Forbidden Temptation My Mafia Fiance's Alpha Father

Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Brooklyn Aden nods toand then to a guard I didn't realize was standing behind me.

As the guard heads off, Aden gestures toto ccloser, so I do.

I stand by his side and we both watch the door silently, waiting for Lennox to show up.

Lennox appears a few minutes later, his face worried.

"Brooklyn," he says, crossing the room toand wrappingin a hug I wasn't expecting. "I'm so glad to see you're all right." He nods to Aden next. "Thank you, Aden, so much. For taking care of my girl." I look between them. "You didn't know? That I was all right?" Lennox shakes his head, glaring at Aden a little. "I just got word this morning. Apparently, this house was on lockdown all day yesterday." "Sorry to have kept you waiting," Aden says, his arms crossed. "It was in the best interests of my security. Do you have any word on what happened two nights ago? Who is responsible for the attack?" Lennos shakes his head, apparently unsure.

"My men are out there, listening to the word on the street. Our best guess is that it was Colsen." Remington says, spreading his hands. "He's had it out for you, Kenwood, ever since you went to the warden." I look between them. Colsen? The warden? What the hell was going on? Aden nods slowly at Lennox, his face giving nothing away.

"I think he was trying to take us both out," Lennox says, shaking his head with regret. "I should have known. Shouldn't have had such a big party..." Aden says nothing and I frown. This was Aden's very theory. Why isn't he confirming it? The room grows awkwardly quiet.

"Would you mind," Lennox says, breaking the silence and gesturing towards me, "if I had a private moment with my daughter? I still haven't had a moment alone with her. To reconnect." Aden studiesfor a moment and then nods slowly.

He says nothing as he heads out of the room.

I look at my father, feeling strange and awkward. My hands go immediately to my hair, starting to braid it. "Brooklyn," he says, quite tenderly. "Are you alright? You weren't hurt?" "No," I say to him, genuinely. "Really, I'm fine. Aden got us out unscathed. Are are you okay? Louisa, the kids?" "We're all fine," he says, relieved, wiping his sweaty hands down the length of his suitcoat.

"We got lucky, with the baby needing attention in that moment. We were out of the room and able to get to the car without much fuss." "Good," I say, for lack of any better response.

Lennox glances towards the door. "And you're...happy here?" he asks. "Kenwood is good to you?" "Oh," I say, following his gaze, surprised by the direction of the conversation. "Yeah, sure, everyone's really nice." "Because you know," my father says softly. "If you wanted to chome, you are always welcome." Home. The word doesn't sit easy with me, not really. Because his hhasn't been my hin years. "That's okay," I tell him. "I think I want to stay here, with Hudson. My fiancé." It's not a lie, not really. Of course, I'd rather go hto my real family, but if that's not an option then I'd certainly rather stay here with Hudson, who at least is my friend, before going to live with Louisa.

QUMS "Ah, your fiancé," Lennox says, givinga fatherly grin. "And how are things going with the two of you?" "Really well," I say, raising my eyebrows and lying with ease.

It's not too hard, I guess, when your fake fiancé really is your best friend. I grow awkwardly silent again, though, not really knowing what else to say.

"Do you love him?" he asks.

I blink. "Yes, of course I do." "And you feel...strongly for him?" I blink again, then I blush, realizing what he's asking.

I look down at the floor, embarrassed. He just chuckles.

"My Brooklyn. Such a good girl. I'm sorry. I'm pushing you too far. I just ask because you know," he says, leaning down to speak conspiratorially with me.

"You're still quite young-perhaps too young to get married. If you evem wanted to explore your options, I could introduce you to quite a few eligible young gentlemen." My mouth falls open a little in surprise.

What? I thought I had been engaged to Hudson since I was a baby. Was it not as much of a done deal as I thought it had been? I blink and then force myself to laugh a little. "Thank you for the offer," I say, "but Hudson and I are very happy." "Okay," he tells me, putting a warm hand on my shoulder. "You letknow if you change your mind." Lennox glances towards the door again.

"I'm going to head out, now that I know that you're safe. Unless..." He givesa significant look here. "You have anything to give to me...?" Oh my god, does he mean Jayde's note?

"No," I say, stepping back a little, my answer coming perhaps a little too fast. I wrap my fingers further in my hair. "I don't have anything to give you. Not...right now. At least "All right, my dear," he says, leaning forward to givea kiss on the forehead. Then, with a pat on my cheek, he strides out of the room.

I stand there, perfectly still, watching him go. What the hell was that?

A few minutes later, when Aden comes into the room, I'm still standing there, stricken, thinking deeply about this snarled world. Aden closes the door behind him and closes the distance between us, sitting down at his desk and folding his hands in his lap. "So, Brooklyn" Aden says, looking atevenly. "Do you have something to tell me?"