Daddy's Little Obsession (Daddy 6)

Nia forced herself to take a few bites and then laid the fork down. “I can’t. My stomach is too upset.”

Aleena set her spoon down. “I know what you mean. Daddy has to go to the office for meetings in the morning. We’ll make plans then.”

Nia saw the flush on her friend’s face. “What?”

“Travis was here looking for you.”

Nia’s mouth dropped open. “Really? What did he say?”

“That he’s worried about you. He said he was miserable and was afraid someone would hurt you.”

“Why would he say that?” Nia asked.

Aleena shrugged. “He looked really sad.”

“What do you think I should do?”

Aleena took her hand. “I’ll back whatever you decide. I don’t like the fact you overheard that conversation.”

“Do you think he was lying to you?”

“I’m not sure,” Aleena said. “We can always decide tomorrow.”

“Okay. You better go.” Nia closed her eyes when Aleena hugged her. She needed it tremendously. She knew her life would never be the same, and she’d probably end up alone.

Aleena lifted the tray, turned off the playroom light, and walked away.

Nia felt tension build inside of her. What made it even worse than normal was she couldn’t pace because she was afraid Kaleb would find her, so she needed to stay still.

Tears started falling down her face, and she rocked back and forth, trying anything to release some of the pressure building in her.

She finally crawled into the huge basket with all Aleena’s stuffed animals. Nia thought being surrounded by anything was better than nothing.

She wasn’t aware when Kaleb came into the room a few hours later and looked in the closet and under the bed.

Nia had been sleeping so still, and she was so covered with the toys he hadn’t seen her.

Chapter Eighteen

“Nia,” Aleena whispered and shook her awake.

Nia opened her eyes and then rubbed them. The gritty feeling told her she’d had very little sleep and had cried quite a bit.

“Daddy’s gone. We’re going to go to Larkin’s. Her house is bigger than ours, and she’ll be able to hide us.”

“You don’t have to go.”

“Yeah, I do. Daddy told me he didn’t want someone that lied in the house.”

Nia grabbed her hand. “No, you have to tell him. I don’t want you to lose him.”

Aleena shrugged. “I’ll help you, and when we have a plan, I’ll call him.”

Nia swiped the tear that ran down her face. “I’m messing up everything.”

Aleena grabbed her arm. “No, you’re not. Stop it. We have to go.”

Aleena helped Nia out of the basket. They crept down the stairs and then out a side door. They raced down the driveway where an Uber waited.