Page 49 of Daddy's Little Charmer

“What the fuck?” Christian barked.

“She left a note. She went to see Agnes.”

“Why didn’t she wait for you guys? She knew you were coming?”

“I’m not sure. She seems really sad.”

“I’m sad when I’m away from her, too.”

“No, it’s deeper. She called us her babysitters when we went to get her from the retirement home. Then on the way home, she talked about not having anything. We’ve been home for several hours, and she hasn’t come out of your room. We can’t get her to eat.”

Christian pinched the arch of his nose. “I don’t know where she gets not having anything. For God’s sake, she can have everything I own.”

Nico didn’t reply and just waited.

“Give her your phone so I can talk to her.”

Nico tapped his knuckles against the master bedroom door. He did it a second time louder when he didn’t hear anything. He relaxed when she finally answered.

“What?”

“Christian’s on the phone and wants to talk to you.”

Nico waited until the door cracked open. He bit back a curse at the evidence of tears she’d shed.

She reached out and took it, and then closed the door, turned, and sat down on the side of the mattress.

“Hello,” she croaked and then cleared her throat and tried again. “Hello.”

Something close to fear spiked inside him. He’d never heard her that lifeless before. She was always so animated and fearless.

“Baby, what’s wrong?”

Harmony wiped away a tear that rolled down her cheek.

“Nothing, I’m just tired.”

“No, I can tell you’ve been crying.”

“I just miss you.”

“Nico told me about this morning.”

Harmony tried to laugh. “Uh-oh, I got told on.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“He had to tell you what a bad girl I was.”

“That’s not it.”

“I have absolutely no freedom.”

“That’s bullshit. You can go wherever you want.”

“But I have to take the guys with me, right?”

“Yes, for your protection.”