He stood outside near his bike, and he felt empty.Cadeon had won this round.That fuck was playing with him, but he didn’t know why he would target him.Had he been the easiest link?He’d been enjoying his chase of Larissa so much, he hadn’t considered what would happen if someone found out.He had started to chase Larissa for the wrong reasons, and that had changed during his time with her.
Big Dick had fallen for her, and now he didn’t know what he was going to do, because she was gone.
He looked up as he heard a car pulling into the clubhouse parking lot and recognized it as Jonah’s.Big Dick knew what was coming.Smokey stepped out of the clubhouse as did Vice, Hunter, and Raven.
Jonah had removed his white collar from his uniform and tossed it into the car.
Big Dick didn’t even block the hit that came his way.
“You think you can use my daughter like that?”Jonah asked.
He took the beating, wanting the pain, relishing it.He had lost everything.Jonah didn’t hold back.For a priest, he had a lot of fight in him, and it made him respect Jonah a little more.At least he knew Larissa had someone in her corner.She had a father who was willing to do whatever it took to protect his little girl.The punches came down, and after about five minutes, Jonah pulled back.
“You piece of shit,” Jonah said.He then turned to look at Smokey.“Don’t you ever come near me or my family again, or we’ll see who wins.”
And with that, Jonah moved toward his car, got behind the wheel, and drove away.
****
Most of the town hadseen the video.Larissa had deleted it from her messages.When she had seen it, she had never felt more embarrassed or more of a fool.
She sat at the dining room table, feeling so empty.Her father had seen that video.He hadn’t come home.He must be so disappointed and ashamed of her.She had let emotions cloud her judgement.She’d been pulled in by George’s lies.
The tears fell down her face, and she quickly wiped them away.She should have trusted her instincts, but George had been so different.She truly believed what he said to her, but it was all a lie, every bit of it.Just lies.
She felt so alone.The whole town would know her shame, and now she had no job.No way of making an income.
The front door opened, and Larissa stayed in the chair in the kitchen.She pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them and trying not to think.
Seconds later, her father walked into the room, and he looked disheveled.At first, she couldn’t look him in the eye.She had always made the right choices.
“I’m so sorry,” she said, keeping her gaze at his waist.“You must be so disappointed in me.”
He moved close to her, and then he wrapped his arms around her, taking her by surprise.
“I am not disappointed in you, Larissa.”
She let go of the pain and the sobs she’d been trying to contain.She had no right to cry, but all she could do was break down.Her father was hugging her, and he didn’t think she was an awful person.
“I’m so sorry.I loved him, Dad, and I ...trusted him.I am such a fool.”
“You’re not a fool, baby.”He pulled her close.“Some men, they just know how to hide their true selves.”
She broke down.She had fallen in love with a man that didn’t exist.“What am I going to do?I quit my job.”
He cupped her cheeks.“You don’t have to worry about doing anything, okay?You get back on your feet, and we will figure this out.”
“But it was sent to so many people.The whole town knows.”
“And the town can judge if they feel like it.You’re a good person, Larissa, a good woman, and I know that no one will turn their back on you.If they do, that’s on them.Not on you.”
She stared at her father and tried to contain the tears.“They won’t stop.I’m sorry.”
“Let it all out.I know you’re hurting, sweetheart.”
She pressed her face against her father’s shoulder and just sobbed.She let out the pain, and it hurt so damn badly.She had loved Big Dick.She had fallen head over heels in love with him, had started to picture a life with him, but it was all bullshit.
People hurt each other all the time.He’d hurt her.
