He draws me into his arms.His heartbeat is steady and strong beneath my cheek.The crisp air tugs at my skirt and his shirt, but as long as I’m in his arms, I’m safe.
“We have enough evidence, Tasha.”
I sigh.This is what we’ve struggled with.To use the evidence or not, and how to use it.Do we turn it over to the authorities or use it as blackmail?
Tears fill my eyes.I have to choose.I know that.It has to be my choice.
Either way, I lose my father.
“Can we pretend a little longer?”I lift my head and lose myself in his eyes.The moment I met Tom, I knew he was mine.“Just one more night and then we’ll do what we have to?I’ll do what I have to.”
“Whatever you need.”He brushes my hair off my face and smiles like I’m the one who hung the moon.I love how I look in his eyes.I’m not a trophy or some prize to be coveted.Not a way to get in good with my father.I’m his and he’s mine.
It’s selfish of me.My father isn’t a man to be trifled with, and the fact he hasn’t found us after all this time makes me feel almost invincible.Like maybe we could run away and hide from him forever, but that’s not an option either.
He won’t stop until he finds me.He’ll turn to Tom’s family to convince us to return, and I can’t let that happen.I made Tom choose me once already.I don’t know that he’ll make the same choice if my father has his sister.
I may have his love, but his sister is his responsibility.If his friends hadn’t been there, he never would have left her.
My father may believe I’ve run away and just need time to think, to get my head on straight before doing my duty.His world is shades of gray, but he doesn’t see anything but a straight line for me.
Marry someone he finds acceptable.Have children to expand our family line, because that’s where my mother failed him.She only had me.A girl who he raised with the utmost care and devotion, but I wasn’t the son he needed.And I refused to grow up to be his replacement in his organization.
“You have their number?”I grab the front of his shirt, terrified of what will happen once I make my decision.
He nods.“I have all the documentation.They’ll have enough to convict him.”
If I were my father’s perfect daughter, I would get the evidence and run back to him.But I’ve never fit his mold.Never fit into the pretty doll he wanted me to be.Maybe I could have if I hadn’t met Tom.
But he makes me whole.I can’t imagine a life without him in it.
“We can be to port by morning?”I whisper.
“Yes, my love.”His words fill my heart.
The sun glints off the ring on my finger.“Just one more night.”
* * *
Drew
I long to pace.It helps me think.Instead, I sit in the back of the town car driving us to Verity Baron’s house.I’d hoped never to have to deal with that bitch again.But here we are, looking for a fucking favor.
My knee bounces.Sara never should have gotten out of that apartment without one of us waking up.She never should have left my arms.
My phone buzzes.Wyatt side-eyes me.Yeah, we’re going to be best buds after this.I can already tell.The fucker probably blames me for everything.I roll my eyes and lift my phone.
Leah:
He didn’t pay this month
Fuck.I run my hand through my hair.I click over to a cash app and send her the rent money.
Wyatt stares out the window.
Me:
Do you need more or will that be enough?
