This Is War, Baby - K Webster Page 0,68
to go husky.
“Look at me.”
I drag my gaze to his and frown. “I bought her from some asshole who did sadistic shit to her. Stuff that has twisted her head up. Evil bastard. And the shit he did to her against her will…” I trail off and shudder. “So incredibly sick.”
“So you know all of this and you still kept her?”
“I’m fucking lonely!” I roar and slam the knife down on the countertop. “I wanted to die. Again. Those thoughts were swarming me, like they often do. I was drowning in them. But then Baylee came along. She makes me forget, Dad. I actually want to touch her.”
My dad, after having had dealt with my issues for over a decade now, softens and his brows furrow together. “You want to touch her?”
I nod and smile sheepishly. “I kissed her. Twice.”
His eyes widen and his brows fly to his hairline. “You kissed her? So you actually touched someone on your own free will? You didn’t force her did you?”
“No, I didn’t. In fact, she seemed upset the first time when I pulled away and had a fucking meltdown. I had to take a long ass shower to wash her off me. But…”
Dad is no longer angry. He seems hopeful.
“But then, as soon as I came back to her, I wanted her again. She’s addicting. I want to hear her voice, see her smiles, and bask in her warmth. For the past few weeks, I’ve wondered if I have a chance at healing my fucked up head. That maybe she is my answer.”
He nods thoughtfully. “If you have faith that she can, then it’s most certainly possible. Promise me one thing though, War. Promise me you won’t touch her until after her birthday. You’re a good man and I don’t want this underage thing weighing on your conscience or sending my only son to jail. You’re not like the man who hurt her. You’re my son and we’ve got morals.”
I go back to chopping when he speaks again.
“So she’s a millionaire at seventeen,” he says, astonished.
“Well, not exactly.”
He grunts. “But you just said—”
“Gabe has the money. The man I bought her from.”
Risking a glance at my dad, my shoulders slump at his furious stare. “After all those things he did and…”
I huff. “I know. But what am I supposed to do about it?”
“I don’t know, call the goddamned cops on him!”
“Dad, it’s not that easy!” I snap and immediately feel guilty for yelling at him. “Besides,” I soften my tone, “I’m in contact with a detective in Oakland. I’ve been giving her information that won’t lead back to me in hopes they’ll catch Gabe. Her parents never filed a missing person’s report. Something is going on and I’m not about to send her back to the lion’s den where that asshole will come back for her. She’s safe here. Besides, we worked out another deal.”
He waits expectantly.
“I’ve been sending money to help her mom. She’s sick.”
A groan rumbles from his chest and he turns away from me. His gaze falls to the windows that overlook the Pacific Ocean. I know he’s thinking about Mom. Our thoughts always drag back to her. She’s the reason I am who I am today.
“So you’re dumping more money just to keep this girl? You do understand you’ll be broke and heartbroken before it’s all said and done.” His voice cracks and I wish I could hug him. I’ve not been able to do that since I was a teenager.
“What else can I do? I was desperate. With Baylee, life is different. Less lonely. I know you may not understand all of my reasoning but trust that I’ll be smart. I’m not going to hurt her but I’m also not going to let her go. I can’t. Not now.”
I hear someone clear their throat from behind me. “Am I interrupting?”
Whipping around, I smile at her. She’s freshly showered, her blonde hair pulled into a messy wet bun on top of her head. The dark jeans she’s wearing hug her figure and the baby blue sweater does nothing to hide her gorgeous tits. My cock reacts to seeing her, and I quickly turn back to my task of cooking to hide my erection. “No, we were just talking about how I came to acquire you.”
“You told him?” she questions as if she’s shocked.
My heart speeds up to see her from the corner of my eye beginning her hand washing ritual. She doesn’t have to count. I’ll count for