Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45093 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45093 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“Fine…” she says in about three syllables.
Chapter Sixteen
Brea
It’s hard to focus. I hate that Daddy left me in the kitchen strapped securely into my booster seat while he went outside to meet with his pride to discuss the problems I brought to this family unit.
I know it wasn’t intentional, but I am the one who caused today’s meeting, and I’m worried some of the pride might be disgruntled by how much trouble I’ve caused.
Daddy didn’t just use the waist strap this time. He added a harness that’s over my shoulders and fastened between my breasts, as well as to the nylon at my waist and coming up from between my legs. All five parts came together and were snapped into place. On top of that, he added a lock so I can’t open the restraints.
It’s totally over the top. It has also left me squirming because I really crave his deep dominance. That fact annoys me under the circumstances.
There’s a window over the kitchen sink, but I’m too low to see out of it, so I don’t have a single view of the meeting. Plus, the window faces the back of the house. I’m sure the meeting is in the front.
The men are not loud enough for me to hear, either. Dammit. So maddening.
It’s hard to focus on coloring, but I force myself to pick up a pencil and get to work on my masterpiece. I don’t even know what color I’m using, but I’m staying between the lines.
It’s a long time before Daddy comes back inside, and I don’t like the look on his face. His brows are deeply creased, and he’s been running a hand through his hair. It’s a tousled mess falling around his shoulders.
I drop the pencil and sit taller. “What’s wrong?”
He pulls a chair out next to me and sits so close that his knees hug mine. “There’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just going to go for it. Your brothers were found dead in an alley this morning.”
I gasp. “What? How…?”
Daddy reaches for my hand. “They were shot execution style. I’m so sorry, Little love.”
I swallow hard. “They sold me for drug money. They deserved it,” I mutter.
“Yes, but they were still your brothers. I know it hurts to find out they’re gone. I know you have fond memories of your childhood from before they started using drugs.”
I slowly nod and look away. Dead… I feel oddly glad they’re gone, but he’s right, it also burns. I hate that they went down such a disturbing path and ended up killed. “Do they know who shot them?”
“Could have been anyone. They probably owed people money. A lot of it, I suspect, or they wouldn’t have sold their sister.”
I don’t suppose it matters who killed them. It won’t bring them back. At least I don’t have to worry about them hunting me down. I’m free from them forever now. If only I could be free from Mitchel, too. I suspect one way or another I will be soon. I just hope Daddy doesn’t get into trouble eliminating him.
Daddy unbuckles me from the seat and stands, lifting me into his arms. He kisses all over my face as he carries me to the couch. He sits me on one of the cushions and squats in front of me.
His expression is serious. His huge hands are on my thighs. They ground me even through the cotton material of my leggings. I’ve never worn anything like the outfit Daddy put on me a while ago. I’ve always been a jeans and T-shirt kind of girl. But now I’m wearing black leggings and a long-sleeved dress. It’s pink with black polka dots. It’s comfortable and also cotton.
At first, I felt strange. Pink? Me? Not my color. But the truth is maybe I need a new style to go with my new life. What’s wrong with pink? I’m pretty sure I pretended to hate the color when I was young because my brothers made fun of me when I was girly.
But they’re not here. In fact, I now know I’ll never see them again. They don’t control me. Navin does. Is he simply guiding me to fit another mold? I’ve pondered that since he dressed me. It’s possible. I can’t remember when I’ve worn a dress.
But I also think I like this outfit. I feel feminine. Daddy makes me feel girly. My body has awakened in ways that call to the woman in me. Not the tomboy. The woman.
I’m starting a new life here in the mountains with a man who obviously adores me. I’m going to embrace it and let myself be girly. He also put pink socks and pink tennis shoes on me. I couldn’t be more feminine.
My hair is once again in a long braid down my back, though I did turn my nose up at the offer of a bow on the end of the braid. Maybe I should have let him put it in. Why not?