Page 26 of Broken Daddy

Nothing could stop her from participating in that show.

Thankfully, the trailer was empty and after she drank a whole bottle of water, she stumbled into the bathroom to get ready for bed.

She was going to have an amazing night’s sleep.

A thumping noisewoke her up and she sat with a fright.

Shit.

Why did she jinx herself with that thought earlier? Of course she wasn’t going to have an amazing night’s sleep.

That was an impossible dream.

Another thump. She grabbed her toy squirrel, holding her close.

Coco had gotten her through some tough times. Her mom had bought Coco for her a long time ago. Coco had been there for her when Mom died, when her father started drinking, when her teacher started bullying her, making her retreat into herself. And more recently when her brother left her. When Aaron was being a jerk and her dad was being abusive.

So she hugged Coco tight as she heard footsteps and what sounded like someone banging into a wall.

“Mouse! Mouse, get out here and help your old man!” her father yelled.

She stared down at her hands which were trembling. Then she glanced over at the door. Had she locked it?

Of course you locked it.

You always lock it.

And it had a good deadbolt that she’d installed herself.

“Mouse! Get out here now!”

Shit.

She got up and tucked Coco safely away. Who knew what her father would do if he saw her? Devi wasn’t going to risk Coco being harmed.

She unlocked the door and stepped out of the room.

Suddenly, she realized that she should have thought through her actions more. She could have escaped out the window in her room and ran. Where she would have gone, she wasn’t certain. But sometimes it was safer out in the woods than it was in her own home.

At the very least she should have put on more clothes. She stared down at her oversized T-shirt. It wasn’t revealing or sexy. But it also wasn’t that long, ending just past her ass. If she bent over the asshole in her living room would get quite the show.

Fuck.

She took a step back, giving Vega a wary look. Unconsciously, she put her hand over the bruise on her arm. His gaze went to her arm and he licked his lips.

Her heart raced at the weird look on his face. What was wrong with this guy? Did he get off on knowing that he’d bruised her?

She was in real trouble here.

What was he doing in her house in the middle of the night? With her father?

Actually, whatever the reason she didn’t care. She just wanted him gone. Or she could leave.

Whatever got her away from him first.

“Mouse, come and help your old man,” her father slurred his words. Vega held his arm over his shoulder and seemed to be the only reason why her father wasn’t flat on the floor.

But why would Vega be helping her father? It didn’t make sense and she didn’t like the fact that she’d seen him two nights in a row near or in her home.