Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29845 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 149(@200wpm)___ 119(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29845 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 149(@200wpm)___ 119(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
“In and out, baby girl. I don’t like bringing you to a place like this.”
“I understand.”
Inside, I see my father seated at the bar, downing shots of whiskey as fast as the bartender can pour them. I walk to him, with Chris following close behind me. My father sees me and smiles. “There’s my daughter. Come on over and have a drink with your old man.”
“No, I’m not old enough. Remember?”
“Really? Well, how about a Coke then?”
“No, thank you.”
He eyes Chris and leans close to me. The smell of whiskey on his breath makes my stomach churn. “Why is he still here?”
“He’s with me.”
“Now that he’s all paid up nicely, he can’t hold you anymore. Listen, the first thing we need to do is get you a job. Meet my friend Jimmy here.” He points to the bartender who is practically drooling as he stares at me. “Jimmy needs a barmaid. You’re an adult now and you’re gonna have to start contributing to the household.”
Chris slaps the bar, getting the bartender's attention. He walks to him and Chris whispers something in his ear. The bartender holds up his hands, apologizes, and moves to the other end of the bar.
“No. That’s why I’m here. I came to tell you that I’m not coming back. I’m staying with Chris.”
“You’re what? What did he do to you? Did he make you a bunch of promises? You know he’s lying. Big-time rich people like him don’t want girls like you for the long haul. He just wants you for a little pump and run.”
“You’re wrong, but it doesn’t matter. I’m an adult now, and I’ve made up my mind. So, this is going to be goodbye. I hope you get your life together.”
“Get my life together? I raised you pretty good, didn’t I?”
“Sure, I guess, until that night you gave me away to get an extension on your gambling debt.”
“I had no choice. Did you want me to let him kill me?”
“How did you know he wouldn’t kill me?”
“Because I knew I was gonna pay him. That’s how.”
“And how long will it be before you owe him a fortune again?”
He shakes his head, face red, and sweeps his arm. “So you get a cushy life in his mansion and he gets you. What do I get?”
Chris steps between us and puts his hand on my father's shoulder. He looks down at him, eyes narrowing. “I didn’t kill you. That’s the best you’re gonna get. This is over now. I brought her here so you could hear it from her. Now, we’re leaving.”
He takes my arm and starts to walk away but stops mid-step and turns back to my father. “And for Cassidy’s sake, I’m banning you from my casino. If you set foot in there, I’ll have you arrested. This way, I won’t ever have to consider killing you again.”
As we leave the pub, I stop to take one final look at my father. He’s already calling the bartender back to refill his glass as though the encounter meant nothing to him. As sad as his lack of caring makes me, being free of him is like having a huge weight lifted off me and I smile.
There was a time when I didn’t think I could feel this way. I knew my father had problems and he didn’t take care of me the way he should, but he was all I had. He was all I had ever known.
To be honest, I didn’t ever think I deserved anything better. It took meeting Chris and seeing him risk his own life and the lives of his men to save me for me to realize that I am worth more to the right person.
The polarizing differences between the way that a man I barely know and my own father have treated me are almost more than I can take.
We drive back to the compound and Chris asks, “Are you alright, baby girl? You’re quiet.”
“I’m good. In fact, I’m great.”
“Great? I’m glad but I wasn’t expecting that.”
I look at him and say, “I’m with you and that’s all that matters to me. The longest, hardest chapter of my life is over now, and I have you to thank for that so here’s to the future.”
“Yeah, baby girl, here’s to the future.”
14
CHRIS
Cassidy comes downstairs, still wiping the sleep from her eyes. She stops midway through the living room. “What’s all this?”
“This is Bridget. She’s the stylist for the showgirls at the casino.”
She looks at the rack of gowns beside Bridget. “Is she styling them here today?”
“No, sweetheart. She’s here for you. Tonight’s a big night at the Palace, and I need a date to accompany me. It’s a formal affair and I know you don’t have a gown so Bridget went shopping. She’s going to help you pick something out.”