“You calling me a liar?”
“I’m saying I want to know what the hell’s going on. When did you leave for breakfast?”
“I told you. When we were hungry.”
“You were hungry at two in the morning, because that’s when I got home. And it’s,” he twists his hand and looks at his wrist, “damn near noon now. That’s one hell of an appetite.”
He moves closer to his daughter, but I’m not really sure why…until he leans in and sniffs her neck. “Why you little. That’s his fucking cologne!”
“Dad!”
“It’s not what you think,” I say, moving closer to Eric and grabbing him which only causes him to swing at me. I don’t even try and move, letting it connect with my shoulder, figuring it’s better to let him get some of the aggression out.
“What the hell is it then?”
“I love her,” I say straight to his face.
“Get. The. Fuck. Out,” he says, pointing to the street. “Now!”
The man is clearly losing it, and I can’t say I don’t understand why. The smartest thing to do right now, no matter how much it pains me, is to do as he says. I need to let him calm down and process everything because he’s obviously been stewing a good ten hours and ten minutes of trying to talk to him isn’t going to override the anger that’s had time to build inside.
“I’ll be back for you,” I say to Layla. “Don’t ever think I won’t.”
“No, you won’t because I’m sending her out of state to study. Now I know why you didn’t want her to go you sick fuck.”
As messed up as it sounds I’m proud of Eric for showing me some backbone for once.
I move toward my ride, slowly getting inside but never taking my eyes from him…until I give Layla one last look.
She’s broken down in tears and I c
an’t do it. I just can’t leave.
I jerk the key from the ignition and dart towards her, wrapping her up in a hug. “Everything’s going to be okay, baby girl.”
And it’s that exact moment that Eric tries to negate my words, the sound of a Beretta handgun being clicked from automatic to live very audibly behind me.
“I’ll be back for you,” I whisper again, raising my arms in the air and moving back to my ride. No matter how much I want to charge right at Eric I can’t and I won’t. I can’t risk harming myself, or him, because Layla needs us both right now. She just had me, and I had her, so the wise thing, no matter how much it pains me, is to give her some time with her father.
Exiting their driveway I look in the rearview mirror, watching Layla run into the house, her head in her hands, as her dad slowly follows after her.
He better be careful because although I know they’re going to have a conversation it better not get out of hand. He’s not just potentially yelling at his daughter anymore. He better realize he’s stepping on eggshells because now she’s mine, my woman.
And I will be back for her, once and for all as soon as Eric comes to terms with reality, or in forty-eight hours…whichever comes first.
11
Layla
Two nights later
It’s been thirty-two hours since Logan walked out. Thirty-two hours since I’ve seen or heard from him, although that doesn’t mean he’s not trying. My father took my phone and is screening everything, which explains why he’s allowing Dan to come over tonight to study and finish up our project.
He says he’s going to start watching me even more closely. Says he’s got tracking equipment installed on my possessions…equipment so high-grade military I’d never notice or find it.
And he says I need to hang out with boys my own age.
All I know about the last thirty-two hours is that I have about thirty-two crows feet forming at my eyes, my first. And probably about thirty-two gray hairs too, although since I’m a blonde I hope they blend.