This Is Love, Baby (War & Peace #2)(18)

“Where’s Dad?” she demands and dangles the sandwich in front of him.

He eyes it hungrily and meets her gaze. “I don’t know.”

“Liar,” she hisses.

His glare snaps to me and he smirks. I fist my hands at my sides. If I hit him again, she’ll definitely be suspicious.

“I’m not lying, sweet girl. I was with you the whole time. After your auction, I came back to check in with Tony, and he was gone. He hasn’t returned any of my calls. It’s like he’s disappeared.”

Baylee approaches him and holds the sandwich to his mouth. He takes a bite and flashes her a grateful smile as he chews. I hate the way he looks at her—as if they share something I’m not privy too. He’s probably thinking of how he popped her f*cking cherry. Fucking bastard!

“Why did you need to check in with him?” she questions.

His dark eyebrows furrow together and I know he’s warring with whether or not he should tell her the truth. If he explains the fact that her father had something to do with it, it’ll only infuriate her, and the chance of him eating a bullet is likely. “I wanted to check on Lynn for you, baby,” he lies, his eyes finding mine.

Truth is, he never showed up to check on Tony. This, I know for a fact. I could out him on his lie, but then she’ll be back to demanding to know where her father is.

She can’t know.

Ever.

Her hand becomes shaky as she feeds him another bite of the sandwich. I’m not sure why she’s showing him kindness. He doesn’t deserve one second of her time unless it’s spent making him pay.

“Don’t cry,” he says softly after he swallows, his gaze turning soft. “She loved you. I’m sorry she was taken so soon.”

She shoves the rest of the sandwich in his mouth and then turns to face me. Tears stream down her red cheeks and she runs into my waiting arms where she belongs. As she sobs and I embrace her, Gabe and I maintain eye contact. He seems satisfied at toying with me. Almost as if the * thinks he holds the fate of my relationship with Baylee in his hands.

For some reason, he didn’t mention Tony’s involvement in her abduction. I’d like to think it’s because he’s a * and doesn’t want her to be angry with him. But deep down, I feel like he doesn’t want to break her already fractured heart further. Tony and Lynn were his friends.

He clearly has something up his sleeve. I’ll make sure he never gets the chance to pull out any of his tricks though.

This game is nearly over and I’m already calling victory.

“Can you take me to Walmart?” Her voice is a muffled whisper against my chest. “I need a few things and then we can get back to dragging answers from that prick before we go to the police.”

Her soft voice pulls me from pondering what Gabe’s motives are and I stare down at her. Despite her flushed wet cheeks, she lifts her chin and bravely gazes up at me.

The idea of her face plastered all over the Walmart security cameras while she’s wanted in connection of an attempted murder, sends panic skittering through me. Stark would have her team all over us before we even managed to fill the shopping cart. Fuck that. We’re not going anywhere. But just when I think I have the balls to tell her as much, she speaks again.

“Plus,” she says with a shaky voice, “I’d like to see my mother’s grave.”

The very idea that Baylee didn’t get to say goodbye to Lynn is heartbreaking. If I could bring her mother back to her, I’d do it in a second without a moment’s hesitation. I would do anything for her. Anything.

Which is why I pull slightly away from her and run my fingers through my hair while I battle with indecision. All the reasons as to why this is a bad idea fly at me like baseballs barreling at me in a batting cage. I wish I could knock them all away from me and give her everything she asks for.

But I can’t.

I won’t make stupid mistakes like going into public knowing they’re looking for her. She’s already been through too much. I’ll protect her from this too.

I slip my palm to her neck and run my thumb along her jaw. “Sure, baby. We’ll go see your mom’s grave.” The Walmart trip will have to wait for another day. “Go get in the truck and I’ll finish him up.”

A grumble echoes in the kitchen and my shoulders tense at the sound.

“What the f*ck does that mean?” Gabe demands from behind her.

I flip him off. “Exactly what you think. You’re dead, *. Time’s up. You’ve ruined shit enough and I’m done with you f*cking with my girl.”

He laughs at me. “Your girl?” he says with a tsk. “Brandon, Brandon, Brandon. We’ve been through this and—”

“SHUT UP!” she screeches. “Brandon, you’re not killing him.” She snaps her gaze to Gabe. “Yet.”

Gabe, seeming unaffected by her threat, smirks at me. “By all means, take your ‘girl’ to dinner. Go woo her. I’ll just hang out here. Bring me a doggie bag.”

She grabs my hand and drags me from the kitchen. “Why do you even challenge him?” she huffs as we make our way into the living room. “You can’t win with him.” Her tone is annoyed and impatient. It stings that she’d chastise me for wanting to protect her from his predator ass.