“I’m sorry, darlin’. No one deserves that. Is he dead, too?”
I shook my head. “Dom ran like a pussy when my dad showed up, and when he found me, Liam was still, ya know. He stabbed me when my dad busted in. I almost died from blood loss, but I survived. Can you not tell anyone that, please? I don’t even know why I told you. I’m not trying to cause trouble. I just needed a fresh start.”
He nodded. “It won’t leave this room.”
I gave him a small smile. “Thank you.”
“You’re staying here till you heal.” He didn’t bother giving me a choice.
“I have to work!”
“You’ll no longer be working for Ricky.”
I grumbled, sinking further into the pillow. “I just wanted to have something to prove that I can take care of myself without needing anyone else.”
“It’s for your own good, kid,” he said. “You don’t know Ricky.”
“He helped me when I had nothing.”
“He would have wanted to fuck you as repayment.” I jumped at the new feminine voice coming from the doorway.
Her white button-up was unbuttoned until her red and black lace bra could be seen, showing the curve of her breasts. She had a tattoo of a dagger with a snake wrapped around it on her sternum. I didn’t want to gape at her tits too much because I didn’t want to feel her wrath. Her black slacks hugged her hips,accentuating her figure, but the look on her face didn’t look very pleased as she glared daggers into me.
And then it dawned on me.
She was the woman that showed up at the diner and terrified Ricky. I mean, I understood why he would shrivel in fear.
“Wondered when you would join us.”
“Why are you here?” she demanded. I tried to think of an answer, but she didn’t like having to wait. “Why the fuck are you in my town?”
I was taken aback by her outbursts, but matched her. “I just wanted a new life, goddammit!” I yelled, but it caused my side to scream in protest. “Fuck.”
“Easy there, kid.”
“I'm nobody. I’m not going to do anything, but I have nowhere else to go!” I heard her growl in protest, but she could honestly go fuck herself. “You don’t have to be a fucking cunt. I’m just trying to survive.”
“Find somewhere else.” With that, she turned on her heel, and the man followed quickly behind her. That woman was hot, but she screamed raging cunt. The look in her eyes as she stared at me like I was nothing but trash, made me sink further into the pillow. I felt like I was trying to escape through some kind of hidden portal to a different life.
This town was my only option.
I could have gone anywhere, but I didn’t think my father would investigate a town close to the sea when he knew I was still terrified of the ocean. He’d probably look at Nevada or Arizona, or somewhere else that wasn’t the coast, if he was even looking for me. He probably found something better to solve instead of looking for his daughter.
I was the fuck up.
My brother should still be alive instead of me, but no. I survived that day instead of Nathan. He wanted a son to beproud of, and instead, he got a fuck up for a daughter who caused her mother to leave. At this point, my father may get his wish.
“Well, look at you.” A preppy voice echoed into the room, and I saw a beautiful woman with dark brown hair that went to her hips, kind dark eyes, and a curvy body that made my heart skip. Her smile was bright and loud with a warm, inviting spirit as she walked closer to the bed I was cuffed to. She was in tight jeans and a leather jacket that fit her like a glove, but her hair was a knotted mess.
She walked up closer to me, and I could see bruises and hickeys on her tanned skin shining like a beacon, telling the story of her messy hair. “Who are you?”
“I’m Fallon, sweets. My old man found you and brought you here to rest up. You’re a pretty little thing, I see why he did.”
My mouth dropped, and I gape at her. “I…It’s not li?—”
She laughed while coming to sit by me. “I know, sweets. Hawke is a dashing gentleman. A knight in shining leather, if you will. He also has a special talent for finding broken girls and giving them a new life.”
“His name is Hawke?” I asked with bewilderment. It was the only thing I really processed.
