Call Him Daddy

Chapter 5

Gunnar

I didn’t mean to hurt her; I just wanted to have dinner and talk for a few. But that defiant tone and look stirred something in me. I was already pissed at her for acting as if her staying here with me was the worst possible thing that could have happened. In front of my face, she had the nerve to call around hotels and motels like she didn’t already have a home to go to.

She had grown wings and I wanted to pluck them. The whole taking things slow plan went out of the window. The “I’m going to play this her way” went right along with it. I don’t get why she’s fighting me, nor do I get the logic behind why she’s going so hard to stay away from me. At first, I believed that two years ago was a mistake, that I had read too much into things over the years. However, I realized that wasn’t the case at all.

From the way she let me hug and hold her today to how she was constantly glancing my way with want, but uncertainty throughout only proved that she still feels for me. Yet she wants to act as if she doesn’t and that annoys the living daylight out of me. I refuse to make this easy for her. What she went through earlier in trying to distance herself was only the beginning.

I was having an internal conflict with what I was about to do but her walking out of the bathroom with just a towel on did a number on me. Damn, did she fill in more over the last two years? The towel barely hid anything, her breast was barely covered to the point where dark areola was teasing. Once she turned to sprint walk into her closet, her plump apple bottom was in full view, giving a glimpse of that delectable, shaved garden between her legs.

It took everything in me to not run after and devour her in that closet. The self-control it took to stand there without giving anything away and giving in to this addiction for her was strenuous but applaudable. I’m glad she took her time getting dressed because I needed the time to get myself and my boner together.

She came out moments before Lydia set up the table in her room. It was amusing how she chose to wear sweats and a long sleeve sweater, like that did much to hide her curves. She could have worn a trash bag and those t**s and as. would still be there to see. As she silently sat down with her eyes everywhere but on me, I set my internal conflicts to the side. F.ck it.

“We need to talk,” I said as I lifted the cover off her plate.

“Ok”

“What happened at school?”

“I’m sure the school told you already.”

“I want to hear it from you and look at me when I am talking to you.”

My voice came out harsher than I had planned. I noticed how she flinched, and it took a lot for me not to reach out to her. I was hoping she had overcome her PTSD over the years, but I can see that’s not the case. That’s something we’ll have to work on. I might want to pluck out her wings but that’s only for me. I don’t want her broken or even have the slightest inclination that she is.

I gave her time to gather herself before she starts telling me what I wanted to hear. Can’t say I was happy hearing it but I was glad she didn’t lie or withheld anything. I still had more questions.

“Was he the reason you haven’t been home for the past two years?”

“Who?”

“Sun, don’t play with me.” I tried keeping my tone down. She knew damn well who I was asking about.

“No”

“Then why?”

“I took classes during the breaks for my master.” That was half the truth, but I’ll let it slide for now.

“How far along into it are you?”

“Only six months left to be done.” I finally got a smile. Seems like the only time this girl genuinely smile is when it comes to school and work. I needed to change that.

“I’m proud of you for that.”

“Thank you.”

“So, why didn’t you call, and I had to hear from the school that you had problems? Why call your trustee and brother to handle that situation and not me? Most importantly, why the hell did you not only get a job but moved here leasing a condo without telling me?”

Like I said, that easing into things went out the window. Once again, she was looking everywhere but me. She didn’t need to; I knew her well enough to know when she gets cornered her mouth moved faster than her brain. The truth flows out before she can process it.

“I was dealing with a lot and didn’t want to bother you. School was basically over, and the problem was more my friend’s than mine. The school called you both, he just showed up due to some clause regarding me not returning to the school and as for this brother you mentioned, I don’t know anything about him. The condo basically came with the job and that came at the last minute.”

I wanted to laugh. She was indeed telling the truth, but she filtered out the part where she didn’t want me involved or knowing of her plans because she wanted to stay clear of me.

“When have you ever been a bother? Before two years ago when you stopped coming home and answering my calls, have I ever made you feel like you were bothering me? Have I ever not dropped whatever I was doing when you needed me?”

“…”

“Sun, why exactly have you been avoiding me?”

“I haven’t.”

It’s that one lie that messed me up. That one lie that has me on my feet sending our dinner and the table flying. That one lie that had me yelling that she was not to leave this house without my consent, that I would be driving her to and from work before storming out of the room yanking the doorknob off the door.

I can’t remember the last time I’ve been this angry. Never in forty years have I ever been angry over a female. Not when her mom robbed me after I had already paid her. Not Even my enemies couldn’t pull this much emotion off me. Yet here I am with steam coming through my pores because of her. All rationality disperses when it comes to her.

I don’t lose control, ever. I don’t go through fits or get visibly enraged. This is why I’m one of the most feared men in the business world and underworld. I will calmly destroy anyone who crosses me, and tear them to pieces without a single word. People drop to their knees willingly because they are aware of who I am and what I am capable of.

She’s different. I like and dislike that about her equally. She defies me at every turn and turns me into someone I’m not. She’s making me act out and beg for things I’ve never had to do before. I’m losing control and my mind dealing with her. A part of me knows that I can’t fully blame her, but heaven knows I’ll make her pay all the same.

***

“Hey boss, the new shipment came in, but we have a problem.”

“What is it?”

“We found three of the men smuggling a container. Two of them are missing.”

“Find them. I’ll be there in about an hour.”

It was barely two in the morning, and I doubt it’s been an hour since I closed my eyes. I was heated from dealing with that burning Sun across the hall from me. Now, this sh.t.

Maybe it’s about time I consider retiring. Dealing with her and these businesses is bound to put me in an early grave. I have a feeling she’ll be the cause before anything else.

Driving to the port, my main thoughts were on her. I might have been a little too rash in the way I reacted. I can admit that I didn’t handle the situation in the best way. Especially knowing that she didn’t do well with getting yelled at or getting hit. I would never hit her, that I can promise. Me, not being one to yell, she got me lashing out and I don’t know if I can promise that I’ll be able to control that.

If there was a way, I can move this process with her quickly and painlessly, I’d happily take it. However, I don’t see her making this easy for either of us. She’s so much like her father. Too headstrong and stuck in their ways. Once they make up their minds, it’s hard to break through that barrier. I needed to break through that barrier, and soon.

Maybe it was me too caught up in my thoughts of her, but the drive was a lot shorter than anticipated. Nate met me at the front gate, giving me a detailed report on the situation. It was one we anticipated and prepared for. The only problem was I had two crates missing and two guys badly injured and three I needed to deal with.

“Boss, how would you like to handle this? Our men are already positioned and ready?”

“Find the missing crates, they can’t be far. It’s either they hid them around here or transferred them to a different boat. Have the Seals check every single ship.”

“They are already on it.”

“Is the boiler ready?”

“Yes, the twins have already begun.”

I can count on one hand the number of people who were bold enough to steal from me. Only one was alive to talk about it and have the nerve to do it again. There won’t be another chance. Her daughter can’t save her this time around, if anything, her daughter is better off without it. Not like she was much of a mother or anything but a conniving, hateful c.nt for that matter.

By the time I made it to what we called the boiler, the three captured men were barely breathing. Seeing how there was no need for me to get my hands dirty, I allowed the twins to have their fun. You’d be surprised by the amount of information you can get out somewhere when they’re being tortured. They’ll sell out their whole family just to make the pain stop.

As I watched Joel and Noel dismembered one after the other with their screams echoing through the room, I felt nothing. It’s as if watching a c-list horror flick with no substance. Nothing that gives you the jumps and chills, just something to watch because it’s simply because it’s playing.

It wasn’t until seven that Nate finally reported the crates were found with another set of men trying to sail away with my products. I left them for the twins to deal with. I got more than I needed from the first three. If these two squeals anything important, I’ll just add it to the list. Now my main priority is getting home to her.

She’s not going to like what I am about to do, but she isn’t safe if I move any other way.