Page 57 of Melt For Us, Daddy (Big Daddy Energy #4)
“Through no fault of my own. Clearly, the wives given to me have been ill-suited for their task. But your whore… I bet she would bear me as many sons as I wish.”
Red colored Jacob’s vision. But when he lifted his head, he caught a glimpse of the cameras Braden had installed in the alleyway. Video evidence of Harlan’s attack. If he struck back now, he’d potentially end up in a cage right beside his father.
But if Jacob could provoke him, get more evidence of his abuse on camera…
Forcing back the fury boiling in his veins, Jacob pulled his lip back in a snarl. “I would die before I let you touch her. And even if you managed to get through me, Cordelia would cut off your dick and feed it to you for lunch rather than spend a single second in your bed.”
“Women like her are all talk. But when it comes down to it, they submit. Just like she did with your grandfather. Or didn’t she tell you about that?”
“About how grandfather was so weak it took him and four of his wives to hold down a twelve-year old girl so he could rape her? Yeah, she told me. She told me everything.”
Another slap, and even though he saw that one coming, his ears still rang with the force of it. “Your grandfather was a great man! You will honor his memory or you will never see the light of day again!”
Was. Memory. He waited a moment for the grief to come, but it didn’t. Only relief at the knowledge that the woman he loved was now free in a way she’d only ever dreamed of.
Straightening again, Jacob ignored the ache in his cheek as he met his father’s gaze head-on.
“His memory is nothing but pain and suffering and torment. And if there is any justice in this life or the next, he will spend eternity living out the horrors he perpetuated on those who followed him. And there will be a space reserved for you right beside him in hell.”
Eyes wild, Harlan lunged for him, and they toppled to the ground together. And then his father’s hands were around his throat, squeezing until Jacob could no longer draw a breath. His vision went black at the edges as panic engulfed him.
Ivy and Cordelia’s faces swam in front of him.
And it was the thought of never seeing them again, of never touching or tasting them again, that gave him the strength to fight back.
Lifting his hands, he raked his fingernails down his father’s face, digging in as hard as he could.
With a howl of rage, Harlan reared back, pressing his hands to his bleeding face. “You insolent little?—”
Whatever insult he’d been about to screech was cut off by a blur of motion that seemed to come out of nowhere, knocking Harlan to the ground.
“Yeah, you’re going to want to keep your fucking hands off my friend.
” With one knee pressed into Harlan’s back, Zach looked over at Jacob as he wrapped what looked like a zip-tie around the older man’s wrists. “You okay there, buddy?”
Coughing, Jacob pushed up onto his hands and knees, his throat burning with every breath. “I’m doing great. Took you long enough.”
Zach grimaced. “Sorry about that. Was hoping he’d say something incriminating. Never thought he’d go for you like that.”
Heavy footsteps echoed in the alleyway and a moment later Holden was there, along with several more members of his team. “What the hell happened here?”
“My father tried to kill me.” He probably should have felt fear, saying the words out loud. Or anger. But he only felt… numb.
“What, exactly, do you mean by that?” Holden demanded, and in that moment Jacob could see the fierce soldier he was.
“Choked me.” Lifting a hand, he brushed his fingers over his neck.
“Fucking hell. Cordelia is going to lose her mind.” Sighing, Holden looked down at where Zach was still kneeling on Harlan’s back. “You got a handle on him?”
“Yeah, he’s not going anywhere. Are you, big guy?”
“Let go of me you heathen! I am a Prophet of God! You will burn in hell for even daring?—”
Zach shot Holden another of his wide grins as he pressed harder on Harlan’s spine, cutting off his rant. “See? Not going anywhere.”
“Good.” With a nod for Zach, Holden turned all his attention on Jacob, worry and fury burning in his dark gaze. “We need to get you to a hospital, get you checked out.
“I’m okay. I don’t need to go to the hospital.” I just need my Daddy. And Ivy.
Before Holden could argue, the back door swung open and Braden came barreling through, his expression frantic. “Jacob! Are you okay? What the hell happened? I was wrapping things up and I checked the cameras just as Zach tackled… Is that your father?”
“It is. And I’m fine.”
“He’s not fine. We need to get him checked out. His father tried to strangle him.”
Frantic gave way to a fury so cold, Jacob swore he could feel ice forming along his skin. “He choked you?”
“Um. Yes, Sir. But I’m fine, really.”
Turning on his heel, Braden knelt beside Harlan, who’d gone back to ranting about being an untouchable prophet of God.
Whatever Braden said next was delivered in a voice too low for Jacob to hear, but Harlan immediately stopped speaking and when Braden rose to his feet, tugging on the sleeve of his jacket to pull it back into place, Jacob noticed his father’s face was significantly whiter than it had been before.
With a check of his watch, Braden grimaced. “Looks like I won’t be making that cake tasting after all. Come on, Jacob. Let’s get you to a hospital.”
“Just a sec.” Holden pulled his wallet from his pocket and handed Braden a business card. “Call that number, tell Dr. Winters I’m referring you. Trust me when I say she’s more than equipped to handle this kind of thing.”
Braden’s brows raised slightly, but he didn’t question the order. “Got it. Come with me, Jacob.”
Glancing down at his now-silent father, Jacob tried to think of something witty or impactful to say. But the truth was… he had nothing left to say. As far as he was concerned, Harlan Redding was as good as dead to him.
So he simply turned on his heel to follow Braden back into the club. And left his father, and everything he represented, exactly where he belonged.
Behind him. For good.