Elizabeth smiled but I knew it wasn’t genuine.
“What do you want, Dad?”
Dad?
My head snapped back to look at the guy. Paislie hardly ever mentioned her father. On occasion he would contact her to ask for something, usually money. Seeing him standing there made him all too real.
“Now, why do you think I want something? I saw my daughter walking down the street and I wanted to say hello to her.” He turned his attention on me. “And who are you?”
I went to answer when Paislie jumped between us. “None of your business.”
He let out a whistle and reached down for her hand. “Holy shit, look at that fucking rock on your hand.”
“Dad!” Paislie exclaimed as he looked over to Elizabeth.
“Forgive me, sister, I’ll go to confession on Saturday.”
I was stunned to see the look Elizabeth gave him. When Paislie pulled her hand from his, I wrapped my arm around her. “You’re getting married. I think I have the right to know who the man is who is marrying ya.”
With a forced laugh, Paislie shook her head as she said, “You gave up that right when you left me on the steps of the orphanage.”
“Malcolm, I’d like to leave now.”
Gripping my hand tighter on her waist, I led her away when my name was called out.
“Malcolm Wallace. I thought that was you.” Looking at Paislie, he smirked. “Looks like you done good for yourself, Paislie.”
“Let’s go, please, Malcolm.”
Doing as she asked, we walked away from her father. Taking one last look over my shoulder, I saw him watching us. I had the feeling that now he knew Paislie was getting married, and to someone
with money, he wasn’t going to just let her walk away so easy.
Next time he came sniffing around, I’d be ready.
“Elizabeth, where are you parked?” Paislie asked in a shaky voice. I hated the affect that asshole had on her.
“Around the corner. You’re more than welcome to walk me to the car if you’d like.”
“Please. I don’t want him seeing my license plates. He’ll know where I’m living.”
My heart was pounding in my chest and when we rounded the corner, I pulled her to a stop. “Would he do something to you if he knew where you lived?”
Her expression was blank. “No. He’d just start sending me letters asking for money. I doubt he would show up if he knew you would be there. He’s a coward, so most of the time he sends me a letter or text message.”
Asshole.
We walked Elizabeth to her car and chatted with her a bit more before we headed back to the car. I could feel Paislie’s body relax the moment we rounded the corner and she didn’t see her father anywhere.
“I’ll never let him bother you again, baby. I swear.”
Giving me a weak smile, she looked straight ahead, lost in her own thoughts.
Once we got to her car, I opened the door while she got in. Pressing a number on my phone, I waited for Kathleen to answer.
“Hello?”
“I’ve got some work for you in the Dallas area if you get your guy on it.”