Cora gulps and clings to Sue. "I—I was skipping and playing and following Lulu around and?—
"Breathe," Sue coos, rubbing Cora's back in soothing circles.
Cora does as Sue says, though it barely calms the anxiety I can feel pouring off of her. "Well, I slipped a l-little in some mud and c-crashed into Lulu. She fell so hard!" Cora cries, and loses herself in a fit of tears.
I'm on my feet so fast Sue has to shoot me a warning look. Clenching my jaw and shaking my fists out, I force my voice to be steady and calm. "Where is she now, Cora? You're not in trouble, I promise."
"She—she was crying. I apologized the whole walk to her truck, I swear! I even offered her a new outfit but she-she left and said something about needing to shower at home. Mommy, her hair and even herteethhad mud in them!"
"It's okay, sunshine. You came right here to tell her Daddy. That's a good girl. She's coming back, then maybe we can set you guys up with a playdate. I bet you'll feel much better if you can have some better time together, right?"
Sue's words mean nothing to me right now. "How long ago did she drive off?"
"Five—Five minutes," Cora whimpers.
Sue glances at me with understanding. "Breathe, Preston," she mutters. I know what she's trying to say.She'll come back.
If she doesn't, I'll go and fucking get her. Because now that she's left my property, there's no doubt in my mind that she'll never leave again without calling this place her home.
Come home, baby.
thirteen
LULU
I shouldn't have come home. The first time Preston let me inside his home I should have begged to stay.
Like a stupid girl, I used the excuse of muddy clothes to run away from the first person I’d ever felt safe with and the first place I’ve ever felt safe in. Who does that? How immature must I be to run back to the house I was abused in since I was a child?
I had it good with Preston.Had.Past tense because I'm not sure I'll make it back.
Knowing Preston for as little time as I did, didn't matter. He showed me what acceptance and kindness was. My Little called him Daddy and knew he was hers but just like I always do, I stomped on her dreams and shoved her down.
Now I'm sure I'll never get to experience the joys and contentment of being my true self. Preston has so many more toys for me to explore. He has so many more cuddles to give, I just know it.
I may not have ever been good for him, but darn did I want to try. He listens to me even in my silence.
Sucking in a shuddering breath, I vow to myself that if I make it out of here alive, I'll do everything in my power to ensure Daddy has no reason to throw me away. I'll be the best womanand Little he could imagine. Sure, I'll be uncomfortable and scared sometimes, but it will all be worth it for him to smile at me and pull me close.
Maybe he'll let my Little out to play a few times a week. It won't really be enough, but I’ll be grateful no matter what.
"HEY! I'm fuckin' talking to you!"
Chills race down my arms even as I tuck my muddy sweater around me tighter. A small whimper escapes, but the guy in the leather jacket rushes toward me, leaving my father's dead body behind.
My father is dead. The man who beat me is lying motionless on the ground. My abuser and captor has a bullet in his forehead.
Pain spears my forearm as the stranger wraps his bloody hand around it. "Listen to me when I'm talking to you, bitch!"
My throat closes over and I feel like my eyes are about to pop out of my head. What in the world is happening? Am I dreaming? The monster I grew up with is actually dead?
I canseethe trail of blood his body has left behind. His chest isn't rising or falling. My father is really dead.
The view of his body is taken away by the scary man who won't let go of me. His face is red, and his eyes are so sharp I feel like he's trying to stab me with a glare. The energy radiating off of this guy can only be described as it is... he was literally caught dragging a dead body and I'm the one who saw.
"Dagger? What the fuck are you—LET HER GO!" Suddenly the murderous man is wrenched away from me and I'm left scrambling to stay upright.
"Hey, hey, it's okay," a new man says. He's larger and much hairier than the first one. It's then I realize I'm sobbing on my hands and knees. I didn't catch myself.Daddy would have caught me.
