Page 62 of Seductive Sadist
It doesn’t comfort me right now, though. It turns my stomach. And when Dad leans toward me, his arms outstretched, I pull away, lancing him with a glare instead.
“Don’t.”
His face falls, but he recovers quickly and grabs a chair from a nearby table since it’s clear neither Zak nor I want him anywhere close to either of us.
“I’m sorry, Skyla.” His voice is quiet. “I didn’t mean for any of this to ever happen.”
“Really?” I seethe. “Do you think that makes up for anything I’ve been through? Kidnapped from my sham wedding that you finagled because of your greed, shot, almost kidnapped by more people who want to hurt you because evidently that list is damn long. And… Laney…” My voice cracks, and I squeeze my eyes shut.
I won’t do it. I won’t cry.
I have to be in control here, or else I’ll shatter like broken glass.
Dad looks from me to Zak.
“You wanted to meet. Why?” Zak leans toward him. “And just so you know, I’ve got guys surrounding this place. So if you have any plans to take me out, cancel them or you die.”
Dad’s eyes widen and he places his phone on the table. “I didn’t come here for that.”
My eyes narrow. “Then why are we here?”
He looks at me, his light-blue eyes dull and weary, the skin below them sunken in. I study the deep frown lines etched into his skin. I don’t remember them being so defined a few months ago. His skin is sallow despite being an avid golfer and in the sun often.
But now that I think about it, when was the last time I’d heard he played?
I guess when you find out that all the horrible things you’ve done in your life have finally caught up with you, it’s exhausting to outrun them and the resulting carnage. Maybe you don’t have energy for golf when you’re too focused on keeping secrets that can kill your family.
That may havealreadykilled part of your family.
Dad ignores Zak’s question and nods at my arm in the sling. “Are you okay?”
I give a quick nod.
He sighs and rubs his forehead. “Trust me when I say nobody knows I’m here right now. If Nathan and Tyson found out, they’d kill me on the spot.”
The waitress picks that second to bring over our drinks and food. My stomach is in knots, and what sounded so delicious only minutes before makes bile rise in the back of my throat.
“Is that supposed to win my trust? That you’re doing this behind their backs?” Zak takes a sip of his coffee and toys with the chipped handle of the mug that probably used to be white but is now more of an ecru.
I press my fingertips to my temples. Jesus, why am I evaluating a fucking mug so hard right now when my future is as bleak as the greasy windows behind Zak?
“I’m here to tell you that you need to get Skyla far away from here. You need to protect her.” He rubs the back of his head. “Those men who tried to kidnap her, the ones who hit Kylian… they’re not my enemies. They work for Nathan, to guarantee that he keeps me under his thumb. You can’t let them get to her.”
“You didn’t seem so desperate for me to be anywhere near her when I spoke to you the first time.” Zak lifts an eyebrow. “What’s the urgency now?”
“I only just found out about Nathan’s plans. I overheard a conversation he had when we were at the hospital with Kylian.” Dad lets out a dry chuckle and shakes his head. “Supportive business partner, making sure my family is ‘safe’ when in fact, he put Kylian under fire in the first place.”
Zak’s face pinches with anger. He puts the coffee mug on the table with a loud clink. Coffee sloshes over the sides, pooling on the tabletop around it. “Guess you didn’t do much due diligence before you jumped into bed with that scumbag, huh? Not the greatest business decision you’ve ever made.”
Dad turns to Zak and folds his hands on the table. “I’ve made so many mistakes. I don’t want to make any more. Save my daughter.”
“Why the fuck should I trust you?” he sneers.
“I won’t lie, Zak. I wanted to gut you when I found out you took her from the resort yesterday. But when I found out about the danger she might be in, I knew you were the one to help her avoid it. I’m sure it won’t surprise you to hear that I don’t think much of you and never have. I didn’t like you hanging around my house, didn’t like your influence on my kids. But everything I despise about you can help Skyla now in ways I can’t.”
“Why would you agree to the arrangement?” I finally speak up, squeezing the words past my throbbing pulse. “How could you do it? After everything he’s done to you?”
“I’m so ashamed of everything that happened. The danger I brought to my family because I wasn’t smart enough to dig deep into Nathan’s dealings. My business is under fire. If Nathan goes public with my involvement, we’re finished.”