Nash (Daddies of Justice #3)

Chapter 15

Nash

N ash stared at the computer screen, his eyes fixed on the casino blueprints. Beside him, his brothers murmured, their voices low and urgent.

"I can't fuckin' believe we have to break into this place again," Blake growled. "It was a ballache last time. This time I know it will be even worse. They'll have security coming up to their eyeballs."

Nash glanced over at the bar.

Rosie stood there, wiping down glasses, her red frilly skirt swaying as she moved. She looked up and their eyes met. Just for a second. Then she looked away quickly.

His heart ached. Things had been different between them the past few days. Ever since she found her place trashed, she'd pulled back. She'd stayed at her own apartment. Tidying up. Reclaiming her space. He understood, kinda, but damn if he didn't miss her curled up beside him in bed.

Plus, she looked tired. He bet she was hardly sleeping on her own, probably scared stiff, the poor thing. As for him, he wasn’t sleeping a wink parked outside her place. Sat up all night drinking coffee behind his wheel, watching her building like a damn hawk. In fact, he had only managed to grab a couple of hours of sleep here and there at work over the last few days, and honestly, something had to give.

"I got something," Jax announced, his eyes not leaving his laptop. "Emails. To Bobby. Since he got out."

They all crowded around to look.

"Who's it from?" Nash asked.

"Guy named Hands. Works at the casino."

“Hands?”

“Yeah,” said Jax, scratching his head. “The kind of name that conjures up images you’d rather not have, right?”

“Right.”

As Nash scanned the messages, a sick feeling crept into his gut. There was talk of Hands paying a hefty price to get Bobby released from jail early. Followed by Bobby's oily promises to repay Hands for the "screw-up" two years back.

Starting with the girl. Rosie.

But that was just the beginning, Bobby wrote. He had big plans. Big fuckin' plans.

Nash slammed his fist on the table. Rosie startled at the sound but didn't look over.

"We gotta stop him," Nash snarled through gritted teeth. "Whatever the hell he's planning, we gotta stop him. Now."

The brothers nodded grimly. Nash's eyes flicked back to Rosie. Delicate. Vulnerable. His.

Over my dead body will that bastard touch her ever again , Nash vowed silently. He'd die before he let that happen.

But the late nights were catching up to him. He stifled a yawn, exhaustion weighing on his shoulders.

"What do you think it means?" Blake asked, brow furrowed as he studied the email. "'Big plans.' You don't think . . ."

"He's gonna bring in more girls," Nash finished, the words bitter on his tongue. "Traffic them through the casino, just like before."

Rage simmered in Nash's veins. Those innocent Littles, stolen and abused, sold to the highest bidder. Never again. Not in his city.

"We'd better stop that sick bastard," Nash growled, fingers curling into fists. "I don't care what it takes. We find out what he's up to and we end it."

The brothers nodded, faces set with determination. They'd shut Bobby down before. They'd do it again.

Nash's eyes strayed back to Rosie. She moved robotically, pouring drinks, dark circles under her guarded eyes.

His chest tightened. He yearned to go to her, wrap her in his arms, and promise no one would ever harm her again. But he held back. She needed time. Space. He had to respect that, no matter how much it killed him.

Another yawn escaped his lips. He shook his head, trying to clear the fog of fatigue. He had to stay sharp. Focused. Too much was at stake.

Blake met Nash's gaze, his blue eyes hard as steel. "Go home, brother. Get some rest."

Nash opened his mouth to protest, but Blake held up a hand. "We'll handle this. Dig into every lead, and map out Bobby's next move. We'll stay three steps ahead of that bastard, whatever it takes."

"Seriously," said Jax. "You're no use to us if you're so tired you're seeing things. No use to Rosie, either."

Nash's jaw tightened. He hated the thought of leaving, but exhaustion dragged at his bones. "Fine. But I want updates. Anything you find."

"Roger that." Blake's expression softened a fraction. "In the meantime, I've upped security here. The Den's locked down tight. And Nash . . ." He hesitated. "Stop letting Rosie sleep alone. Girl needs you close right now. You know as well as I do that Daddies are allowed to set rules. So go set some."

Nash blinked. Fuck. Blake was right. He'd been so focused on giving her space, trying to stop her from pushing him away completely, that he'd forgotten the most basic tenet of being a Daddy Dom. Being there. No matter what. Setting the boundaries and enforcing them. For a Little's own protection.

"Got it," he said roughly. "We still need to hit the casino. Get into their files, put the fear of God into this Hands prick."

"Agreed," Jax chimed in, cracking his knuckles. "Fucker won't know what hit him."

"We'll make a plan," Blake promised. "For now, get our girl home safe. To your place, okay? You need the extra security."

Nash nodded, resolve solidifying in his chest. He crossed the dimly lit bar to where Rosie stood, wiping down glasses. She looked up as he approached, wariness flickering in her brown eyes.

"Time to head out, baby girl," he said gently. "You're coming back to my place tonight."

Rosie's shoulders stiffened. "Nash, I don't know if—"

"I know you need space," he interrupted, reaching out to tuck a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "I'm trying to give you that. But I can't leave you alone right now. Not with that sick fuck on the loose. We both need a good night’s sleep. Somewhere safe and warm." He paused. "If you even think about saying no, I'll spank your ass harder than it's ever been spanked before."

She searched his face, some of the tension leaving her posture. "Okay," she agreed quietly. "Just for tonight."

Relief washed through him. It wasn't much, but it was a start. He'd take it.

"Damn," he said. "I was expecting more of a fight."

"I'm too tired to fight," said Rosie with a yawn.

Nash helped Rosie put on her coat, then wrapped an arm around her shoulder, guiding her toward the back door to the secure parking lot. Tomorrow, he’d plan how to take down Bobby Fire down. But tonight, he'd hold his baby girl close and pray that somehow, someway, he could make her feel good again.

The night air nipped at Nash's skin as they stepped into the underground parking lot, a stark contrast to the stuffy heat of the bar.

Rosie shivered beside him, and he instinctively pulled her closer, savoring the way her soft curves molded against his side.

They walked in silence toward the car, the city's pulse thrumming above them—distant sirens, drunken laughter, the rumble of a passing train. Nash's mind raced with dark possibilities, his need to protect Rosie consuming his thoughts.

"I've always wanted to live in the mountains," she said suddenly, her voice small and wistful. "What do you think about that?"

Nash's steps faltered, his heart clenching. He pictured Rosie alone in some remote cabin, huddled beneath blankets, her normally vibrant eyes dulled with loneliness and fear. "Is that what you want, baby girl?" he asked carefully, trying to keep the worry from his tone. "To run away?"

Rosie shrugged as they got into the car. "Sometimes I wonder if it would be easier. Safer."

Guilt twisted like a knife in Nash's gut. He'd promised her a new life here, a chance to fall in love with Chicago the way she'd fallen for him. He'd sworn to be her Daddy, her protector, her home. And he'd failed her.

"I don't think the mountains are the answer, Rosie," he said sadly, the words bitter on his tongue. "Running away won't change what happened. It won't stop men like Bobby from existing."

She flinched at the name, her hand slipping from his grasp.

Nash immediately missed her warmth, the simple connection of skin on skin. He drove them back home in heavy silence, the distance between them far greater than the scant inches separating their bodies.

When they got back to his apartment, Nash ushered Rosie inside. She hovered uncertainly in the entryway, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth.

"Your room is all ready for you," he said, desperate to give her the space she needed, even as every cell in his body screamed to hold her tight and never let go. "If that's what you want."

“My room,” she said. “Right. Okay.”

“But I’d rather you slept in my bed,” he said, gazing into his eyes with steady focus. “I’d like to keep you close by.”

“Close by,” echoed Rosie flatly. “Well, I’ll only be down the hall.”

Nash frowned. “Shit, am I getting this all wrong, Rosie? Did I do something to annoy you? We signed a contract a couple of days ago. Daddy and Little. Don’t you want that anymore?”

Rosie smiled, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “I want it so, so much,” she said, reaching out for him, then springing her hand back as though she had burned it. “But . . . I’m scared. I’m scared that if I sleep in your bed, I’ll never, ever want to get out of it.”

“Then don’t.”

“I . . . can’t Nash. I don’t think this is the life for me. Once Bobby’s gone, I think I need to get out of here.”

“And go where?” Nash asked hoarsely. “The mountains?”

Rosie blinked at him, a dark cloud in her expression. “Maybe. Maybe not. Just not here. That’s all I know.” She paused. “And you . . . you belong here, Nash. This is your city. Your home. Your mission. Your everything .”

No , Nash wanted to scream. You’re my everything.

But he didn’t say it. He didn’t say it because there was a nugget of truth to what Rosie was saying. He loved the girl so much. He loved everything about her. But how could he give up on his mission here in Chicago? There was no way he was ever going to settle for a quiet life in the mountains. He’d be no use to Rosie. She’d fall out of love with him in an instant. Without his job, his ambition, his drive, he was nothing.

"Goodnight, Nash," Rosie whispered, before disappearing down the hall.

Nash sank onto the couch, burying his face in his hands. He'd never felt so helpless, so afraid of losing the one person who made his world make sense.

Was there any way he could help Rosie fall in love with Chicago again? A trip to Millennium Park. The Art Institute. The Field Museum. The Lincoln Park Zoo. As soon as it was safe to let Rosie out in public again, he could take her to all those places.

But would they be enough?