“You’re no daughter of mine!” her dad spat at her back.
Katherine turned around and locked eyes with her father. From the deepest part of her soul, she responded, “Robert Chase, you stopped being my father the first time you crept into my bedroom.” She turned to her mother and gave her the same venom. “You are a horrible excuse for a mother. Both of you should have been sterilized before you could procreate.” Katherine looked to her father. “Your money may have kept you from answering for your sins, but will it do when I go to the Tribune? Let’s see if your fortune can save your good family name.”
“Don’t you dare threaten me!” her father bellowed.
“Fuck you!” Katherine squealed as she fled her parents’ house.
* * *
Joseph’s northside brownstone apartment wasn’t fancy, but it was clean and nicely furnished. The decor was rustic and manly, and it smelled enticingly like Joseph. After placing her bags by the door, he gestured toward a hall.
“This way,” he instructed.
Katherine followed him down the hall to a door at the end. He opened the door, ushered her inside, and flicked the light switch to reveal a small bedroom with white walls and black linen.
“You’ll sleep here.”
Katherine stepped inside and turned to look at Joseph. “Thank you. I really appreciate your help. I promise, I’ll get a job. I won’t be here too long.”
Joseph shook his head and rubbed her upper arm. “Stay as long as you want.” He moved to leave but stopped at the door. “The bathroom is down the hall on the right. Please make yourself at home.”
He left and closed the door behind him.
Katherine walked over and placed her purse on the nightstand. She plopped down on the bed and dropped her head in her hands. Her life had spun out of control. It had never been ideal. Even though they had money, she’d had to live with a predator. She’d slept with one eye open until she turned thirteen. That was when her father had lost interest. Apparently, she’d grown too old for him.
Katherine’s cheeks warmed and tears pooled in her eyes. The thought of Maddie living under her parents’ roof was terrifying. She was a helpless little girl with no one, not even her mother, to protect her. Katherine swiped a tear, but more followed.
“Oh, God,” she sobbed. “Please, protect Maddie.”
She kicked her shoes off and curled in the fetal position on top of the cover. She knew she had to do something to protect her cousin. She just had no idea what that something was. What she did know was that every day Maddie was in that house, she was in danger.
A knock on the door startled Katherine awake. She rubbed her eyes, realizing she'd cried herself to sleep.
“Yes? Come in.”
Joseph opened the door and stuck his head inside. “I made dinner if you're hungry.”
Katherine sat up and smiled. “You cooked?” she asked with a raised brow.
Joseph stepped in and folded his arms. “Why do you look so surprised? I told you I could cook.”
“Yeah, that's what you said,” Katherine responded skeptically.
Joseph laughed. “Well, young lady, you can come and see for yourself.”
“Okay. I’ll be out in a second.”
When Joseph nodded and left the room, Katherine got up and searched her suitcase for her toiletry bag. She grabbed her toothbrush and left the room. In the bathroom, on the sink, was a set of fresh towels. After brushing, she washed her face and ran her fingers through her messy hair. She looked in the mirror at her red face and puffy eyes and figured she’d done all she could. It was the best she was going to look.
Katherine left the bathroom and went into the kitchen. She had to admit, whatever Joseph was cooking smelled delicious. She watched him at the stove stirring something in a pot with a towel draped over his shoulder. It certainly looked like he knew what he was doing. And she was just about to tell him that, but a knock at the door captured her attention.
Joseph turned around, surprised she’d been standing there watching him. Katherine’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. She must've looked like a total creep. Thankfully, he offered a smile to put her at ease.
“Can you get that?”
“Yep.” Katherine whipped around in a hurry and made her way to the door. She opened it and came face to face with a tall, handsome black man carrying two bottles of wine.
“Well, hello there,” he greeted with a gleaming smile that drew a smile from Katherine.
