“Are you not going to invite me in, Gianna?” One brow lifted. “Even though you weren’t living with me, I’m sure you’ve learned some manners.”
I glanced toward the kitchen where Ishara, hidden from view of the front door, was frantically waving her hands, imitating a ‘no’ gesture. “Why are you here?” I asked my father instead of answering his question.
His brows slanted inward, his irritation puffing out on a slow exhale as though he were trying to rein in his impatience. “I’m your father, girl and I’ve come to take you home.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you unless I see Mom.” I snuck a glance at Ishara. She was trying to dial someone. Probably Gabriel.
“Look, we can be civil about this, or I have one of my men throw you over his shoulder and carry you to the car.” He glared at me as though I were keeping him from an important meeting. “It’s time to come home and fulfill your duties as my daughter.”
Fulfill my duties?Was this really my father?Zayne where are you?My silent prayer went unanswered when I glanced Ishara at again and she shook her head, gesturing to the phone in her hand. She couldn’t get hold of him, and she knew the rule about calling the cops. She couldn’t. A feeling of dread settled over me. Familiar anxiety. And I processed his words once more. “I’m not going anywhere with you and I’m certainly not marrying anyone,” what was meant to be vehemence dissolved into a mere squeak.
“Marry anyone?”
Surprisingly, he sounded shocked and for just a moment my hesitation faltered. Then vigilance kicked in almost immediately. He could be fooling me into believing that wasn’t the reason he was here.
“Mom told me you’d promised me to someone when I turned eighteen,” I replied, keeping the wariness out of my voice, not sure how much my mother had told him. If he was here, she had to have told him something.
Slipping his hands into his slacks, he took a step back then looked around as if studying the house, its wooden porch, and the large fern vases flanking either side of the door before his gaze dropped to the single stair leading into the house. Suddenly, I felt like a character out ofTeen Wolfbeing protected by Zayne’s home with the badass villain standing on the other side of the door waiting for me. But I doubted that even the sacred mountain ash would keep this man away.
His gaze lifted to meet mine once more and I wasn’t sure I believed the sudden sag in his stance until he said in a low voice, “you need to come home, Gianna, and not because of a promise I made a long time ago which is now null and void but because...” he trailed off and I could’ve sworn tears glazed his eyes before he blinked and his mouth opened and closed several times as though he were choosing the right words. “Your mother was killed three days ago and you’re in dan—”
I stopped listening. My heartbeat came to a screeching halt. My mouth stuck in a permanent beginning of the word no, I forgot how to breathe before disbelief clouded my head in a mist of doubt. “W...wh...” My throat closed, my insides coiling tight. The blood in my veins ran cold, ice spreading down my spine, cutting through my gut. “Yo...you...”
He knew I was trying to accuse him of lying, the slow shake of his head and the saddened droop to his mouth confirmed his words. Tears speared my vision as the room began to spin. My body grew numb quickly. I felt it in my fingers, flexing to grip the hem of my t-shirt. Only, my mind an empty void of black, I couldn’t put thought to action. I took a step back and my knees buckled. I felt myself fall, felt hands reach out, grabbing me. My eyes dropped down to where hands...my father’s hands held my waist, his grip hard but not in an abusive way, more to help keep my balance.
I tried to move but the room swam with vertigo, leaving me a crippling mess of weak limbs and lethargy. Still, I fought to hold on by closing my eyes and pulling in deep breaths. But white spots danced behind my lids, taunting my ability before nausea claimed my throat, fire raged over my skin and a death wish stagnated my heartbeat. And then I fell. Hard, swift, and lifeless. Seeing nothing while hearing the quiet sounds of silence.
16
Zayne aka Gabriel(29 years)
Closing the trunk of the rental, I stuffed the backup Glock in my waistband and signaled for Kat to go around the property. After she nodded, I crept along the side to the back of the house, keeping close to the garbage cans. Several broken-down cars in different states of repairs littered the front yard. South Africa was a beautiful country with some of the best weather I’d seen, filled with rich culture and people pleasant. Yet, like every other country, there were the shittier parts that foreigners should be wary of, fortunately, wary and I were bedfellows. I didn’t want to take this job but Sam was desperate and I relented on the condition I handled it my way.
More importantly, I didn’t want to leave Ria alone. Seven months ago, I was the single, fuck who I want, kind of man. Marriage was the furthest thought, and I ate danger for breakfast. Then in walked Ria Singh, bubbly, innocent with the right dash of spice and I fell so fucking hard, my right and left brain swapped places on their way back up, leading me down the path of marital bliss I usually laughed at.
Now, as the titanium band on my ring finger caught the moonlight, I grinned. Being in love was something I hadn’t thought possible, but fuck, it was good, the woman had me by the balls. For once, I agreed with Declan, I was pussy whipped.
