Chapter Fourteen
She looked over her shoulder at him. “I really make you happy?”
“Oh, Lord, woman. It’s more intense than happy.”
“So, you still want me around even though you don’t think there’s a threat now?”
He scowled at her. “What are you saying?”
She tried not to cringe at the look in his eyes, but she needed to know. “I’m here because you were protecting me. Now that you aren’t, I don’t need to stay here. But we can still see each other if you want.” She started getting more nervous when he stayed silent.
“Protecting you wasn’t the main reason I brought you here,” he said with a growl.
“I didn’t mean to make you mad.”
He cupped her face, getting suds all over her cheeks, but neither cared. “I can’t put it any plainer than this. You are never going anywhere. You’ll be with me for the rest of your life if it’s what you want, too. Do you understand?”
Tears filled her eyes, and she nodded. “Yes. I don’t want to go anywhere. Not ever.” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him with all the love she felt.
He lifted his head and tried to wipe the bubbles from her face but just made it worse. “Good. I have to admit I would have probably stalked you until you came home.”
She grinned at the sheepish look on his face.
“What do you say we get dressed and make something to eat?”
She nodded again. “Sounds great.” The dinner she had planned for the night would have to wait.
He helped her out of the tub and then dried her gently and squeezed as much water out of the ends of her hair that had gotten wet. Then he handed her one of his button-down shirts and grabbed a pair of sweats for himself.
They were both hungry, so they made a big pan of stir-fry chicken. Easy, quick to do, and filling.
That night in bed, it felt like he held her a little tighter, like he was afraid she’d somehow slip away from him.
The next day, Sienna sat in their apartment, set down her book, and grabbed her phone. She smiled when she saw it was Nia.
“Hey, girl, what’s up?”
“Well, it seems the little cunt is busy at the moment.”
No, no, no.
Oh, my God.
Stark fear raced through her. She cleared her throat and tried to act blasé. “Hector, what are you doing with Nia’s phone?”
“She’s letting me borrow it.”
“What do you want?”
“That’s easy to answer. You’ll come to me.”
“Of course. It seems like forever since I’ve seen you.”
There was a pause. “Don’t fuck with me. If you don’t get down here, Nia will feel some pain.”
“I don’t know what the problem is, Uncle, but if I do, you have to let Nia go.”
“You don’t make the rules. I do. I think she could be fun for some of the guys to play with.”
Her stomach twisted painfully. “Don’t you dare. I’ll fight you with every breath in my body. If you leave her, I’ll come willingly.”
He was silent for a minute. “Fine.”
She didn’t trust the tone of his voice. “I want to talk to her.”
“You can talk to her when you come to me.”
“No, Hector. Remember, I grew up in the neighborhood. I know how you guys work.”
She heard him murmur something to someone, and then Nia came on the phone.
“Oh, my God. Nia, I’m so sorry.”