Page 82 of Dangerous Games

“Are you okay?”

Dad’s smile falters slightly, his focus on anything but me. “Yeah, yeah,” he rushes out. “I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be fine?”

Okay…this is fucking weird.

My internal danger alarm has bells going off in my head.

He doesn’t know where I work, and he came in knowing I would be here. He didn’t know where I moved to, but somehow found that too. I don’t buy that he got my address from the girl’s couch I was sleeping on anymore because now that I think about it, I don’t think he ever came to that place. I always met him somewhere in public because he needed dinner.

“I don’t know…” I say slowly as I watch his every move. “You seem off. Are you on something?”

There’s no sense in beating around the bush anymore. I’m so over all of this; it isn’t even funny.

“No!” he harshly bites out, his manic gaze darting around the room.

I take a step back as my eyes widen from his outburst.

My hand brushes my phone again as I move it out of my pocket in case I need to defend myself, making me think of what I pinky promised Gio.

If anyone shows up and you feel threatened in any sort of way, doesn’t matter where you are, I want you to call or text me immediately.

I’m past feeling uncomfortable. Now I’m freaking the fuck out.

I’d give anything to have his pinky wrapped around mine right now.

I’ve seen this side of dad when I was a kid, but I was never on the receiving end and, to be honest, he forgot I was there, giving me the option to hide out somewhere.

He has me on edge, waiting for the shoe to drop.

I take my phone out of my back pocket and fire off a text to Gio.

Me: dad’s at afk. shit is weird. help.

“Who you talkin’ to?” Dad asks as he takes a step toward me, swaying slightly.

I take another step back as my heart begins to pound in my chest.

God, please let Gio remember our pinky promise.

“No one.”

“Bullshit!” Dad’s voice is rising, becoming more belligerent as he takes another step toward me. “I saw you with my own two eyes. You tellin’ someone I’m here?”

“No.” My voice shakes as I retreat again. My back hits a wall.

I squeeze my eyes shut. I’ve backed myself into a corner.

He’s advancing and I have nowhere to go but forward.

Dad’s eyes are manic as he tries to focus on me.

The closer he gets, the more I realize he’s high.

Fucking liar.

“You should have told your little boyfriend to mind his own damn business,” he yells, sounding deranged.

How would he know about Gio?