Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 63139 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63139 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
I act confused. “I didn’t tell them anything, because I don’t know anything. I didn’t even know what they were talking about.”
“How much older were they?” he barks.
“I don’t know, Dad. Maybe middle aged.”
“Two middle-aged men start asking you questions like that at a party, and you’re not suspicious?”
I cross my arms. “Why would I be? Am I missing something here? Do you know something about that girl?”
“I’ve never heard of her,” he growls. “I don’t appreciate you speaking outside of this house.”
“I told you,” I grind out, “I wasn’t speaking outside of this house. All I said was I had no idea what they were talking about. They told me that you did, and I should ask you.”
“I’m going to find out who they were, they were probably fucking cops.”
“Why would cops be asking me questions if you had nothing to do with it?” I dare ask.
My father stands, storming toward me and leaning in close. I don’t flinch, even though he does look terrifying when he behaves like this. “You listen and you listen good, you don’t say a motherfucking word to anybody, about anything. You do not want to cross me.”
“How the fuck did this go from me asking a question, to you threatening me?” I snap.
“Don’t play with me. You might be my child but I’m not against putting you back in your place.”
God.
What a dick.
I shake my head. “I’m done here. For someone who has never heard that name, you’re sure as hell acting guilty as fuck. It wouldn’t surprise me if you had something to do with it, considering how grand you treat your daughter.”
He raises his hand and slaps me. He slaps me so hard my head whips to the side. I’m shocked. For a moment, I can’t say anything. I can’t do anything. I stand there, completely frozen. I reach up and touch my already heated cheek and stare at him in horror. “What the hell?” I whisper.
“You get out of here, right fucking now, and if you ever dare to speak to me like that again, you’ll see the wrong side to me.”
“Go fuck yourself,” I yell, turning and rushing out.
I run to my room, grab some clothes for the night, and then I call Remy.
I’d call Rhett, but he isn’t home, and I don’t know who else to turn to.
All I know is I need to get out of this house.
Right now.
Remy agrees to come and get me, and I go and wait outside. I’m standing on the driveway when my father walks out, something tucked in his hand. “Where do you think you’re going?”
I turn and glance at him. “Anywhere but here.”
“I have a job for you.”
“Are you fucking serious?” I snap. “You want me to do a job?”
“If you want to live under this roof, Gabriella, you will do as I ask.”
I shake my head, horrified.
“You’ll take this and you’ll go and place it at the clubhouse. Tonight. We don’t have any more time to waste. You take it, you drop it there, and you say nothing. If you don’t, you’ll wish you were never born.”
My mouth drops open. “What sort of monster are you?”
“One who is protecting his family. I’ll do whatever it takes, no matter the cost.”
“Lucky for you I’m not family,” I whisper.
“No, but you’ll do as I ask. Once you’ve done this, you can go about your business.”
I stare at the package. I don’t want to take it, but I do at the same time. I’m not going to plant it anywhere, what I am going to do is see what’s inside, and figure out what the hell it is he thinks he’s going to pin on the club. I won’t let him get away with this. I’m not family, he said it himself, which means I have nothing to lose when it comes to him.
I reach my hands out, and he passes me the package, which is wrapped in something black and bound so tightly, it will take a damned knife to get into it. I tuck it under my arm. “Anything else?”
“Call me when you’ve planted it.”
With that, he turns. Before he reaches the gate, he looks back at me. “Oh, and Gabriella? You’ll be wise not to mess with me.”
With that, he’s gone.
Mess with him? I’m going to fucking destroy him.
Just watch me.
12
“YOUR FATHER HIT YOU?” Remy asks when we arrive back at his place. “You okay?”
“I’m fine. Look, I know we’re not a thing, but I had nowhere else to go tonight. I’ll be out of your way tomorrow.”
He shrugs. “It’s fine, babe. I don’t give a fuck. I do, however, care that your father is layin’ hands on you.”
“I confronted him about Constance. I played dumb, but he lost his shit. That tells me all I need to know. There’s something else ...”