Page 42 of Under Their Watch
“Thanks,” I mutter and go to the back.
I splash cold water on my face to try and relax. I do it a few more times before I give up and grab paper towels to dry my face. I hear the door open but before I can turn, hands grab my waist. Igasp and look up to find it’s my dad who has me pushed against the sink.
“Dad, we are in public,” I say quickly.
“Don’t you want to make Daddy happy, Rhea?” he asks as he unbuttons my shorts and shoves them down.
“Dad. Stop it,” I say as I start to panic.
“Bend over and let Daddy feel good,” he says, pushing me over the counter. I hear the condom tear open and I start crying.
“Daddy, stop it,” I beg him through tears. “I don’t like this. Please, stop.”
“Daddy will be quick. I just need to feel my girl. I’ve missed you, Rhea,” he says as he puts the condom on and pulls my arms behind my back so he can shove my head into the sink.
“Daddy, stop. Please stop,” I yell when he pulls up on the lift rod to lower the stopper and plug the sink. He turns on the water and pushes my face down further. “Stop. Stop it. Please stop.”
“Shhh, Daddy will make it better,” he says as he forces himself into me. I fall hysterical as he starts forcefully fucking me as the water gets closer to my face. The more I fight, the harder he thrusts into me. “Fuck, Daddy loves his baby girl’s tight pussy. Why’d you have to lie, Rhea? You said you weren’t sleeping with them. Why'd you lie to Daddy?”
“Stop!” I scream and push back as the water gets to me. I am completely panicked, realizing he’s about to kill me. This isn’t how it was supposed to happen. I went into the coffee shop too early. Why did I do that? They told me not to do that. Casey said there needed to be an undercover cop here first. I didn’t listen, and now I’m going to die. “Don’t do this. Please. I’m sorry. Please, Daddy.”
“It’s too late, Rhea. You were raised better than this,” he grunts out as he shoves my head under the water. I start thrashing and fighting harder, trying to get my head above the water. He is pounding into me but none of that registers since I can’t breathe. I am trying to free my hands so I can pull the stopper, but he has a tight grip on me.
All of the sudden, he falls away from me and I hit the ground gasping and coughing up water. Arms come around me and I start screaming as loud as I can, wanting to be saved. Someone has to save me. I don’t want to die. Not in some stupid coffee shop.
“I’ve got you. Rhea, it’s me. It’s me, Rhea,” Theo says as he grabs my face and makes me look at him. I instantly start sobbing and fall against his chest, desperately needing comfort. I hear noises around us, but I can’t focus on any of that. Someone helps Theo stand me up to fix my shorts before Theo picks me up to cradle me. I am still sobbing into his chest as he carries me off somewhere.
“Is she okay?” Casey asks.
“What the fuck happened?” Theo snaps. “Why was no one here?”
“Someone called in a bomb threat to the courthouse, and everyone was pulled there. I got caught in traffic and she wasn’t answering her phone,” Casey explains. “I’m so sorry, Rhea.”
“He knew,” I mumble.
“What?” Theo asks and sets me on my feet.
“He knew I lied about being with Quinn and Jace. He said I lied to him,” I explain.
“Hey,” Quinn says as he pulls me into a tight hug. Jace gets me next before everyone else follows suit.
“How did he know you lied?” Theo asks.
“He didn’t say. He just said it was too late and I was raised better than this,” I say. “Marvin probably assumes and told him.”
I glance down and see that Quinn’s knuckles are bloody. I gasp and take his hand in mine to see what he’s done. “It’s okay,” he says. “I’m okay.”
“You’re bleeding,” I say, sniffing back tears.
“Baby,” he says, lifting my chin. “I’m okay, Rhea. I promise, he’s a lot worse off.”
“Why did y’all do this? You’re hurt.”
“Rhea, he was trying to kill you, honey,” Quinn says as he hugs me. “He wouldn’t let go of you.”
“We need to clean that,” I sniff. “Can we go home?”
“Take her home,” Casey says. “Between the condom and everyone's statement, he will get attempted murder and first degree rape.”