Over the last four hours, we’d learned that Davenport had an alibi and claimed he hadn’t been in Indianapolis, but rather in Kentucky over three hours away. Lying piece of shit. Don Blake had issued a verbal statement, corroborating Liv’s story. But, in the end, the case was nothing more than a he-said-she-said. I wasn’t surprised in the least.
Davenport was despicable, but he wasn’t stupid. He never threw the first punch, but he always had the last word. He was cold, calculated, and, I was quickly learning, demented too. It was almost as if the bullshit outside the ring were more exhilarating for him than the fight itself.
Liv caught my eye and tried to smile, but a yawn overtook her. She wanted to go home, and I couldn’t blame her. It had been one long-ass night.
Eliza was flittering around, filling coffee cups, and cleaning up plates from our family dinner that had turned into a buffet line; Ash was upstairs, helping Blakely get the little kids in pajamas; Slate, Flint, and Till were huddled in the corner, discussing what actions needed to be taken with the boxing administration; and Leo and I were arguing over how to prevent this shit from happening again by beefing up security at the community center.
Let’s go, I silently signed to Liv before turning my attention back to her father. “Spare no expense, Leo. Cameras inside and out. Also cover every inch of that parking lot. Motion sensors on all the lights. New security system on the entire building, not just the ASL program. And I want a guard at the door twenty-four-seven.”
“Quarry. Chill. I said I’d do it up right.”
“I swear to Christ, you hire a senior citizen for the door—”
“I said”—he lowered his voice and menacingly tilted his head—“I’d do it up right.”
I stoically held his eyes. “Send me a bill.”
“She’s my daughter. It’s on me.”
I lowered my voice to match his. “And I said send me a bill.” I paused before adding, “Itemized.”
His jaw twitched at the hinges. “You think I’m going to cut corners when it comes to her safety?”
I shrugged. “Probably not, but I do know, when it comes to her, I’m not going to wait around to find out.”
Leo laughed, and if I wasn’t mistaken, it was genuine. “You’ve been together a few weeks, Q. Slow down.”
“No disrespect, Leo. But you of all people know that’s a load of shit. Liv and I have been together our entire lives, and despite the fact that I now plan to father your grandchildren, I would have insisted on this being done correctly no matter when it had happened.”
Leo’s eyes sparked ominously, and his nostrils flared.
I casually quirked an eyebrow.
“You’re lucky I like you.” He took a step toward me. “You’re lucky you come from a good family.” He held my stare. “You’re lucky she’s in love with you.”
A flush of adrenaline hit me. I knew that Liv had loved me, but it wasn’t until that moment that I allowed myself to truly internalize her words.
“Every. Single. Day.”
It wasn’t past tense.
It included that very moment.
A bold smile grew on my face even as her dad continued with his failed attempt to intimidate me.
“But I swear to God, son. You utter one more fucking word about making babies with my twenty-three-year-old daughter, I’ll kill you on the spot. Yeah?”
My grin spread as I arrogantly winked at him. “Right.”
Leo flipped his coat back, revealing his gun in a shoulder holster. “Right,” he repeated on a challenge, his eyes locked with mine.
Liv suddenly appeared, sliding up against my side. “Well, this looks pleasant.”
I draped an arm around her waist and squeezed her hip, never dragging my eyes off her dad.
“Not to spoil this testosterone party or anything, but I’m exhausted and Mom and I decided we’re all going to Fleet’s for champagne brunch in the morning.”
Leo and I both groaned. Fleet’s champagne brunch consisted of * gourmet food that would no doubt lull my taste buds into a coma. Women loved it though. Eliza had flipped when Till had taken us all there for her birthday one year. It was expensive as fuck, and Flint and I had still had to stop at a burger joint when we’d left to keep from starving.
I tossed Leo a commiserating smirk. “I’ll pay for Fleet’s—you pay for wings on the way home?”
He extended a hand my way. “Works for me. We’ll go over security plans in the morning. Bring your checkbook.”
“Can’t wait.”
After a quick shake, Liv and I set about saying our goodbyes. Ten minutes later, I was following her back to our apartment.
And then to my bed.
“Fuck,” I cursed. Reaching down, I brushed back her long, brown hair, which was curtaining off my view of her face. Her mouth was wide and filled with my cock.
I hated not being able to see all of her, but she was wearing one of my T-shirts. Rarely would I complain about such a sight. However, I wanted to see her large breasts swaying every time she glided up to my tip. And I wanted to feel them naked and pressed against my thigh as she took me to the back of her throat.
“Give me your *,” I ordered.
She hummed her refusal, and my balls tightened from the sensation.
“Not until I’m inside you,” I growled only for it to turn into a groan when she raked her nails down my abs, not stopping until she was gripping my nuts.