Page 22 of Bound to the Daddy

“Very well. Gather them up and head to my car. I’ll finish up with the officers.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Leave me the keys.”

My fingers just can’t keep from shaking as I duck into my car and grab what I need. The metal from the keys jingle as I pull them out of the ignition and bring them over to Mr. Rothsbourne.

“Steady, sweet girl,” he murmurs, wrapping his hand around mine, allowing my heart to settle a bit. “I’ve got you now. Don’t you worry about a thing.”

For a moment, the fear and anxiety give way to relief. But only for a moment. All it takes is the world to come crashing in again for my pulse to spike and my adrenaline rush through my veins.

“What’s going to happen to my car?” I wail. As much as it’s let me down recently, it’s still one of the few things I have left from my parents.

“That’s part of what I’m going to discuss with the officers. Either way, your car will be safe and sound until we talk about what to do with it. Don’t worry your pretty little head any more about it.” With a firm squeeze, he grabs the keys and pushes me toward his car.

Tears obscure my vision as I hobble over to the large, black blur. Just as I get close enough to reach out to grab the door handle, a beta steps out and yanks it open. His deep bow as he motions for me to go inside makes my stomach flip.

Right now, I’m no better than him. In fact, I’m far below his station. No job, no apartment, and no car. He shouldn’t be bowing to me. It’s not right. None of this is right.

As I sit alone in the car, I rock back and forth again, my body nearly convulsing as fear and anxiety swirl through my mind. The only thing keeping me together is knowing that Mr.Rothsbourne will be here any minute. I can’t have him see me like this.

He can’t know just how bad my anxiety can get. In truth, it’s been a few years since it was this bad, but it doesn’t matter. First impressions always make a difference. He’s never seen me like this. Since I depend on his good graces now, I can’t let him know I’m crazy.

When the door opens up, my heart stutters for a moment. Mr. Rothsbourne ducks down and slides in next to me and opens his arm.

“Come here, sweetie. Let it all out. I got you.”

CHAPTER 8

REX

I hold the quivering omega in my arms, not giving a shit about her tears dampening my white shirt. She feels so small and helpless there… so right. Breathing in, I take in her sugar-dipped rose scent deep into my lungs.

It’s tainted with a residual whiff of terror and distress, but the longer we drive, the more it seems to dissipate. Her tears, however, don’t seem to stop. Closing my eyes, I tilt my head back and let a purr rumble deep into my chest.

The sound is stilted a bit, rough, like a cold engine trying to warm up. But it’s the best I can offer under these circumstances. If she were mine right now, I’d find another way to distract her.

Unfortunately, the instant the vibrations travel into her body, she jerks back, her eyes wide like a skittish foal. “What is that?” she whispers, pointing to my chest. “Why are you buzzing? It can’t be your phone, can it?”

A light chuckle drifts from my lips as I pull her back onto me and continue purring. “Have you never had an Alpha purr for you? Not even Brody? Not even your dad?”

Again, she pulls back, and I let her, not wanting to push her away, not when I’m so close to having everything I want. “Ididn’t know that was a thing. My dad was a beta, so I guess they just don’t purr?”

“Not that I know of. It seems to be a mutation only Alphas possess.”

She scrunches up her nose in the most adorable fashion. “It makes me feel funny.”

“It’s supposed to relax you. But I can see by the whites in your eyes that it must be having the opposite effect. Curious.”

With a slight pout on her lips, she slumps down, her brows scrunching as if deep in thought. “Maybe that’s why it makes me feel funny. I don’t know what it’s like to be relaxed anymore.”

Clearing my throat, I push a button to roll the dividing window down, giving me access to the driver. “Take us to Echo Park.”

“Very good, Sir.”

Once the window is rolled back up, Stephanie turns to me, her eyes wide. “But what about your office?” she exclaims, sliding her fingers over her delectable lips.

“Are you that eager to face your punishments?” I can’t help the small smirk quirking up on my face.

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