Prince Player(167)

Some part of me did believe that she simply didn’t want anything to do with me anymore. That was something I didn’t really want or maybe couldn’t really handle. But that’s not the case. She didn’t ghost because she just didn’t want me, she ghosted because she had no other choice.

The kiss finally breaks off and I can feel my heart hammering. “What happened?” I ask her.

“My older brother, Michael. He was awake when I got home.”

“Shit,” I say. “Your own brother dimed you out?”

“He didn’t mean it,” she says, brushing me off. “He wanted to do what he thought was best for me.”

I nod slowly. Her family structure is complicated, and I know she doesn’t get along well with her older brother. I decide not to press it.

“I’m glad you’re here,” I say to her.

“I can’t stay long. I’m out on a shopping trip and I ditched my chaperone to come up here.”

I grin at her. “You’re going to get in trouble.”

“Probably.” She shakes her head. “I don’t care. I’m sick of being a prisoner in my own family.”

I grin and kiss her gently on the lips. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too.” She kisses me back, long and slow.

Slowly, we break off the kiss. She looks gorgeous with her flushed cheeks, a little tired, still a little out of breath. I want to take her back into my bedroom and fuck her deep and slow, reward her for coming to see her Daddy even when she knows she shouldn’t.

Instead, I content myself with holding her, however briefly.

“I don’t know how I’m going to contact you again,” she says. “I just want you to know… no, I need you to know, that this wasn’t my choice. I want to see you.”

I nod my head slowly. “I understand.”

“They took away my phone, my laptop.”

“Are you getting mail?” I ask, though I know the answer.

“No.” She pauses. “Did you send something?”

“Letters. And a package.” Her face is horrified. “But nothing inappropriate,” I say quickly.

“Good,” she says, a little relieved.

I grip her hand for a second. “Wait here.” I quickly turn and head back into my bedroom, smiling to myself. I find an old phone that’s tucked away in a drawer. There’s also an old SIM card in there, which I grab and slip into the phone’s slot. When I’m done, I meet her back in the hall.

“Here,” I say, handing it to her.

She takes it with a little smile. “A flip phone?”

I grin. “Better than nothing.”

“Why do you even have this?”

“I don’t know,” I admit. “Just one of those old things I kept around.”

She laughs a little. “Does it work?”

“It will,” I say. “Just find a charger for it. Any little USB charger will work fine, I think. I’ll have the SIM activated as soon as you leave.”

She bites her lip. “Okay,” she says. “This is perfect.”

“Keep it safe. Call and text when you want. I’ll get you a better one as soon as we see each other again.”

“Thank you.” She kisses me softly on the lips. “I have to go now.”

“Okay,” I say. I walk her to the door and open it for her. She lingers in the doorway until I kiss her one last time. She smiles at me then hurries away.

I watch her get into the elevator. She blows me a kiss and laughs as the doors shut on her and she disappears.

For a second, I feel like this didn’t really happen. But it was real, all right, and she has my old phone. I hurry back inside and call my assistant. He’ll get the SIM set up somehow, and soon I’ll be able to talk to Sadie again.

So much for needing a private investigator. This isn’t a perfect solution, and things are going to be hard from here on out, but at least I know what the deal is. She’s still mine, and I’m still her Daddy.





14





Sadie





Thomas gives me a look when I come jogging up to the car.

“Where did you go?” he asks me.

I smile a little sheepishly. “Sorry,” I say. “I thought I saw someone I know.”

He stares at me for a second. “Did you find him?” he asks.

I shake my head. “I was just confused,” I say.

He nods and we get back into the car. Reginald glances back at me and then pulls back out into traffic, heading home.

I’ve been cooped up in the apartment for the last week, and I’m bored out of my mind. I didn’t think my father was being literal when he said I couldn’t go anywhere, but he wasn’t kidding. I only managed to get out for an afternoon of shopping by convincing Thomas to be my chaperone.