chapter eight
Ajax
I always knew the fucker who raped and murdered my sister had a brother. Carlos Dennings. That’s his name. He was locked up whenever I killed his brother, but I’ve kept an eye on him since his release. I’ve been vigilant, making sure he wasn’t going to come after me. I’ve always been one who was prepared for every eventuality.
The man didn’t seem to be out for vengeance. I don’t know if he and his brother were close. At first, I thought maybe he didn't give a shit since he never came after me. I don't know what's possessed him to start coming after me now—if maybe he’s just been biding his time up until now—but I'll take care of it. I'm not going to have anyone ruin what I have with Olivia. Now that I finally have her, nothing is going to jeopardize that. I can understand the guy being pissed about his brother, but I have to wonder if he knew what kind of man his brother was.
I don't really give a fuck either way because no one is going to threaten Olivia, and as much as I hate to send her back to her parents, I'll do whatever I have to do to keep her safe.
I look down at my princess where she sits in the passenger seat of my SUV with her little brow furrowed. If it wasn’t for the anxiety coursing through me, I would smile at her demeanor. She thinks I don't know her well enough to know that she's plotting something in those pretty blue eyes of hers. She has absolutely no intention of staying put like I told her, and while it warms my heart to know that she truly does care about me enough to worry about me, her safety comes before anything.
That's why when we get to her house, I get out of the car with her.
Her eyes widen as she watches me step out of the driver’s seat. “What are you doing?” she asks me, her voice slightly panicky.
I walk around to her door and open it, holding my hand out to help her from the vehicle. She places her tiny hand in my palm, and those familiar tingles shoot throughout my entire system. Will she always affect me like this? Something tells me she will.
“Walking you to your door,” I tell her.
She shakes he head and is getting ready to argue with me—I can tell—but I shake my head.
“I need to have a few words with your father.”
Olivia’s eyes widen, and then her protests set in, “Ajax, no—“
I cut her off with a quick kiss to her lips. Although it’s quick, I kiss her deeply, putting all the love and obsession I feel for her into the kiss until I feel her melt against me.
Once I’ve kissed her into submission, I walk her to the door and knock on it.
Her mother opens it, her eyes going wide when she sees her daughter. “Olivia!” the older copy of my princess exclaims before she pulls her daughter into her for a fierce hug, her eyes glancing over Olivia’s shoulder to me questioningly.
“I need to speak to your husband,” I tell her, but I already see the man coming up behind Olivia and her mother. I see the relief pass through his eyes as they land on his daughter before they cut up to me and narrow suspiciously.
“Mr. Carson,” I nod my head cordially at him.
The man gives the briefest nod in return, but he doesn't speak my name. That's okay. I don't need the man to like me. I just need him to keep his daughter safe long enough for me to sort all this out.
“Can I have a word with you?” I ask him frankly.
Again, he doesn't speak. He just studies me before he steps out onto the porch with me, closing his wife and daughter up behind us. The way he doesn't invite me into his home doesn't go unnoticed by me, but again, I don't give a fuck. I'm not here to make friends with him. Of course, it’d be more ideal if he liked me, for Olivia’s sake anyway.
But I'm not looking for a father figure. If he doesn't like me, I don't really give a fuck. I'll always show him respect simply because he's my girl's father, but at the same time, I'm not giving Olivia up for anything—not now that she’s recognized her feelings for me and gave herself to me so sweetly.
“So…you're the reason my daughter ran off.” He doesn’t ask it as a question. He simply states it as a fact.
I’m just as blunt in my answer. “Yes,” I confirm. No need to tell the man that I kidnapped her right out from underneath his nose. I'm sure that wouldn't be a good way to start off our relationship.
The man's jaw ticks as he stares at me before he accuses, “So, I guess you got what you wanted, and you're bringing her back.”
My own jaw clenches as anger flares up in my chest, hot and heavy. I speak to him from between clenched teeth. I don't really have time for this shit. “That is the last time you speak about her like that in my presence,” I warn him. I don’t care if the man is her father. No one talks about my Olivia that way.
“I'm in love with your daughter,” I tell him, “and I intend on marrying her.”
He scoffs as he crosses his arms. “Well, if you're looking for my blessing, then—“
“With all due respect, sir, that's not why I'm here.”
He narrows his eyes at me again. “What is it then?”