going to come for you. It’s not a threat it’s a promise. As a father, you should be able to understand that.”
“Fair enough.”
“Good. Now, let me go say goodbye to my little girl.”
Demon watched him leave and shook his head. This domestic shit is complex. She’d better never question if I love her after this shit. He hadn’t done the family thing since his old man died. Being a father was different. You didn’t interact with your own children the same way you did with an elder in the family. After giving them a few more minutes alone, he walked toward the house. Plus side, the kids earned a set of grandparents. Watching his kids wrap the old man around their fingers had been hilarious.
They saw the old man off around noon and Demon did his best not to show how happy he was to have him gone. He liked his house as peaceful as possible. Because the minute he stepped out the door as acting President, shit tended to hit the fan.
“Thank you,” Ardy whispered, snuggling against him on the couch.
“For what?” He glanced down into her hazel eyes and found himself lost in their depths. She wore her heart on her sleeve. It fascinated him. He’d never met someone so open before.
“Putting up with my Da. I know you wanted to strangle him one or ten million times.”
“He’s your family, baby. I know how much they mean to you. It takes more than an annoying attempt to give the third degree to piss me off. I can do shake downs standing still. His heart is in the right place and we made our peace. As long as he’s finished with the pissing contest, I don’t see any problems in the future.” He trailed his fingers down her arms.
“I think he’s ready to accept it. It’s my mom I’m worried about.”
“I won’t put up with them giving you shit. So, you’d better tell her what’s up Ardy. I don’t care if she’s a woman I’ll put her in her place.”
“Don’t.”
“Hey.” He gripped her chin. “You belong to me, right?”
“Of course.”
“That means I take care of you. What kind of protector would I be if I were letting you get bullied by someone, because you felt you owed them respect? You let me take care of the heavy lifting.”
“Okay.”
He smirked. “There’s my good girl.”
She rolled her eyes. “So cocky.”