“That’s none of your business.”
He barked out a laugh. “Yeah, that’s a no.” He walked to the couch and sat down, settling in like he owned it. Owned her. “I’m the one who kept a roof over your head, kept you and your brothers fed, took care of you?—”
“Oh now that right there is a lie.” She pointed at him. “You never cared for me, for any of us. I’m the one who cared. I’m the one who shopped and cooked and cleaned and made sure my little brother had his homework done, right up until he turnedon me, too.” That had hurt almost as much if not more than her mum’s abandonment. “I took her place. No twelve-year-old child should have to do that. And now I can’t believe you’re asking—no,tellingme—to do it again.”
She realized she was raising her voice and glanced quickly toward the bedroom. No sign of Ben.Good.
Hide what you love, or he’ll take it away.
“It’s a child’s duty to respect and obey her father?—”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m not a child anymore, if I ever was.”
“—and a woman’s duty to manage the home. So I’m not taking no for an answer, Charlene.”
Charlie opened the front door. “Get off my couch and get out of here. Your minute’s up, old man.”
He didn’t move. If anything, he settled in.
“You never were much of a woman, though, were you?” He looked her up and down, making her skin crawl. “Women are supposed to be dainty. What the hell happened to you?”
He’d told her that ever since she hit a growth spurt at thirteen.What’s wrong with you? Girls are supposed to be dainty. No man’s ever gonna want you for a wife. Over and over until she believed it.
Charlie sized him up, remembering all the times he yelled at her, belittled her, hit her with his belt when she didn’t make what he wanted for dinner, or the house wasn’t clean enough, or just because he’d had a bad day and she was a convenient target. He’d tower over her as he slipped the belt out of its loops one by one. If she cried, he’d tell her to toughen up.
When her brothers ganged up on her, he’d laugh.Toughen up.
Even when she was tall enough to look him straight in the eye, he’d always seemed so much bigger than her, so much more powerful.
Not anymore.
Now she could see him through adult eyes, eyes that had seen combat. He was out of shape, flabby, and almost twice her age. The way he was wheezing, she’d be surprised if he didn’t have emphysema. She could literally kick his ass out of her apartment, through the hall, down the stairs, and across the parking lot to his car.
He glared back. “Just look at you right now. You look like a man, Charlene. Sizing me up, thinking you can take me. You never could and you never will. I came all this way, thinking you gave a damn about me.” He sneered. “You owe me, Charlene. You still have a duty to me.”
“I don’t owe you shit.”
Desmond stood up, hands opening and closing at his sides the way they did right before he took off his belt, like they just couldn’t wait to inflict pain. “You think because you were in the Navy, you’re tough now? That you can take me?”
Charlie’s stomach twisted. “How’d you know I served?”
“Found out when I looked you up. I shouldn’t have been surprised. Why’d you enlist? You think because you’re big as a man, you are one?” His voice rose, “Or are you just a slut who wanted to be around a bunch of men who were forced to be around you?”
Now she heard movement—the bedroom door opening, footsteps.
Ben. Please, no. Stay hidden.
Her father turned toward the sound. “You got someone here?” He made a wheezing sound that barely passed for a laugh. “Can’t wait to see who’s desperate enough to want you.”
Because if he can’t take away what you love, he’ll piss on it until it’s ruined.
Ben appeared at the front of the hall, taking up most of the entryway. He’d put on pants and a t-shirt which stretchedacross his chest, highlighting every muscle. Flo stood at his side, hackles raised, growling.
The sight of Ben wiped the mean smile right off Desmond’s face.
“I’m going to give you one chance. My lady said you need to leave, so you’d better leave.”
Desmond sneered. “Your lady? My daughter’s nolady, she’s a fucking moose?—”
