“Hell, yes,” I reply and start going through all the drawers, trying to find bowls and spoons. I hear my cell phone go off and I know from the ringtone that it’s Justin. Going over to my purse, I pull it out completely forgetting that I had the thing with me.
“Justin, I’m so sorry about the other day,” I say, still feeling bad about what Carter did to him.
“Hello, daughter.”
Holy fuck. I haven’t heard his voice in years. I feel my heartbeat pick up.
“Dad?” I say hesitantly, still not believing it’s him.
“Cut the crap, you little slut. It’s time for a family reunion. I even have your mother here.”
I look up and see Jeanette staring at me.
“Why the fuck would I want to see you?” I bark into the phone.
“Seems someone has gotten a little bit of a backbone. Don’t forget I made you, Layla, and I can easily take you down, along with everyone you love,” he says smugly.
“Carter is going to kill you,” I say in an equally smug voice.
“You shut your mouth, you fucking good for nothing whore! I knew I should have passed you off years ago. Just like a typical woman, spreading her legs to get her way.”
“Fuck you, asshole! I don’t have to listen to this.” I go to hang up the phone then I hear him speak.
“I’ll kill them.”
I feel my blood go cold.
“Who?”
“Don’t play dumb, Layla, you know who. I sent Carter on a wild goose chase. I’m sure he went running out of wherever he has you. Not only could I blow up the building I have him headed to, but I also have your little friend Justin here. And let’s not forget dear old Mom.”
“What do you want?” I ask knowing now that I’ll do anything he asks me. I can’t let my father take lives because of me.
“You.”
“Where?”
“Outside the library in twenty minutes. I’ll take one of Justin’s fingers for every minute you’re late.” The line goes dead.
I bolt out of the kitchen, through the living room and up the stairs with Jeanette on my heels. I make my way to the safe, pop it open and get what I need.
“What’s going on, Lays? What the fuck?”
“He says he’ll kill them. Carter, Justin, my mom.” Turning, I look at her. “Saint.” Her face goes pale at his name.
Ripping my sweater off I grab a bra, put it on, throw on a hoodie, and slide on some jeans. I dig through my bag and I’m happy to find Carter packed the only pair of sneakers I have. Putting them on, I pick up the phone and press call.
“Baby?”
“Don’t go in wherever you’re headed. They know you’re coming.”
“How the fuck do you know this, Layla?”
I don’t answer him. “I love you so much, Carter. More than you’ll ever know but I can’t let him hurt people anymore.”
“Cherry, knock that shit off. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. You wait, baby, I’ll be right there and we’ll talk.”
“I love you,” I say again, but I can’t keep it from sounding like a sob.
“Goddamn it, Cherry, I love you too, don’t do this.”
“Goodbye, Carter,” I say, ending the call and flipping the phone on silent. I shove it into my bra and race down the stairs and out into the bay area to find a car.
“Where are we going?” Jeanette asks.
“You’re not going anywhere,” I say, my eyes desperately scanning the wall for the right keys to the Jeep.
“You’re fucking crazy if you think I’m not going with you,” she snaps back at me.
Finding them, I snatch them off the wall and push the button to open the loading door. When I make it to the driver’s door I hop in and press the lock button fast before she can jump in the other side. I mouth to her that I love her. She beats on the window but I just reverse out and take off.
It doesn’t take me long to get to the library. As I drive, all I can think about is Carter. He’s probably losing it right now. I see my father when I pull in. He looks so much older. It looks like he’s aged way more than four years, but I’m guessing being hunted would do that to a man. I slowly step out of the Jeep and walk towards him. He’s standing next to a black sedan and the driver’s door opens. A man I remember steps out. It’s the man who tried to kill me. The man my father let beat me. I stop in my tracks. He is one of the first things I remembered when I finally started to get pieces of that night back. It’s his eyes. I’m not sure how I ever forgot them. They are so dark they almost look black.
“So good to see you, my lovely daughter,” my father says, walking towards me. When he reaches me, I can smell the vodka on him. It’s seeping from his pores. I go to take a step back, but he grabs me by the hair.
“Is that any way to greet your father?” he says, leaning into me. I take the opportunity to spit in his face. I immediately regret it when he backhands me. I can taste the metallic tang of blood in my mouth as I fall to the ground.
“Put her in the car,” he snarls and turns to head towards the sedan.
The driver pulls me to my feet by my hair and I feel the sting in my eyes. I grit my teeth in an effort to stop myself from crying out. I won’t give them the pleasure.
“We got interrupted the last time we were together. I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen this time,” the driver says, and licks the side of my face. I feel the vomit rise in my throat.
“Carter is going to gut you!” I growl at the man.
“Well I’m going to fuck you. Let’s see who gets what they want first,” he sneers, grinding his hard-on into my ass, then pushes me towards the car.