When I park outside Kiara’s apartment building, I already know I’m not going to like what I see once we’re inside.
The area’s rundown and definitely not safe for a woman living alone.
Getting out of the car, I walk around the front. Kiara opens the door, and I wait for her to climb out, then shut it and place my hand on her lower back. I let her show the way up two flights of stairs. She digs in her bag for her keys, and when she unlocks the door, I push it open and step inside. “Wait here.”
“Oh-kay.”
It takes me less than a minute to search the apartment. If you can even call it that.
The furniture looks like it’s been through a war, the paint on the wall is peeling off in places, water staining the ceiling.
Jesus.
There’s no way I’ll ever fucking shut an eye again, knowing she calls this dump home.
Before I can sensor my tone, I order, “Pack for a week.”
“Why?”
Because I’m never letting you come back here.
“Just in case you need more clothes.”
“Right, rather safe than sorry,” she chuckles nervously before darting into the bedroom, that’s so fucking small the single bed takes up most of the space.
My fucking couch is bigger than that bed.
I glance around, then ask, “Also, take anything of value to you.”
“It should be safe.”
“I doubt it,” I mutter, my skin feeling like something’s crawling over it.
Kiara comes out with a bag, the kind you use for the gym, and I quickly move to take it from her. “Do you have everything?”
“Oh, wait.” She darts to the kitchen, and opening the cupboard, she takes a mug from it. It’s pink, with words printed on it.
Daddy’s lass.
“It’s my favorite,” she explains as she comes to tuck it in the bag.
Lass.
“You’re Irish?”
Kiara’s eyes snap up to mine, then a nervous expression flutters over her face. “Ah… my dad is.” She chuckles. “I’m a mixed breed.”
Interesting.
“Talking about parents. I really need to check in on my mom.”
“We can stop by her place on the way home.”
One night and I’m associating home with her. Jesus.
Walking to the front door, I wait for Kiara to step out into the hallway, then lock up behind us. Pocketing the keys, I place my hand on her lower back again so I can yank her out of the way should danger suddenly cross our path.
I place her bag in the trunk, and once we’ve climbed into the car, I glare at the apartment building, wondering how Kiara’s survived until now.
I need to look at what I’m paying her, in case she’s not interested in me, so she can at least get a better place where she’s safe.
The thought leaves a sour taste in my mouth, the possessive feeling rearing in my chest.
Now I understand why some men kidnap a woman.
Driving to her mother’s place doesn’t take long, and the area’s even worse.
Ian and Rowan are standing by their SUV. “Hey, boss. Everythin’s clear,” Rowan informs me.
“Caleb and Hudson at the back?”
“Aye.”
I walk Kiara into the building, and when she starts giving me nervous glances, I say, “Just making sure you get to the door in one piece, then I’ll leave you to visit with your mom.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to introduce you. I…”
“No need to explain.” It takes effort to stop and watch her walk to the door. She knocks, glancing at me while she fidgets with the oversized shirt.
The door opens, then I hear, “Sweet Jesus, Kiara! What happened?”
When she steps inside the apartment, and the door shuts behind her, I head back down to talk to my men.
Stepping out of the building, I glance up and down the street.
This place is a murder waiting to happen.
“We gonna move the woman soon?” Rowan asks. “Too many things can go wrong here.”
“Can you hold the fort for three days?” I’m fucking asking the impossible.
Rowan narrows his eyes as he glances around us. “Aye.”
Locking eyes with my soldier, I nod. “I’ll have Will set up a place for her.”
Rowan nods.
Pulling out my phone, I dial Will’s number.
“Still snuggling on the couch?” the fucker taunts me.
“Don’t start.” I glance up at the building. “We need to arrange a safer place for Kiara’s mother.”
“I’ll get on it.”
Walking toward the entrance because I need to be closer to Kiara, I say, “I need a team of four men to guard Kiara. Definitely Declan and Waylon.”
“Got it. I’ll pull Ezra and Ryan from the club.”
“Good.” If I’m not with her, Finn won’t get past them. “Send them to the penthouse Monday morning.” Stopping in the hallway, I say, “Thanks for all the help.”
Ending the call, I tuck the device into my pocket then suppress the urge to stalk up and down. My eyes lock on the front door, wondering how things are going in there.
