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A snort comes from the other side of the table.
“Isn’t it obvious?” The old man grouches. “Man like him only wants one thing with Delilah. He wants to turn her into one of his whores.”
“You refer to her in those terms again and I’ll knock your teeth back into your throat.” I meet his eyes so he can see that I mean every single word, and the smile falls from his lips.
There is silence, and Delilah's mother finally looks up, indignation trembling through her.
"Excuse me?" she asks.
"Don’t think I don’t know what you did to her," I continue, still staring at the bastard whose face is turning red. "And the only reason I'm not charging at you right now is because I promised Delilah I wouldn't make a scene untilafterdinner was over."
"Oliver," I can feel her hand on my arm, but I don't break eye contact with the animal. I can see two twin urges fighting within him, the urge to cower or bluster.
I wish he would do the latter so I could take his fucking head off once and for all.
"What's this man talking about, Delilah?" her mother inquires, breaking the tense silence once again.
"I don’t know, Mom.” I glance at Delilah and see her eyes are pleading with me but I’m not willing to keep quiet.
I turn to her mother.
“I’m talking about the fact that you didn’t protect your daughter from being around a pedophile.” The woman’s face blanches, eyes going wide with horror. “Your husband has been terrorizing her since she was young and you turned a blind eye to it. But I guarantee you that I will protect her, from everyone and everything that ever tries to harm her. Including you. And that is my promise.”
One shaky hand flies to her throat, as the older woman’s horrified gaze goes to the man.
Meanwhile, Delilah’s stepfather decides he wants to save face.
“How dare you come into my house after taking advantage of my daughter’s naivete, you dirty old man?" He gets to his feet.
I get to mine too, not above knocking out an old man.
“Don't,” Delilah screams out immediately, but I'm not listening. The chair clatters to the floor as I advance to the old man, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt.
"I already put one person who was harassing her in the fucking hospital," I tell him, loud enough for everyone to hear. "I don't mind doing it to you too."
"Let go of him," Delilah's mom interjects. "Let him go now or I'll call the police."
"Do it," I say. The town is pretty spaced out and it will likely take them at least thirty minutes to get here. Which gives me thirty minutes to kick his ass.
"Don't," Delilah says, and I hear her getting up too. "He saved me, Mom. He saved my life from a stalker. He believed me when I said something was wrong and saved me. Don't call the police."
"Delilah—"
"What he’s saying is true," she continues, ignoring her mom's words. "Roger used to make me sit next to him at the table so he could feel my thigh under it, with no one the wiser when I was young. When you weren’t here, he made me sit on his lap and he’d feel up my body.” I feel like I could be sick just hearing her talk about it. “And he’s said things to me no one should ever say to a daughter.” The pain in her voice makes me want to rip the bastard apart but I resist as she continues, “He’s also a sexist controlling pig.”
That is until the dumb ass keeps talking.
“You fucking bitch," Roger says, pushing away from me and attempting to stomp to Delilah. "How dare you—" I cut him off by stepping in front of him. No way he’s getting to her. If he lays a single finger on her, I’ll kill him.
The old man tries to charge at me but I pick him up and slam him to the ground. Someone screams and he slaps his fists weakly against my chest, as commotion breaks out. Delilah is yelling my name and the old man is swearing up a storm. I’m trying to fight the urge to kill him.
It all stops when a gun cocks.
“Get out!” Delilah's mother screams.
I look back at her to tell her to shoot me if she wants but she’s not staring at me. She’s pointing a shotgun right at Roger.
“You bastard,” she says. “My daughter? You tried to do that to my daughter after you already know what happened to me?"
