Either way, Kai needs to stay away from her father.
“Men lie, Kai.”
“Why didn’t you tell me my father worked for you?”
“The same reason I didn’t say that you also worked for me.”
“What?”
“When you were cleaning yachts as a teenager you worked for Black.”
She pulls her hand from my grasp breaking whatever connection we shared.
“Is the loser required to work for the winner?” she asks.
“No.”
Her eyes drop. “Why didn’t he tell me the truth? Why didn’t he prepare me for this? Why didn’t he protect me?”
A tear rolls down her pinked cheek.
I test my newfound theory that my touch can no longer rise panic within her. I stroke her cheek removing the wetness from her face. And the look I get is far more reward than I deserve for such an action.
She bites her lip.
“I don’t know why. Only he can answer that.”
Her face tightens as she frowns. “And you won’t let me speak to him again?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t trust him.”
“Him or me?”
“Him.”
She shakes her head. “I don’t think you can tell me who I can and can’t speak to.”
“You’re right. I can’t, but I’ll ensure you never see him so you’ll have no chance to speak.”
She growls, and her fists fly up and pound into my chest. “You can’t keep him from me. He’s my father! If I want to talk to him, I will.”
I pull her to me, wrapping my arms around her body to keep her from fighting me. But it doesn’t stop the wildness in her eyes or the flailing of her body trying to get free in my arms.
“It’s for your own good,” I say.
“You don’t get to determine what’s best for me!”
“Yes, I do!”
“No! You sold me! You don’t get a say in my life.”
“And it’s because of my fuck up that I must do everything I can to protect you!”
I let her go.