“It’s none of your business,” I whisper under my breath, trying to look away.
But then, the man grabs her again, and I notice a look of pain cross her face. It’s none of my business who she goes out with, but I can’t bear to see another person being harassed. So, I walk briskly towards them and offer her a smile.
“Ms. Keeley,” I greet.
Sloane looks at me in shock, then fear crosses her face, followed by embarrassment. However, she quickly regains her composure and pulls her arm free from the stranger again. I want to tell her that if someone should feel shameful in this situation, it has to be the man beside her.
“General Lewis. Good evening,” she starts. The older man clears his throat. Sloane reluctantly adds, “This is Chris Keeley,” she bites her lip, “my father.”
So, this asshole is her father. But why does he act like he doesn’t care a bit about hurting his daughter? I’m not close with Myah, but I have never forced her to do anything. This man, though, is making me feel this weird animosity. I want to punch his smug face.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Keeley. However, it seems like your daughter doesn’t want to go with you.” I try to be as polite as possible.
I think that Calvin would be proud of my diplomacy if he could hear me now. Unfortunately, he isn’t. And unfortunately for Sloane’s father, it also means no one will stop me from making a scene here if that is what it will take to get her out of this situation. I don’t understand where this feeling of protectiveness stems from, but I feel like I really need to help her.
I stare her father down. And he sizes me up as well. I figure I have the upper hand because I’m younger and more well-built than him. It takes a moment for him to realize this, but I notice his furrowing brows.
“Who the fuck are you to tell me what I can do to my daughter. Get lost,” her father says with false bravado.
I smirk at him, and his jaw tenses. Mr. Keeley knows that I can see through him. He’s just another arrogant asshole who’s only full of words and no strength.
“Ms. Keeley is a grown adult. And I think we both know that she is more than capable of deciding for herself. Don’t you think so, Sloane,” I say, looking at her again.
Worry fills her face again. I suddenly want to touch her face and erase her fears.
“Clearly, you have no clue what it means to be a father,” Chris Keeley begins, then sniggers. “Fathers have full control of their children. They can make them do and obey his will. And that is just what is happening here. It doesn’t concern you because it’s obvious that you have no child of your own. So, fuck off.”
I clench my fists behind me. This man dares to insult me and tell me that I don’t know how to father a child? I may have lost Myah and still don’t know where she is, but I know better than him. I understand when to be in control and when Myah has to be free. Looking at Sloane now, she seems like she has always lived under his shadow. How does that prove his superiority over me?
“If you really are the great father that you have deluded yourself to be, then why can’t you respect your daughter’s freedom and choices?”
Chris Keeley looks like he’s about to throw the first punch. But he seems to remember how I tower over him.
“Sloane will do what I need her to do,” he replies as if he didn’t hear anything I said earlier.
I see now that Sloane’s father is not blind to his own faults and not someone to reason with. So, I turn to her.
“Ms. Keeley. Clearly, you are a strong and independent woman. I see how you handled the,” I stop for a bit, remembering that I only met her a couple days ago and because my daughter is missing. But I have to make a point here. “situation at the office. You are level-headed, and you know what you can do.”
I try to catch Sloane’s eyes, but she is looking down. What the hell has this man done to her? She exuded so much power when I met her, and now she can’t even meet my eyes. So, I add, “then how come you’re letting yourself be treated like a pawn?”
That hits the spot because Sloane finally lifts her head up. Then, her dark eyes meet mine. They betray the fears that are rising inside her. And now, all I want is to grab her and take her away.
Yet, as I stare more intently into her eyes, I begin to feel that I’ve seen them before.