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I jerked up at his words, glaring at him through swollen eyes. He flinched at my appearance, but I could also see that his eyes were red-rimmed.

"What?" I croaked. "Why?"

He sighed and hung his head. I felt a brief moment of guilt for what I was putting my Dad through. The rational part of my brain knew that my Dad was entitled to his reaction; frankly, I would've been surprised if he had been chill with it.

"You're gonna stay with Uncle Rob and Aunt Gina for the week."

My face crumbled again as I took in his words. "You're sending me away?"

"At least for the week. I - I have things to sort here. I can't leave the job being so new here, but I can't, in good conscience, keep you here knowing that you'll try and see...him." I could hear the distaste in his voice, and I tried to taper my anger down.

"Please, please don't do this, Dad," I pleaded.

"I-I won't try and see him," I lied.

My Dad saw through it, too, sending me a cynical look. "We both know that's not true, Sweetheart," he gently chided. "Even if you were sincere, I also don't trust...him to not try and reach out to you."

My lip trembled, but I was so exhausted, and my eyes were so sore that I didn't have the energy to cry anymore. I also knew that as gentle and calm as my Dad appeared, he was also trying hard to restrain himself.

I ran through all my options and realized I had none. Yes, I was eighteen, but I only had a little money saved; I didn't know anyone else in the city. Although I'd made a few friends, I was far from feeling comfortable enough to crash at their place. My first thought, of course, would be to go to Roman's. But with him being my teacher and one of his neighbors being a staff member at school...word would spread fast. Even though I knew he'd take me in in a heartbeat, that he didn't care about his position at the school...I couldn't do that to him.

But I could try to protect him.

I licked my dry lips. "Did - did you report Roman?"

My Dad's face clouded in anger, but I held firm, needing to know where we stood.

"I haven't reportedMr. Drake," he emphasized. "Yet."

I swallowed hard and nodded. "Dad...I'll - I'll go back to Koby Plains. Willingly. If you promise not to report Ro - Mr. Drake."

My Dad shook his head and sighed. "I can't promise that, Sweet Pea."

"Please," I begged. "I won't contact him. I'll leave him be. Just please, please don't ruin his life. I'm eighteen; I'm legal. He didn't do anything wrong in the eyes of the law. He's a good teacher. Just please, please don't do anything to him."

My Dad rubbed at his eyes, and when he looked at me, tears gathered before they ran down his cheeks. "I know you hate me right now, buteverythingI do is for you. You might not understand - hell, I don't understand what's going on, how this even happened - but I won't apologize for trying to protect you." He shook his head, his face twisted in turmoil. "He's not my concern right now. You are. And keeping you safe. You're eighteen years old, and I know you think you know yourself right now, but I'm still your Dad and your legal guardian. I need to do what I think is right."

I hung my head as he fixed me with his 'Dad' stare. It meant no arguments; what he said goes. And since he held our fate in his hands, I had no choice but to listen.

"Pack your bags," he said firmly. "We're leaving in one hour."

Chapter 11

ROMAN

One week.

That was how long I'd been without my soulmate.

The pain of not having Lucy with me was unbearable, coupled with the fact that our separation was sudden and forced, wrought in despair. The image of her tear-stained face as she pleaded with her father on my behalf, replayed in my mind nightly.

At times, I felt like I couldn't breathe or function. Like I didn't know the basic acts to take care of myself. I was anxious and panicked, worried that she was out there just as miserable as I was. The thought of her sad and lonely, missing me, had me sweating and clawing at my chest in distress. The idea that she was anything but happy and content didn't sit right with me.

I knew she was safe and sequestered in her hometown. Hidden away from the big, bad teacher. If I wanted to, I coulddrive to Koby Plains and steal her away. And God, was I tempted to. I knew she'd come willingly, and no one could stop us. After all, she was eighteen. She could continue with her studies if she wished. She could do anything she liked.

Although the idea of her being barefoot and pregnant, giving her around-the-clock pleasure, was something that I couldn't stop fantasizing about.

I'd have to give up my teaching career, but that was no hardship. I had money and the means to support us.