Page 49 of Cage
Then she reaches up and smooths her hand over my cheek. “People are always afraid of monsters, but I think they’re misunderstood. If they were just given a chance, I think the world would see that we need monsters in our lives to keep us safe from our own demons.”
If I wasn’t already in love with Ember, I think I am now. Fuck, I know I am. And when I lose her, it will destroy me.
“Thanks, firefly,” I say softly. “You know you’re safe with me, right? That no matter what I am or what I do, I will never hurt you. I will always protect you.”
She smiles and leans into me, letting out a soft sigh. “I know, Daddy.”
Those three words render me speechless, and all I can manage is to wrap my arms around her and kiss the top of her head.
“Are your brothers the same as you?” she finally asks.
“Yeah, baby. We were all teenagers when Deke recruited us. Some of us were in juvie, some lived on the streets, and some were in abusive homes. We’re all fucked up from our pasts. The Ranch is our solitude from the world when we’re not working.”
Ember nods. “So, what is it exactly thatyoudo for work? Since you made it pretty clear to me that you’re not a bodyguard.”
I chuckle and give her hair a playful tug. “You really want some of your Good Girl Points taken away already, don’t you? Does my girl want her bottom spanked? Is that what it is? You don’t have to be a sassy brat to get one; you can just ask for a spanking.”
She tips her head back to look up at me, the tips of her ears bright red. “Sassing you is so fun, though.”
“Okay, baby girl. As long as you know, you’ll have to pay the price of that sass at some point.”
“You’re avoiding my question.” She raises her eyebrows at me and waits.
Letting out a sigh, I lean my head back against the wall. “We do a lot of things. We’re like a special-ops team but times a thousand. We all have things we excel in, and we use our skills to make the world a better place. Sometimes, that means stopping terrorist attacks, and sometimes, that means helping the mafia stop human trafficking rings. We work for every letter agency there is plus several of the syndicate families. Organizations contract us when something needs to be done without the public knowing. In exchange, we have the freedom to handle situations our way without any repercussions.”
When I finish, I glance down my nose at her, expecting to see disgust on. A lot of what we do doesn’t seem like it’s right. Teaming up with the mob? Working under the radar for the CIA? It sounds like fictional shit. But what people don’t realize is the world needs men like us to do things no one else can.
“Do you…” Ember stops and shakes her head, diverting her eyes. “Never mind.”
I cup her chin and force her to look at me. “No. You have a question, you ask. Don’t ever censor yourself around me.”
As I firmly squeeze her cheeks, her pupils dilate.
“I was just going to ask if you kill people,” she says softly. “But it doesn’t matter. It’s not my business.”
Leaning down, I glare at her. “That’s where you’re wrong, firefly. If I’m your Daddy, my business is yours, and yours is mine. I don’t do secrets or lies. It’s a rule. I also don’t believe in giving space. I’m an obsessive motherfucker, and I’ll probably suffocate you. Everything in my life is your business.”
She opens her mouth to speak, but nothing comes out, so I go on.
“The answer is yes, firefly. I kill people. Brutally. Always for good reason. Never just for fun. I also torture people when needed. I’m not a good man, Ember. My first kill was when I was thirteen. I have more blood on my hands than any person ever should.”
Now she’s really going to push me away. My stomach coils at the thought, and I think I might be sick. It’s one of the reasons I’ve never really sought out a relationship. The chance of finding someone, specifically someone in this lifestyle, willing to be with someone like me is laughable. It’s something my brothers and I have accepted over the years. I think having Rowie in our lives has made it easier for us. We may not be her Daddy, but we still get to be around a Little and take care of her as if we are.
Ember runs her fingers over the fur of her stuffed dragon. It’s cute and it’s her favorite, but all I can think about is wanting to get her a dozen more. I want to fill an entire fucking room with every toy I can find. She deserves that.
Her eyes are wide and searching when she turns them to look at me. There’s no disgust or hatred in her gaze. Just pure curiosity. “Do you like what you do?”
I won’t lie to her. I can’t. She deserves the truth. Even if it is the final nail in the coffin.
“Yeah, firefly. I do. Maybe that makes me a sick bastard, but I’ve seen so much ugly in the world over my lifetime that when I can watch someone’s horrible life drain from their eyes, it makes me happy. It heals something inside me.”
Ember doesn’t say anything for a long time. I’m going to be sick. I’ve never felt for anyone like this, and I’ve just destroyed it. I guess that’s what I’m good at. Destroying things.
Then she wiggles closer to me and nudges her way under my arm, so she’s snuggled into the crook of my armpit, and just like that, my world feels right again. “The Agency made a good choice in you. It makes me feel better about the world knowing you’re one of the men helping to keep it safer.”
Nothing surprises me anymore. I’ve seen and done too much for that. But this Little girl just knocked the fucking wind out of me.
“You don’t hate me?” I ask softly.