AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I didn’t mean to put her in danger. I thought I was helping her.”
“It’s not just that.” He waves his hand around the room. “Look at this. You are in a three-bedroom suite. You spend money like it’s going out of style. I’ve decided it’s time to force you to grow up.”
“But, Daddy, it’s not like that—”
He holds up a hand, stopping me. “It’s done. You have until Christmas to prove you are mature and will get a real job.”
“A real job? I work at the shelter almost every day. It’s a job—”
Again, his hand goes up, stopping me from continuing. I hate that he doesn’t think it’s a real job. He hasn’t been to a board meeting since the first one. He got called away from the last one a couple of months ago because something was going on at the Melody. I can’t compete with a casino. I’ll never win. He missed so many of my school and college things because of it. My heart drops in my chest.
“You’ll never forgive me for putting your precious Gina’s daughter in danger. That’s what this is all about.” I raise my voice. “I tried to be a good big sister, but I failed. I didn’t know they had been together that long. I didn’t even know they loved each other.”
“It’s not only that. You jumped into bed with a man without even knowing him last night. Dmitri isn’t the kind of man you can play with. He’ll kill you if you cross him.”
I cringe at his words. “I know what kind of man Dmitri is.”
“No, you don’t,” he barks, and for the first time ever, I cringe back in fear from my father. “He is using you, and you are playing with him. Break it off with him. Don’t make me take care of that too. As for the other situation, I’ve shut off your credit cards. I’m selling the condo. You can stay in your suite at the casino, but you can only order room service. No shopping at the stores. You have plenty of clothes. You can keep the car. But you have two months to show me you can take care of yourself, and then I’ll decide if you deserve your trust fund.” His words hit hard. “A fucking three-bedroom suite is a bit extravagant, Lennon. Maybe you should look at those women who come to the shelter or even remember where you started.”
I throw my hands up and the tears flow. “Remember where I started? How can I forget? I was there. You weren’t. She did everything she could to keep us from starving, but there were times my stomach would hurt so bad for food. I remember wearing the same clothes for days and praying the cockroaches wouldn’t crawl across me while I slept.” I turn around and grab my purse off the sofa. I can’t tell him about Lyric and Ainsley. “I watched her die. So, I know. I work my ass off in that shelter. I earn the salary I make. You don’t know because it has nothing to do with your preciousMelody.”
“It would only take a no-confidence vote started by me and you won’t have that anymore,” he says with pain in his voice.
“I dare you. At least I’m moving on with my life and not living in the past.” I square up to him.
His hand flashes out and cracks against my cheek. I see Ainsley holding Lyric back as she tries to get out of the room to come for me and protect me.
“Leave,” I say, holding my cheek. My tears are all dried up now.
His body is trembling. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.” He reaches for me, but I take a step back.
“Please leave.”
“You did this when you put Sparrow’s life in danger. You have thirty minutes to vacate this suite, or they will be coming to get your personal credit card.” He moves toward the door.
“It’s always going to be her.” Tears roll down my face again as I watch him leave without turning around.
“I’m going to fuck him up.” Lyric storms out of the bedroom and takes me into her arms.
“We should trash the suite and leave it for him to take care of,” Ainsley adds as she moves to the large glass bar.
“No.” I stop her. “It will be okay.”
“Well, how am I supposed to pay rent this month? I was going to ask if you had a couple hundred you could loan me.” She huffs and returns to the bedroom to grab their bags.
“Come on.” Lyric takes my hand.
“Can we stop at the mall and play in the Sephora?” Ainsley asks.
“No. Don’t you get it? All the frivolous spending he was accusing Lennon of was because of you, Ainsley. Have a fucking heart. She has nothing.”
“I have a place. I need to go. Will you two be okay?” I look at them in concern.
“Yes, I stopped the hacker from digging too much into you for a while. I told Ainsley we didn’t need to hide out, but she wanted to stay in a hotel.”
“Don’t blame me. It’s her fault that someone wants to come after us. If she had just done what she was supposed to, we wouldn’t be exposed. If she hadn’t fallen for a fucking mafia dude… Didn’t she learn?” Ainsley waves at my face. “They only care about themselves. Shit, did you even use protection with him?”
“I’m on the shot,” I say as I distantly remember something I need to check out.
