Just like McAbductor. Funny, how those bruises he gave her are almost identical to the ones her goddamn father gave her right before our engagement party.
“You suddenly care now, huh?” The words leave me before I can stop them, and once they’re out there, I don’t give a shit.
Fuck it. He needs to know how I feel. There’s nothing he can do to change the fact that I’m now his son-in-law. Does he really think he can make my life miserable? I’ve dealt with shit my entire life. Fucked-up family dynamics don’t scare me. I come from one. I’m used to it.
“What did you just say to me?” Reggie asks incredulously. I’m guessing not many people call this man out for his shit. Someone has to do it.
Guess it’s me.
“You heard me.” I grip the phone tight, my heart pounding. I want to tell him,come for me, bro, but I keep my mouth shut.
He’s quiet for so long I figured he hung up the phone. But then I hear his ragged breathing, and I can tell he’s pissed.
Good. So am I.
“How dare you say that to me. You just waltz into her life unexpectedly and act like you know my daughter. Who the hell do you think you are?”
“Her husband,” I say firmly. “And you’re the one who arranged for me to ‘waltz’ into her life in the first place, so that’s on you.”
He’s speechless. Blustering. It should give me satisfaction that I stumped the old man, but it doesn’t. All I feel is angry. Defensive.
Sad for my wife, that this asshole is her dad.
“You’re coming to my office now,” he finally says, once he’s found his voice. “And you’re bringing my daughter with you.”
“Fuck off,” I say, before I drop the phone back into the receiver, turning to find Jasper standing there with a shocked expression on his face, his mouth formed into a little O.
“You heard that?”
Jasper nods. “Unfortunately, yes.”
“If he calls back, tell him we’re not interested in talking to him.” I start to walk away, pausing when I hear Jasper say my name. I glance over my shoulder to find him watching me. “Yes?”
His lips curve into a small smile. “Thank you for protecting Miss Charlotte, sir. And for bringing her home.”
“I didn’t protect her well enough, J,” I tell him, remorse socking me in the gut, as usual.
His smile fades. “I didn’t either, sir. But she’s still here with us.”
“That she is.” I head for her bedroom, murmuring to myself, “That she is.”
Chapter Eleven
Charlotte
The dream isrecurring, happening almost nightly now. I’m running along the sidewalk, the deli up ahead and I know Arthur and Martha are inside, waiting for me. Ready to rescue me yet again. My chest aches from breathing so hard and when I spot Arthur standing in the open doorway of his shop, I wave my hand at him, trying to call out his name.
But nothing comes out. I have no voice. And when I feel hands grab hold of my hair, yanking me backwards, I stumble to the ground, Seamus climbing on top of me. Straddling me, thrusting his face in mine.
“Little bitch,” he mutters, his dark eyes blazing with anger. “Think you can get away from me?”
Struggling, I part my lips, a silent scream leaving me and that’s when I always wake up.
Actually screaming.
It’s been two weeks since the incident, as I like to call it, and I’m having daily nightmares. It’s awful, but Perry is always right there with me. He pulls me into his arms every single time I wake up, holding me close and whispering words of reassurance.
You’re safe. You’re okay. You’re with me. I’ve got you.