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.
“I never slept with Derek.”
“I’m not mad about that. Although it makes me a little less tense. Your father is a bastard. Some of us lose the best parents and people like him stick around sucking the soul out of everyone.” The phone on his desk rings. “My lawyer’s calling. I have to take this, but you stay right fucking put.” He sits on the edge of his desk and then hits the speaker.
“Hey, Bill. I’ve got a problem. Can you stop by the house?”
“Yeah. Give me two hours.”
“Okay. Thanks.” He ends the call and pulls me between his legs. “Ava, Ava, Ava. Fuck, this is hard for me to say.”
“Are you ending things?”
“Fuck no. I didn’t mean to give you that impression.” He kisses my lips lightly and then says, “This isn’t how I wanted to tell you or even how soon, but I want you to know I love you. I love you so fucking much that I don’t know how to handle someone being rude to you. And I’m without a doubt jealous as fuck seeing another man’s hands on you.”