Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 79462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
"Allegra...she's in there," Iris whispers.
"Is she okay?"
"Look," she says, pointing to the floor.
"Oh, God," I groan, and when I see my daughter's dress, my chest hurts. "I'm going to kill her."
"Please don't," Iris whispers.
"I'm sorry, baby. I've got this," I hiss, and before she can say another word, I've slammed the door behind me. "Allegra, what the fuck?"
"Fuck you," Allegra growls, and the second her eyes land on mine, I feel like someone's hit me with a train.
"Jesus Christ," I mutter, and when my eyes fall to the couch, I see Allegra's naked. "Are you actually serious?"
"Leave. Get the fuck out," she screams.
"No. No way. Come here. Now," I say, and when the fear in her eyes hits, the anger disappears.
"Dad, please. Don't make me," she cries.
"Now, Allegra," I say.
"You can't stop me," Allegra growls.
"Yes. Yes, I can," I say, and when the door to the bathroom opens, my eyes widen. Jaxon, Lyon's brother, and the President of the Crimson Reapers MC, is standing there, and the look on his face makes me want to kill him. "What the fuck?"
"Oh, hey," he says, smiling at me.
"What the fuck is going on here," I growl, and the second the words are out of my mouth, he's standing there, glaring at me.
"You should be glad I found her before she made a mistake with the wrong man. Some slimeball was trying to get to her, broke the window to get her out of your fuckin' car."
I arch a brow, "Is that so? Well, I've got her now. Get the fuck out."
"Why should I? Why the hell are you even here?" he says.
"Because this is a private booth. And, my daughter is here," I say.
"You're kidding. This isn't..." Jaxon pales.
"Yes, it is. Now, get the fuck out," I growl.
My fists are shaking, and the urge to wrap my hands around his throat is so strong, I'm worried I might lose control.
"Okay. Fine," Jaxon mutters, and when his eyes land on Allegra, my heart skips a beat. "See you, Allegra."
"Bye," she says, her voice cracking.
The moment Jaxon's gone, she's crying again, and all I want to do is hold her in my arms.
"Allegra," I sigh.
"Don't. Just leave," she sobs.
"Allegra, I can't. Not now. Please. Just get dressed. Let's go," I hiss.
"Why? So you can yell at me more?" she cries.
"I'm sorry, baby. This isn't easy. For either of us. I'm trying," I say, and the way her eyes meet mine makes my heart hurt.
"Trying to ruin my life. Trying to take everything away from me," Allegra hisses, getting up.
At least she's got clothes on now, and as she's staring at me, I'm fighting the urge to drag her home.
"Allegra, listen. It's not that easy," I say, and when Iris joins us, my daughter is crying again.
"Iris, can we have a minute, please?" Allegra whimpers.
"No. Iris stays. She's a part of this," I say.
"Dad, no. Please. This is too much. I can't do this," Allegra cries. "Not in front of her."
"Fine," I say.
"Allegra," Iris starts.
"I can't talk right now," Allegra says. "Especially not to you."
I usher them out of the room and back to the car.
The girls silently get back into the backseat, and the tension in the car is almost too much.
I deliver Iris to the doorstep of the club house, and when she's inside, Allegra turns her attention to me.
"Take me home. Please," she says, and the sadness in her eyes is almost too much to handle.
"Okay, baby," I say.
"Please don't talk," she says.
"Okay," I nod, and the entire ride home, no one speaks.
When we're at the house, she bolts for the door, and before I can stop her, she's disappeared into her room.
I press my back against the wood, sighing.
I can't exactly ground her, she's too old for that.
And, honestly, I'm not sure how far to take this.
On second thought, I quietly turn the key in the lock, making sure my daughter can't leave.
I walk to my room, strip down, and collapse on the bed, and the moment my eyes close, the dream starts.
I'm in a dark, cold basement. When I look around, the air is stale with booze and pot.
As my eyes adjust, I notice a figure tied to a chair.
I blink twice, trying to make sense of what I'm seeing, but the closer I get, the more confused I am.
The person tied to the chair is wearing a long white dress.
A veil.
It's Iris, and her body is covered in blood.
Her mouth is duct-taped, and when her eyes meet mine, they're full of pain.
"Iris," I scream, and the sound of my own voice jolts me awake. "Fuck."
I turn on a light, trying to figure out where I am, and the sound of the TV reminds me I'm still at the house.
And, Allegra is upstairs.
But, in my head, the dream feels so real.