When I make no move to leave the room, my father shoots me a questioning look. “Kaia?” he prompts.
With my heart thundering in my chest, I swivel on my heel and walk stiffly out of the room, hyper aware of Daniel’s presence as he falls into step with me, the heat of his stare burning into the back of my head.
I turn the corner into the study, folding my arms over my chest, as if to protect myself but also hide my trembling hands.
He takes a quick glance around the room before his eyes return to me, his gaze looking me up and down. “You look good enough to eat in that dress, Kai Kai.”
“Don’t call me that,” I snap.
“What happened to us? We were good together.”
I scoff.Is he for real?
“You know damn well what happened to us.Youdid, when you abused me and tried to rape me, or have you forgotten that part?”
I turn to walk out of the room but he grabs my upper arm and tugs me back. I trip over my feet, almost falling into him as he shoves me up against the wall. He has me boxed in, his palms flat on the wall on either side of my head.
“I don’t appreciate you spouting foul lies like that, especially with my father in the next room.”
“Get the fuck off me,” I snap, pushing against his chest as hard as I can and he stumbles back a step. “You know as well as I do, they’re not lies.”
“No man likes a cock tease, Kaia, and we like lying bitches who cry rape even less. Keep talking and see what happens.”
“Why are you even here?” I ask.
“Your dad was kind enough to invite my father and I. He thought you might enjoy seeing a familiar face, thought I might keep you company.”
“I don’t want you here.”
“That’s just too bad. See, your father invited me here as your date to this thing and that’s exactly what you’re going to be. You’re going to hang off my arm like the good little girl you are, you’re going to smile and we’re going to look like the perfect couple.”
He wants me to cave, cower in fear but I’ll be damned if Igive him that much power over me.
“You lay a single hand on me, and I’ll tell your precious father the kind of man he’s raised. A man that doesn’t take no for an answer.”
“Don’t push me, Kaia,” he warns, leaning in so close his nose bumps mine. “You won’t like it. You’reminetonight, and I’ll do whatever I fucking want.” He reaches around and grabs my ass roughly through my dress. “Touchwhatever I fucking want.”
I gather all the courage inside of me and square up to him. “I’m not the same girl you knew last spring. You don’t scare me, Daniel. Not anymore. Now get the fuck away from me before I scream. I’m not adverse to using a wine bottle if I need to.”
He catches my meaning, his face faltering ever so slightly.
“You ever touch me again, it’ll be the last thing you ever do,” I warn, knowing full well that despite everything that’s happened between Killian and me, he’d kill Daniel without thinking twice if he ever lay a finger on me.
He heads for the door, glancing back over his shoulder briefly, smirking. “Tonight’s going to be fun,” is that last thing he says before he leaves the room.
I breathe a sigh of relief when I’m left alone, my racing heart lodged in my throat.
I leave the room and head up the stairs on shaky legs to the safety of my bedroom, locking the door behind me.
I drop down onto my bed, trying to come up with a way I can get out of going tonight.
“Kaia?” My father calls from outside my room before he enters. “Ah, here you are. The car will be here soon, be ready to leave.”
He turns to leave the room.
“Don’t make me go with him,” I say and my father stops just inside the doorway, not bothering to face me so I’m left talking to the back of his head. “If there is any part of you that loves me, you won’t make me go with him. He tried to hurt me, that’s why I broke up with him. Please,Dad,” I add. I never call him Dad, and I hope the sentiment will finally make him listen, that it might touch some deep-rooted part of him that remembers I’m his daughter, a part of him that loves me.
He turns his head slightly, giving me his side profile. He waits a beat before speaking, like he’s trying to find his words. “We leave in five minutes,” is all he says as he retreats from the room and disappears down the hallway.
