War And Peace: This Is Me, Baby Part 4

"Right," I say with a slight shake of my head. "Talk later."

Quickly, I mash the b.u.t.ton to end our call. When I look back up, Daddy is still in the cracked doorway.

"Come in," I groan. I'm not in the mood for him to try and talk to me. I'm not in the mood to eat. I'm not in the mood for anything.

He pushes through the door and strolls in as if this is his house. Walking past the bed, he makes his way over to the window. With his back to me, he speaks in a gruff tone. "Are we going to talk about what happened?"

A shiver trembles through me. "You saw what happened. You were there," I bite out.

He looks at me over his shoulder, his brown eyes narrowed. "Not that, Brie baby. Us. How I left you."

Pain stabs at me from the inside out and I have to break our gaze. I look down at my hands to keep from crying. "I didn't understand why you left me. I still don't understand. It hurt so bad, Daddy."

His footsteps near, but I still don't look back at him. He moves the laptop and then sits beside me. I don't fight him when he takes my hand. Truth be told, I miss my dad's comfort. I miss how close we were. Mom was always working so it was me and him. Always.

"I thought I was doing the right thing. When I left you, I never meant for anything to happen to your mother. And then..." he trails off, his voice hoa.r.s.e.

"Hannah cut open Mom's throat," I remind him, my tone bitter.

He squeezes my hand. "I didn't know she'd done that. I swear I would never have left you to find such a terrible scene. But then, it wasn't safe to come back home. I was a wanted man. I mean, I've always been a wanted man, but the spotlight was back on me. They'd have taken me to prison the moment I came for you."

The thought of Daddy in prison saddens me. I remember being a little girl and him warning me. How he said that if he ever got taken away, that he'd always loved me. That it was never a lie. Our love was real. I'd never understood it at the time. But after Mom died, his real story was all over the news. The terrible things he'd done in the past. The people he'd killed.

It should have made me afraid of him but it never did. The dad I knew wasn't like that. At least not with me. And when he'd eliminated Heath, all I wished for was that he'd done it sooner.

"Heath Berkley imprisoned me. I was his little p.a.w.n," I choke out.

I can sense his rage from beside me. It's like a wave of hate clouding the air around us. It doesn't suffocate and destroy me. Instead, it warms me. I breathe it in and hold on to it.

"War was supposed to make sure you were safe. I swear, baby, I kept tabs on you. A few times, I even snuck into that f.u.c.ker's parties just to get a glimpse of you. Each time, you looked so..."

He must have seen me hanging out with Oscar and Vee. When I was with them, I was happy.

"Ren looked after me," I tell him and finally meet his gaze.

Daddy's eyes are bloodshot and his brows are furled together. His beard has thickened since we've been here. "He didn't do a very good job," he utters under his breath.

I feel oddly defensive over Ren. Sure, he wasn't protective like Daddy or even Duvan. And when his secret came out, I was crushed. But Ren was always there for me. He loved me when not many people did. He made me laugh. He made me feel. He gave me hope in an otherwise hopeless environment.

"You don't know anything about him," I tell him firmly. "How did you know to come find me, anyway? Why didn't you come sooner?" I want to scream at him and say, "Had you been there five minutes earlier, I would still have my husband." But I don't. I bite back the nasty words.

"Ren," he admits with a huff. "He spilled the beans about Heath and that he'd forced you to marry. That he was involved with the Colombian cartel. That he was a motherf.u.c.king dragon, and I'd willing left you there. He told me the ways he would touch you. How he'd hit you. All I saw was red. I'd sat by thinking you were happy. That you would go off to school and get a degree, like your mom. That you'd do great things in your life without my toxic decisions affecting you any longer. But it wasn't that way. You were nothing but a G.o.dd.a.m.ned prisoner primed to marry into another bad family."

I shake my head. "Duvan was a good husband. Don't speak badly of him. And Oscar is my friend. The only bad person in this family is Esteban."

He scratches his beard before pinning me with a heartbroken look. "Luciana told me what that sc.u.m did to you." His palm finds my cheek and he strokes it. Fire blazes in his eyes as he spits out the words. "I promise you, Brie baby. I will find him and I will make him pay. It won't be a simple shot to the head either. I will torture him. Drain him of all his blood-one drop at a time. He'll suffer because he made you suffer. He'll hurt because he made you hurt. He'll die and you will live. Even if it's the last thing I do, I'll make sure he dies under my watch."

My heart flutters at his words. Esteban may not have killed my husband, but at one time, he killed my spirit. He'd made me hate myself. I want him dead. "Thank you."

Surprise flickers in his eyes but he schools the look away. "Baby, I need you to know that I'm never leaving you again. I know we'll never have a traditional family-and quite frankly, Hannah is difficult-but I'm going to find a way to make it work. We'll find a way to live together. Toto will love you. She's so beautiful and funny. You'll really like your sister."

An ache presents itself in my chest. I shake my head at him. "I'm not going to live with you. I am eighteen now and a widow. I've been imprisoned for far too long. I won't be locked away again."

Hurt flashes in his eyes. "But how will you live? Where will you live? Here?"

Reaching over to the stack of papers, I hand them to him. "All of this is mine. And this," I point at the address of the manufacturing plant, "is my business. At least my part of it."

His eyes widen. "You can't be serious. You're not going to be some cartel queen, Brie. I won't f.u.c.king allow it."

Gritting my teeth, I s.n.a.t.c.h the papers from him. "You don't have a say in the matter. Besides, I'm not going to run it. I'm going to sell it. That's where I'll need your help. I'm afraid these people are dangerous."

His gaze softens and a smile plays at his lips. "You look just like your momma. Alejandra had the same fire in her eyes when she was pa.s.sionate about something. Beautiful. You've blossomed into an amazing woman. She would have been so proud of you. I certainly as f.u.c.k am. You've been dealt some bulls.h.i.t and yet here you are. Alive. Fire blazing in your eyes. Fierce." He drags my wrist over to him and his thumb swipes over the heart with Duvan's name in it. "The tiger stripes are fitting. Anyone who f.u.c.ks with you will meet the claws."

My heart patters and a genuine smile tugs at my lips. It's been so long since I actually laughed or truly grinned. Daddy always had that way of being able to cheer me up no matter what.

"I missed you," I admit, my throat tight with emotion.

He tugs my wrist until I'm flush against him. My dad always smelled so good. Safe and loving. A scent I couldn't seem to recall when I was living with the Berkleys but I missed it so badly. Now, I inhale it and hope to never lose it again.

"Brie baby," he whispers against my hair before kissing my head. "I'm not ever going anywhere again. I'll always be there for you if you need me. All you have to do is say the words. I'll slaughter anyone in my path to make sure I get to you."

I hug his middle. Tears roll out, but this time they are ones of relief. I don't feel so alone with my dad here to help me fight my war. His vow can be felt all the way into my soul. He won't leave me again. We're in this together.

"These Colombians won't know what hit 'em," he says with a chuckle. "Mickey and Sylvia are on the warpath."

I crack a smile. "n.o.body puts Baby in the corner."

He pats my back. "d.a.m.n straight."

"Daddy," I murmur and look up at him. "I'm pregnant."

His smile falls from his face, and for the first time ever, a look of distress pa.s.ses over my father's fearsome features.

THE SENSATION OF BEING watched has really been f.u.c.king with my head. Of course I don't mention it to Brie or Luciana, but someone is out there in those woods. I can feel it with every fiber of my being.

And tonight, I'm going to find out whom.

I located Duvan's weapon stash. Found me a big f.u.c.king knife and a Glock. Tonight, after the girls go to bed, I'm going hunting. If it's that Esteban a.s.shole, I'm going to enjoy the h.e.l.l out of skinning him alive.

"Still no word from Oscar?" Brie's voice carries out into the hallway from her room. She doesn't talk much, but each day is getting better. Ever since we had our heart to heart a few days ago, her spirits have lifted. She's still gutted over the loss of her husband, but I see signs of my child hiding behind the sadness. My baby girl lurks inside, just waiting to come out when it's safe.

I'll make her world safe for her if it's the last thing I do.

I'm sitting in her yellow office with the lights out and my eyes trained on the tree line past the barn. I know whoever is out there can't see me from this vantage point so it gives me the advantage. Eventually, I'll find this motherf.u.c.ker.

"Where do you think he is?" she asks, her voice somewhat m.u.f.fled.

I can't hear what Ren is saying but I know it's him. He's the only person she truly talks to. Sometimes, they do this weird-a.s.s thing where they don't talk at all. As much as I want to ask why they do this, I don't. Whatever sort of comfort he provides her seems to improve her moods. Ren, despite being War's kid, is actually okay in my book. I'd much rather have her talking to the likes of him than that Oscar kid she keeps fretting about. I don't trust these Colombians as far as I can throw them.

I still can't believe she's pregnant. With Duvan's child, she later told me. I'm too young to be a grandfather. h.e.l.l, I have a baby of my own on the way. She stunned me speechless. I'm still trying to process her words. Not only do I have to protect my baby...but I also have to protect my baby's baby. I think I'm going to develop a f.u.c.king ulcer from all this stress.

Something glows for a brief moment beyond the trees, jerking me away from thoughts of my little girl's stomach swelling with child, and my suspicions are confirmed. Someone is out there. Their cell phone just gave them away.

I slip out of the room and creep down the hall past Brie's room. Luciana has already retired to her room above the garage for the evening, so I'll be able to sneak out undetected. The last thing I need is one of those girls following me out there and getting themselves hurt. I make my way out the front door and then creep around the ma.s.sive house until I reach the backyard. Darting through the shadows, I make a wide arc to the woods. I move like the night. The f.u.c.ker won't see me coming. Once I get into the thick vegetation of the forest, I have to slow down and be mindful of my steps as not to alert the p.r.i.c.k to my presence. As I near, I can hear his breathing. He's crunching on some leaves. When his phone lights up again, he lets out a groan of frustration as he quickly answers it.

"Yes," he hisses. "I'm here. Where are you?"

He nods his head as he listens and his eyes remain fixed on the house. I inch forward and draw my knife, ready to exact damage on the lurker.

"She's here. Some man is with her." A pause. "Could be. They don't come out much." A pause. "Haven't seen Esteban." A pause. "Trust me, I will, hermano."

I'm much closer now and can hear the voice speaking rapidly on the other end, although I can't make out the words. The f.u.c.ker is bigger than me. Broad shoulders. Looks meaner than h.e.l.l. But I'm the one with the element of surprise here. I'm the one with my weapon drawn and ready.

"You think he'll come for her?" he asks, his voice weary. "Has Camilo even spoken to Esteban since Duvan ran him off?"

I don't make out what the other person says but I'll find out soon enough.

"Right. I'll keep watch. Call me when you need me to do it."

It takes everything in me to wait until he ends his call before I pounce. He's not going to touch one hair on my daughter's head. Grabbing the back of his jacket, I yank him backward and push the knife against his throat. It isn't hard enough to puncture the flesh but if he moves, he might cut himself wide open.

"Who the f.u.c.k are you?" I seethe. "And why are you stalking my daughter?"

He raises both hands in surrender. "Chill out, hombre. I'm here to protect her," he says through clenched teeth. "Not hurt her."

"Name," I bark.

"Rafe."

"Do you know my daughter?" I demand.

He groans. "I've met her once but I'm not even sure she remembers me. Although, I'm sure Duvan probably spoke of me to her. I'm his right-hand man. His protection." He lets out a hiss of frustration. "Was. I was those things. Now, I'm hers."

He is nothing to her.

I'm her motherf.u.c.king protection detail.

"Who were you talking to?"

"Oscar."

The name has me calming a bit. I draw my gun and step away. "Turn around."

He slowly turns around and regards me with narrowed eyes. "Listen, old man," he grunts, "you're in the lion's den out here. Word has gotten out that Duvan was murdered. I have some trusted men protecting his factory and I'm looking after his wife and the house. But it won't take long for the enemies of the Rojas family to pounce on this weakness. Esteban is missing. Duvan is dead. And that just leaves Camilo and Oscar to pick up the pieces. Camilo is at the shipyard eight hours away, and Oscar is with him until he can come out this way. We need to get the little princess out of here before she's in the middle of a drug war. Diego Gomez is just waiting to make his move and steal the Bogot territory. It's only a matter of days before he can a.s.semble a big enough army for what will be a hostile takeover."

Once again, I'm furious at myself for having let my daughter go. She was sucked up into something a thousand times more dangerous than Hannah. At least with my wife, when she gets crazy, I can manhandle her and tie her a.s.s up. This whole Colombian army s.h.i.t is way out of my league.

f.u.c.k!

"Walk," I bark out. "We're going to talk to Brie and Luciana about this. If they even look at you wrong, I'm putting a bullet in your skull and letting the f.u.c.king forest animals snack on you. No funny moves. You do not know who the f.u.c.k you're messing with."

He sighs and nods. "Oscar told me you eliminated that sick f.u.c.k, Heath. There's been a hit out on him for years. Gomez just couldn't ever get to him. The Rojas family never got rid of him because he was an a.s.set. I know Duvan hated him, though. You just carried out your son-in-law's wishes."

I motion with my gun toward the house. He trots through the brush and across the gra.s.s. Once we're on the porch, he turns to regard me.

"You may not trust me, but Duvan did. We were thick as thieves. He always took care of my mother and sisters when money was tight. I want to return the favor and make sure his woman isn't harmed. It would appear you and I share the same interests, hermano."

The man smirks and it boils my blood. "I don't f.u.c.king share," I growl out before I pistol-whip him upside the head. "And I'm not your brother."

Brie sits perched on the arm of the couch with her dark eyebrows furrowed together. She glares at Rafe tied to a kitchen chair I dragged in here. Blood drips from his brow, where I've hit him. He still hasn't come to. The fierceness rippling from her is so thick in the air, you could cut it.

"Did you have to knock him out, Daddy?" Her brown eyes cut to mine and irritation flickers in them. She may have her mother's features, but the look in her eyes is all mine. I've seen it a thousand times in the mirror.

"I don't trust him," I grumble. Walking over to him, I grab a handful of his black hair and yank his head back. "Wake up, a.s.shole."

His eyes slowly blink open, confusion twisting his features. When his eyes lock onto my daughter's, he smiles. If I didn't think she'd beat my a.s.s, I'd knock him out again. "Hey, Brie. Remember me?"

She stiffens and tears her gaze from his. Her fingers twist together. I can tell he makes her anxious and that makes me really f.u.c.king anxious.

"You have exactly three minutes to make that look on her face disappear, punk," I snap. "Get to talking real fast." I release his hair and sit down in the chair beside him, my gun casually pointed at his head.

He side-eyes the gun before looking at her with a less confident expression. "Brie. You may not remember me, but I came here once when you two were first married. Remember, you went and fetched us the blow?"

She squints her eyes at him. "I remember there being several men there but I'm not sure."

He frowns. "Do you remember getting high out of your mind on Ex at the restaurant? I drove you two home that night."

My blood boils that her a.s.shole husband gave her drugs. I'm glad the p.r.i.c.k is dead.

"I thought you looked familiar. The name is familiar, though. Duvan did speak highly of you," she murmurs. "My dad says Oscar sent you? Why isn't he answering my calls?"

Rafe lets out a sigh. "Duvan and Heath left a mess for little Ozzy and Camilo. With Esteban hiding who the f.u.c.k knows where, they've got their hands full trying to keep control of their operation. Oscar has made it known, though, that I am to protect you and to get you out of Bogot as soon as possible."

Brie's eyes flit over to mine, questions dancing in her eyes. She's eighteen G.o.dd.a.m.ned years old, for crying out loud. This isn't something a woman her age should be dealing with. I'm keen on the idea of getting her the h.e.l.l out of this country. I can protect her better on my own soil.

"My dad," she tells him, "and you, for that matter, can keep me safe from Esteban. I'm not leaving until I've settled my husband's a.s.sets. I owe it to him." She bites down on her bottom lip and her eyes become watery. "Did Oscar mention anything about Duvan's body? Did they bury him or cremate him?" Her shaking hand finds her necklace and she fingers his ring that sits on it.

He shrugs. "He just said that he had his men take care of things in Venezuela. I didn't ask much else. But, Brie, I was serious. We need to get you out of here. You're a target now that Duvan's gone. Diego wants that factory and-"

Holding her hand up, she nods her head. "Good. Set up a meeting with him."

Both Rafe and I growl at the same time. "What?"

Her eyes dart between us. She straightens her back and presses her lips together in a firm line. Then, she speaks in a calm tone. "If he wants it, I'll sell it to him. All the product, the building, the territory."

"He wants to take it," Rafe snarls. "Not buy it."

She stands and crosses her arms over her chest before leveling him with a glare. "You worked for Duvan, did you not?"