I used the card to access my private elevator thankful that I had privacy. I tried putting her down but she just clung tighter and made a distressed sound. "Ssh, ssh, it's okay baby, I've got you."
I kissed her brow as the elevator climbed to the penthouse, since she refused to release me I guess I had my answer. She didn't want to be alone.
I walked to the master suite and placed her gently on the bed. She was already in her pajamas and all she had on her feet were socks so I just placed her under the covers.
"Look at me baby." I pushed her hair back from her face so I could look into her eyes. Her beautiful eyes that were now red from too much crying.
"You want to tell me what happened sweetheart?"
She shook her head and buried her face in the pillow. There was no need to push, I'm sure my guys had a recording of what had gone on in there, I just wanted her to talk.
"Okay, we'll talk about it tomorrow when you're ready." I took some time to formulate my next words in my head. This was it the point of no return and I knew that no matter what she was staying with me. I just hope she wanted that too, it would be fucked to start our new life together on a bad note, but there's no way I would ever let her go near him again.
"Do you know what's going to happen next Ashley?"
She turned over and looked at me, her eyes puffy and red, she looked like a lost little girl, and I could kick my ass for putting her in this position, for not following my gut the one time it counted the most. I was so cocky, so sure of myself that I had foolishly put her in danger, now I will have to fix things.
"You're going to stay here with me."
"For tonight?" Her voice was so sad and so unsure, how will I ever indo the damage he'd done to my sweet girl? Killing him won't fix that. It sure the fuck would make me feel a fuck of a lot better though.
"I was thinking more like...forever, if that's what you want." No matter what she says she's not going back.
"But what about my dad, isn't he going to make trouble for you? I don't want you to get hurt because of me." She seemed afraid all of a sudden, holding onto me even tighter. What the fuck?
"Hurt how baby?" What the fuck had he said to her?
"Just be careful okay, don't go see my dad anymore, and if it's okay I want to stay here with you, but how?" Her words were all rushed and jumbled together but I got what I wanted. I'll deal with her fears later, I'm not afraid of that fuck but I guess for her he was the scariest thing she knew. Fucking monster.
"Don't worry about it I'll take care of everything."
I stayed with her holding her hand and playing in her hair until she fell asleep with tear tracks on her face. This one was on me, but Cliff Sanders was still going to pay for making her cry.
I held her onto her a little longer before kissing her lips softly and leaving the room.
"Sam, I want those tapes before you call it a night." I kept my voice low in case she awakened and came looking for me.
"Sure thing sir uh, I think you should know he called in reinforcements. I don't think he's aware that we have ears on him. I'm not sure how he thinks we came to be here, but so far he's still speaking freely. Should I leave Bruce here or should we call it a night?"
"I got what I wanted out of there for now you can bring in the Intel in and call it a night."
I hung up the phone, reinforcements huh, probably his partner in crime Stark. Good, I hope they talked very freely then I could kill two birds with one stone.
I walked back to the bedroom to check that she was okay; she was sleeping peacefully curled up on her side. I kissed her brow and pulled the covers higher up around her shoulders and stood over her just looking at her. I can't believe she was really here, even with the events of the last few hours it seemed unbelievable that she could really be mine. If I stopped to think about it I'd probably think I'd lost my damn mind. I shook my head even as the smile broke out across my face. Whatever had brought us here to this moment she was mine, this beautiful unbelievable creature was truly mine. "I'm going to make you so fucking happy Blossom, see if I don't."
Tomorrow her life with me begins. He might've destroyed those few paltry gifts but I will replace them and more. From now on she would have everything her heart desires, everything he'd denied her her whole life I will see that she gets. But most importantly I will show her that she was worth a hell of a lot more than he had planned to sell her for.
Chapter 8
Gideon
I prowled the living room when I wasn't checking in on her, those little whimpering noises she made in her throat made me want to go tear him limb from limb. But that was too easy when I hit him I'm going to hit him hard and with longer repercussions. As much as I'd like to kill the fuck he was still her father so my hands were somewhat tied.
I had the tapes from tonight in my possession but I haven't listened to them as yet because I don't want any interruptions when I finally do listen to them. She might need me and I didn't want to there to be a chance that she'd come looking for me and overhear them. I can't go to sleep because I have to keep an eye on her I think she's fucking traumatized. Not to mention the fact that I'm too fucking fired up to even think about sleep. I have to get my head straight so I can decide what my next play's gonna be. He obviously didn't believe me when I said I'd hurt him if he fucked with her so now I have to send his stupid ass a message, one that he won't misinterpret and won't soon forget.
Then there's her state of mind. I have her here now but what about in a couple days when things have calmed down? Will she want to return to him? It wasn't going to happen, no matter what she wasn't going back, ever, but would she want to?
I wasn't worried about school, getting her paperwork was no problem, and I'd already put a man there to keep an eye on her, though her father would still have access to her being her guardian of note.
That thought struck me again, the one about marrying her to get her out from under his thumb, but was I ready for that, and more importantly, was she?
It would be child's play to get a protection order against him, I had the necessary contacts to pull that off, but then she would have to deal with the signing and all that and I didn't want her going through any more than she already had. I ran through everything I could think of to protect her keep her safe. The one sure thing I kept coming back to was to keep her with me at all cost. It was the only way I could see where I could be sure that nothing else befell her.
I headed back to the bedroom and watched her as she slept, so beautiful, so peaceful, and so young.
What the fuck are you doing Thorpe? Have you lost your mind?
I'd taken one look at this girl and set out to own her. I hadn't stopped to think, I just saw her, wanted her, and went after her. Had I known the baggage she came with would I still have pursued her? Fuck yes, only I wouldn't have waited so long. My waiting could've cost me her and that thought scared the fuck out of me. That she could've been lost to me before I'd ever had the chance to know just how fucking prefect she is.
I put any lingering doubts aside as I climbed onto the bed with her. Combing her hair behind her ear with my fingers I drew her head onto my chest.
She sighed and cuddled closer, sighing my name in her sleep. That right there was enough to tell me that I'd done the right thing, that come what may, I will keep her with me, and that no one would ever hurt her again.
I had one of the best night's sleeps since I was a kid. The weight of her on my chest felt like she belonged there and when I kissed her brow gently it felt like the most natural thing in the world. I laid still breathing her in, enjoying the feel of her against me, willing myself not to turn her on her back and fuck her the way I imagined doing since the first day I laid eyes on her. Not yet, she was in no way ready for me, I have to ease her into that side of things. Didn't want to scare her by moving too fast, besides I wanted to court her, and ain't that a kick in the fucking balls? Think of something else quick Thorpe before you fuck this up.
I wondered if I should keep her home just for today, maybe her father would try something stupid since he'd proven that he had no sense. He couldn't possibly if he'd decided to take me on. Then again he couldn't have known I would find out, he had her terrified of him so he wouldn't expect her to tell me what he'd done. She has been hiding the shit her whole life after all. Who knows what the fuck else he would've done if my men weren't there to stop him? Okay I need to get up, I was either gonna try to fuck her or lose my shit thinking about that dumb fuck. She wasn't ready for either show.