She probably wanted Jesse to tell her everything that happened after they were hustled out. I sank down onto the couch. Seeing Jesse’s parents had brought a lot bubbling to the surface of my mind. Jesse had always been my closest friend, but there were other people I’d talked to at school and in college. Mr. Trahan, who owned the candy shop Jesse and I had always liked to stop at after a long day at high school, had probably wondered what had happened to me. He’d always asked about my mom. Had he put up fliers in his store? It horrified me that I’d caused so many problems, but it hadn’t taken me long to feel like no one cared about what was happening to me, especially with Perry telling me I was worthless twenty-four seven.
The front door closed, and I startled when Jesse sat down next to me. His police uniform was worse for wear. There was a tear on his left knee and dirt on his shoulder I hadn’t noticed until now. Did he have to do something dangerous? And after whatever had happened to him, instead of going home to relax he’d come here to see me. My heart clenched as he gave me a big grin. “Sorry, there was no way to put them off, they had to see you.”
“It’s fine,” I mumbled.
Daddy paced over to stand nearby with his arms still crossed, but he didn’t sit down with us.
Jesse clapped his hands together. “So, do you want to press charges?”
“For what?”
Daddy let out an unhappy growl, and Jesse glanced at him, then at me. “Father Gian said you were in an abusive situation for many years.” Red tinted Jesse’s cheeks and his smile vanished. His shoulders tensed, and I scooted away from him.
“It’s done now.” I shrugged. That was half the reason I never talked about the past in therapy—it was over, and I needed to deal with today.
“Right.” Jesse nodded. “For you it is.”
“What do you mean?” I asked sharply. Sweat ran down my back, and all at once the room was too hot.
He shrugged. “If a man did that to you for years, do you think he’s going to go back to living alone? Or do you think he’ll find a new victim?” Jesse blinked at me. “You can’t let this go, Phoenix. It isn’t right.”
My stomach turned and I rested my hand on it. “I would have to talk about it.”
“Yes.” Jesse stared at me, his steady brown eyes different from Daddy’s, hot with curiosity. “I understand it’s difficult.”
“I don’t know.” Hunching forward, I covered my face with my hands. I hadn’t considered the fact that Perry might have someone else living through hell in his house. “I could tell you where he lives and maybe you could go see?”
“I’m going to need more than that,” Jesse said. “I can’t just demand to see the inside of someone’s house and interrogate people I find in there. I would need a detailed statement from you.”
“Wait, you know where he lives?” Daddy asked, and I’d never heard him sound so frightening.
Jesse shushed him, and I shook my head. What should I do? I was away and safe, but I hadn’t thought about the next life ruined. This was too much. Warm arms wrapped around me, and the hug was nice, but Jesse wasn’t Daddy.
“I need you to leave right now,” I said.
“You heard him.” Daddy didn’t sound like himself. He sounded meaner... angrier... dangerous. I shivered.
“Call anytime, day or night.” Jesse’s hold on me tightened. “Even if you never want to do anything about that guy, call. We can hang out, okay? Father Gian has my number.”
Jesse let go of me and got to his feet, and the sound of footsteps moving toward the front door made me drop my hands from my face. Daddy stood near the door, whispering something to Jesse, and the expression on his face was... terrifying. Jesse nodded at whatever he was saying.
“I don’t want Perry to know where I am,” I said truthfully, and they both turned toward me. “I don’t want to do anything that would let him be able to find me.”
They both stared.
“I would keep you safe,” Jesse said, and Daddy scowled as if he’d wanted to say that first. I found Daddy’s irritation amusing in a horrible way and snickered, and Jesse nodded at me and left with one last wave. I could imagine him calling his mother on the way home to tell her he hadn’t learned anything new, and she wouldn’t accept it and would keep him on the phone for hours.
I shook my head as Daddy locked the door, then slowly turned toward me. I didn’t have it in me to move as he came over, tugged me to my feet, and wrapped his arms around me to pull me into a one-sided hug. Daddy pressed a kiss to my cheek, then the other one. He brushed his warm lips on my forehead and down my nose until he nipped at the tip. I smiled up at him. I’d loved everything I’d ever done with him, and our time in the church earlier had been so satisfying, but in a way, this was better.
After a few minutes he settled his mouth on top of mine and we kissed, softly and slowly, for a long while. My cock tingled and plumped in my shorts, and eventually he nudged his hips against mine in a rhythm that was almost a question—Do you want this right now?
I pushed my hips against his with more force than usual—Yes, I always want you, Daddy.He leaned back and smiled, so I supposed he’d read the answer in my body language.
Daddy cupped my cheeks and bopped his forehead against mine. “I’m here if you ever want to talk.”
“I’d rather... forget,” I whispered, but that was becoming more and more difficult. I might be able to find my childhood home now, if I tried. I could probably take the bus there. For a long time that address was a curious blank in my mind, but now.... I rested my head on Daddy’s shoulder. “I’m really good at forgetting things that hurt.”
Daddy’s arms tightened around me. “Are you?”
