“What?” Tillie chokes out, dropping her bagel on her plate as she pounds on her chest.
“She was innocent, too. Was never meant to experience the evil of this world, but before I could protect her, I was too late. I know who you are Tillie and I can protect you,” Franco says, leaning forward and whipping a smear of cream cheese off the corner of her mouth with his thumb.
He watches her as he brings his other hand to the back of her neck and places his thumb firmly on her bottom lip. I can’t move, I need to see what she’s going to do. My father may run the family business, but I have to know who’s side she’s going to be on. Franco holds the key right now, he fucking knows who she is and hasn’t shared that piece of information.
“I’m no-not innocent.” She tries to lean back but he stops her with his hand gripping the back of her neck.
“If that cherry of yours wasn’t already popped, I would have given you to Jin once I found out just who you are. Virgins sell for high prices. There's lots of greedy men out there who would love to get their hands on you,” he threatens and watches Tillie start to tremble, pressing his thumb past her lips, into her mouth. “Suck,” he commands.
Tears water in her eyes as she closes her lips around his finger and refuses to meet his gaze, looking over his shoulder at the clock again as she sucks the cream cheese off his thumb.
“The only innocence you had was taken away from you, and you didn’t have a choice where you grew up. I can keep you safe, a place to come and go as you please, as long as you follow my rules under my household.” Franco removes his thumb, his gaze dropping down her body, his meaning clear. But he drives the point home as he places his palm on her upper thigh, right on the edge of her shorts.
Her eyes finally stop looking at the clock, as if she was wishing time would speed up, and they start to slowly close. Knowing she’s hiding her tears, so accepting of what’s happening to her, that is my breaking point. I don’t want to hear anything come out of her mouth because she’s not one to beg, and I refuse to allow her to get on her knees for him.
She’s my baby girl.
I make sure my face is completely blank of any emotion, not wanting Franco to see the anger coursing through my veins. Rounding the corner, I walk a little louder than normal to make some noise as I clear my throat. He leans away from Tillie, who sits frozen in her seat with her fists clenched in her lap. I see him squeeze her thigh one more time, even though he knows I can see him, before he stands up and grabs his blue jacket off the counter with his matching hat.
“Logan, any progress on the missing shipment or the other thing I asked Nicky to look into?” he questions, acting like he doesn’t already know, and I wonder what else he’s keeping from me?
I’ve never wanted to kill him, but right now, that’s all I want. To see him on the ground, looking up at me in fear, as he finally sees who’s in charge. I’ll find out all of his secrets. He stopped being my father the day my mother died. He made sure of that as he beat me with his belt, or his fists, all while telling me how to be a man. He placed a gun in my hand and made me kill my first time in the warehouse at the age of twelve.
“Nothing yet, but it’s only a matter of time before it comes to light.” My voice is stoic and he pauses as he grabs his car keys to glance up at me.
My face stays void of any emotion as I stand there, staring at him as he tilts his head at me before glancing quickly at Tillie and back towards me again.
“I’m sure it will, Son. Oh, before I forget. Don’t get caught doing anything that shouldn’t be seen. Reports say federal agents have been sniffing around.” He gives me one last look and walks out the door, the sound echoing around the kitchen as we listen for his car to start.
The moment we hear him drive away, Tillie lets out a deep exhale. Turning towards her, she places her head in her hands with her shoulders shaking. The first sniffle chips away a small piece of ice in my heart. I walk calmly to her side, hesitantly placing my hand atop her hair and slide my fingers through the dark strands. She stops crying and lifts her head, her watery eyes connecting with mine as I stroke her long brown and purple hair.
“Are you petting me?” she asks in shock.
“What? No. You have something in your hair,” I lie through my teeth, but continue sliding my fingers through her hair while staring down at her upturned face.
“Why are you comforting me?” she questions, not looking away as my hand pauses its movements.
The question surprises me because I don’t have an answer. It’s not from pity. I’ve seen people who deserve to be pitied, but I never felt anything for them. Maybe it’s the way she fights back on her own that I admire, and I don’t want to see her break down, accepting the hardships that life throws at her.
Hopeless isn’t for someone like her. She’s different.
“I don’t know, but I do know something that will make you feel better. Come with me.” I grab her wrist, pull her out of her chair and down the hallway to Franco’s office.
“What are we doing here?” she hisses, glancing around like we’re going to get caught any moment.
“This is my way of saying fuck you to Franco. Hop up on the desk,” I demand in a deep voice, sending papers flying as I swipe them clear off the desk and sit down in my father’s office chair.
She eyes me for a second, before glancing at the spot I pat on the desk in front of me. Then she looks back into my eyes, with her lips twitching at the corners.
“You're bad.” She bites her lip and walks over towards me with a sway of her hips, as I spread my legs for her to stand between them.
“Only the baddest, baby girl.” My fingers hover over the button of her shorts before unsnapping it and slipping them over her ass and down her long, toned legs.
Standing before me in only a tank top and a black thong, I grab her hips and lift her onto the surface of the polished, cherry wood desk. By the time I’m done with her, the shape of her asscheeks and her juices will be left on the desk, as a reminder of just exactly who she belongs to.
“Spread your legs,” I order, sitting back in my father's chair as I glance down at the wet material on the front of her thong.
She meets my eyes, her chocolate ones seeking mine before she slowly opens her legs.
