Loving Jared - Nikita Slater Page 0,19

money from social services going? You get paid to keep those kids, right? Well the kids are mine, and the money should be mine too."

Amy refused to dignify his vitriol with any kind of response. She liked to think that his words were just words, that he didn't mean them. Unfortunately, she knew otherwise. She couldn't imagine how a man like this had managed to father her, her two adorable sisters and her intelligent brother.

"I don't care how you do it, you find the money. Steal it if you have to. You're a pretty girl, get your boyfriend to give you some. You got one of those right?" Amy heard something in the background, a sharp comment.

It took her a moment, but she realized it was one of the guards, telling her father to calm down and quit yelling. Despite prison guards often getting a bad rap, Amy was impressed with the ones responsible for her father's care. They were always polite to her when she had to call, and, occasionally, some of them even tried to step in and protect her when her father became unruly.

"I don't have a boyfriend," Amy said, her voice weary. "I'll see what I can do about the money. I can't guarantee anything, but I'll try."

"I need it right away; some time in the next few days. Send it with Teagan when he comes to visit."

"Teagan doesn't visit," Amy said with a frown. What was her father talking about?

He chuckled, sending a tingle of fear down her spine. "Oh, he doesn't? Interesting. It's not what the prison log says. He's been here half a dozen times over the past few months."

Amy felt sick. As nausea washed over her, she realized that her brother's attitude had taken a turn for the worse about two months ago. Unfortunately, her father's words rang true and Amy now believed that her brother was sneaking over to the prison behind her back.

"I'll be talking to him about that. I don't want any of us visiting." It said a lot for how far Amy had come in the past few years that she was able to stand up to him, even that little bit.

"You little bitch. You never have a good word to say about your daddy, do you?" he demanded.

Amy didn't bother saying anything. Why would she have a good thing to say about the man who killed her mother? The man who still managed to make their lives miserable whenever he could.

"Well, we’ll just have to see if that little mouth is still running itself when I finally get out of here. My early release hearing is in two weeks. This new lawyer says things look promising for me. I might get out early on good behaviour."

Amy truly felt sick. How was it possible that her father might get out after only a couple years? He’d killed a person. He’d killed her mother. He should rot in prison forever.

"If you somehow get out, you won't be welcome here." Amy's voice was barely above a whisper, but she had to say it. She didn't want him holding out hope that he would be welcome in their family home again. The house belonged to her now. The family was her responsibility. She couldn't allow him anywhere near them.

"If I get out, you better watch yourself. I'll be teaching you some manners."

Amy blinked back tears. There wasn't anything left to say, so she just said, "I'll see if I can get you the money." She placed the phone on the counter and allowed the tears to fall.

"Amy."

The deep voice came from behind her, scaring her. Amy whirled around, her hand creeping up to her throat. Jared stood tall and firm, his expression fierce. He held his arms out and Amy stepped into them, pressing herself against his chest as though it was the most natural thing in the world. She squeezed her eyes shut and gripped him around the waist just as tight as she’d done that morning when he'd driven her to work. Jared held her while she cried.

Ten

Jared held Amy against his chest, running his hand over her hair and giving her the time she needed to calm down.

Jared was getting the distinct impression that Amy had a lot going on in her life, between her difficult brother and her murderous father. Though her two sisters seemed to listen to her, they were still a handful. From what he’d learned so far, Amy helped them with their homework, fed