Chapter Fourteen

Not edited or proofread.

Axel

Novella smiled at Kyle, happiness shining her eyes. I'd worked some magic and had been able to get a private room so he didn't have to be cuffed. He opened his arms, and she rushed into them, collapsing against his chest. Her shoulders shook as she cried, and he hugged her tightly, eyeing me over the top of her head.

Yeah, he knew something was up. But I also knew he wouldn't say anything in front of Novella. He didn't want to do anything to potentially upset her. He babied the hell out of her but honestly, so did I. She deserved to be babied after all the hell she'd endured.

"How..." she asked, sniffling as she pulled back from him. He reached up and gently swiped her tears off her cheeks, a frown pulling at his lips. "They're happy tears," she assured him.

"I think your man pulled some strings," he told her. When she turned to look at me, I nodded once, letting her know I had.

I would do anything in he world for her so long as it was something that could potentially harm her. She had to know that by now.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with tears.

"Anything for you, baby girl," I reminded her.

Leaning against the wall beside Harlan, I watched as she spent the next fifteen minutes talking to Kyle about her job as my assistant, the date I took her on a few nights ago before the shooting, and the freedom she had now. Kyle listened attentively, smiling at her as she grew animated, her eyes shining.

I did that. I made her that fucking happy.

Pride swelled in my chest.

When her time was up with him, she hugged him again and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Go with Harlan," I told her, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "I'll be out in a minute."

She nodded and followed Harlan from the room. He wrapped his hand around hers—something I knew he did to make sure she stayed at his side at all times. I didn't trust a single fucking inmate or guard here—not when it came to her.

Kyle apparently felt the same because he said, "Will he protect her?"

"With his life," I promised.

He nodded once. "Tell me why I got special treatment today," he demanded.

I walked over to the table and sat down in the seat my woman had just vacated a minute before. "My family is working on negotiating your release," I told him. "When we accomplish this, I'm bringing you on as Novella's personal guard."

"Why?" he demanded, eyeing me like he knew I wasn't being one-hundred percent honest about something.

"I was already working on it just so she'd have you on the outside, but there was a shooting a couple of days ago. She needs someone as a guard that I know will protect her."

"And you think I'm the man for the job?" he asked, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest.

"I know you're the man for the job," I countered. "You've already protected her once. Gave up your freedom for her. This way, you'll be protected by my family if something goes down."

He nodded once. "You'll keep me updated?"

"Yes." We both stood up, and I held my hand out to shake his. "I'll be in touch."

~*~*~

When we got home, I had the cook make us lunch, and we ate before I led Novella into our home office. I didn't feel like going into the city today, and every car ride was nerve-wracking for Novella. No doubt, she'd probably fall asleep at her desk. She kept saying no to a nap, but I knew she needed one.

"You have a phone meeting," she told me as she began flicking through her planner on her iPad. "It's with your attorney for a possible acquisition."

Fuck, every time she started speaking to me about work, I got hard. It was a miracle I got anything done with her around.

"What time?" I asked. "How long do I have to prepare?"

She glanced at her phone for the time, wincing a little as she looked up at me. "Five minutes."

Fuck.

Sighing, I dropped into my desk chair and powered on my computer. Novella rounded her desk and placed a piece of paper in front of me. I picked it up, blinking in surprise at the well-presented information. I looked up at her, ready to praise her, but she spoke before I could.

"I know you have a lot going on with the... shooting and all," she quietly explained, wringing her fingers nervously, "so I took he time to make this for your meeting with the attorney today so you don't have to dig through your own stuff or try to remember anything off the top of your head."

I stood from my chair and reached across the desk, pulling her lips to mine. "I fucking love you, baby girl."

She beamed at me even as her cheeks pinkened. Her eyes sparkled with warmth. "I love you, too, Daddy."

I pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose before sitting back down and grabbing my phone to get this meeting over with.

~*~*~

Novella was asleep when I ended the call, her head propped on her arm. Her other hand was still holding the pen, poised to write her notes. I quietly stood from my chair and walked over to her. After removing the pen from her hand and setting it on her desk, I gently eased her against me so I could lift her from her chair.

Harlan's lips quirked in amusement when I passed him on my way to the stairs. "So much for not needing a nap, huh?" he asked, chuckling.

"Yeah." I shook my head. "One day, she'll learn I know best."

Harlan snickered. "Daddy knows best," he agreed.

I rolled my eyes and began ascending the stairs to take Novella to bed. Nudging the door open, I stepped into our bedroom and gently laid her on the bed. I removed her shoes and then covered her up. "Sweet dreams," I murmured, leaning over her. She made a soft sound when I pressed my lips to her forehead, and I let a small smile tilt my lips.

~*~*~

"Daddy?" a sleepy voice called—a voice that made my heart skip a beat in my chest. I set down the apple I'd been eating just as Novella rounded the corner. She'd changed out of her clothes from earlier and was now wearing one of my white t-shirts and a pair of my boxers, looking good enough for me to fucking eat.

"Hey, baby," I greeted, pulling her into my arms. I dropped a kiss to the top of her head. "Feel better?"

She nodded. "Lots," she mumbled. Her stomach rumbled, and I knew without even having to look that she was blushing, but still, I looked anyway. Her cheeks were a pretty pink color, making the freckles on her cheek stand out. "I'm hungry."

I chuckled. "I'd say so." Lifting her, I settled her onto the counter and handed her the rest of my apple. "Finish that while I make you a sandwich."

"Peanut butter and jelly?" she asked. Then, she took a bite out of the apple, humming in happiness. Her legs began to swing back and forth, and she did a small little dance.

God, she was fucking adorable.

I quickly whipped her together a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with more jelly than peanut butter, exactly how she liked. She grabbed my arm just as I was about to put the two slices of bread together. I looked over at her. "Yes, baby?"

A light blush was staining her cheeks. "Can you, uhm, add bananas to the sandwich?"

I quirked a brow at her but instead of saying anything, I just grabbed a banana off the hook and began cutting it up. After adding a perfect layer to her sandwich, I put it together and handed her the plate. She smiled at me, that blush still staining her cheeks, as I grabbed the apple core from her and tossed it into the trashcan. "Thank you, Daddy."

"You feeling okay?" I asked, leaning my hip against the counter next to her.

She nodded. "Just want bananas with my sandwich," she told me.

I hummed and pressed a kiss to her temple. "Whatever floats your boat, baby." But I was hoping her weird food request was a sign we would soon have a positive pregnancy test.

I was so fucking ready to see her belly growing with my baby.