Page 159 of Depraved

He placed his palms on my cheek, searching my face like he was looking for any injuries, making double sure I wasn’t hurt. “Jesus. I was so worried about you.”

“I’m fine, Dad. Really.” I pulled him in for a hug, realizing how much I really had missed him. And then everything came tumbling down like a giant rockslide, hitting me so hard I started weeping uncontrollably. Sob after sob, I cried my heart out while my dad had his arms wrapped around me so tight. Everything that had happened the last few weeks completely overwhelmed me, crushing me to a point where I thought I’d never stop sobbing.

“It’s okay, baby girl. You’re safe now.” A gentle hand stroked up my back and through my hair. “Shhh. It’s okay. It’s all over now.”

I didn’t want him to let go. Seeing my dad, hearing his voice, and being able to hug him again was better than I ever could have imagined. The safety I felt, the relief, it was indescribable.

“I’m so glad you’re safe, baby girl,” he cooed into my hair as he continued to hug me. “If anything had happened to you, I don’t know what I’d do.”

I sniffed, trying to swallow my tears. If I never cried a single tear again in my life, it would be too soon.

Granite stepped up behind us, his large shadow casting over me. Even among law enforcement authority, Granite still managed to demand all the respect. His presence was too heavy, too dominating to ignore no matter where he went.

“Granite,” my dad started, taking my hand in his, pulling me in beside him, “thank you.”

There was a slight hint of animosity hidden within the words of gratitude. By the way Granite lifted a brow, I knew he picked up on it too.

“I told you I would find your daughter.”

My dad straightened. “Which wouldn’t have been necessary if she hadn’t been taken in the first place.”

“Dad, don’t.”

“Alyx, is he the man who kidnapped you?” My dad didn’t look at me, keeping his eyes on Granite. “Are the American Street Kings responsible for your disappearance in the first place?”

I chewed my lip, feeling the way his grip tightened on my hand, urging me to speak up. Granite’s dark eyes pinned me to the spot, something thick and powerful passing between us. He knew as well as I did that this was the moment it had all come down to. The moment where I would have to choose—where I was free to choose. All this time I was held captive by Granite, by Tanit, and God knew, by my mom as well, it all brought me here to this moment. Right here, right now, I was able to choose for myself.

So much had happened in such a short while. The Granite who took me was cruel, selfish…obsessed. But the Granite who stood before me now was different. So different. He was loyal. Brave. Protective. And most of all…he was mine.

I faced my dad, the realization of what I really wanted making me feel like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. “No,” I answered simply. “It was Tanit, all along. She’s the one who kidnapped me.”

“Alyx—”

“That’s what happened, Dad. That’s the real story.”

He glanced from Granite to me, and back at Granite. The scowl on his face and creases on his forehead were clear indicators he didn’t believe a single word I just said.

“Dad, it’s okay. Granite saved me.” I moved my face in front of him, forcing him to look at me rather than at Granite. “He saved me, Dad. He really…saved me.”

“Alyxandria?”

I stiffened at her voice.

“Alyxandria, my baby.”

“Mother,” I whispered without turning to her.

Hands grabbed my shoulders and spun me around, pulling me against her. The familiar smell of her sweet perfume made my stomach turn, and the first thought that popped into my head was the pancake. The damn pancake I ate before all this happened.

Stretching her arms out, pushing me away so she could study me, her eyes raked over my body. “Thank God, you’re okay. You look perfect. No broken bones, no fractures, no weight. Oh, thank the Lord. I was so worried about you.”

She tried to pull me back in for a hug, but I balked, keeping her from hugging me.

“Alyxandria?” The wrinkles at the corners of her eyes moved as she frowned.

“No broken bones? No fractures?” I clenched my jaw. “No weight? Really, Mother?”

“Alyxandria, I was merely saying how glad I am to see you’re not harmed.”