Page 99 of Redd

My head ached as Iopened my eyes. Bright light exploded against my pupils as I tried to focus. Everything was fuzzy, I couldn't see a fucking thing.

Groaning, I gripped my skull and rolled onto my side. “Shit,” I mumbled to myself, doing my best to force the thunder and lightening out of my brain.

“You alright?” A voice asked, as heavy hands curled under my shoulders, helping me to sit up.

“I think so.” Rubbing my eyes, I blinked a few times and saw Bijou's father standing over me. “What happened?”

Looking around, I noticed we weren't in his office anymore. Dark brown paneling covered the walls, the floor was made of black tiles with speckles of tan mixed in. The ceiling was solid wood beams, with shiny metal eyehooks scattered around randomly.

“Where the hell are we?” Scrambling to my feet, I steadied myself on shaky legs. The room was spinning as my brain still throbbed and my muscles felt wiry. It was like my entire body had fallen asleep as pins and needles radiated around the sinew, making me uncomfortable.

“You got a good hit in on Diablo, but Val, he rushed you and knocked you down.”

Twisting in place, my ribs burned. Holding my side, I bent into my waist. “Ah, fuck!”

Placing his hand on my shoulder, Pierre patted my back. “Stun gun.” Pointing at my side, he shook his head. “Take it easy, you need to sit down and relax.”

“Relax!” Shrugging him off my shoulder, I stomped towards the wall and pressed my back against it. “How the fuck am I supposed to relax!?”

“Diablo—”

“Fuck Diablo!” Scanning the room, I saw a door to my left and stumbled over to it, holding my ribs. Trying the knob, it was locked. That didn't surprise me, I knew it would be, but I had to check anyway.

“Redd, don't do anything stupid.” Holding out both hands, Pierre walked towards me. “If we want to get out of here, we need to do what he wants.”

Thinning my lids, I cocked my head over my shoulder. “You have no clue, do you? We aren't getting out of here, he's going to kill us. But he can't until he has your daughter back.”

“No, he won't do that. I know this man.”

“You don't know shit. You thought he was going to treat your daughter with respect, and did he?” I didn't give him time to answer. “No, he didn't. He's a fucking piece of shit. And you're a weak prick who can't find his balls and stand up for himself.”

“But I'm supposed to trust you?” The lines on his face arched high as he crossed his arms. “I heard what he said, about what you've done. Why should I believe you over him?”

“Because I saved your daughter from that asshole. And if I have to die to keep her safe, I'm ready for that.” My back snapped straight, each vertebrae clicking into place with a pop. Staring him down, I kicked my chin up. “What are you going to do for her?”

Did I just challenge him?

You bet your fucking ass I did.

He wanted to think of himself as a father, he wanted to have that title. . .

Then he better be willing to do what was right to own it.

I made my choice, and if he couldn't see that Bijou was worth this fight, then he didn't deserve to call himself her father.