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)
"No," she cries, and when her eyes fill with tears, I almost break.
"Allegra, come with me. Please," I beg, and the moment her eyes meet mine, my heart shatters.
"Why? So, you can lock me up? Take away my freedom? Like always?" Allegra cries.
"That's not fair, and you know it," I hiss.
"You're not my father. You're not anything. To me, anyway," Allegra cries.
"That's not true," I growl.
"Isn't it? Look, if you're not going to let me be, then, I'll go," she cries, and the pain in her eyes is almost too much to handle. "Jaxon, are you coming? We have things to do."
"What?" I hiss, and the fear in her eyes makes my blood boil.
"Allegra, go home," Jaxon says, and the way he's looking at her is making me sick.
"No. I'm not going home. I don't have one. Not anymore. It's gone. All of it," she cries.
"Stop being so dramatic," I hiss.
"And, you. Don't talk to me. Don't ever talk to me. I hate you. You ruined my life," Allegra hisses, and before anyone can say another word, she's gone.
"What the fuck was that?" I hiss, turning to Jaxon. "I'm sorry, man. She's been like this for weeks. And, now, she's taken off."
"She'll come back," Jaxon shrugs.
"Will she? She's eighteen. What's stopping her from running away?" I hiss, and the realization that my daughter is gone hits. "Jesus Christ. She's never coming back. Is she?"
"If she does, we'll let you know," Jaxon says.
"She doesn't want me. And, after the way I've treated her, who could blame her?" I mutter, running my hands through my hair. "Fuck. I'm no good for her."
"You're her father. Of course, she does. But, she needs some time. Listen, talk to her. She'll come around," Jaxon says, patting me on the back. "I'll keep an eye out. If I see her, I'll let you know."
"Okay," I sigh.
"It's going to be okay," Jaxon nods.
"Is it? Nothing's ever been right since the day she was born. Every single thing I've done, it's all been wrong," I sigh.
"Go home," Jaxon says, pushing me away from the club. "I'll take care of things."
I nod, and the weight of the world is on my shoulders. I walk to the bar first, spotting Rosa working.
"Hey, Rosa. Have you seen Iris tonight?" I ask.
"Not yet. Why?"
"I wanted to talk to her," I say.
"Well, good luck. I haven't seen her all night," Rosa says, and the look in her eyes makes my skin crawl.
"Rosa. What's wrong?" I ask.
"Nothing. Look, go talk to your daughter. She's coming around too much lately. The girls are worried about her," Rosa says, and when her eyes meet mine, her expression darkens.
"Allegra won't be a problem," I mutter, and the words make my stomach turn.
"Good. Then, you have no reason to be here. I have work," Rosa says, and without a second thought, I'm outside.
I can't face Iris tonight.
Not like this.
Not with the guilt.
Not when the shame is almost too much to handle.
The second I'm behind the wheel, I pull out my phone, and before I can think, I'm dialing.
"Dad. Hey," Allegra says, and the sound of her voice breaks my heart.
"Hey. Can we talk?"
"What is there to talk about?"
"Us. Everything. Where are you? Come home," I beg.
"It's not home, not anymore. It's a prison," Allegra hisses, and before she can say another word, the call goes dead.
"Fuck," I hiss, tossing my phone onto the seat. I try calling her again, but the call goes to voicemail, and after the fourth try, I know it's hopeless. The house is silent when I walk inside, and the emptiness is almost too much to bear.
As I'm standing by the window, a text comes through, and the second I read the message, the breath leaves my lungs.
Allegra: Bring your daughter to work day was fun.
I type out a reply, my hands shaking.
Where are you?
Allegra: None of your business.
I groan, the pain in my gut making me feel like I'm going to be sick.
Please, come home. Let's talk.
Allegra: No.
I sigh, pacing the living room, trying to figure out what to say. When another text comes through, the blood rushes to my dick.
Iris: Hi, Daddy.
The moment my eyes land on the text, the blood in my veins runs cold. She must be drunk, or high, or something, because there's no way she'd send this message.
Viper: What the fuck?
Iris: I'm lonely. I need you.
Viper: Iris, don't.
Iris: Daddy, please.
I'm alone, and the need to feel someone against me is almost too much to handle. The phone rings, and when I answer, the sound of Iris's voice makes my heart skip a beat.
"Iris. What's going on? Where are you?"
"Come get me. Now," my girl purrs.
"Where are you?"
"I'm at the house," Iris says.
"I'm on my way," I say, and the moment the call ends, I'm in the car. The house is empty when I get there, and I'm about to call her when the backdoor opens. Iris is standing there, the light from the moon shining behind her.