I have to get this off my chest. “I’m going to call him.”
“What?” he roars, thrusting his hands into his hair. Fuck, his cheeks are red from the cold, but the look in his eyes does something to me that warms me right up. Still, I stay away from the nasty thoughts and focus on my problem.
“Look, he knows where I’m at, right? What he doesn’t know is that there’s evidence of his attack on me. I’m not going to let him come and get me. Are you?”
Tobias drops to his knees in front of me. “Never.”
“I’m an adult, and there’s nothing he can do about it. I’ve committed no crime.”
“Fine, but I’m sitting right here, and I want it on speaker phone,” he demands. Good. I want him at my side. I need him at my side.
I let out a sigh, and then pull out my phone. “Here goes nothing.” I dial his cell phone, and he picks up on the last ring.
“Mr. Henry,” I say, refusing to call him Dad anymore. He lost that right after this sick attempt to force me into marriage.
“Ava. Where are you?” He’s clenching his teeth.
“Where am I? You know damn well where I am. How you know that is a question that I haven’t figured out,” I hiss out, attempting to come off as annoyed and not the anxious way I’m feeling.
“Fine. That’s easy. The surveillance of you at the bank. I had that woman followed. She left for Montana and came back a couple weeks later. We went with the idea that she gave you a place to lay low, so we went with the hunch. My man had been just about ready to give up his search, only to see you with Reynolds. Just dumb luck it seems was in my favor. Ava Marie, enough of all this. When are you coming back?”
“Never.”
“You will be coming back,” he commands. Maybe it’s time or the distance, or the fact that I have Tobias at my side, but I’m not intimidated by him anymore.
“No, I won’t. I want nothing to do with you ever again,” I state with so much power, I actually feel triumphant.
“You’re making me look bad. After all I’ve done for you, this is how you treat me? Do you know that the ethics committee is questioning your sudden disappearance?”
“Oh, they think you killed me?” I laugh.
“No, but they’re more concerned about why you left. Someone saw you running from our home moments after your mother and I drove away. You couldn’t leave without making a fuss, could you?” Always about appearances.
“Sorry to inconvenience you. Imagine that. You looking bad…Just imagine what it was like to walk around with a black eye for weeks. So go fuck yourself about appearances. I actually called to tell you to leave me alone. I have no intention of ever coming back. If you continue harassing me, I’ll go public with the abuse.”
“Or better yet, I’ll destroy you for putting your hands on my woman,” Tobias interjects, clearly pissed off to the point that he’s broken his silence.
“Oh so you’re the tough fucker. You can’t even handle the one problem you have. Don’t go looking for more. I promise you won’t like what I am capable of. My daughter’s better off at home with her fiancé, Derek.”
“You’ve had your warning. I’ve seen what you’re capable of, you poor excuse for a man. It’s already been made clear that you gave her the black eye. We know it. You’re lucky you’re not in front of me because you’d never breathe again. If I ever see you, I’ll do so much more.”
“If you don’t come home, Ava. I will make you both regret it. Heed my warning.”
“I think I’ll make a call to the Indiana State Police or maybe the Montana State Police for stalking and assault.”
“We don’t need all of that. I just want you to come home, Ava. Derek loves you and is waiting for you.” Tobias ends the call, getting more and more livid by the second.
“I’ve heard enough about this Derek asshole.”
“Sorry. I haven’t seen him in a year. I don’t know why he keeps mentioning him.”
He shakes his head and stands up. “I’ve added extra security for the house. Stay inside. I’m calling my lawyer.”
Louisa comes over, taking Tobias’s place. “Girl, how are you?”
“I’m fine, I suppose. Tobias is pissed at me, but I’m not sure why.”
“He’s a guy. I don’t think he’ll be happy hearing about an ex. Although that’s not what crawled up his ass. Everything your father said continued to set his teeth on edge.”
“I need to go talk to him.”
“I’ll be right here if you need me.”
“Thanks.” I walk down the hallway to Tobias’s office and then knock.
“Come in.” I step in and he’s out of his chair, cupping my face with his mouth on mine before I can react. I moan, clinging to him.