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After replying to the final emails and text messages that had come through from my staff, I set my phone aside and got up to pour myself another cup of coffee. As I stood at the counter doing just that, Gemma’s phone beeped and buzzed. She’d left it right beside the coffee maker. I glanced down and jolted at the message that flashed on the screen.
Fucking bitch. How dare you block me!
Block me all you want, burner phones are cheap.
Just like you, a cheap whore.
By the way, your mother gave me your new number.
Your parents hate you as much as I do.
Even as I saw red, I felt a bit guilty that I’d read text messages meant solely for her. I growled and watched her phone to see if any additional messages came through. Was someone threatening her?
Guess what, bitch? I have copies of the pics.
A minute passed and I continued staring at her phone in shock. My anger grew. I wanted to know who was speaking to her like this. I wanted to find out their name and address and pay them a special visit. She was my little girl and I wanted to protect her from harm.
Answer me. Answer me now, slut!
Unless you want pics of your vag on the net again, you better fucking answer.
I want my money.
Pay up or else.
I turned at the sound of footsteps. Gemma breezed into the kitchen, her hair damp from her recent shower, a smile on her face. But when her eyes met mine, her smile faded. Not that I could blame her. I probably looked like I could murder someone right now.
“What’s wrong, Daddy?” Her gaze fell to her phone, and she went pale when another text came through, causing the phone to beep and buzz. I didn’t look down to see what this message said, because I wanted to make sure she was okay. She swayed on her feet and I rushed to her side.
When I reached her, she made a shooing motion. “I’m okay. I’m fine. But you should go.” She gripped the back of a chair, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. “Please leave.”
CHAPTER27
GEMMA
Each timemy phone beeped and buzzed, I flinched.
I felt sick to my stomach.
When I’d walked into the kitchen to find Daddy standing next to my phone wearing a murderous look, it hadn’t taken long for me to realize what had happened—he’d glimpsed some angry text messages from Kenny.
While I hadn’t read the messages yet, judging by the flurry of beeps that kept coming, it sounded like he was on a roll with the angry texts. He must be using another phone, a new number I hadn’t blocked yet. Had he called me names? Demanded money?
My stomach dropped to the floor.
Had he mentioned the nude pics?
“Sit down, baby girl, please. You look very pale and you’re shaking. You’re making me worried.” His voice was gentle and calm, a stark contrast to the furious glint in his eyes. He blinked a few times and the angry look faded, and he peered at me with nothing but kindness. It broke my heart.
I shook my head. “I-I’m fine. Please go.”
“Why do you want me to leave, sweetheart?”
“You know why.” My voice wobbled and a few tears escaped to trickle down my cheeks. Shit. I didn’t want to cry in front of him. Not when he was leaving. I’d asked him to go. Why was he still here?
He sighed and appeared suddenly regretful. “I’m sorry I read your text messages, Gemma. I didn’t mean to invade your privacy like that. The first time, anyway. I was getting more coffee when I heard a beep, and I looked down and saw a message that made me very concerned. After that, I’ll admit I stood there and kept reading the other texts flash on the screen.” He stroked my hair and pressed a hand to my lower back, guiding me into a chair. I sank down on shaky legs and felt like sobbing, but I swallowed hard and tried to keep it together.
“I’m not mad that you read the messages. I believe you when you say you didn’t mean to read them.” It wasn’t as though I’d caught him holding my phone and scrolling through past messages. He’d just glimpsed the new texts that had flashed on the screen.
