“And?”
“I haven’t apologised to my dad, and he won’t let me inside, much less you and the kids are resting…and I don’t want him to use them…if Mum were here…” I ramble. The words flow so fast from my lips that they take all my breath with them and leave me a panting mess of wide-eyed panic.
He takes a small step back and I let myself suck in a quick breath.
“Fuck. You’re really afraid of me going in.”
I nod my head. I’m so stupid. I’m useless. Pathetic. Scum.
“Is he the one who hurt you?”
I don’t move. I don’t breathe.
“Okay, Jules. It’s okay,” he whispers, crouching down to squat in front of me. “Will you let Aiden go inside with you?”
“Why?”
“Because something tells me you’re only sitting out here because those kids are still in there.”How could he know that? Am I so transparent?“…and I’d feel safer if you had back up when you went in to get them.”
“Get them?”
“Yes.” He brushes my hair off my face, his brows furrowing when I flinch. But instead of being angry or insulted, he remains soft and calm. “You’re taking the kids out for the afternoon,” he insists.
It’s exactly what I wanted to do before. Could I? Yes, is the literal answer. If I go in with Aiden, I could get the kids, but what about after? What happens when I bring them home again? I can’t keep them outside forever. And what about Mum? She’ll be walking into a punishment; one he’ll give her because he couldn’t get me.
Weigh your wins and losses, Jules. Getting them out means keeping them safe from him. Perhaps if I can talk to Mum before she gets home, we can go to a shelter tonight? Worst case scenario,I could ask Charlie and Koko to put us up for the night.
Let’s do it.
“Okay. Aiden can come inside. Do you…uh…I’ll need to get them dressed. It might take some time and Dad won’t…he won’t let us go quietly,” I warn.
“That’s okay. Aiden has dealt with men like your father before. We’ll keep everything as peaceful as possible until you and the kids are outside and safe, okay?”
“Sounds impossible, but okay.” He helps me to my feet, holding onto my wrists and not my fucked-up hands. He doesn’t even ask; he just accepts that they’re messed up and goes with it. I’m grateful.
“Do you have keys?” he asks.
I hand him the set I keep in my bag and watch him open the door. For a moment I panic thinking he’s going to step foot inside. I can’t bear to see what my father does or says if he comes in. The racist arsehole would make this whole thing a million times worse. Dax seems to understand though, because he stays at the door and holds it wide open for us.
“I’ll be right here unless I think you or Aiden need my help, okay?”
“Okay. Thank you.”
A huge sigh fills the room when I find it deserted. I expect a fight the instant we enter but Dad must have gone to his room. As if thinking about him summons the bastard, his voice rumbles through the apartment.
“Mara?”
Shit. I donotwant to speak with him, but if I ignore him, he’ll only grow more pissed off.
“Mara? That you?” he calls. His voice a warning growl. Just like a bear in his den.
Aiden nods encouragingly.
I suck in a breath that sounds suspiciously like a sigh and answer. “It’s me, Dad.”
“Don’t you dare ‘it’s me, Dad’me. Get your skank-arse backoutside. Where the fuck is that little toad anyway. He should be here by now.”
Aiden’s brow raises. He shoots me a look that asks if he means the incident with Gresh. I nod. He’s only been here two minutes and he already worked out what a piece of shit my father is? It doesn’t matter though because Dad’s not letting up.
