Daddy's Possessive Friend (Once Upon a Daddy Book 12)

by Kelli Callahan

  “How are you feeling?” A voice summons me from my slumber, and I open my eyes to see Dr. Colter’s face.

  “Hey doc…” I force a smile. “I’ve been better.”

  “I knew you were in no condition to leave the hospital the last time I saw you, but I didn’t think you’d end up right back in here. Things don’t seem to be going your way this week.” He raises an eyebrow.

  “I think they’re turning around now.” I try to sit up, but it hurts too much.

  “I certainly hope so.” He nods. “I’ll be your doctor while you’re on this floor, and I really need you to listen to my advice this time. Please don’t sneak off the second I leave your room.”

  “He’s staying put right where he is.” Kiana walks into the room behind the doctor.

  “Yeah, doc.” I chuckle under my breath and immediately cough. “I’m not going anywhere right now.”

  “Hit the button if you need me.” Dr. Colter nod to Kiana and leaves the room.

  “Hey… I don’t even know how long I was out.” I look towards the window.

  “They kept you sedated through the night.” She walks over and sits down beside me. “I wouldn’t have left to get more coffee if I knew you were about to wake up.”

  “It’s okay.” I reach for her hand. “How’s your dad doing?”

  “He’s driving my mom crazy and asking every nurse when he can go home.” She smiles. “I guess he’s doing a little better than you right now.”

  “Good.” I use what little strength I can muster to pull Kiana close so I can kiss her hand.

  “The cops have a lot of questions…” Kiana sighs. “My mom has been fighting them off, but I think we may need to get a lawyer.”

  “Where’s my phone?” I look around the room and am surprised to find it laying on the table beside me. For once, it isn’t broken.

  “You aren’t in any condition to call anyone right now.” Kiana moves it out of my reach.

  “Find a number in there. Keaton Ramsey. Call him.” I sigh. “He’ll get this straightened out.”

  “Is he a lawyer?” Kiana raises an eyebrow inquisitively.

  “Nah, but he knows the right people. Just call him.” I nod.

  Kiana looks somewhat perplexed, but she does what I ask. We told Keaton what was going down so he could talk to the De Luca family. They should be able to get the cops to back off. I never thought I’d need something like that, but there is no way I can answer the questions that the cops will have right now.

  “He said he’ll take care of it.” Kiana puts my phone down. “Is it really that simple?”

  “You can thank your dad.” I nod. “He made a few friends when he used to run the company with me.”

  “There are a lot of things I need to say to my dad when he’s able to hear it.” She returns to her seat and sighs.

  We both do. I have no idea where I stand with Lawson right. We walked into Mr. Diaz’s club to save his daughter. That doesn’t mean he’s ever going to be okay with me dating her, and I have a feeling Kiana’s relationship with her parents may be a lot different going forward. This type of thing changes people.

  “Did you get any sleep at all last night?” I look over at her.

  “I’m okay.” She smiles.

  “That wasn’t what I asked.” I tilt my head slightly.

  “I’m not leaving your side until they release you from the hospital.” She narrows her eyes. “You’re in no position to make me either.”

  “You should at least go home and shower—get a chance of clothes.” I sigh. “I think I may be in here for a few days.

  We argue for a few minutes about it, but it’s just playful banter. Kiana finally agrees that she could use a shower and a change of clothes but refuses to leave until they give me something else for the pain. I’d rather keep my eyes open so that I can see her beautiful face but relent and press the button.

  A few minutes later, I’m dozing off, and Kiana is promising to be there when I wake up.

  I’m sure she’ll be in my dreams.

  I spend another day mostly sedated, only waking up so that I can eat, and spend some time talking to Kiana.

  The sleep I get from the meds isn’t very relaxing, but my body is healing. It’s probably best if I sleep off as much of that as I can. I won’t get much rest when they finally release me from this place.

  There’s too much to do. Too much to figure out. I’ve already had visits from Joanna, Dan, and a few more people from the office. They say things are going great, even in my absence, but there is plenty that I need to do.

  At least Lawson got the Jack account straightened out before all of this exploded—I’m sure Dan is even more appreciative than I am.

  “Is this where they’re keeping the other guy that cheated death?” Lawson walks into my room with a smile on his face.

  “Hey…” I look up at him and immediately glance nervously in Kiana’s direction.

  “Kiana, your mom was looking for you. Can you give us a minute?” He nods to his daughter.

  “Um, sure.” Kiana stands up. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Thank you.” Lawson walks close.

  “Be nice, he wasn’t as lucky as you were.” Kiana shoots him a glance as she walks by.

  I have no idea what kind of conversation we’re about to have, but I was hoping I’d be out of the hospital before we had to sit down and talk.

  “How are you doing? Kiana said they think you’ll get released tomorrow.” Lawson sits down in the chair beside my bed.

  “That’s the plan.” I nod. “You’re dressed. Does that mean you’re on your way out of here?”

  “Yep, time to find somewhere new to suffer.” He chuckles. “I’m sure Janie will make me stay in bed for a few more days before I’m officially released.”

  “So, things are okay between the two of you?” I tilt my head slightly.

  “Nah, man. Things are definitely not okay. She’s just not going to throw me out of the house until I’m strong enough to collect my belonging from the curb.” Lawson shrugs. “I hate it, but I fucked all of this up—I can’t blame her.”

  “Shit man.” I sigh. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s fine.” He looks down for a moment. “I have to come to terms with the mistakes I made. Maybe there’s a chance for us down the road, but the fire went out of it the second she realized what I had been hiding from her.”

  “Even after she found out that Hudson was just extorting money from you?” I blink a couple of times in surprise.

  “I still lied to her. I hid stuff…” He shakes his head. “That trust is hard to get back.”

  “Yeah, I suppose it is.” I nod in understanding.

  “Part of trying to make those amends starts right here.” He pauses for a moment and I see him struggling with what he’s trying to say. “The last thing I saw before everything went black was my best friend take a bullet for my daughter.”

  “I’d have done the same for Hudson—or you.” I shift so that I’m sitting up a little straighter. “Regardless of how bad you kicked my ass the other day.”

  “I know you would have.” He sighs. “I told you I would never be okay with you dating Kiana, but after what you did… Just take care of my little girl. Promise me that.”

  “I will.” I force a smile. “You have my word.”

  “I’m going to go home now and pray that Janie doesn’t smother me in my sleep just to get me out of the house faster.” Lawson shrugs. “Can’t really blame her if she does.”

  “I don’t think she’s going to do that, man.” I shake my head. “Let’s talk once we’re both out of the hospital. I assume you’re going to need a job once you’re out on your own.”

  “Do you think security will ever let me in the building again?” He scoffs. “I beat up the boss!”

  “We’ll figure something out.” I laugh under my breath.

  I hate that Lawson had to lose so much before he realized what kind of man he had become. I don’t kno
w if he’ll ever be the same again, but maybe that’s a good thing. We all need to heal from this—emotional wounds on top of the physical ones.

  Kiana walks back into the room as soon as her father leaves. Her face could light up the darkest night, and her smile makes me wish I could pull her in for the tightest hug.

  “Well, he didn’t finish the job…” She moves close to the bed.

  “No.” I laugh. “I think things are going to be okay, as long as I take care of you.”

  “You’re not in any condition to take care of someone right now.” Kiana squeezes my hand. “I’m the one that will be taking care of you for a while.”

  “I can’t really argue otherwise.” I laugh and pull her hand close so I can kiss it. “I’ll try to be a good patient.”

  “You better be. Or else you might be the one that gets the next spanking.” She winks at me.

  “Not happening.” I shake my head and narrow my eyes at her. “I’ll have you back over my knee in no time.”

  “Then I’ll have to be extra naughty, won’t I?” She slides her hand down to my crotch. “To motivate you to get better in record time.”

  “Careful.” I exhale sharply and let my hand drift down to her ass—where I manage just a little strength for one good smack.

  “Is it going to be weird if I still call you Daddy?” Kiana bites down on her bottom lip and grins.

  “Not if we keep that between us.” I squeeze her ass and pull her in for a hug.

  Everything was worth it for this moment. I have the woman I love in my arms. She won’t leave them again.

  Ever.

  Epilogue

  Kiana

  One year later

  “Hey, Mom. Are you okay?” I walk into the kitchen of the house I grew up in. “I knocked, but you didn’t answer.”

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I was lost in my own little world.” She turns to face me, and I see photographs spread out on the table in front of her.

  “Why are you looking at my baby pictures?” I raise an eyebrow as I sit down.

  “That, obviously…” She motions to the engagement ring on my left hand. “It wouldn’t be a wedding without a few pictures to embarrass you with.”

  “At least pick some where I’m fully dressed.” I pick up one of me in the tub. “This is downright scandalous!”

  “Don’t be silly.” She laughs. “Now, if I can just get some of Bram to go with them…”

  “Good luck with that.” I roll my eyes. “I haven’t seen any myself.”

  “Did you share the news with your father?” My mother’s smile spreads into a thin line.

  “Yeah, I talked with him.” I nod.

  “Is he doing okay?” She tilts her head slightly.

  “You could call him yourself, if you really want to know.” I shrug.

  “That ship has sailed, sweetheart.” She shakes her head. “We had our moment, and I don’t regret a single bit of it, but some things can’t be forgiven.”

  “That’s not entirely true.” I sigh. “It’s taken a lot, but I forgave him. Just like I forgave you…”

  “It’s different. You may not understand that right now, but it had been coming for a long time before we had that fight.” She looks down at the pictures. “I finally had, had enough.”

  I understand where my mother is coming from, even if she doesn’t fully believe that I do. Now that I know they had constant problems—problems that stayed behind closed doors, but often were the reason they lashed out at me the way that they did—I get why she can’t forgive as easily as I was able to.

  It doesn’t stop me from wishing that my parents could put all of this behind them and find the love they once shared.

  Seeing both of them alone just seems so strange.

  “This is a good one.” I pick up my class picture from second grade.

  “I can’t even see you because that kid has such a big head!” She laughs and squints at the picture.

  “That’s why it’s a good one!” I burst out laughing.

  Having a relationship with my mom has been a lot easier without my father constantly hovering around. I can’t deny that. On the other side of this broken home, it’s been easier to have a relationship with my father as well—mainly because he’s come to terms with all of the mistakes he made. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to forgive them for the way they treated me, but some grudges aren’t worth holding.

  And some are.

  I haven’t heard from Hudson since he left the hospital. I don’t even know if he called to check on our father, or if he just started a new life elsewhere with all of us permanently in the rearview mirror.

  I guess it’s easier that way. I wish him the best, but he wouldn’t get an invitation to my wedding, even if I knew his address.

  He left too much hurt behind.

  “Kiana, is that you?” I hear Bram’s voice when I walk into his house—our house now.

  “I sure hope you aren’t expecting anyone else.” I close the door and smile as he steps out of the library.

  “No.” He laughs. “The only person who should be coming through my door is the future Mrs. Kiana Ward.”

  “Good.” I step into his arms. “I’d hate to have to give you another scar to match the one you already have.”

  “Threatening violence before our wedding day? That’s not a good sign.” He feigns concern.

  “You could always take me upstairs and make me very, very sorry.” I grin and lean against his ear. “Daddy…”

  “You’re never going to stop being a naughty girl, are you?” His hands move to my waist and around to my ass.

  “Nope…” My grin gets even wider. “I drove over the speed limit all the way to and from my mom’s house.”

  “You’re just making it worse for yourself.” He squeezes my ass a little harder.

  “I know…” I purr into his ear. “What are you going to do about it?”

  “A lot…” Bram leans down and picks me up by the waist, and before I know it, I’m draped across his shoulder.

  SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

  “At least take me upstairs first!” I playfully pound his back.

  “I’ll spank you the whole way there, young lady.” He walks towards the stairs, and I feel his hands on my ass again.

  SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

  I have a feeling I’m going to be in a whole lot of trouble for the rest of my life, but I’m going to enjoy every second of it…

  The End

  Cruel Temptations

  Sample

  Jaxon

  Here comes the bride, all dressed in white…

  I hummed the catchy, cliché tune as I attempted to make the perfect Windsor knot in my black tie. Black because weddings were just fancy funerals; a ceremony of marrying the wrong person and letting that person constrain the rest of your godforsaken fucking life by only doing what they want, slowly smothering you until you pray to finally be alone in that casket.

  “Fuck this damn tie,” I sneered at my reflection in the mirror and, with a jerky motion, loosened the knot until I yanked the tie off from around the collar of the white button-up shirt.

  “Need a hand?” Sebastian, my best friend, who was more like a brother to me, leaned against the wall with his hands in his pockets, smirking. I hated it when he smirked because it meant he could do something that I couldn’t. I didn’t like not being able to do something. I was the kind of man that made sure he knew how to do anything and everything.

  But a tie? These damn things were my worst enemy, and that was saying something considering my profession and past. No matter how much I practiced, a tie always defeated me.

  “No, I decided not to wear one. For your information.” It was a lie, and he knew it, but I didn’t like to admit weakness. He also knew that, so he never made me feel bad about that less than amazing quality about myself.

  “Right.” He ran his fingers through his thick head of black hair and lifted his hand from his pocket to look at his Rolex. “We
need to leave in five minutes.”

  “I’m nearly ready,” I said, not admitting that out of all the jobs we have done together, this was the one I was nervous about.

  We weren’t stealing art. We weren’t stealing diamonds, drugs, or money.

  We were stealing a woman.

  Someone who I have considered mine for an awfully long time.

  Quinn Taylor. The only woman who has ever had my heart.

  She was going to walk down the aisle today and marry the wrong man, the man who set me up and was the reason why I had to spend ten years of my life in prison for committing third-degree murder— something I did not do.

  I got pinned for killing my pregnant sister. Tracy was my best friend. She was good. One of those people you could always count on. She was a much better person than I was. She didn’t deserve to die.

  Ten years ago, I still got into shit I wasn’t supposed to, but I never killed anybody. I met Brian Marks, a guy around my age who wanted to get in the drug industry together and make a fortune. I didn’t do drugs, but selling them? A man could make millions. We decided if we went into business together, we would split profits fifty-fifty.

  Everything changed when he met my sister. Brian got her pregnant, and when Tracy told him, he was high on cocaine and flipped out. She called me crying, and I got in my car and hurried over to calm her down, but when I got there, it was too late. She was dead.

  I had run, what possibly could have happened, in my head a thousand times. It was simple. Brian was fucked up, then he freaked about being a father, and killed her, thinking it took care of a problem. It devastated me to lose Tracy. It was just us since I was eighteen and she was twenty when our parents died in a car accident.