Page 3 of Sinful King
“Your cousin says he saw you alone with the oldest one over there,” my dad said. “They say you only stumbled across them.”
He sounded calm but I knew better.
My eyes slowly met Sean’s and it was hard to look away. It’s like he was silently asking me something and knowing what had suddenly become important to me.
Was he asking if I’m okay?
Or if he could help?
“I…” My father’s throat clearing stole my attention but internally I was still looking at Sean. “I didn’t do anything wrong. Caden… He—”
My dad stood and I felt my legs step back before the move registered. He’d only ever hit me once or twice but had done damage and I didn’t want that kind of embarrassment, not after earlier.
“Sounds like you need to discuss some important things with your kids…” Darragh flicked his gaze to Caden. “And nephew?”
Why did it sound like a question?
“We can finish our talk another day,” he went on. “But, I said what I meant. Take it or leave it.”
I didn’t want him to leave and followed Sean’s footsteps until they stopped. Our eyes met when I lifted my gaze and he tipped his head.
Another question?
Or was he trying to figure me out? Figure my situation out?
I looked away.
He shouldn’t worry about that because like I’d said, no one can save me but me.
“Is there something I need to know?” my father asked, walking toward me with his brows hiked. “Do you think I missed that exchange?”
“It’s not like that, dad,” I said, deciding to speak up for myself. “Caden is a liar and you never believe me! Even he…” I pointed to the door in reference to Darragh since they were gone. “…believes his sons. I’m your daughter and he’s only your nephew. Why don’t you ever believe me!”
I could feel myself breaking down but held my ground as all six-foot-four of him loomed over me. His response was delayed but the strike came hard and fast and knocked me to the floor.
Of course, he didn’t feel anything for what I said. He didn’t have a protective bone in his body, not when it came to his only daughter.
Had he ever? I wondered, wiping blood from my lip.
“No matter how hard you punish me, the truth is the truth. Caden is a liar and…” I swallowed. “… he’s been touching me.”
I looked up as silence loomed for too long but his eyes were on Caden.
My mom rushed into the office a second later, over to where I sat on the floor and pulled me into a standing position.
“I told you about putting your hands on her. We’re leaving!” she yelled. “Blake let’s go!”
And as always, my brother didn’t move.
But she waited a breath for him anyway before ushering me away in defeat.
“We’ll finish this discussion at home,” I heard my dad say before the door shut behind us.
“What have I told you about provoking your father?” my mom asked the minute she’d pushed me into the front seat of her car.
It wasn’t really a question, just an excuse not to take the blame.
“We’ll go to your grandma’s for now.”
