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“That’s right, princess.” Because Mike’s dad passed away shortly after Billie, and we all grieved that loss. For good reason, I’ve never mentioned mine.

Stupidly, I hoped she would never need to know. That my past and my present would never meet.

“Come on, sweetie.” Eve scoops Ella into her arms. “There’s a security code for the salon,” she tells me. “We won’t let you in unless it’s clear you’re alone.”

“Good.”

My father doesn’t look all meek and sad the way he did before. This time, there’s a smile on his face. A mean one. This is him thinking he’s got me by the short hairs.

Fuck him.

The second Ella and Eve disappear into a building down the block, I round on my father. This time, my arm goes across his throat. Before he can say anything, I’ve got him backed against the side of a building.

I glance around to see if anyone’s looking, but part of me doesn’t care. This has to stop.

“Okay. I’ve tried to be nice. I gave you what I could. Now you stay the fuck away from my daughter, or it’ll be the last thing you do.”

His raspy laugh burns like acid. “You’re gonna kill your old man? Really? You’ve always been too soft for something like that.”

Remembering that conversation with Brennan, the one where I said I’d kill for my little girl if I had to, I worry he’s got a point. I never considered the possibility of it being my father.

But I press my arm in harder. Enough to make him cough some. “Maybe you’re right. You know what, though? Don’t tempt me.”

If I really couldn’t do it, I know Brennan would. I’d probably owe him for the rest of eternity if I called in that kind of favor. He’s got a guy, I know he does, and I know those services don’t come cheap. The idea of killing the man who used to buy me pancakes at the diner when I got good grades, that makes me downright sick. But he’s not that man anymore.

And threatening my kid is the worst kind of betrayal.

“Look.” He coughs again. “I’m only trying to keep myself alive here. Just help me out and I’ll leave you alone.”

I loosen my hold, but only a little. “Mike said he gave you cash. What happened to all that?”

“It wasn’t enough to get them off my back. Not permanently.”

“You threatened my kid. At this point, I’m tempted to let them have you.”

“Well, look who grew some balls.” He wheezes. Then his expression hardens. “I know where she goes to school, you know. Watched your ‘buddy’ pick her up and walk her home. Also saw the two of you kissing outside your apartment building that one time. What’s stopping me from leaving that too-good asshole in an alleyway and grabbing her at pickup instead?”

“You’re not on the pickup list. They wouldn’t let you. And don’t you dare threaten him.”

“You sure about that?”

Fuck. Not sure enough. Things are busy outside the school at drop off and pickup.

He makes it worse by saying, “Ella knows who I am now. She’d recognize me. Bet nobody would even ask questions.”

Ella’s a smart kid. I’d like to think she’d know better. But I’m not sure enough.

My head’s about to split open. “How much do you need? What’s it going to take for you to go away for good?”

“Another twenty grand ought to do it.”

“What the fu—how much did Mike give you?”

“Not enough.”

“I don’t have that kind of money.” Not that isn’t earmarked for Ella, anyway.

“Well, I suggest you find it, or we’ll find out how good the security at that school is.” He shoves my arm, and I let him go, because I’m too busy losing my mind over what he said.