Page 73 of Relentless Sinner
Dad sees me looking at him straight away. I feel like he watched me through the walls before he walked in and knew exactly where to find me.
Jaxon and I are standing by the chocolate fountain. Jaxon is busy talking to a few people he introduced as work colleagues, so he hasn’t noticed my father yet.
As those evil, hawk eyes bore into me I recall last week’s encounter with Dad and how he hit me. Although I expected hisrage and am used to his abusive ways, every time he gets like that it’s always hard. It never gets easier.
This is just the first time I’ve had someone stronger than he is to stop him.
I don’t want to speak to him but it’s going to look weird to the family and other people who know us if I don’t.
Not speaking to him would be the sort of thing to cause the kind of gossip I don’t need to bite me in the ass. I’m certain that by now people know Natasha is pregnant and has run off with our bodyguard. What will they say if they see that Salvatore De Costa’s youngest daughter refused to speak to him at her own engagement party?
But they don’t know how dangerous and evil my father is.
I don’t realize that I’m holding Jaxon’s hand again—andsqueezing it—until he squeezes my hand back and looks at me with concern.
He takes one look at me and must read the fear in my eyes because he turns and sees my father taking his last step down the stairs.
Jaxon’s brows snap together and he leans close to whisper, “You don’t have to speak to him.”
He looks up so he’s gazing into my eyes. I swallow hard and try to breathe.
“I should.”
“No, you shouldn’t. He’s only here out of formality.”
“I know.” And I know I agreed for him to be here. After what happened he shouldn’t be anywhere near me but, once again, I’m trying to keep the peace. “It’s okay. He won’t do anything to me in front of all these people. And I think he may be scared of you.” Actually, I’m pretty sure about that part.
“I’m not leaving you with him.” Jaxon gives me a unyielding stare.
Just then my father approaches us and the people we were speaking to previously say their goodbyes.
“Good evening,” Dad says in a welcoming voice. As if nothing has happened between us.
“It was until you arrived,” Jaxon replies and the smile falls off Dad’s face.
“Surely we can put aside our differences to celebrate your engagement.”
I don’t know who Dad is trying to fool but it’s not me. He won’t fool Jaxon either with his foolishness.
“You’re here as a guest. That’s more than enough.”
“I agree. I was out of line when last we met.” He looks at me and gives me a fake-as-fuck smile. “Bella, I know you can forgive your dear father for the stress he’s under.”
“You want forgiveness?” My question is obviously rhetorical. My father would never want anything of the sort. Not even if he was lying on his deathbed and knew it would save his soul.
“Of course, my dear. I would never want to drive a wedge between us.”
I glance at Jaxon who is also not buying the bullshit my father is serving.
“What do you want, Salvatore? It sounds like you’re about to get on a soapbox,” Jaxon says, tilting his head and regarding him with the scrutiny of a lion.
“I’d like to speak to my daughter in private. Father to daughter.”
“Really? You think I’d allow that after last time?”
“Last time was a mistake that won’t happen again.”
“No.”