For all I know, she’s playing it up for sympathy.
My eyes flick to her pockets, her hands, just to be sure she isn’t hiding a weapon. Old habits die hard.
She doesn’t look that threatening, no, but appearances can be deceiving.
You never know if Little Miss Indignation will morph into Little Miss Switchblade in the blink of an eye.
“You have five seconds before I call the cops,” I snarl.
Usually, people wilt at the ice in my voice when I get pissed.
I’m a big guy. I know how to throw my weight around, and my voice, too.
When you’re my size, people know you don’t back down from a fight. Animal instinct.
No matter how much we like to think we’re higher up the monkey tree from all the other creatures, humans still respond viscerally to beasts with size and attitude.
Not that I feel very beastly after years hacking spreadsheets down to size and trying to stay awake during long video meetings with investors.
Have I lost my edge?
Right now, this woman doesn’t seem to give a shit.
Interesting.
Her chin tilts up, high and sharp. She glares at me like she’s trying to decide if she can run or maybe go straight for my eyes with those long, manicured nails in pastel pink.
“Whatever,” she says finally. “Call them, dude. Then they can arrest you for trespassing onmyproperty.”
“Trespassing?” I spit the word back. “You’re the one who barged in and tried to take my daughter!”
“Take your dau—” She hisses furiously and rips the shades off her head, freeing her gold-spun hair. “Are you serious right now? Like, is this some sort of fucking joke?” Her eyes flick to Soph and her face screws up. “Um. Sorry, kid.”
“It’s cool,” Sophie says, brushing my sleeve as she steps forward. “Dad, she was just—”
“Not cool, Soph. Let me handle her.”
The woman rolls her eyes, brazenly unafraid.
Fuck.
For someone who just shamelessly broke into my rental house, she’s bold as hell, and I feel a grudging twitch of respect.
Doesn’t change the fact that I can andwillhave her blonde ass arrested if she doesn’t give me one good reason why she’s here—and fast.
“Don’t hold back on my account.” She folds her arms, the sunglasses still dangling from her fingers. “What are you goingto do? Pick a fight? Punch me through a wall? You don’t scare me, Dadzilla. And you’re not dialing the cops yet, either.”
“Dadzilla?” I stare through her, wondering if she’s mentally younger than my daughter. “Are you being funny right now?”
“No, actually. I’m being pretty serious, considering you’re treating me like I’m a criminal and I own this place.”
“You had your hands on my daughter,” I growl.
“I wascatchingher. How many times do I have to say it?” She gives Sophie another quick glance, her brows drawn together like she’s worried Soph will flip any second, trading her fear for my attitude. “Have you tried being decent? Maybe thanking me instead of threatening to have me arrested? You’re welcome.”
Sophie tugs my arm again, and I finally look down at her, reluctantly pulling my attention off the woman.
“Daaad,” she whispers. “It’s true. Everything she said. I was leaning over the railing to look down because I heard a noise, and it broke. The lady caught me.”
