Please Me Daddy (Gracie) novel Chapter 199

You’re responsible for her now, Apollo

Apollo

Ryan and I stared at each other in silence.

Around us, faces were frozen in shock, mouths slightly open, eyes darting back and forth as if they were watching a disaster unfold in slow motion. But Ryan was different. He didn’t look startled, angry, or offended. He simply looked at me, calm and thoughtful, his sharp eyes searching mine as if he were trying to read something buried deep within me.

I met his gaze without flinching, my expression empty, my emotions locked away the way they always were.

Ryan knew me better than most people ever had. He knew that once I made a decision, there was no forcing me to change it. He also knew that whatever plans he had or his intention was, I was not leaving Grace’s side.

Just when I thought he was about to speak, his lips curved into a faint smile, one that carried more curiosity than mockery, and he finally broke the silence.

“How amusing, Apollo Reed,” he said slowly. “You’ve really changed.‘

I raised an eyebrow slightly at his words, but I didn’t interrupt him. Ryan slipped his hands into the pockets of his doctor’s coat, his posture relaxed, and casual.

“You know,” he continued, his voice calm, “I used to believe everyone had a weakness. Rich or poor, powerful or insignificant, it didn’t matter. Everyone had something they would fall apart over if you touched it.” He paused briefly, his eyes never leaving mine. “But you were the only one I couldn’t figure out. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t find your weakness. I honestly thought you didn’t have one.”

My eyebrow lifted a little higher, but I still said nothing.

Ryan let out a chuckle, “Turns out you’re human after all. You do have a weakness. And that weakness is my little sister.”

At his words, something dark settled in my eyes, my expression tightening even though I remained silent. I wasn’t offended by what he said. I wasn’t surprised either. I had known it long before anyone else did. Grace was my weakness, yes, but she was also my strength. She was the one who made waking up every morning feel like a privilege instead of a burden. She was the reason I cared about the future at all. And she was the only person who could make me fear losing something.

I had lived my life indifferent to the world, ready to let it burn if necessary, but when it came to her, everything changed. I could accept being weak for her. What I couldn’t accept was the thought of others discovering that weakness and trying to use her against me.

The more people knew how important she was to me, the more they would try to hurt her. And I will never let that happen.

Ryan seemed to understand that too. He always had a way of seeing through me, sometimes better than I saw myself. His smile lingered, a mix of surprise and amusement, as if he never expected to see me like this.

Before either of us could say more, his mother finally snapped out of her shock. Her face hardened as she stepped forward, anger flashing in her eyes.

“You can’t keep her with you,” she said sharply. “No matter what, I will never let my daughter stay with a Reed.”

She was about to move closer when Ryan reached out and caught her hand, stopping her.

“That’s enough, Mother,” he said firmly.

She turned to him, confused and upset. “Ryan, what are you doing?”

Ryan didn’t raise his voice, but there was no room for argument in his tone.

“We should leave,” he said calmly. “Staying here any longer will only make things more complicated.”

His mother blinked at Ryan as if she had misheard him, her expression frozen in disbelief, before shock quickly twisted into anger. She yanked her hand free from his wrist, her movements sharp and unsteady, and shook her head violently.

“No,” she said, her voice rising. “Are you insane? How can you tell me to leave my daughter, your sister, with the Reeds? I can’t. I won’t!” Her eyes burned as she glared past him, toward the door behind me. “I don’t trust the Reeds. They are evil people. Who knows what they will say to Grace as soon as she wakes up? They might turn my daughter against us.”

“Get her home,” Ryan said quietly.

Theodore nodded. “Come on, Mom. Let’s go. We’ll talk to Grace when the time is right.”

As they began to walk away down the hallway, she suddenly turned back. Her eyes met mine, all the anger gone, leaving only fear and a silent plea. She lowered her gaze slightly and spoke in a voice so soft it almost broke.

“Please,” she whispered. “Please take care of my daughter. Please… don’t make her hate me. I’ll do anything, just don’t make her hate her family.”

I looked at her for a moment, then gave a nod.

Some of the tension eased from her face at that simple gesture, and with Theodore’s help, she finally left.

My attention shifted back to Ryan, who was still standing there, watching me closely.

“You’re responsible for her now, Apollo,” he said flatly. “From what I can tell, someone is after you. So do whatever you have to do to protect her. Even if it means sacrificing your life.”

He paused, then added in a voice devoid of emotion, “Because if anything happens to my sister, the Jones will never forgive the Reeds. We will take our revenge, even if it means we all get wiped out in the process.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

I watched him leave, my expression unreadable, already knowing one thing with absolute certainty.

No matter the cost, no matter the enemy, I would never let anything happen to Grace.