Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 113717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 569(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 569(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
I led her into my office and sat her behind my desk in the big easy chair that was more comfortable than the others in front of it. She curled into herself and her shoulders shook, tearing my heart out of my chest.
I found a washcloth in my private bathroom and wet it before applying it to her cheek with one hand, and playing with her hair with the other.
When her little hand came up and covered mine on her cheek, I felt my heart clench. How was it possible to feel this much for someone I’d only just met?
I fought hard to hide my inner rage from her; I didn’t want to traumatize her any more than she already had been. Kissing her forehead I pulled the cloth away to assess the damage.
The sight of the handprint in her cheek only served to enrage me further and I had to remind myself that it was better for me to be here taking care of her than for me to follow Marion and strangle her.
“What happened baby?”
She sucked in a deep breath and the tears started again. “I thought she was just having one of her spells.”
“Spells?” I turned her face to mine so I could see her eyes.
“Yeah, you know, like when she gets mad and screams out of nowhere, or when she throws and breaks things?” she looked at me as if I was supposed to know what she was talking about; at my blank look she carried on.
“When I got back she was already upset because I’d been gone so long. I told her everything that had happened, I thought she would be happy for me, but she got this look on her face, it was scary.” She trembled and swiped at her cheeks with trembling hands.
“Then she saw my new phone and asked where I’d gotten it and that’s when it happened. When I told her that you had gotten it for me she started screaming, calling me the most ugly names.
When I tried to tell her that it wasn’t anything like that she struck me and snatched the phone and threw it into the wall. Then she tried to push the cabinet over on me, so I ran.
By then the others were coming to see what all the fuss was about and someone called security because she was still coming after me.” Her poor little body shuddered and I drew her into me enveloping her in my arms. Screw moving too fast.
***
My mind raced with thoughts of the steps I had to take next. I knew Marion would never tell her parents the truth, but I also knew she could spin anything to suit herself, so I made the call myself. I was straightforward and as honest as the situation allowed before giving her the phone.
I listened as she told them of her visit so far with her so-called aunt. My blood heated up at some of the things she imparted; even though she tried to be as quiet as she could I still over heard it all.
Then again it would’ve been hard for me not to since I’d picked her up and sat her in my lap. Shit, I needed to get her stuff from that apartment. As much as I didn’t want to expose her to the other woman’s venom anymore for the day, I needed her there to make sure she got all of her belongings and we needed to get there before Marion destroyed it all.
“Feel better now?” I took the phone from her and hung it up. I knew that her parents were upset, not with her, but with themselves for trusting their daughter with someone they thought they could trust.
I never would’ve handed her the phone if I thought it would’ve gone the other way. She nodded her head and tried to put on a brave face. I wish I could give her time, but the sooner we got this over with the better. I wasn’t about to let Marion or anyone else for that matter upset her again.
“Come on sweetheart we need to go collect your stuff.”
“But where am I going to go?”
“I already told your dad that I’ll be taking you home with me.” Her eyes widened at my admission.
“There’s nothing for you to worry about kitten, everything’s going to be okay. Nothing will happen to you in my home that you don’t want.”
I’m not sure if she understood the meaning behind my words, but she seemed to be satisfied with my answer. I played around with the idea of taking security with me but nixed it in the end. Too many people had already had a ringside seat to this little drama as it was.
Chapter 7
I held her close as we made our way through the streets of the city, neither of us saying a word. When we reached the apartment I kept her behind me as we approached the door.