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Forget confusing. Daddies could be plain weird. “But, Daddy?—”

“Go. Change.” His scowl grew darker.

He was worried other people would see her. If he liked it, why did that matter? Was he ashamed of her? It had never occurredto her that, though these past few weeks had been idyllic, that might change when they left the ship. “I thought you liked it. If you like it, why do you want me to change?”

After a moment of silence, the kind that made her bottom clench, Boone seemed to come to a decision. Catching the promise of consequences in the set of his firm jaw, Tildi decided questions could come later. Much later.

She held up her hands in surrender. “Fine. This was only one of the three I’m trying to choose between. I’ll be right back.” She left Boone muttering to himself about going straight home and calling Sev later. Returning to the stateroom, she tried on the next outfit.

She didn’t even get to say anything when she showed him the off-the-shoulder little black dress. As soon as she got to the top of the stairs, he yelled out, “Next.”

Sheesh! The only outfit left was a white, eyelet, lace dress with capped sleeves and a sweetheart neckline. If he didn’t like that one, she would have to wear either her jeans with a cable knit sweater or her bathrobe.

CHAPTER 2

Boone shook his head as Tildi flounced back toward the stairs. The thought of her wearing one of those first two dresses to a mafia dinner party hosted by Sev and his men made him want to punch something. He’d be punching someone before the night was over if anyone looked at her twice. That wouldn’t be good. He had too much bad news to deliver to start his visit with a fight.

Come to think of it, he should probably have a talk with his brothers. They’d never make a play for his girl, so long as they understood she was his and would be forever.

He should probably include the men at Wilder Security in that, too. They weren’t related to him by blood, but they were still his brothers. Their bond had been forged in fire, but it was just as strong. He’d hate to have to beat the shit out of one of them.

Hell, he might as well put posters up all over the town of Wilder making sure all the men knew she’d been claimed. Yeah, overprotective possessive asshole much? He couldn’t help but wince at the reaction his bluebell would have if she caught sight of a poster like that.

Did he even have the right to keep her from dating other men? The very thought gutted him. She was his. But she was so young. She’d never really dated. Her life had been completely controlled by her father. Dating like a normal teenager hadn’t fit into her plans. She’d hated that man so much she’d run away at eighteen, and that only made her life worse.

He loved her with all his heart. Yes, it was fast. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t real. He knew because he’d been through many relationships that weren’t. Tildi never had that chance. Would she resent him one day if he didn’t give her the chance to explore her feelings?

Not to mention she’d just been through a year of torture and pure hell. To be kidnapped by a man old enough to be her father—hell, Nico Midnight could be her grandfather—and held prisoner for a year? Never knowing when he’d show up to force her into his bed? At least that had never happened. She’d been through enough abuse as it was, but at least she was spared that.

“Um, Boone?” Tildi’s timid voice pulled him from his thoughts.

She stood in the hatch of the stairs leading to the cabins below, shading her eyes with her hand. His teeth clenched as the wind caught her skirt and exposed light pink panties with red hearts. Instead of going below as he’d instructed, she stared into the vast blue sky.

What the hell was she looking at when she ought to be hightailing it below to change out of that dress before he gave into his cock and bent her over the closest bench seat to fuck her senseless? She had no idea how beautiful and sexy she was.

He was about to tell her to get below before he turned her ass the color of those adorable hearts when she twisted around to look at him. She raised a pointed finger to the area she’d been watching. “What’s that? It doesn’t look like a bird.”

Boone’s gaze followed the direction of her finger, and his body went on full alert. That was no bird. Was it a plane? No, the way it bobbed, it flew more like a helicopter.

Oh, fuck!

“What is it?” she asked again.

Boone was already on the move. “Tildi, get below right now and stay there until I come and get you.” Lifting a seat cushion, he pulled out the first weapon he could reach. “Dutch! Grif! Get out here!”

“But—”

He didn’t have time for questions. He needed her safe so he could focus on the threat. “I said get below! Now!”

Eyes wide, she nodded and raced down the stairs.

The next thing Boone knew, bullets from the helicopter riddled the side of the yacht. The extremely expensive, borrowed from the Cosa Nostra, yacht. Pings and thuds riddled the air with every puncture as he returned fire. Within seconds, Grif and Dutch joined in the firefight from the flybridge and the swim platform.

Even though he hadn’t seen the man yet, there was no doubt the helicopter belonged to Nico Midnight. It wasn’t enough Midnight had murdered a member of the elite Pararescue Jumpers team Boone had led. No, now the man wanted to kill his babygirl. That or kidnap her again and make her wish she was dead. Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen while Boone still had breath in his body.

Was Midnight on that chopper, or had he just sent some of his soldiers? Boone prayed he’d come to see to the job personally. Nothing would be better than downing this chopper and sending Nico and his men straight to hell.

Boone caught movement to his left and turned just in time to see Tildi’s head pop back up from the stairwell holding the pistolhe’d been teaching her to use for the past few weeks. Cold dread wrapped an icy fist around his heart.